San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club
Hiking, Arts & Crafts, Wine Club, Book Club, Cooking, Golf, Poker, Bridge, Bunco, Luncheons
Archive for January, 2008
January 30, 2008 at 9:55 am · Filed under Recipes, Wine Club
Thanks to our host and hostess, Larry & Sharyn, for another GREAT evening with friends at this month’s Wine Appreciation Group get together. This months theme was Stony Ridge Winery at Stoney Creek. The following is a fabulous cake that Sharyn made for us. Not even a crumb was left. It’s a keeper!!!
STONY RIDGE MALVASIA WINE CAKE
1 ¼ C. Malvasia Bianca Wine
1 Pkg. yellow cake mix (no pudding)
1 Small vanilla instant pudding
¾ C. Cooking oil (Canola)
4 Eggs
1 t. Vanilla
¼ C. Sugar
2 t. Cinnamon
½ C. chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter bundt pan and sprinkle with nuts. Mix first six ingredients on high speed for 8 minutes. Pour half of batter into the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, then top with rest of batter.
Bake at 350 for 50 minutes. Let cool 30 minutes before removing from the pan.
Enjoy with a dollop of whipped cream and some chilled Malvasia Bianca Wine.
All you wine drinkers save this date: February 23, Craig & Tracey are hosting a special romantic Valentine Wine Tasting Evening to also celebrate national “Open A Bottle Day” (it’s true!)
Cheers,
Tracey Harper
January 30, 2008 at 8:33 am · Filed under Hiking Club
Hi Newcomer Friday Hikers and Guests,
Today, Jan 18, 2008 we hiked along Mitchell Canyon Trail for 1 hour out and 1 hour back. The hillsides are turning bright green in many places with the Miners Lettuce covering the hillsides along the shady edges of the trail. We also saw our first wildflowers today. On our way to the trail head there was a field of wild mustard blooming and on the side of the trail Barbara spotted a few white Milk Maids making their first appearance of the season. The stream was flowing freely and we took a side trail down to the water to get a closer view of a small waterfall.
Today started off sunny and cool but we quickly shed a layer or two. Today’s hikers were Chris T., Shirley A., Aleta S., Barbara J., Celia M., Kathy I., and Sharon K.
It was good to be back on the trails for me after a short absence. The next hike will be week after next, February 1st.
Afterwards we had lunch at the Bagel Street Cafe. Thank you Kathy for driving today.
Happy Trails, Sharon
January 22, 2008 at 1:28 pm · Filed under Cooking Group
SAUSAGE AND GREEN CHILE STRATA (from the kitchen of Barbara A.)
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese 4 eggs
1 lb. lean pork sausage 2 cups milk
5 slices firm white bread 3/4 tsp. salt
butter 3/4 tsp. chili powder
4 oz. chopped mild green chilies 1/4 tsp. pepper
Lightly butter bread on one side and cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
In a large frying pan brown pork sausage over medium-high heat and drain off excess fat. Sprinkle half the bread cubes evenly in bottom of a buttered baking dish (about 7 by 11 inches). Sprinkle with half the shredded cheese and half the can of green chilies. Cover with sausage. Top with remaining bread cubes, cheese and chilies.
Beat together eggs, milk and seasonings and pour evenly over bread. Cover tightly and chill overnight or at least 8 hours. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until golden brown and set in center. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
January 16, 2008 at 11:38 am · Filed under Hiking Club
We didn’t see the sun on the Friday hike but it didn’t rain either. We walked around the Lafayette Reservoir twice, a total of about 4 ½ miles. It was just great to be out in the fresh air and see everyone again.
The Christmas tree was still decorated with treats for the birds and squirrels, as well as colorful Christmas ornaments. What a treat!
Jackie, thank you for driving. Hiking was Shirley, Claudia, Cecilia, Cindy, Aleta, and Barbara. We all enjoyed salad and pizza in Lafayette, and StarBucks afterwards to warm-up. Sharon said there will be a hike next Friday.
Thanks – Barbara Jackson
January 14, 2008 at 7:54 am · Filed under Coffee Brunch, Luncheon
San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club Requests
The pleasure of your company at the Winter Welcome Coffee
Friday February 8, 2008
At 10:00 – 1200 noon
At the home of Pat Shockley
419 Summer Creek Lane
San Ramon, CA
RSVP: Pat Shockley 925-867-1533
It is the perfect time of year to start the day with some friendly conversation over coffee and some homemade treats. Learn all about what this fun social club has to offer, while making some new friendships. There are many upcoming social events planned for us, including Arts &Crafts, Books, Bridge, Bunco, Cooking, Gad-Abouts, Golf, Beginning Golf, Lunch Bunch, Mah-Jongg, Needlework,and Hiking.
Whether you are new to the area, or a long time resident, we welcome you and look forward to meeting you.
Please join us! (Interested friends and neighbors are also most welcome!)
Directions to Pat’s: Exit 680, at Bollinger Canyon Rd. and go EAST on Bollinger Canyon Rd.; RIGHT on Alcosta Blvd., RIGHT at second traffic light called North Summerwood Loop ; RIGHT on the “fifth street” called Summer Creek Lane
January 14, 2008 at 7:50 am · Filed under Book Club
Its time to order your book for March: www.amazon.com
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
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349 of 367 people found the following review helpful:
“Do you intend to tell me the truth?”
Vida Winter, England’s most famous and reclusive writer, is nearing the end, and before she goes she wants her amazing life story to be recorded for posterity. For this, she engages a lonely young biographer, Margaret Lea, who has a few secrets of her own. When these two forceful women meet, the stage is set for an ever-mounting series of shocking surprises…
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January 11, 2008 at 8:49 am · Filed under Luncheon
For February: We have Dora Sorell, a renowned bay area Holocaust survivor and author of Tell the Children, Letters to Miriam
. She will speak on her exprience in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Amazon.com review: An absorbing personal history by a survivor, December 7, 1998
By A Customer: Tell the Children is a vivid story so well told that it is hard to believe its author is not a professional writer. Dora Sorell was taken by the Nazis from her home in a Romanian village to some of the worst concentration camps, where she managed not only to survive but also to be reunited with her childhood sweetheart, to become a physician, to experience years of almost unimaginable horror under Communist rule, and to escape successively to Italy, Brazil, and finally the United States. Her chronicle, presented as letters to her granddaughter, benefits from sharp perception, a powerful memory, an extraordinary interest in the people around her (including a large and interesting family), and a genuine ability at storytelling. Unpretentious as she is, Dora Sorell is a heroic woman. Her book is unpreachy and unsentimental but deeply felt, and for me it made a lot of modern history seem real for as if the first time.
For March: Stephen Ronan M.D. F. A. C. S. of Blackhawk Plastic Surgery and Pam Linney Of Radiance Day Spa will be our speakers. They will speaking on skin care including Non-Surgical Skin Tightening and Dr. Ronan will speak on plastic Surgery including Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), short scar face lift, eyelid brow lift, Botox & Restylane, Laser rejuvenation, etc. Click here for more info: www.blackhawkplasticsurgery.com
For May: We are going to Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore in which they will have a planting demonstration and we will have our installation of the new board.
Alden Lane Nursery is a full service garden center with a wonderful selection of plant materials and garden accessories serving the community since 1955, but the real beauty of Alden Lane is its setting. Situated amongst centuries-old valley oak trees on the south side of the Livermore Valley, Alden Lane Nursery is a destination for peaceful inspiration. Click here for more info: www.aldenlane.com
January 11, 2008 at 8:26 am · Filed under Book Club
You still have time to order your book for February (follow link).
Our book will be Water for Elephants by Suara Gruen
We welcome new members, so think about attending one of our meetings.
If you have any questions, please call the Chairperson, Suzanne Ziarnik.
