There are certain things that only ladies do when they hang out with other ladies.
- Talk about boys. “He’s so cute, right? Is he cute? I like him so much. Does he like me? Does he notice that I looked at him a little bit longer than normal today? Cause I did. He should’ve noticed it. It meant a lot to me, and I can’t believe he didn’t notice it. He’s an asshole. I hate him.”
- Talk about lady issues. I won’t go into details for all my male readers. And by male readers, I mean my dad. (HI DAD!!!)
- Book club.
I’m pretty sure book club is a 100% female activity. Do dudes sit and talk about how they felt when Anna Karenina threw herself in front of the train?*
*I’m fairly well read, but Anna Karenina is not a book I’ve ever read. I’ve seen the Keira Knightley movie version though, so that’s how I know this. And, I’ve seen a Pulitzer Prize winning play about the book…sort of. I’m so fancy. You already know.
Also? Oops. Spoiler Alert.
Anyways, book club is a ladies occupation for ladies.
And this lady (me) hosted her lady book club a few weeks ago.
My friend Nora started the whole book club and, well, I’m glad she did. We’ve read a book I’d heard of but hadn’t gotten to yet (Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn) and read a book that I hadn’t heard of but boy, did it make me cry in the airport (Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala).
But the most recent book club, I hosted. So, I choose the book. It was One More Thing by B.J. Novak (no relation) and it was hilarious. It’s a book of short, humorous essays. Some were dry. Some were almost poignant. But, boy, did they run the gamut. It’s well worth a read. OR, if you’re doing a long car trip, it’s worth downloading and listening to. He’s got an incredible cast of voices like Mindy Kaling, Jason Schwartzman, Rainn Wilson, Emma Thompson, Jenna Fischer and more.
So, what to make for a lady event for ladies?
Well, I like the tortilla española. Why not build a tapas menu? Also, please note, this is a drinking book club, so boozing required.
- Tortilla española
- Jamon serrano because I cannot find ANY jamon iberico here in America. SIGH.
- Spanish cheeses
- Apricot and Goat Cheese Bites
- Peppadews inspired by Leon’s in Decatur, GA
- Pan con Tomate
- Olives
- Beverages, like Red Sangria and White Sangria
Oh dang.
The apricot and goat cheese bites were the newbies here and #realtalk, they were delicious. And unbelievably simple. Make them right now for whatever lady event you have. I bet even boys would like the salty-sweet combo that they have going on.
Beyond that, sangria is a perfect summer drink. It’s bright and fruity, but has a boozy punch. I gravitate toward the white versus the red, but the red is a much more robust beverage.
I guarantee. This menu? Ladies love it. Girls adore it.
Y’all should trust me because I’m not internationally known, but I’m known to rock the microphone.
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Absolutely Fabulous Apricot, Goat Cheese and Almond Bites from YumSugar
- 4 ounces fresh goat cheese, at room temperature
- About 2 teaspoons milk
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped basil leaves
- 40 dried apricots, preferably blenheim
- 40 almonds, preferably marcona
- 2 teaspoons honey
DIRECTIONS
- Mix together the cheese and milk with a fork until spreadable. Thin with more milk if necessary. Add the basil and mix until evenly distributed.
- Spread a heaping 1/4 teaspoon cheese on each apricot and top each with an almond. Drizzle with honey.
Please note! If not using marcona almonds, substitute roasted salted almonds (the salt is key to the appetizer’s flavor).
my fake food blog 
Answering Fan Mail: Bean and Chicken Sausage Stew
One of my loyal readers sent some fan mail with a question to the My Fake Food Blog Fan Club.
(Note: One of my existing, real life friends posted a comment on Facebook asking for me to share a recipe.)
Since I am so benevolent, I won’t disappoint the public. I HAVE to post for Micheal.
(Note: I already emailed her the recipe. But I thought if she wanted the recipe, maybe somebody else might.)
All y’all know I love soup. #SOUPCLUB
I like soup forever and always. I like soup in the fall, winter, spring and yes, even the summer.
I’ve had the Real Simple No Time to Cook app for a long time, but hardly use it. But I was bored with my usual sites for cooking inspiration and I remembered why I downloaded it in the first place. The app looks like this.
via Real Simple “No Time to Cook” app (Duh)
Just plug in what main ingredient you have and how much time you have and at your fingertips is a list of quick meal ideas.
With no ingredients in the house, I plugged in poultry and 20 minutes and came across this recipe for Bean and Chicken Sausage Stew. And then I went shopping for stew ingredients on an 80+ degree day.
But, it’s the kind of thing that you can eat all year long. The broth is light, but this stew is full of delicious, and frankly, healthy stuff. It has tons of kale, which is full of vitamins or whatever. (Actually, kale has calcium and vitamins A, C and K, according to WebMD.) White beans have a ton of protein and fiber. And bread has delicious, delicious carbs.
#SOUPCLUB
One thing to note about this recipe is it requires extra salt. Hardly any is called for and as we all know, food needs salt. Like Matt Saracen needs Julie, like Coach needs Mrs. Coach, like Jason Street needs his wheelchair (#spoileralert), this stew needs salt.
So, loyal readers, please. Go forth and make this stew. And download the Real Simple app. And be sure to write in your questions, comments, compliments whenever you have them.
My assistant will be happy to answer each and every one of them, just as soon as he’s done drawing my bath.
—
Bean and Chicken Stew, adapted from Real Simple
Ingredients
Heat the oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring once, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the beans, broth, and tomatoes and their liquid and bring to a boil. Add the kale and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Serve with the bread, if using.