River Chicken Pasta Salad

from Mary Jo

2 c. shell macaroni (measured uncooked)

1 c. mayo

1 c. coleslaw dressing

2 c. diced water chestnuts (I am not a fan, so I never use them)

1 qt. cooked chicken pieces

1/2 c. chopped green onions

1/2 c. diced green peppers

2 can pineapple tidbits

2 c. grapes cut in half

2 c. diced apples (any kind)

2 c. diced celery

1 c. cashews

salt and pepper to taste

Works well to cut up most of the items ahead of time and keep refrigerated in ziploc bags. Add more or less of anything you like! Start by mixing the mayo and dressing with the cooked macaroni. Then add each of the other ingredients. Serve cold.

April Showers of Books

There are so many C.S. Lewis books to choose from! I'm working on Mere Christianity and Prince Caspian right now, but I also want to read Surprised by Joy. Too bad I have to go to work and clean my house. I'd really rather spend the rainy days of April curled up with a book and a plate of oatmeal cookies.

I don't have the list in front of me, but I'm thinking that we need someone to host our April 20th meeting and someone to bring refreshments. E-mail Sue Ann or me - and get reading!

C.S. Lewis Preview

by Kay

C.S. Lewis was an Irish-born British novelist, academic, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist. He was a close friend and colleague of J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) who was instrumental in Lewis' conversion to Christianity. This conversion had a profound effect on his work, and his wartime radio broadcasts on Christianity brought wide acclaim. In 1956, he married Joy Gresham who died four years later. Their story is told in the movie Shadowlands.

The Chronicles of Narnia contain Christian themes and ideas. The Great Divorce is a short novella in which residents of Hell take a bus ride to Heaven, and Screwtape Letters consists of advice from a devil to his nephew on how to lead humans into sin. He also wrote The Four Loves and Mere Christianity which was voted the best book of the 20th century by 'Christianity Today' in 2000. The first two books of Narnia have been made into movies in 2005 and 2008. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is to be released in 2010.

Salad Selections from March's Potluck

Chilled Orzo Salad from Trish

3 Cups Orzo
1/2 - 3/4 cups Italian Dressing
1/2 cup Spinach (julienned)
1/2 cup Red Onions (diced)
3/4 cup Fresh tomatoes (diced)
1/4 cup Black Olives (halved)
3 tblsp. Capers (drained)
1/4 bunch Fresh Parsley (chopped)
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (shredded)

Prepare orzo as directed on the box. Combine all ingredients. Toss gently to coat evenly. Keep refrigerated until needed. Start to finish: 25 minutes.

Bowtie Pasta from Mary Jo

6 oz. uncooked bowtie pasta (I used the mini bowtie pasta)

2 c. grape tomatoes, halved

1 c. grapes, halved

1/3 c. fresh basil, chopped

2 Tbsp. green onions, sliced

1 4oz. pkg. reduced fat crumbled feta cheese

2 Tbsp. white balsamic vinegar

1 tsp. dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

4 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

Cook the pasta according to package directions. In a medium sized bowl, combine the white balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic, salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Stir in cooked pasta. Add tomatoes, grapes, basil, green onions, and feta cheese; mix well.

(If you want a bigger salad, I added more pasta (10 oz. - 12 oz. instead of 6 oz.) and measured 1 1/2 of everything else, except the olive oil-I kept that at 4 tsp.-that way you don't have to add more calories to the salad and I think it tastes just as great!)

Yummy from Mary Jo

Carmel Apple Crisp (from January book club)

Filling Topping

8-10 large granny smith apples; peeled, 2 cups brown sugar

cored and sliced 2 cups flour

2 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 cup instant oatmeal

2/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I made mine without the nuts)

1/3 cup flour 1 cup butter; melted

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

3/4 tsp. salt

1 (12 oz.) jar caramel sauce

In a buttered (or sprayed) 9x13 pan add apples and lemon juice; stir to coat apples. In a separate dish combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt; stir to mix. Pour dry ingredients over apples and stir until apples are well coated. Spread out apples and pour caramel sauce over the top.

In a medium bowl combine brown sugar, flour, oatmeal, and walnuts; stir to mix. Using a fork mix in melted butter to form coarse crumbs. Spread topping evenly over apples.

Bake 375 degrees for 35 min.

A Message from our Missing Leader

Pam was going to be the discussion leader for The Watson's Go to Birmingham in February, but she stayed in bed with a stuffy head instead. Not one to leave us stranded, and not one to hold back an opinion, she e-mailed us what she would have said if she were there. Here's an excerpt:

As a girl growing up in the 50's and 60's in Idaho, I had no idea that there were racial injustices in the United States like those endured by African Americans in the South during these years. Books like The Watson's Go to Birmingham, 1963 give me an historical perspective that I treasure. Books like Grapes of Wrath, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Chosen, and many others I read in my younger years (I am pretty dang old) have helped me understand the true nature of what it means to be brothers and sisters on this earth and I think it behooves us as members of the Restored Gospel's organized church during these last days to do everything we can to eliminate every aspect of stereotypical behavior toward other races and religions that we can. If a children's book can remind us of our responsibilities toward others, then hear, hear for that children's book.

We all loved the book and had an insightful discussion. Thanks to Lori who shared experiences she had while living in Mississippi. More than racial differences, we discussed economic and cultural prejudices. Thanks to Christopher Paul Curtis for writing such good books about the African American experience. Some have gone back to read Elijah of Buxton that they missed last year, and Bud, Not Buddy - two more by the same author.

What Happened to March!!!

We've been reading, and we had a potluck, but we just haven't been blogging. Since I'm on Spring Break, and I'm avoiding doing report cards, I'll try to catch everyone up on a few things. I don't have any pictures, but I know who does, so those might appear later.