"Crab Rangoon Dip" is a creamy, savory appetizer that pairs exquisitely with the suspenseful and explorative themes of Mohsin Hamid's "Exit West." The umami-rich flavors of the dip complement the complex narrative of the book, enhancing the reading experience with their bold taste. An elegant glass of "Tokyo Sunset," with its fruity notes and vibrant colors, adds a refreshing twist that complements the dip's richness while also matching the novel's vivid imagination. This trio offers a delightful way to engage all your senses, setting the stage for a thoughtful and flavorful evening.
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 oz canned crab meat, drained
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Wonton chips or crackers, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix the base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth.
- Add the flavors: Stir in the mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Fold in the crab: Gently fold in the crab meat and half of the chopped green onions, making sure the crab is evenly distributed.
- Bake: Transfer the mixture into a baking dish and spread it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the dip is bubbly and golden brown on top.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with the remaining green onions. Serve warm with wonton chips or crackers for dipping.
Exit West
In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, Nadia and Saeed fall in love. They are ordinary people, but they are soon forced to make extraordinary choices. They find a door that can transport them to another part of the world, and they embark on a journey towards an uncertain future.
One of The New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century FINALIST FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE & WINNER OF THE L.A. TIMES BOOK PRIZE FOR FICTION and THE ASPEN WORDS LITERARY PRIZE “It was as if Hamid knew what was going to happen to America and the world, and gave us a road map to our future… At once terrifying and … oddly hopeful.” —Ayelet Waldman, The New York Times Book Review “Moving, audacious, and indelibly human.” —Entertainment Weekly, “A” rating The New York Times bestselling novel: an astonishingly visionary love story that imagines the forces that drive ordinary people from their homes into the uncertain embrace of new lands, from the author of The Reluctant Fundamentalist and the forthcoming The Last White Man. In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet—sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair, and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors—doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through. . . . Exit West follows these remarkable characters as they emerge into an alien and uncertain future, struggling to hold on to each other, to their past, to the very sense of who they are. Profoundly intimate and powerfully inventive, it tells an unforgettable story of love, loyalty, and courage that is both completely of our time and for all time.
Discussion Questions
- How does the author use magical realism in the story, and to what effect?
- Discuss the role of migration in the novel. How does it shape the characters?
- Why do you think the author chose to portray doors as a means of escaping conflict?
- How does Hamid tackle the issues of identity and belonging?
- What is the significance of the relationship between Nadia and Saeed throughout the novel?
- In what ways does the book challenge your perceptions of home?
- How does the theme of time and temporality manifest in the story?
- Discuss the symbols used in the novel, particularly the doors.
- How do the various settings in the novel influence the plot and the characters' decisions?
- What is your interpretation of the ending of 'Exit West'? What future do you envision for Nadia and Saeed?
Authors:
Mohsin Hamid
ISBN: 9780525509714
Publisher: Penguin
Published Date: 2017-03-07
ISBN: 9780525509714
Publisher: Penguin
Published Date: 2017-03-07
Tokyo Sunset
A Tokyo Sunset is a vibrant and refreshing cocktail that beautifully combines the sweet and citrusy flavors of amaretto, peach schnapps, and orange juice, topped with grenadine for a sunset-like hue.
Ingredients
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz amaretto
- 1 oz peach schnapps
- 1 oz orange juice
- Splash of grenadine
- Orange slice and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice and add vodka, amaretto, peach schnapps, and orange juice.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
- Add a splash of grenadine and let it settle to the bottom to create a layered effect.
- Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.