TABLED FOR LUNCH, AND A BOOK DISCUSSION

From left, around the table, guest-artist Marilyn Witt, Literary Lounge members Cheryl Coffin, hostess Cindy Bay, Melody Radford, Barb Arford, Christy Luellen. Isn't this party room amazing?

This little table is such a sweet accent to the room. Cindy serves salads and dressings here at this gathering but sometimes it holds dessert.

A unique and pretty fall arrangement by Cindy Bay, of course. Cindy has beautiful artistic touches throughout her home. It shouldn't be surprising because she is an artist herself, along with being a retired nurse and nice lady.

Raspberry-Sage iced tea, Cindy's delicious Chicken Broccoli Casserole and a lettuce-apple salad make for a splendid lunch, followed by homemade Armenian Nutmeg Cake.

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Cover artist, and all-around artist superb, Marilyn Witt autographs one of the books.

Every six weeks or so, the Literary Lounge convenes at members’ homes to discuss their latest read.

Be it a mystery, biography, historical fiction, fantasy or – as luck would have it – inspirational fiction – they talk about their books and so much more.

Friday’s stop was at Cindy Bay’s home. It was unavoidable that some of the discussion centered on her delicious luncheon menu and charming home. And then of course, we asked for recipes and Cindy obliged, even providing blank cards and pens. Member Melody Radford also offered her foolproof Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles and we copied that one too.

Oh, but I digress. That’s what happens when good things are on the table.

At some point in the luncheon, the members decided on the next read, Jim Kraus’s book, “The Dog That Talked to God.”

Previous volumes have included “The Light Between Two Oceans,” and when the movie version came out, they went together; “Ladies With Options,” which Cindy mentioned loving, and “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs.

The reason I was there was pure treat. They read my book, “That Sweet Place: At Home in the Heartland.”

Book sales are a fine thing, programs are labors of love, but for an author to be the guest at a book club venue and discuss obscure details and insider decisions about elements of her own book is, well, yummy. Especially while tasting Cindy’s chicken and broccoli casserole.

Thank you Literary Lounge ladies for reading my book and having me in for the discussion.
Here’s a couple of the recipes that were shared.

Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Cook 2 10 oz. broccoli spears
Add 3 cups boned, cooked chicken
1 can cream chicken soup
     Mix with 2/3 cup mayonnaise, 1/3 cup milk, ½ cup shredded cheddar, 1 tsp. lemon juice, dash of curry. Cover with buttered crumbs (she got these at the Amish store on U.S. 27 at Fountain City, delicious). Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
- From Cindy Bay

Slow Cooker Chicken & Noodles
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans water
2 big chicken breasts, raw
     Cook above items on high 4 hours in slow cooker. Remove chicken; shred. Return chicken to slow cooker. Add 12 oz. uncooked Amish-style noodles. Stir a couple of times within half an hour longer. Serve!
- From Melody Radford