The Help

The Help is a 2009 novel by American author Kathryn Stockett. The story is about African American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s.

The novel is told from the point of view of three narrators: Aibileen Clark, a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children, and who has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson, an African-American maid whose back-talk towards her employers results in her having to frequently change jobs, exacerbating her desperate need for work as well as her family's struggle with money; and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a young white woman and recent college graduate who, after moving back home, discovers that a maid that helped raise her since childhood has abruptly disappeared and her attempts to find her have been unsuccessful. The stories of the three women intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help", with complex relations of power, money, emotion, and intimacy tying together the white & black families of Jackson.

Next meeting date: September 18 @6:00 pm
Location: Sarah's House

Gods Behaving Badly

Author: Marie Phillips
Dinner Prepared By: Sarah

Greek Salad
Ingredients:

• 1 lb Tomatoes (Roma and cherry)
• 1 large cucumber
• 8 oz Feta cheese (Sarah used reduced fat)
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives
• 1 red onion (diced)

Salad Dressing:

• 6 Tbsp EVOO
• 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar
• 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 bunch cilantro (finely chopped)
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• salt and pepper

Pesto & Ricotta Stuffed Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2-4 Tbsp pesto sauce
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese (Sarah used reduced fat)
• capers
• greek olives
• sundried tomatoes
• oregano
• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• pepper

Directions:

Make deeps slits in the side of each chicken breast. Mix pesto, ricotta, capers, olives and oregano together and stuff into each chicken breast. Re-seal each breast, place on a plate and chill for 30 minutes. (Work on vinegrette while waiting)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees farenheight.

Brush chicken with olive oil and season with pepper. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until chicken is cooked. Spoon vinegrette on top and serve.

Tomato Vinegrette

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 bunch fresh chives
• 1 lb roma tomatoes (seeded and cubed)
• 1 lime (squeezed and zested)
• salt & pepper

Directions:

Mix olive oil and chives in a food processor until smooth. Pour into bowl and add tomatoes, lime juice and rind. Season with salt & pepper.

Easy Greek Yogurt

Ingredients:

• Non-fat greek yogurt
• Dried apricots
• Dried figs
• Slivered almonds
• Pistacios
• Honey

Directions:

Broil nuts in oven until toasted (Note: they cook fast so watch them carefully!)

Top yogurt with dried figs and nuts.

Drizzle with honey.