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!!