FOR BOOK CLUBS
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The Butterfly Sister boasts a William Morrow PS Section, including an About the Book essay, Author Q & A, and Discussion Questions, making it a perfect choice for book clubs.
Has your book club chosen The Butterfly Sister as a monthly pick? Would you like to chat with the author? If your book club is in the Chicago suburbs, Amy Gail Hansen may be able to attend your book club meeting in person. For book clubs outside of the Chicago area, Amy Gail Hansen may be available to chat with your club via Skype. To schedule a chat/visit with Amy, e-mail:amy@amygailhansen.com |
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BOOK CLUB MENU & Hosting IDEAS
Book Clubs who like to pair food & drink with the selected title will have plenty of fun options with The Butterfly Sister. Below are the possible dinners, desserts & beverages that either appeared in the book or are themed to a locale. Dishes with a hyperlink will direct you to Amy's favorite recipes.
A NOTE FROM AMY: "I gave birth to and nursed two of my three children while writing and revising this book. That's obvious with the number of food references I made. I must have been one starving gal! I do love food, though, pregnant or not! It's one of the first questions I ask someone when they retell me a story about a night out or a party or a vacation. What did you eat? And I don't know anything that goes better with book club, than good food and wine. Try your hand at making some of the items below if you're hosting at home, order out, or meet up at a specialty restaurant and order a few of these dishes for a stress-free night. You should never leave book club hungry for food or conversation!"
Book Clubs who like to pair food & drink with the selected title will have plenty of fun options with The Butterfly Sister. Below are the possible dinners, desserts & beverages that either appeared in the book or are themed to a locale. Dishes with a hyperlink will direct you to Amy's favorite recipes.
A NOTE FROM AMY: "I gave birth to and nursed two of my three children while writing and revising this book. That's obvious with the number of food references I made. I must have been one starving gal! I do love food, though, pregnant or not! It's one of the first questions I ask someone when they retell me a story about a night out or a party or a vacation. What did you eat? And I don't know anything that goes better with book club, than good food and wine. Try your hand at making some of the items below if you're hosting at home, order out, or meet up at a specialty restaurant and order a few of these dishes for a stress-free night. You should never leave book club hungry for food or conversation!"
Dinner
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New Orleans Style Gumbo
(Chapter 1~A recipe Annette Rousseau knows well) Shrimp Etoufee (Chapter 1~Another recipe Annette knows by heart) Mongolian Beef & Crab Rangoon (Chapter 1-Ruby's Comfort Food from Wu's) Roast Beef Po'Boys with Lettuce & Tomato (Chapter 2~A sandwich Ruby and Mark discuss in his Jeep) Filet Mignon & Au Gratin Potatoes (Chapter 2-Ruby & Mark's first dinner) Deep Dish Chicago Style Pizza (Chapter 3~What Ruby's coworkers eat for lunch) Pepperoni & Green Pepper Pizza (Chapter 9~ Ruby & Heidi's favorite college pizza) Roast Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy (Chapter 11~What Ruby orders at the Lakeside Diner) Cheeseburgers & Fries (Chapter 11~ What Heidi orders at the Lakeside Diner and also Chapter 4~What Ruby and her father always ate before the Holiday light show. Plus a mention to Burger King in the epilogue) Chilean Sea Bass with Honey Lime Sauce and Pimento Risotto (Chapter 11~Alumni dinner) Roast Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Peas (Chapter 18~The cabin--don't forget the twine!) Other themed dinners: Fried shrimp Red beans & rice Crawfish Etoufee Cheese and cracker tray with Pepperidge Farm Butterfly Crackers Pigs in a blanket (Only for clubs with dirty minds) |
Homemade gumbo takes time but is a great one-pot dish to serve a hungry crowd. Very cool presentation to put a whole crawfish on top! (My hubby made this for Mardi Gras)
These Golden Butter Cookies are a stress-free go-to for a Butterfly themed book club. You can find them at most major grocery stores. (Click the photo to link to the Pepperidge Farm website). I served them with cheese and wine at my Release Party. Tasty and super cute!
Only for Book Clubs with dirty minds, serve pigs in a blanket, idea courtesy of the MILF (Mothers in Love with Fiction) Book Club of Elk Grove, IL.
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Desserts
One Book Club, which graciously hosted me at The Olive Garden, ordered these delicious Zeppole doughnuts as a replacement for Beignets. Very similar! (And the chocolate dipping sauce was a welcome addition)
You can make Beignets from scratch or use a mix. Buy the official Café du Monde beignet mix from the store online. Also sold at Cost Plus World Market stores.
Maurice Lenell Cookies
(Chapter 1~What Ruby and Heidi ate the day they met)
Pumpkin Loaf
(Chapter 3~What Ruby brings Georgene at work)
Fresh oranges
(Chapter 4~ What Ruby's father buys her at the French Market)
Bananas Foster
(Chapter 4~ Mark & Ruby's dessert in New Orleans)
Beignets
(Chapter 4~ Café Du Monde)
Buy the mix from Café Du Monde
Online or in-stores Cost Plus World Market
Pralines
(Chapter 4~Ruby mentions this sweet treat)
Thin Mints (Support the Girl Scouts)
(Chapter 9~ Ruby & Heidi's favorite sweet treat, eaten from the freezer)
Blueberry Muffins
(Chapter 10~Professor Barnard's half-eaten food on her desk)
Cherry Pie
(Chapter 11~The slice of pie for one buck extra at The Lakeside Diner)
Chocolate Torte with Dark Ganache (Chapter 11~Alumni Dinner)
Other themed desserts
Mardi Gras King Cake
Butterfly Iced Sugar Cookies
Purchase personalized cookies from
(Chapter 1~What Ruby and Heidi ate the day they met)
Pumpkin Loaf
(Chapter 3~What Ruby brings Georgene at work)
Fresh oranges
(Chapter 4~ What Ruby's father buys her at the French Market)
Bananas Foster
(Chapter 4~ Mark & Ruby's dessert in New Orleans)
Beignets
(Chapter 4~ Café Du Monde)
Buy the mix from Café Du Monde
Online or in-stores Cost Plus World Market
Pralines
(Chapter 4~Ruby mentions this sweet treat)
Thin Mints (Support the Girl Scouts)
(Chapter 9~ Ruby & Heidi's favorite sweet treat, eaten from the freezer)
Blueberry Muffins
(Chapter 10~Professor Barnard's half-eaten food on her desk)
Cherry Pie
(Chapter 11~The slice of pie for one buck extra at The Lakeside Diner)
Chocolate Torte with Dark Ganache (Chapter 11~Alumni Dinner)
Other themed desserts
Mardi Gras King Cake
Butterfly Iced Sugar Cookies
Purchase personalized cookies from
Beverages
Earl Grey Tea (Chapter 1 ~What Ruby drinks on the front porch. Bergamot is a natural antidepressant!)
Boxed Wine (Chapter 1~What Ruby and Heidi drank in college)
Vanilla Latte (Chapter 2~ What Ruby orders at the café)
Warm Honey Almond Milk (Chapter 3~What Ruby's mom makes to help her sleep)
Pumpkin Spice Latte (Chapter 3--What Ruby brings Georgene at work
Café au lait (Chapter 4~ Café du Monde)
Purchase chicory coffee from Café du Monde
online or in-store at Cost Plus World Market
Cinnamon Apple Herbal Tea (Chapter 5~What Ruby drinks at Richards' home)
Coffee with Hazelnut flavored creamer (Chapter 10~What Heidi gives Ruby in the morning)
Herbal tea: Wild yam, alfalfa, ginger, sage and chamomile (Chapter 10~The Professor's Office)
Cabernet (Chapter 11~Alumni Dinner)
Other themed drinks:
Wines with butterfly themes on the label
Butterfly Tea
Boxed Wine (Chapter 1~What Ruby and Heidi drank in college)
Vanilla Latte (Chapter 2~ What Ruby orders at the café)
Warm Honey Almond Milk (Chapter 3~What Ruby's mom makes to help her sleep)
Pumpkin Spice Latte (Chapter 3--What Ruby brings Georgene at work
Café au lait (Chapter 4~ Café du Monde)
Purchase chicory coffee from Café du Monde
online or in-store at Cost Plus World Market
Cinnamon Apple Herbal Tea (Chapter 5~What Ruby drinks at Richards' home)
Coffee with Hazelnut flavored creamer (Chapter 10~What Heidi gives Ruby in the morning)
Herbal tea: Wild yam, alfalfa, ginger, sage and chamomile (Chapter 10~The Professor's Office)
Cabernet (Chapter 11~Alumni Dinner)
Other themed drinks:
Wines with butterfly themes on the label
Butterfly Tea