The Lakewood Book Trotters met at Times Ten Cellar Monday evening  to discuss their latest read, Judy Blume’s “In the Unlikely Event.”

If you are not familiar with Blume, your children likely were as she wrote about issues and fears often associated with school age children, like “Blubber’ and “Fourth Grade Nothing.” One of Blume’s most famous books, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is about a young girl who feels alone after a move to the suburbs and enrolment in a new school.  Margaret Simon, needing a friend, began conversations with God.

“In The Unlikely Event,” Blume recounts the three plane crashes that took place in Elizabeth, New Jersey, just outside of NewarkAirport in the early days of commercial aviation.

Set in 1951 and 52, community and family come together following the unlikely events of three tragedies in a short period of time.

As is a tradition of the Book Trotters, foods that were served in the story are served at the meeting. Deli foods often associated with the East Coast locale and likely enjoyed by the Jewish characters in the book were served at Monday’s book club. The women enjoyed smoked salmon spread, bagels, pastrami on rye, pickles and potato salad.  Desserts included rugelach made especially for the Book Trotters by the Sisters of Temple EmanuEl.

Salmon Spread from “Recipes and Recollections: Vickery Place Cooking Since 1911”

4 oz. smoked salmon or lox style salmon

1/3 cup finely chopped red onions

1-2 tablespoons prepared horseradish

1 (8-ounce) container sour cream or whipped cream cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Snipped fresh chives for garnishing

In a bowl, finely flake salmon.  Add onion, horseradish and sour cream Season with salt and pepper and let stand for at lease 15 minutes or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Serve with crackers.  Makes 1 ½ cups.

Always a hit at parties, you may want to double the recipe.