I was recently in charge of my ward's Book Club book-of-the-month. I picked Hands of My Father by Myron Uhlberg. It was actually the book suggested by someone else in the other book club I attend in my old ward! When she told us it was about a young boy growing up with deaf parents, I was intrigued and bought it as soon as I could.
I was also in charge of our refreshments when we gathered back to discuss the book. This, for me, is a dreaded responsibility. I do not cook or bake very well and the thought of feeding other people something that should taste sweet and yummy stressed me out. However, I did find some fun looking recipes in magazines etc. and was curious to try them out. 
First I found this layered cake. But it was layered vertically, which totally freaked me out (in a good way). I got the recipe and tried it. It did not work. But I did end up using it as a regular layered (horizontal) cake which was very rich and tasty.
I also saw these Cheesecake Pops in a magazine and thought it didn't sound so hard. I know how to make cheesecake pretty well so I gave 'em a try. The magazine picture had white chocolate covering with sprinkles which made them look very pretty. I wanted the same look so I used white chocolate. 
They didn't turn out looking like the ones in the magazine and for all that effort I would rather have, at least, tasted the real chocolate. Next time...if there is a next time that is. 
I remember reading it in Jr. High School and loving it. So I thought it would be fun to read it again. Huh. not so much. I got a copy that had alot of footnotes at the bottom; which I liked. Having some explanation for vocabulary and history was helpful. However, it took me forever to read it. Seriously I would read before bed each night and when I was finished I would look at the clock and see that I had read for an hour. Then I would look at the page number and see that I had read five pages. FIVE pages. In ONE hour. Hello, people! That is some slow reading. I would have headaches after reading it and I would be soooo tired. At the book club some people said that they gave up and just watched the movie. And others said that they read the book while watching the movie. Both good suggestions in retrospect. I have actually NEVER seen a movie about R & J 
I did not have it at my house even though I was the "host." My mom offered her house which meant that I didn't have to clean my house. No brainer. I did however make the desserts. Now, I am not an adventurous person. In the kitchen by far. I did have these recipes which I thought looked yummy and decided to make them. Both for the first time and both the day of the club. No room for error here. The first is called Banana-Sour Cream Cake. Its good and different. And the second is just simple chocolate truffles. They were interesting to make and I probably won't make them again but I had a whim and went with it. I served these with Strawberry Breeze. Its one of our family's favorites and its just in the concentrate isle. I thought the flavor would go well with the banana cake. I didn't do anything fancy with it. Just added water and served with ice. 
I was pretty tired when I got home. I am happy that it is done and that I can just go and visit for a while before its my turn again. It was a fun night and I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone (read: into the kitchen) and trying something new.
