Weekend Coffee Share

Tags

Chicago, cookbook club, cooking, Corpus Christi, libraries, St. Catherine of Siena

If we were having coffee, I’d ask you to join me at the afternoon Cookbook Club. Since school’s out I was able to attend. This month the theme was fireside cooking.

When I went to the library to pick up the books, they didn’t have the X one and I didn’t have a cast-iron skillet so I went in a different direction and made a delicious Strawberry Basil Refresher. This drink was easy to make and didn’t require esoteric ingredients. It wasn’t too sweet. I brought a syrup that people who wanted it sweeter could add, but I liked that was tart and herbal.

Eleven foodies attended and I really liked the Olive Oil Thumbprint Cookies, which tasted more savory than sweet, the veggie burger patty, a meatball dish with pine nuts, zucchini with pesto and more.

Closed

The last few years I’ve been photographing churches and this Sunday I went to St. Catherine of Siena in Oak Park, because it was closing. Sunday was its last mass.

Corpus Christi

Volunteers from St. John Cantius Parish, from Chicago Catholic.

St. John Cantius always does a beautiful job on holidays like Corpus Christi so I went there for mass. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to stay for the full procession.

A previous year

Reading

I’m enjoying Olav Audunssøn: Crossroads. After his wife dies, Olav leaves his two children and property in the care of his servants while he travels to London. Adventure ensues. I conniver predict what will happen. Bravo, Sigrid Undsett.

To see more Coffee Shares, visit Natalie’s blog.

Weekend Coffee Share

Tags

charcuterie, Chicago, Christmas, cooking, holidays, libraries, movies

If we were having coffee, I might ask you to help me bake or wrap cookies. I’m at the stage when I realize I can’t make as many cookies as I thought and it’s time to get wrapping.

I’d tell you that I went to a Making Charcuterie Board lesson at a nearby library. I learned that you should put nuts in a container for people with allergies. This way the nuts won’t contaminate the other offerings. We learned about placing the items. Our instructor doesn’t believe in putting crackers on the board. Put them elsewhere.

On Saturday I went to a Nine Carols performance to prepare for Christmas. The singing was outstanding. Nine Bible readings and carols were shared.

Before the carols started

Sunday was my friend’s almost annual White Christmas Party. We started at a pizza place by the theater. My friend added to decorations with things Christmas tree-shaped chalkboards with movie quotes on them and movie posters. She recreated props from the film.

After lunch we walked to the theater. Before the show started the organist played carols while carolers and Santa led us in song. They showed the nostalgic Suzy Snowflake film. Throughout the movie people yelled out jovial wisecracks or made sound effects. It’s one of the most joyful events of my year.