Questionaire - Amanda

Test Test

Book Club:
1) What is your vision for book club?
2) What do you hope to get out of the club? What do you hope to contribute?
3) Suggest one helpful guideline for discussion.

Books:
4) What are a few of your favorite books?
5) How much do you typically read? (for example: # of books/week or month or year)
6) What is your most commonly read genre? what is your least favorite genre? What genre have you never really read (and maybe always wanted to..) ?
7) What kind of books would you like to read in book club? More of your favorites? Something new? Any specific titles?
8) What characteristics does a book need to make it a good discussion book?

Cooks:
9) Do you like to cook/bake? What are you favorite things to make/eat?
10) Do you like to experiment with new recipes, ingredients or cooking techniques? Would you like to cook/bake or eat new things in book club?
11) What kind of menus would you like to see in book club? Would you prefer low-effort, simple snacks or more inventive meals? Or some of both?
12) Give an example of a book that you've read and a dish that you could serve with that book to enhance the experience.

Questionnare - Melissa

Book Club:
1) What is your vision for book club? To read good/great books
2) What do you hope to get out of the club? What do you hope to contribute? Hope to read books never thought to read. Hope to contribute some good books I have read
3) Suggest one helpful guideline for discussion. To read the book before the meetings (probably an obvious one)

Books:
4) What are a few of your favorite books? The Thorn Birds, The Forgotton garden, The Help, To kill a Mockingbird
5) How much do you typically read? (for example: # of books/week or month or year) 2-4 a month, depending on how much housework can be put off :)
6) What is your most commonly read genre? what is your least favorite genre? What genre have you never really read (and maybe always wanted to..) Like literature classics, historical fiction, realistic fiction.Least favourite would have to be science fiction. Some more Mystery would be interesting
7) What kind of books would you like to read in book club? More of your favorites? Something new? Any specific titles? Open to try anything. Titana de Rosnay new book A Secret Kept I think I would like
8) What characteristics does a book need to make it a good discussion book? Controversial topic is good, can take you away to a far away place.

Cooks:
9) Do you like to cook/bake? What are you favorite things to make/eat? I like to do both, Right now I love eating Thai food but am also a big sweets person:)
10) Do you like to experiment with new recipes, ingredients or cooking techniques? Would you like to cook/bake or eat new things in book club? Love to experiment. Would either cook or bake does not matter and ofcourse EAT!
11) What kind of menus would you like to see in book club? Would you prefer low-effort, simple snacks or more inventive meals? Or some of both? Some of both
12) Give an example of a book that you've read and a dish that you could serve with that book to enhance the experience? The Help- Caramel cake Sarah's Key-matzah ball soup

Questionnaire - Kate

bibliophile (n) a person who loves (and usually collects) books

A bibliophile has books on her wish list. What books were under the tree for you this year?

Just one this year: Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Wall

A bibliophile has a book on the go. What are you reading lately?

Just finished Reading Lolita in Tehran
And I’ve already started on Diary of an Ordinary Woman… so far so good!

A bibliophile can't resist passing books around. What's the last book you loaned out or borrowed?

I loaned The Book Thief to Tessa and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson to my sister-in-law.

I just finished The Distant Hours by Kate Morton if anyone wants to borrow my copy!

A bibliophile has a "must read" list on the go. What's on your must-read-list for 2011?

Last Christmas, my Mom gave me all 4 books from Paul Scott’s Raj Quartet and I haven’t touched them yet. I’d like to get through at least the first one, Jewel in the Crown, this year.

A bibliophile loves to talk about books. Write a short (1-2 paragraphs is fine) review of a recently read book telling us what you liked and/or disliked about it. No PhD in English Lit, required. :-)

I recently read Hannah’s Dream by Diane Hammond and I LOVED it! It’s basically a love story between a man and an elephant. Sounds weird when I put it like that, but I promise it’s not. Sam has been taking care of Hannah, the Max L. Biedelman Zoo's star elephant for 41 years. Sam’s health is declining and he needs to retire, but he can’t do that without knowing that Hannah is going to be well taken care of. This is the story of the people who love Hannah and what they have to do to save her, even if it costs them dearly. This book is full of lovable characters and it will make you see zoos in a new light.

Questionaire - Tessa

bibliophile (n) a person who loves (and usually collects) books

• A bibliophile has books on her wish list. What books were under the tree for you this year?

               - Room by Emma Donoghue
               - Cook with Jamie by Jamie Oliver

• A bibliophile has a book on the go. What are you reading lately?

                - Self by Yann Martel (coffee table)
                - A Hail of Arrows... kid's novel (bedside table)
                - Kid Concoctions and Contraptions... to review for school library (computer desk)
                - Cook with Jamie (kitchen counter)
                - Macleans year end issue... not really a book, but reading material none the less  (laundry room)

• A bibliophile can't resist passing books around. What's the last book you loaned out or borrowed?

                  - borrowed from Kate: The Book Theif
                  - loaned to Sherrie: Reading Lolita in Tehran
                  - still mysteriously missing: American Pie... remember that book about eating pie and 
                    travelling around the US.  Anyone have my copy?

• A bibliophile has a "must read" list on the go. What's on your must-read-list for 2011?

              - my youngest brother stayed with us for a week over the holidays and was happily reading
             Dickens (David Copperfield) and he thought that it was time for me to give Dickens another try.   
            So, that my plan: at least 2 Dickens books in 2011. 

• A bibliophile loves to talk about books. Write a short (1-2 paragraphs is fine) review of a recently read book telling us what you liked and/or disliked about it. No PhD in English Lit, required. :-)

              ya. about that.  you're all likely sick of hearing about my books, so I'll let the rest of the book
             club have a go at this one.  Unless I can't resist....

Questionaire - Thea

Looks like I am!! I got a copy of "The Secret Daughter" and the double Charles Dickens book.


2. I am reading Edward Rutherford`s "New York" and "Reading Lolita in Tehran" at the same time.

3. The last book I lent out was John Grisham`s "The Confession" (yawn)and Jan Guillou's first book in his Crusades Trilogy - "The Road to Jerusalem".

4. Bernard Cornwell "The Burning Land", Ken Follett's "Fall of Giants", the Dickens Omnibus, haven't thought any further than that!

5. I really enjoy Edward Rutherford, although his style is predictable. He starts off telling the story of a place, how it was established, as well as the whys and wherefores. He begins with a few key people/families, and throughout his epic tomes, progeny from these families keep coming forward. It's an interesting style, as sometimes you lose track of any given character and somehow he always manages to tell their story, even if it's in the most unexpected or underhanded way.

Historical figures come to life in his books. Right now, in "New York" the characters of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln come to life, and you learn things about these men that are not well known. He re-frames historical events in a fictional way, embellishing and fleshing the stories out to build interest. In an entertaining way the author teaches you historical events, yet the entire story is knit together.

Rutherford's characters are believable and human. They make mistakes, do reprehensible deeds, feel pain and joy, and are drawn into intrigue and drama. And throughout the book, the place in questions is explained and developed.

I never hesitate when I see a new Rutherford novel published. I buy them immediately

Questionaire - Are you a Bibliophile?

It's been a while, so here's a new questionaire!  Just copy and paste this into a new post and answer the questions in a different color/font and have a little fun with it....

bibliophile (n) a person who loves (and usually collects) books

1.  A bibliophile has books on her wish list.  What books were under the tree for you this year?
2. A bibliophile has a book on the go. What are you reading lately?
3. A bibliophile can't resist passing books around.  What's the last book you loaned out or borrowed?
4. A bibliophile has a "must read" list on the go.  What's on your must-read-list for 2011?
5. A bibliophile loves to talk about books.  Write a short (1-2 paragraphs is fine) review of a recently read book telling us what you liked and/or disliked about it.  No PhD in English Lit, required.  :-)

Hospitality Questionnaire - Erin

1. How often do you have company in your home (per week/month/year)?

We have company about a couple of times a month. It seems like almost every weekend in the summer.

2. What do you enjoy about hosting? What do you dislike?

I enjoy having a busy house and seeing other enjoy themselves. I love to sit and chat with people and i love to bake.

I'm not a huge fan of cooking and end up stressing a bit about what to make for dinner if they are dinner guests. I always want to make something that is slightly different (not extravagant), and then stress about making sure there is enough food (with paul saying that it would be too much food).

What i dislike about it is i feel like i don't get the chance to sit and chat and really visit. Between getting things ready and dealing with kids it sometimes feels like i haven't been able to have a good conversation with anyone (but i know that will change as the kids get older).

3. Name 2 things that you do for company/before company arrives, that you rarely/never do otherwise?

Before company arrives i mostly tidy up the kids toys, and clean the kitchen counter. I also straighten out the couch cushions. When we were first married i used to make sure the house was spotless. Clean like crazy, wash all the floors etc. I have since learned to let that go and make sure everything is clean, but not spotless.

4. What is on your "last-minute check list" right before the door bell rings?

Again this is just throwing some of the kids toys upstairs. I also have a kid that doesn't flush so i really should go around and check the toilets. I'll be adding that one to my check list.

5. What is your favourite "event" to host? (for example: coffee, a meal, evening, over-nighter, family/friends, outdoor/indoor, casual/formal...etc)

I love casual outdoor bbq's in the summer. I also like having people over for coffee. When my kids are old enough i think sleepovers would be fun.

Hospitality Questionaire- Sherrie

1. How often do you have company in your home (per week/month/year)?

It really seems to vary for us depending on the season of the year - we definitely host more in the summer season, and during the holidays. Including family (my husbands, primarily, as my family lives in the US), we have company to our home 2-3 times/month.

2. What do you enjoy about hosting? What do you dislike?

I love to cook and bake for others, and I especially like sending people home with the leftovers so I don't have to wrestle with storing all of those leftovers in my already crowded refrigerator :) For hosting, though, I most enjoy the conversations that embark when you sit down with family and friends. Even though we see some family members and friends quite often, it is only when we all sit down together that we actually take the time to listen and learn more about who we all are.

There isn't much that I dislike about hosting, or else I wouldn't do it. Ever since Tessa mentioned this book to us many months ago, I've tried to let go of the idea that the house needs to be spotless before company arrives, so that has helped to alleviate some of that "prep stress" that used to happen so often ... For me, I always wish I had more time to make the visit more special - but with 3 little ones underfoot I've accepted that to be an impossible task for now: conversations will inevitably be interrupted, strings of thought will be lost time and time again, and there will no doubt be pee splatters in one of the bathrooms in the house :)

3. Name 2 things that you do for company/before company arrives, that you rarely/never do otherwise.

For one, we'll eat in the dining room, which we only do when company is coming as it fits more people than the table in our "eat-in" kitchen ... I can't reach all of the kids' faces with the washcloth when we're at the larger table :)
Second, I like to have fresh flowers in the house when we're expecting company, whether from the garden or store bought.

4. What is on your "last-minute check list" right before the door bell rings?

Tidy the bathroom, make sure drinks are in the refrigerator, and appetizers are ready to go.

5.What is your favorite "event" to host? ( for example: coffee, a meal, evening, over-nightter, family/friends, outdoor/indoor, casual/formal... etc)

I most love to have company during the Christmas holiday season - my husband and I both love winter and the entire Christmas holiday season, and we've even been known to stretch the invites well into January to extend the season for ourselves :) I definitely prefer the more casual format with a buffet of food on the table, versus a "sit down formal" meal ... it just seems less stuffy when people are sitting all over the place with plates on their laps, versus everyone sitting around the dinner table.

Hosptality Questionnaire - Thea

1. How often do you have company in your home (per week/month/year)?

I have two answers for every question, before and since. Because my home has definitely changed in the last 8 months. Everything changed, and so did my entertaining habits.

Before, we used to entertain at least once or twice per month. We would have family or friends over for coffee, or an evening including dinner, conversation and even games. 

Since, entertaining has definitely happened more like once every two or three months. Of course when we're talking family members, it's more like twice a week. There has been a lot of changes happening in my home, renos and building etc. so once the dust has settled, I'm hoping to open my home up a little more often.

2. What do you enjoy about hosting? What do you dislike?

Before - conversation, getting to know people better, relaxing and enjoying and laughing. Preparing good food and fancy drinks. Getting out my fine china and using it.

Since - hard to say. When I had book club, I really enjoyed the conversation, but I was more nervous about making sure everything was looking great.

3. Name 2 things that you do for company/before company arrives, that you rarely/never do otherwise.

I make lists to ensure I don't forget anything, and I also get everything ready during the day before the arrival time, and make sure everything is timed correctly. I never do that on a regular basis.

4. What is on your "last-minute check list" right before the door bell rings?

Everything is shining, ready and in it's place, and all the tea lights/candles are lit if it's an evening affair. I clean too, but I'm not obsessive about it.

5.What is your favorite "event" to host? ( for example: coffee, a meal, evening, over-nightter, family/friends, outdoor/indoor, casual/formal... etc)

A fun Christmas party. When people dress up, come out, act all sophisticated and go home full of good food, wonderful wine/drinks and a glow because they enjoyed themselves so much. I (used to) adore that time of year. Hopefully that will return someday and my Christmas parties will once again be the "event of the year"!

Hospitality Questionaire: Tessa

1. How often do you have company in your home (per week/month/year)?
 2-4 times a month... I try to have company once a weekend (either Fri evening or Sat or Sunday coffee/lunch)


2. What do you enjoy about hosting? What do you dislike?
I like the way that you get to know people in the intimacy of your home the way that you never would at a social function or a public place like a restaurant.  How many times have Jon and I asked each other "what are we going to talk about with them?" only to discover that the conversation lasts as we walk them out the door!  I just wish I wouldn't fuss so much over my housekeeping... or worse, avoid inviting someone b/c my house is not perfect or I don't have anything "fancy enough" to serve to company.

3. Name 2 IRRATIONAL things that you do for company/before company arrives, that you rarely/never do otherwise.
- looks for spider webs and dust... ordinarily, I don't even notice, but what if company sees!?
- put all the toys in the playroom/bedrooms... my kids play in the livingroom all the time, but I like all the toys to "disappear" before company comes.  I'm not sure why I bother: people know we have kids, and the toys usually drift back out while the company is here anyways.
4. What is on your "last-minute check list" right before the door bell rings?
- check the bathroom (I have a non-flushing kid!)
- check the kitchen counters (make sure they're still clear... things have a tendancy to collect beside the sink)
- make sure the light at the front door is on (it's really dark in the country at night)
5.What is your favorite "event" to host? ( for example: coffee, a meal, evening, over-nightter, family/friends, outdoor/indoor, casual/formal... etc)
- for kids, I'm a sleepover kinda mom.  I like the slow pace of a sleepover playdate on a Friday afterschool to Saturday afternoon.  It gives me a great chance to really get to know my kids' friends.
- I love an outdoor summer bbq with another family or a group of families.  I like the casual atmosphere - the potluck, kids tearing all over the yard, guys playing bocce while drinking beer, ladies tossing salads and chatting, the drippy ice-cream cones.
- I like dinner and a hot tub night too.... a more formal, more fancy late dinner once the kids are off the bed, and then a soak, and then back inside for a light, cold dessert.
- my biggest hosting challenge was having my family stay (anywhere from 2 to 22 extras) over the course of a month last summer.  My family was great, and so helpful: I learned to chill out and go with the flow; and we went through a lot of milk, bread and eggs that month! 

Hospitality Questionnaire- Karen

April 2010: Questionaire
1. How often do you have company in your home (per week/month/year)?

We have company at least once per week- a lot of them teenagers/young adults because of the ages of our children.

As far as grownup company it would be a couple of times per month.




2. What do you enjoy about hosting? What do you dislike?

I enjoy the sitting and chatting with people in my home. (I also love the fact that I am just 15 steps away from my bed at the end of the night and do not have to drive home first)
I dislike the self-imposed thought that everything needs to be spic and span! (although as I age I am relaxing my thoughts on the "crazy clean -company's coming")

3. Name 2 things that you do for company/before company arrives, that you rarely/never do otherwise.

Everything is completely cleaned up and in its place on my kitchen counters.- I'm having trouble thinking of a second one here!!


4. What is on your "last-minute check list" right before the door bell rings?

Check those counters
Make sure there are clean towels hanging in the bathroom

5.What is your favorite "event" to host? ( for example: coffee, a meal, evening, over-nightter, family/friends, outdoor/indoor, casual/formal... etc)

I also love summer entertaining. I also enjoy hosting big family dinners i.e. Christmas/Easter, although I have gotten much more relaxed with that as well- a sit down dinner for 25 plus is not as daunting after doing it few times round.

Hospitality Questionaire - Kate

1. How often do you have company in your home (per week/month/year)?

Probably a couple times a month, either having a friend over for coffee or friends over for dinner. I definitely felt convicted by some of the things Karen had to say about hospitality. We should open our home to others more often than we do, but I put pressure on myself to have the house spotless and the food/drinks to be "just right." I should really let that go - I'd probably enjoy hosting more and invite people over a lot more often.

2. What do you enjoy about hosting? What do you dislike?

I enjoy making good food for people who really enjoy it - that's definitely very rewarding.

I dislike all the tidying and prep, but again, that's pressure that I put on myself.

3. Name 2 things that you do for company/before company arrives, that you rarely/never do otherwise.

Our house is never as tidy as when we have company. Funny (or maybe sad?) that we keep our house nicer for guests than we do for ourselves.

Get the dog under control/out of the way. An over-excited, hairy dog is not how I want our guests to be greeted.

4. What is on your "last-minute check list" right before the door bell rings?

Dealing with the dog

Giving the bathroom a once-over
Making a pot of coffee/Making sure there's plenty of cold beer/wine in the fridge

5.What is your favorite "event" to host? ( for example: coffee, a meal, evening, over-nightter, family/friends, outdoor/indoor, casual/formal... etc)

I definitely prefer to have people over for a BBQ in the summer, so we can be outside. We have a pool, so we love having people over to enjoy it. Plus, the mess can be (mostly) contained to the outside. And it just seems more casual - I like that!

April 2010: Questionaire

1.  How often do you have company in your home (per week/month/year)?

2. What do you enjoy about hosting?  What do you dislike?

3. Name 2 things that you do for company/before company arrives, that you rarely/never do otherwise.

4.  What is on your "last-minute check list" right before the door bell rings?

5.What is your favorite "event" to host?  ( for example: coffee, a meal, evening, over-nightter, family/friends, outdoor/indoor, casual/formal... etc)

* Hey ladies - just copy and paste the questions in a new post and type your answers in a different color!  Try to have the questionaire done BEFORE the April meeting to get us thinking about hospitality.  And have fun...

Questionnaire: Sherrie

"Food for Thought:"

1) When you think healthy food, what is the first food that comes to your mind?
Blueberries - I came upon a list some time ago with a listing of healthy foods, and blueberries were listed as number 1 because of all the vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, etc. that are packed into them.

2) What is the strangest food you've ever eaten?
There are some foods that seem strange to some, but quite ordinary to others. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, in a family of hunters, we feasted on all kinds of wild (free!) game. I became quite accustomed to eating rabbit, venison and bear to name a few, and my mom was the master chef in preparing this fresh game in a variety of ways to tempt even the pickiest of eaters. Though that was quite ordinary in our community - it wasn't until I was older that I realized those foods weren't quite so customary to others.

3) Name one healthy food that you could eat every day.
Strawberries, without a doubt. Great in cereal, on top of yogurt and with shortcake for dessert. See? You could eat them at every meal of the day!

4) Name one healthy food you know you should eat, but just can't stomach.
Tomatoes in their "natural" form - I can eat them in salads and as a garnish on sandwiches, and of course, in sauces, but have never been able to just pick up a tomato and take a bit out of it like an apple. Yuck! And to Tessa's comment about beets - I love them! I could list that on the above question about a food I could eat every day. :)

5) On a scale of 1 to 10, how healthy do you think you eat? (1 being nothing but McD's and potato chips, 10 being nothing but health food)
It's all relative, I suppose. Compared to some people, I would probably look like a very healthy eater, but to others, perhaps not so much. I don't buy any cookies or potato chips (except for parties), I don't drink any soda, coffee or sweetened juices, and I don't drink or eat anything with artificial sweeteners (mostly because I don't like the taste of it). But that doesn't mean I eat healthy all of the time either. My boys and I bake cookies or cake on most weekends, and we indulge in a trip to "Timmy's" after church on some Sundays. We do have fruit or veggies at every table sitting (though they don't always eat them :) With that said, I'd probably give myself a 7 on the scale from 1 to 10.

6) Organic - better for you?
I believe so, and I choose to buy organic on any foods that are in their natural state (or close to it), like fruits and vegetables (when I can find them), milk, eggs, honey, sugar, etc. Yes, it's much more expensive ($10 for a bag of milk - and when you're going through 4-5 bags/week, that adds up quickly!), but I figure if I can do it, I will. If I had to cut expenses, then I'd buy the regular and not worry about it in the least. I don't know if it makes any difference, or if it ever will, but I figure it's certainly not any worse for me than the regular version.

7) Local - better for you?
Yes, I think so. And I choose to buy local whenever I can. The same as Tessa remarked, though, I'm not willing to go without pineapples, avocados, bananas, etc. because they're not grown locally. Once I joined a food delivery service that delivered locally grown produce on a weekly basis, year-round (Plan B was the name of the service). But in the winter time I could only eat so much kale, collards, and other things that I didn't even know what they were, or what to do with them. In attempt to stop wasting so much produce, I had a "drop out" of the service :)

8) Home grown/home made - better for you?
Yes, I believe so. Doesn't this go back to the other book we read over the summer about pie? Nutrition aside, there's another "x-factor" that makes home-grown and home-made seem better for you. At least, you can control what's going into your food and you can always pronounce all the ingredients in your recipe.

9) Ever tried a fad diet? How did it work out for you? Would you do it again?
No.

10) What is one thing that you would like to change this coming year to eat healthier?
Eat more fruits and veggies, drink more water, and more whole grain rice/pasta.

Bonus points: name any book (or cookbook?) that inspires you to eat healthier.
"In Defense of Food, An Eater's Manifesto" by Michael Pollan.
And for those of us with picky eaters, I like to use the recipes in Jessica Seinfeld's recipe book, titled, "Deceptively Delicious," with recipes like chocolate brownies with spinach, and hot chocolate sweetened with sweet potatoes (it's delicious!).

1) When you think healthy food, what is the first food that comes to your mind?
Plain yogurt (no sugar added )

2) What is the strangest food you've ever eaten?
Mussels- I am not a seafood kind of person

3) Name one healthy food that you could eat every day.
Yogurt with fruit and kashi go lean cereal (I know, three foods but it all ends up in one bowl)

4) Name one healthy food you know you should eat, but just can't stomach.
Seafood

5) On a scale of 1 to 10, how healthy do you think you eat? (1 being nothing but McD's and potato chips, 10 being nothing but health food)
7 or 8

6) Organic - better for you?
I don't know, I am somewhat skeptical, I would really have to do some homework to come up with a educated answer on this one.

7) Local - better for you?
I think so, it does not sit in a truck for hours before it ends up on the shelves, I love the local farmers market in the summer.

8) Home grown/home made - better for you?
Most definitly.

9) Ever tried a fad diet? How did it work out for you? Would you do it again?
I have honestly never tried one, I have thought about it several times, but am not sure that I would have the discipline to make it through more than a day.

10) What is one thing that you would like to change this coming year to eat healthier?
Bonus points: name any book (or cookbook?) that inspires you to eat healthier.

More fruits and veggies, and just cutting some of the sugar out of the diet.

I have enjoyed the "Looney Spoons" cookbooks, and found some decent recipes in them.

Food for Thought -- Chandra

Here is some "Food for Thought:"

1) When you think healthy food, what is the first food that comes to your mind?
Brown rice -- which I happen to like. :o)

2) What is the strangest food you've ever eaten?
Ummmmmmm...I'm not really into strange food. The most bizarre was perhaps the buns in the Dominican Republic on our Faithworks trip in 1997 -- which had live ants inside of them. Yuck!

3) Name one healthy food that you could eat every day.
Chocolate. What, it's supposed to be good for your heart!! Otherwise, yogurt.

4) Name one healthy food you know you should eat, but just can't stomach.
Fish. I like canned tuna, but that's it.

5) On a scale of 1 to 10, how healthy do you think you eat? (1 being nothing but McD's and potato chips, 10 being nothing but health food)
Tough one. Meals are about an 8 or 8.5; salad with most meals, whole grains, steamed veggies, etc... But there's a lot of chocolate and chips in the house that call my name, much as I struggle to resist. (BTW, these items are brought in by Pete, not me!) But we eat a lot of fruits and veggies for snacks as well.

6) Organic - better for you?
I couldn't care less...to be totally honest!! :P Probably should care, but I just don't...

7) Local - better for you?
Fresher, anyway, which probably equates to better.

8) Home grown/home made - better for you?
Definitely. Tastier, too.

9) Ever tried a fad diet? How did it work out for you? Would you do it again?
Cabbage soup. Slim fast. I think that's it. Neither worked. Weight Watchers works...if I do it right...

10) What is one thing that you would like to change this coming year to eat healthier?
Refuse to answer when the junk calls my name.

Bonus points: name any book (or cookbook?) that inspires you to eat healthier.
Well, certainly not Gesundheit! I'm finding this very painful slogging through it... :P

Questionaire: Tessa

"Food for Thought:"

1) When you think healthy food, what is the first food that comes to your mind?
broccoli... always broccoli. Mmmmmm... I love broccoli.

2) What is the strangest food you've ever eaten?
raw oysters and eel on on that list for sure... I have also eaten some pretty strange types of mushrooms

3) Name one healthy food that you could eat every day.
yogurt used to be on my list, before I became lactose intolerant. Do eggs count as healthy food? I could eat eggs everyday (and I nearly do)

4) Name one healthy food you know you should eat, but just can't stomach.
beets... I know, I know... "Eat Your Colors!" but beets make me want to hurl

5) On a scale of 1 to 10, how healthy do you think you eat? (1 being nothing but McD's and potato chips, 10 being nothing but health food)
I give myself a 6-7... I don't eat a lot of processed foods; I make a lot of things from scatch, but since my GI surgery, I have a hard time eating enough fruits and vegetables. We eat fish at least once a week, and I serve a meatless dinner once a week. I drink a lot of water (5-6 glasses a day), but still need a diet coke (or two) each day.

6) Organic - better for you?
maybe... but I think this word is used pretty loosely. And there is nothing healthy about "organic potato chips!"

7) Local - better for you?
I think so... I'm sure that the tomatoes picked from the garden in my backyard in August are more vitamin packed than those pale beauties shipped up from California in the middle of winter. But am I willing to live without bananas or avacodos just to brag that I eat local? No way. There's still good for me even if they come from from away, but when I have the option, I try to load up on what is seasonally available right here where "good things groooow in Ontario!"

8) Home grown/home made - better for you?
I think so. There is nothing wrong with using a mix or shortcut or eating a treat from a box now and then, but I nearly aways prefer the taste of something made from scratch, and I worry about eating things that I cannot pronounce.

9) Ever tried a fad diet? How did it work out for you? Would you do it again?
ya... sure... haven't we all? you see dramatic short term results, but you can't keep it up, and it doesn't last and you're right back where you started. I like to think that I'll never do it again, but I know I will. Ahh weight loss... my sisyphisian friend...

10) What is one thing that you would like to change this coming year to eat healthier?
I gotta get those fruits and veggies in my diet, but I can't just grab an apple and eat it. I discovered that i need to eat my veggies in a "Low-Residue" way... basically, more cooked and/or pureed and hidden in foods. I figure that can only be good for my kiddies, too. So, more fruit shakes or smoothies. More smooth vegetable soups. More pureed veggies hidden in meals.


Bonus points: name any book (or cookbook?) that inspires you to eat healthier.
I love this site "from Asparagus to Zucchini" for more veggie ideas.
http://kitchen-parade-veggieventure.blogspot.com/ (and she even includes WW point values many times, for those who like to keep track that way!)

Questionnaire - Kate

1) When you think healthy food, what is the first food that comes to your mind?

Spinach

2) What is the strangest food you've ever eaten?

It's really not that strange, but I used to get made fun of for having Branston Pickle on my sandwiches when I was at school. Branston Pickle is a British chutney that I still love to this day (and I've even converted Mike), but the kids used to say I had snails on my sandwich.

3) Name one healthy food that you could eat every day.

I'm gonna agree with the others - yoghurt.

4) Name one healthy food you know you should eat, but just can't stomach.

I'm having trouble thinking of anything for this question. Tessa said beets and I don't think I like them, but I'm not sure I've ever actually tried them.

5) On a scale of 1 to 10, how healthy do you think you eat? (1 being nothing but McD's and potato chips, 10 being nothing but health food)

I'd give myself a 7. I try to eat pretty healthy foods and I never eat at fast food restaurants, but I'm by no means a health food nut. And I have no will power when it comes to sweets and cheese!

6) Organic - better for you?

After watching the documentary "Food Inc." over the holidays, I looked into the health benefits of organic and I wasn't convinced that it's that much better for you. I'm still a little unsure of what exactly constitutes "organic". Seems to be a buzz word at the moment.

I would be interested in learning more about this if anyone has any info.

7) Local - better for you?

I definitely think that local foods are better for you and I think it's important to support local farmers (again, "Food Inc." really enforced this). It's so much better when foods can ripen on the vine instead of on the way to the store.

8) Home grown/home made - better for you?

Again, yep. And it tastes better and it's better for your budget!

9) Ever tried a fad diet? How did it work out for you? Would you do it again?

I'm not a diet person at all. I'd much rather exercise, so I can eat what I want. I love food too much to deprive myself of it!

10) What is one thing that you would like to change this coming year to eat healthier?

Drink more water!

I think I remember Sherrie telling us about "In Defense of Food" before...maybe this would be a good book to study one month?

January 2010 - Questionaire

Please copy and paste this questionaire into a new post, add "Questionaire" and

your name under "labels" and answer the questions in a color of your choice!

Patch Adams talks about all kinds of things that are necessary for keeping healthy... and it's not all about knowing the magic foods or taking the magic pill.

Here is some "Food for Thought:"

1) When you think healthy food, what is the first food that comes to your mind?
2) What is the strangest food you've ever eaten?
3) Name one healthy food that you could eat every day.
4) Name one healthy food you know you should eat, but just can't stomach.
5) On a scale of 1 to 10, how healthy do you think you eat? (1 being nothing but McD's and potato chips, 10 being nothing but health food)
6) Organic - better for you?
7) Local - better for you?
8) Home grown/home made - better for you?
9) Ever tried a fad diet? How did it work out for you? Would you do it again?
10) What is one thing that you would like to change this coming year to eat healthier?

Bonus points: name any book (or cookbook?) that inspires you to eat healthier.

Please try to complete this questionaire before the January meeting!

Questionnaire -- Michelle

Book Club:

1) What is your vision for book club?
To read good books.
2) What do you hope to get out of the club? What do you hope to contribute?
To read good books. :o) Suggestions for good books.
3) Suggest one helpful guideline for discussion.
To have read the good books first.

Books:

4) What are a few of your favorite books?
Jane Eyre, Rora...
5) How much do you typically read? (for example: # of books/week or month or year)
One book a month
6) What is your most commonly read genre? what is your least favorite genre? What genre have you never really read (and maybe always wanted to..) ?
I read a wide variety; I enjoy motivational books and historical novels. Science fiction is my least favorite genre. I've never read horror, and really have no interest in it either.
7) What kind of books would you like to read in book club? More of your favorites? Something new? Any specific titles?
Rora :o) A bit of everything...
8) What characteristics does a book need to make it a good discussion book?
Needs to be well written, a little bit of controversy helps, possibly a hot topic...

Cooks:

9) Do you like to cook/bake? What are you favorite things to make/eat?
Yes. I prefer to cook savory foods rather than bake.
10) Do you like to experiment with new recipes, ingredients or cooking techniques? Would you like to cook/bake or eat new things in book club?
Yep! I like to try new recipes on people. :o) New and different is good.
11) What kind of menus would you like to see in book club? Would you prefer low-effort, simple snacks or more inventive meals? Or some of both?
Some of both.
12) Give an example of a book that you've read and a dish that you could serve with that book to enhance the experience.
Nothing comes to mind.

(PS, this was done by Michelle and Chandra together...and we might have had some wine first.) :o)