Stacey's Favorite Books

Sunday, February 27, 2011

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...Late...

I'm running a few days behind. You know the saying, "A day late and a dollar short." Anyway, I figured a late recipe is better than no recipe, so here goes. I made these enchiladas for a family friend this week and thought you might also like to try them.

Chicken Enchiladas

3-4 chicken breasts, cut in 1" cubes, cooked
1 pkg. flour tortillas, (10 tortillas)
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. sour cream
1 can chopped green chilis
Shredded cheddar cheese
Emeril's  Essence or similar seasoning
Lettuce, tomatoes, salsa for garnish

Cut chicken breasts into cubes and fry with seasoning. Put a spoonful of chicken in center of tortilla, sprinkle some cheese on top, then fold up bottom of tortilla. Fold two sides in and then the top down and layer in a 9x13 pan. Meanwhile, heat cream of chicken soup, sour cream and green chilis in a pan on the stove. When you have filled your tortillas, pour sauce over top and sprinkle more cheese over top. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Serve with lettuce, tomatoes and salsa on top.

This is an easy recipe to make and share. When you want to take something to a friend, try these enchiladas. They're always a hit.

Are your kids getting antsy being cooped up this winter? Want them to read more books? Try our new database Bookflix. Get there through our website www.waverlyia.com/wpl

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday??...

     My youngest son and I visited a neighboring small town library tonight. We took my daughter to religion class and had an hour to spend together, so we headed to the local library. We didn't check any books out, not because we couldn't or didn't beg to, but because I seem to have a problem returning my library books on time, but that is a talk for another time. Maybe I should start Overduers Anonymous or something.
     Working in a library myself, I always find it intriguing to browse other libraries and see what they do differently. For example, something I've been mulling over is how to display some staff picks for our library users. When Casey and I walked in tonight, there on a little table by the front desk was a display of suggested reading by their children's librarian. I liked it. It was right up front where you check out and the books were all together with a poster stating whose picks they were. Simple, yet effective. I'll have to see what I can come up with for our library. Soon.
     They had a wii available in a separate room for in library play time. Even though, we have a wii at home, Casey was pumped to be able to play theirs. We tried our hands at bowling and a game called Outdoor Adventure. Fun times with my four year old!
     The most surprising thing, however, was the silence. It's been a long time since I was in a library as quiet as this one was. It wasn't that there weren't people there. There were even children in the children's section. It's just that they all were so quiet. I was whispering with Casey and felt like I was being loud. Now, I am not quiet by nature so this is somewhat of a challenge. At our library, people always comment on how they can hear my laugh all through the library. Which can be a good thing or a bad thing. It all depends on how you look at it. This library was small enough that if someone was loud, they would likely disrupt everyone in the library. At the same time, I feel like a little chatting and laughing adds life to a place. I hear people every day comment on how libraries today sure aren't what they used to be. Change is inevitable.
     Ten years from now our libraries won't be the same as they are right now, either. But, I hope that we still offer something for everyone and that we are still a hot spot to be. What about you? What changes have you noticed for the better in today's libraries? What would you like to see in the future?

Friday, February 18, 2011

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

Fruit Dip

3 oz. cream cheese
1 container whipped cream (Cool Whip)
1 container marshmallow creme

Mix all together and dip your favorite fruit!! Of course if you want to try it by the spoonful, I won't tell!


Our DIY night for March, the Couch to 5K running program, has been moved.

Due to other things going on in the community, we have decided to offer this program on the 3rd Tuesday night of March instead of the second. It will be Tuesday, March 15, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

If you've ever thought about running or starting an exercise program at all, stop in and chat with us. Janette and I will be talking about our experience with the Couch to 5K program and exercising and running in general. We will be motivating you and checking in weekly through e-mail to encourage you on your journey. Plus, coming in June, the library will be hosting a Run Your Buns off 5k Run/Walk that we can all join in!!!

So, if you are like me and want to exercise, but are terrible at it on your own, sign up for our class and get yourself a running buddy to encourage and help you on your way!! Call today. 319-352-1223!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday??...

Wowie!! It's supposed to be 50 degrees today!! Can you believe it?? I bet you don't have anything in your library bag today because you want to just be outside in this amazing weather!! I know I do! I do, however, still have The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo in my bag and for some reason I just can't get past the first 20 pages. I was actually afraid that this book might be too intense for me, not the other way around. And I don't think it's because the book is particularly slow. I have just been tired this last week for whatever reason and every time I try to read, I fall right to sleep. It happens. Even to the best of us. So, I don't really have much to report.

I did get another Christmas present this week, though. Funny to get one in February, I know, but, it was a book that didn't print until January and it was sent to me as soon as it printed. Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story, by Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman is the book at the top of my stack right now and also my late Christmas present. Remember when I talked about The Pioneer Woman and gave you the site http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/ and the chocolate cake recipe?? Well, this is the same, crazy, down to earth gal writing the love story of how she and her husband met and hooked up. She actually started this story on her website with weekly and sometimes monthly installments. She ran a contest to name her unlikely love story and so the title Black Heels to Tractor Wheels came to be. She fills in more details in the book and adds the first year of their marriage to the mix for those of you who have been keeping up with the saga online. Most of the romance novels that I read are really fantasy. Who lives in castles and has servants anyway?? But, this story, is really her life, and Ree writes in such a way as to make you look at life and love as entertaining and fun and romantic and all that romance novels are without the fantasy parts.There are hard parts in life and love and Ree points this out, but makes it lighthearted and fun anyway. I am not finished yet, but I find her to be a breath of fresh air.

If you are looking for a modern day take on romance, give it a try. You might just find yourself reminiscing about your own love story.

Friday, February 11, 2011

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...Blueberry Muffins and some thoughts

Oregon Blueberry Muffins

3 C. flour
1 C. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C. soft shortening
2 eggs
1 C. milk
1 C. blueberries (fresh or frozen), thawed
Sugar, for sprinkling on top (optional)

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into mixing bowl. Cut in with pastry blender the shortening (Crisco), eggs and milk all at once, just until blended. Add blueberries; stir in lightly. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned in muffin tins with paper liners. Makes 24 muffins. I love blueberry muffins.  A favorite memory of mine from my childhood involves blueberry muffins with big sugar crystals sprinkled on top and baked in!! Yummy!! It was fun sprinkling and fun eating!! Now I don't always have the big fun crystals, but just sprinkling some sugar on top makes a good muffin extra yummy! Plus, the kids really like it!! Try it sometime!


Some Thoughts...I wanted to just mention Reader's Advisory. What's that you ask?? Well, it's an art to say the least. Reader's Advisory is talking and listening to someone about what they read and what they like. It's mostly listening. Then, it's being able to come up with suggestions of new books the person would enjoy reading. That's the hard part. Hopefully, you can come up with at least one winner. Otherwise, you have to listen better and try again. Anyway. I love to do Reader's Advisory. Not only do I get to talk about books (one of my favorite things), I get challenged to come up with something someone really enjoys reading (another favorite thing). Sometimes, it can be a real challenge. But, I am up for it!! So, if you'd like to leave a comment or e-mail me at sleerhoff@waverly.lib.ia.us with some ideas of types of things you like to read about, I'll give it a whirl. I've never really done this sort of thing without talking to the person face to face, but I'm willing to give it a try if you are. If you aren't sure what exactly you like, i.e. romance, male leads, funny, etc. Try telling me what you don't like, i.e. suspense, murder mystery, strong language, etc. You get the picture. I'll try to get back to you in a week. Let's try! There's so many great books out there waiting to be read....we just have to find them.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday??

So, what's in your library bag this cold, cold Wednesday evening? Have you stepped out of your comfort zone this week and tried something new or are you reading a favorite genre?? Me, I don't step out of my comfort zone near enough. I made the comment to a co-worker this morning that I have no problems reading something new every week, however, it is all the same type of a book: specifically paranormal romance. I am starting to feel like a broken record. With that in mind, I have decided that I am going to try something new: The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson is in my library bag tonight. I have heard what a great mystery it is albeit a bit violent. From what else I hear, it doesn't really have romance either; we shall see if I can get hooked like everyone else. I'll let you know.

For now, I thought I would tell you about a conversation I had with a co-worker this morning, who shall remain nameless. I was asking her what I should write about, since I tend to read and write about the same types of books most of the time. She started out by suggesting childhood favorites like the Little House on the Prairie and then much like, If You Give a Mouse a Muffin, she started talking about the first "naughty" book she ever read. Naughty in this instance means a bit of semi graphic romance, if you know what I mean. Anyway, back to her story. It was actually when she was in school and she and a group of friends all read the same book and probably "giggled" about it to each other (my words not hers). One of her friends went as far as to highlight the "naughty" parts. She told me how her mother got quite upset at the time. Funny thing is, my "naughty" book story is that I didn't really read any "naughty" books until I was out of college. And then it was a book suggested to me by none other than my own mother!!! That particular book remains one of my favorites and I have gone on reading from there, including romance of some sort or another in most of the books I read. I suppose, that particular book has shaped a lot of my adult reading.

Getting hooked on romance for a while did make me forget some of my childhood favorites, though. As a young reader, I tended to go after fantasy stories; A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle being one of my all time favorites. More recently, the Harry Potter stories brought back to me my love of fantasy and now I usually combine the two in my reading choices: fantasy and romance. But like everything else in life, you can get stuck in a rut, so to speak. I love the books I've been reading. Don't get me wrong. I just want to be able to expand and stretch my reading horizons a bit. How about you?

Friday, February 4, 2011

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...Breakfast and Chocolate

Since we've had two snow days this week, I've been home, stuck inside because it's so cold and windy. And I've been dreaming about summer! I can't wait to walk barefoot outside in my yard, wear shorts, and eat ice cream cones. Another of my favorite summer pasttimes that I can't wait to do is cooking in my Dutch Ovens. We take them camping and cook most meals with them, plus my husband and son made me a special Dutch Oven table that I can use at home, too. It's fun to try new things and "bake" without an oven. I especially love the little smoky flavor you get when cooking in a Dutch oven. Plus, it's usually put all of your ingredients in and then bake: one dish meals are the best!

Today, I'll share a simple favorite that we make camping almost every time. (Of course, I still cook in Dutch ovens in the winter, I just put them in the oven and voila! It's just not quite the same as if you are camping, but still yummy!)

Dutch Oven Breakfast Casserole

Size 10 Dutch Oven
9 slices bread, cubed
6 T. butter, melted
1 lb. shredded Cheddar cheese
12 eggs
3/4 C. milk
1 tsp. dry mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
1 lb. cooked sausage, bacon or ham
1 small can green chilis, optional

Start about 25 coals, 10 for the bottom and about 12-15 for the top. Grease your Dutch oven very well including the lid. Can use tinfoil  or parchment liners to line it, if you want very easy clean up. (Which I always do; I hate dishes!) Add bread cubes in bottom. Drizzle butter over bread, then sprinkle cheese over th top. Whisk together eggs, milk, and mustard. Season with salt and pepper (sometimes I use something like Emeril's seasoning depending on my mood). Pour eggs over bread and cheese. Sprinkle sausage over the top. Add green chilies, if desired. Ciover and bake for 30-45 minutes or until eggs are set (sometimes it's almost an hour to cook.) You don't want to check it too often, as it loses a lot of heat when you open the lid. Serve with salsa if you are feeling spicy. Yummy and fun to share.

And now for some chocolate. The Friends Chocolate Buffet will be Friday, February 25, from 7-8:30 p.m. here in the library. Admission is $5 for all the chocolate you can eat! There will be a chocolate fountain, cakes, pies, candies, chocolate as far as the eye can see. If you are a Friends memeber, you get in FREE. If you become a Friends member, you get in FREE. Friends Registrations available at the library any day and that night, also. PLUS, our own Jon Wolfe will be playing his guitar to add to the romance of the atmosphere. Come, have a listen and have some chocolate!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday???

     What's in Your Library Bag this fine blustery Wednesday? It's been good times for reading; especially if you have a fire place to curl up next to. I don't have a fireplace, but a nice warm blanket with a warm child and cat next to you works almost as well. I am feeling kind of stuck in a rut. I've been reading nothing but paranormal romance with an odd one thrown in there every now and then for quite some time now.
     There was an ICN session last week that I attended on the All Iowa Reads book Sing Them Home. The ICN session ended up not working, but a couple of other town librarians and I ended up staying and talking about books we'd read. I guess that's what librarians do best. Talk about books. Anyway, my point is that I read alot, really, alot; I've read 6 books in January this year, and yet, I was at kind of a loss during a lot of our talking. These ladies tended to read what I call "book club" books, books that you can discuss during book club meetings.. Now, if you come into the library tomorrow, I'd be happy to discuss the characters and romance in the books I am reading with you, but there isn't really any hidden meanings to glean from the stories I read. I read for pure enjoyment, no real thinking involved. I do talk a lot about what I'm reading and get ideas from other people about what they are reading, but we don't spend lots of time going into the stories and what they mean.
     This thought takes me back to last week's post about "making" yourself read some classics. I wonder if there are, say, a handful of titles out there, that everyone should read and be able to offer insight on. What do you think? Which titles would you suggest? Maybe we can get something going here...

     But wait!! I can't just end there without telling you about the great book I just read! I've talked about the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning before. Well, her fifth book, Shadowfever, just made it to the library and I got to read it first! Wow! Can I say wow?! It was her best book yet. I believe it would be a good book no matter what, but with the background of having read the four previous novels, it was stellar. Karen Marie Moning took you on so many new twists and turns that I wasn't expecting and went farther into the worlds of faery and humans interacting that I just couldn't put it down. 600 pages and a week later, I wish there was more to the story. There was mystery, romance and love, drama, a young woman learning to make tough decisions and living with the consequences, forgiving mistakes and choices about what's right and wrong...Hey, who says you can't talk about paranormal books in a book club setting??? It's all in there, you just have to look.