MR. PERFECT

First let me say I don’t recommend logging on to Amazon.com and ordering every book we read for your personal library. Case in point, our book for October 2001- Mr. Perfect. If I haven’t said it before, the format for our book club is that we pick a month every year to be hostess and when you are hostess you are in charge of choosing the book. And that is why Roxanne is still trying to live down her pick for this month. Irregardless of the content of the book, the menu she served was delicious as well as creative!

“...the deliciously racy topic that Jaine Bright and her three girlfriends are pondering one night at their favorite after-hours hot spot: Mr. Perfect. Would he be tall, dark, and handsome? Caring and warmhearted -- or will just muscular do? As their conversation hears up, they concoct a tongue-in-cheek checklist that becomes an overnight sensation, spreading like wildfire at work and sizzling along e-mail lines. But what began as a joke among friends turns deadly serious when one of the four women is murdered....Turning to her neighbor, an unpredictable police detective, for help, Jaine must unmask a killer to save her friends -- and herself. Now, knowing whom to trust and whom to love is a matter of survival -- as the dream of Mr. Perfect becomes a chilling nightmare.”

(Let me just say, I did not remember anything about a murder mystery until I reread the synopsis just now…the only thing I remember were the favors Susan had at our place settings, and they weren’t party hats!!! Now, I know you want to read the book…but I recommend just making the menu. Really.)

Roxanne served a delicious meal of cucumber sandwiches and very unusually- shaped cheese balls( use your imagination),chicken stir- fry over rice, eggrolls, and for dessert – fortune cookies and “sex-in-a-pan” cake. (I did not make that name up!!!)

We had a very creative centerpiece (not gonna write it down here) and a table favor for each of us of a personal- size massage cream… and the door prize is totally unmentionable in this blog! But you get the idea…

Roxanne's Chicken Stir-Fry

3 Tbsp peanut oil

2 tsp minced garlic

2 tsp minced ginger

2 tsp minced green onions (the white part)

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1 inch cubes

1 cup julienned red bell peppers

1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts (canned)

3 cups blanched broccoli florets (blanching is putting the vegetable in boiling water for one minute)

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tsp toasted sesame oil

3/4 cup chicken stock

4 tsp cornstarch mixed with water to make a paste

Salt and Pepper

Steamed rice, for serving

Set a wok over high heat and add the peanut oil. Be sure to swirl the wok to get the oil to coat most of the pan. Once the oil smokes (don't start a fire!), quickly add the garlic, ginger, green onions and chicken. Saute, stirring continuously until the chicken is lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes. Add the red peppers and saute for another 1 minute. Add the water chestnuts and broccoli and saute for another minute. Add the soy sauce and sesame oil and reduce for 30 seconds. (That means stir and let it thicken). Add the chicken stock, cornstarch mixture, and season with salt and pepper. Toss the ingredients and be sure that the stock comes to a boil. Cook at a boil for 2-3 minutes, then serve over steamed rice.

"Sex-In-A-Pan" Cake (adapted from Paula Deen's Better Than Sex Cake)

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1 6 oz. jar caramel or hot fudge topping

8 oz. Cool Whip

4 Heath candy bars, crushed

Prepare cake according to directions and bake in 9x13 inch pan. Pierce warm cake all over with toothpick. Pour milk over cake. Pour caramel or hot fudge over cake. Chill. Before serving, top with whipped topping and sprinkle with the crushed candy.

Roxanne and Jaye

I hope some of you readers will read some of our books, use some of our menu ideas and recipes and have some fun with your friends! Someday Soon!!

Ok, enough alliteration- November 2001 book will be covered next- a fabulous read called Cane River...