Book Club

Last night consisted of the following: girlfriends+wine+food+books...SO.MUCH.FUN!

We have been trying to meet for book club but it has been so hard with everyone's work schedule. There was finally a night everyone could meet and we all jumped at the opportunity. We braved the snow/ice and spent the night staying warm with wine and food. We each brought a bottle of wine, a fun appetizer and/or dessert to share and lots of book suggestions. When we got there, Paula had sent her husband out to get wine and he came back with 2 cases. HAHA...talk about a great husband!

It was so nice to sit with new girlfriends, laugh, drink and have some great conversation. I know it sounds silly to some, but I didn't fully appreciate what I had in Charlotte. I always had Kelly next door/in my house, or my Tuesday night bible study girls, or a short walk to the Bruce's or even a quick drive to my West Girls. New friendships are just what the doctor order and I'm so thankful for them.

I was excited to try a new recipe to bring to book club. My friend, Catherine, is all around AMAZING-friend, wife, mother, baker and cook. She has some great recipes so check out her blog and be prepared for a taste of heaven! Catherine has been blessed with the fastest metabolism known to man and doesn't use anything "light"...so I only can try her recipes every so often. :)

Hot Blue Cheese and Pecan Dip
2 8oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
8 oz. crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 T. butter
3/4 c. soft bread crumbs
1/4 c. fresh parsley
1 T. butter

Toast pecans in 2 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Keep stirring them so they don't burn. Remove them from the heat and allow to cool as you mix the cream cheese and blue cheese together with a mixer. Stir in pecans and spoon this mixture into a greased baking dish (pie plate, 8x8 or whatever you have around).

Combine the breadcrumbs, parsley and 1 tablespoon of butter and sprinkle it over the cheese dip. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes and serve with apple slices and crackers or pita chips.
(I thought the apples slices would be weird but they were amazing so you HAVE to try it...I also used reduced fat everything and it still tasted great!)