In addition to cooking and eating, one of my passions is reading and discussing great literature. Since I was a child, I’ve always read fiction before bed, and I actually find it challenging to fall asleep without unwinding with a wonderful book for 20 minutes or so.
Some of my recent favorites include The Postmistress by Sarah Blake, and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, which I’m reading now. I’m lucky to belong to a wonderful book club that has been meeting for the last 15 years. Each month we gather over appetizers, dinner and wine at a member’s house. When it’s my turn to host book club, I look for a recipe that’s elegant enough for company but is easy enough to make for 12 or so people.
I’ve compiled one of my favorite book club menus, from my new cookbook, SOS! The Six O’Clock Scramble to the Rescue:
Earth-Friendly, Kid-Pleasing Dinners for Busy Families. Since all of the recipes in the book take 30 minutes or less to prepare, you can choose your seasonal favorite from the hundreds in the book.
For your next book club or party, try Mexican Lasagna with Avocado Salsa (page 162 of the book), served with Sweet Summer Corn on the Cob (page 89), a Green Salad with Grapes, Pistachio Nuts, and Maple-Dijon Dressing (page 232). For dessert, we like to keep it light and figure friendly. Try serving sliced mangoes with Greek yogurt mixed with honey and fresh lime juice for dessert and with mango sorbet. Enjoy!
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, stir together both types of beans, corn, salsa, scallions and cheese.
- Put the oil in a small bowl. Heat a large skillet (heavy duty or nonstick) over medium to medium-high heat. Brush both sides of each tortilla with a thin layer of oil and fry it in the skillet, turning once, until it is puffed and golden in spots, about one minute total. Stack the cooked tortillas on a plate.
- To make the lasagna, put 2 tortillas in the bottom of the casserole dish; top them with 1/2 the bean filling, then top that with 2 more tortillas, and the second half of the bean filling. Top it with the final 2 tortillas. Press down with a spatula on the top tortillas to seal the layers.
- Bake the lasagna, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes until it is heated through. Cut it into squares with a pizza cutter or serrated knife to serve.
- In a medium bowl, gently toss the diced avocado and tomatoes with the lime juice and salt. Top the lasagna squares with the avocado salsa at the table, if desired.
Scramble Flavor Booster: Use spicy salsa and mince one hot chili pepper or some red onion with the avocados for the salsa.
Tip: To dice an avocado, cut it in half lengthwise and separate the halves. Remove the pit and scoop out the flesh with a large spoon. Put the halves flat side down on a cutting board to dice them.
This sounds delicious!
.-= Bluestocking´s last blog ..The Black Experience =-.
I know! I can’t wait to try it out, but I won’t be hosting for a few months!
Oh yummy….hope you are posting this for Weekend Cooking over at Beth Fish Reads!
.-= Michele´s last blog ..Ugh….Holiday Weekends =-.
Great reminder. I always forget to do that if I don’t post on the weekend.
I have been a HUGE Aviva fan for several years now. I love her cookbooks and her Scramble online service. Great post.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: Review and Giveaway of SOS! by Aviva Goldfarb =-.
This is an introduction to her for me. I will be reviewing the cookbooks, but if this is any indication of her recipes, I am sure that I will love it.
My book club does the same as yours and I am always trying to think of something new and exciting to fix that doesn’t take me all night to prepare. I love the idea of meals for a group that take 30 minutes or less. This Mexican Lasagne would be a big hit with my book club!
.-= Kathleen´s last blog ..Commentary: Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg =-.
I know! I am hosting in a copule of months and I will definitely try these recipes and call it a day!
I just ‘met’ Aviva yesterday at Beth Fish Reads. My bookclub usually meets over coffee, but we have an annual potluck supper each summer. The Mexican Lasagna will be my contribution this year – sounds delicious! I need to take a look at her cookbooks…
Yum, potluck! That is a good idea. We nay have to do that too.
Nicole this looks yummy – and timely, I have book club on Tuesday! I am always struggling to make something delicious but usually have little time to cook. I think I can do this one. Thanks!
The menu sounds delicious! I’m not in a book club, but my bunco group would love that…and my family. Can’t wait to try these recipes. Love how you added the NI, too!