W3 Book Club - "The Alice Network” by Kate Quinn
by Teri E. Popp & Laura Chin, Tastemakers in Residence
Winter gets long in Minnesota (meaning it lasts well into spring sometimes), but nothing gets W3 Book Club members’ blood boiling like an intriguing spy novel! And what could be more exciting than an espionage story based on a real-life, female spy network, aptly called “The Alice Network.”
Juxtaposing the stories of two women—one, a young woman recruited to serve as a spy during WWI in war torn France, and, the other, a pregnant, American, socialite who runs off in London to find her cousin in 1947—Quinn spins a tale of two ladies on missions to help other women in their lives.
Our host for the evening, Laurie, served us a fantastic meal that spies, trudging behind enemy lines, can only dream about. It included:
Appetizers:
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Ludwig (borrowed from Ina Garten’s Shrimp Cocktail Louis recipe) with Tangy Shrimp Louis Sauce
Cunningly Sly Cocktail Sauce
Cream Cheese Dip with Apricots
Raspberry Jam
Spy Worthy Salami with Assorted Cheeses and Crackers
Alice’s Salted Almonds and Red Grapes
Main Entree:
Curried Lentil Tomato Coconut Soup (recipe found at https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/curried-lentil-tomato-and-coconut-soup)
Cheryl’s Fancy Pants Chicken (https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/cheryls-fancy-pants-chicken-52980711)
Rice Christine (https://www.cooks.com/recipe/dl3oh9xu/rice-christine.html)
Sweet Potato Casserole topped with Toasted Pecans and Coconut (https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/sweet-potato-casserole-w-coconut-pecan-topping-14412)
Four Cross Buns
Wines
Samual Robert Winery Pinot Noir
Louis Jadot Rose
Daringly “Dry” Riesling
Riesling
Dessert:
Schokolade German Kringle Cookies (https://www.familycookbookproject.com/recipe/3664146/chocolate-crinkle-cookies-by-americas-test-kitchen.html)
Brandini Toffee, Almond Toffee Bites
Havanna Alfajor Biscuits
Frosted Cappuccino Cookie Bars (https://www.bakefromscratch.com/frosted-cappuccino-cookie-bars/)
Port
So, the next time you’d like to send your certain someone a secret message ala the Alice Network, just load up on lemons and pull out a petticoat like W3 Book Club!! Happy spying!!