the book club reads the girl with the dragon tattoo and enjoys spaghetti with fresh marinara

I love books. I love reading. I can't tell you how many times a book has made it all better—you know the time—about 3am when things don't seem solvable. Books put things in perspective and they transport you to another world. I love books. So about eight years ago a group of us who wanted (and needed) a combination social, cooking and book club came together.

Our little group just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. This excellent mystery, the 1st of a series of 3 translated from Swedish and written by the late Stieg Larsson is all the rage right now.

So besides the chance to read, vent, discuss politics and gossip, food is the center of the book club. When my turn for dinner comes, I spend weeks writing menus, changing the menu, making grocery lists, editing the list and a day or two to bring it all together.

I followed a craving I was having and decided to do a classic Italian meal with a homemade marinara with spaghetti and meatballs, garlic french bread and creamy caesar salad. I made a simple sauce the day before that turned out absolutely delicious. My dear friends even requested to take their leftovers home to enjoy the next day.

Ingredients for the marinara:
1 small yellow onion, chopped fine

4 cloves of garlic, minced fine

2 TBL butter

2 TBL olive oil

2 TBL tomato paste

1 tsp anchovy paste

2 TBL pesto

28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 cup good red wine

dash red pepper flake

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1/4 cup of chopped Italian parsley, no stem

Saute garlic and onion in butter and oil 5 minutes till soft, add all other ingredients and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Best made the day before. Reheat and pour over hot spaghetti. If you make meatballs, rewarm them in the sauce and spoon over pasta. Pass grated parmesan cheese.