From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

I thought since the new strawberry lemonade slushy thingy at McDonald's is such a hit, I put a recipe for one that you can make yourself!!


Frozen Strawberry Lemonade


Prep Time: 5 Minutes Ready In: 5 Minutes
Servings: 4

"Strawberries, lemonade and ice are blended into a refreshing slush. A simple (non-alcoholic) fruity treat, fantastic in any season!"


Ingredients:


2 cups ice cubes
1 cup water
1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
5 large fresh strawberries, hulled


Directions:


1. Place the ice cubes, water and lemonade concentrate into the container of a blender. Process until ice is finely blended. Add strawberries, and puree until well blended. Taste, and adjust flavors if you like. This recipe is very flexible.

Happy Summer!!! (even if the weather isn't really cooperating!)

Don't Forget to stop in and sign up for the Summer Reading Program and start reading!!!

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

     What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday my reading friends??? I haven't been reading a whole lot because I've been moving a whole lot, but I am always on the look out for new authors and new books to read when I finally do have a moment to sit down and enjoy a good book...
      I was shown this new reading website the other day and let me tell you, it is way cool. Go to http://www.yournextread.com/ and choose one of the book icons or type in one of your favorite books/authors and check out the selections of similar titles it gives you!! Then you can read a brief review of the titles and be able to see if you'd really like it. And you can just keep clicking and keep going and finding more and more books to read!! LOVE IT!! Try it out and see what you think...

Book Trailer Monday...

A little something different to start your week...

From Our Recipe Box to Yours....

     I was invited to a Pampered Chef party last weekend and couldn't make i,t so I went to their website to browse and find something I might like to buy. The first thing that popped out at me was this recipe!!! Of course it is showcasing several of their products, but they looked so yummy and fun, I couldn't resist!! I definitely have a bug for camping and campfires. But, at the moment, I have no extra time to go away, so this is the next best thing!! MMMM!! Yummy!

S'more Cups

The campfire is optional--these little treats can be enjoyed anywhere.

Ingredients:

7	whole graham crackers (1 cup/250 mL finely crushed)
1/4	cup (50 mL) powdered sugar
6	tbsp (90 mL) butter, melted
4	bars (1.55 oz or 43 g each) milk chocolate candy, divided
12	large marshmallows

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Place graham crackers into a large resealable plastic bag. Finely crush into crumbs using Baker's Roller®;. Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and butter in Small Batter Bowl. Using Small Scoop, place scant scoop of crumb mixture in each cup of Deluxe Mini-Muffin Pan. Press crumbs to form shallow cups with Mini-Tart Shaper. Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling. Meanwhile, break two of the candy bars into rectangles. Remove pan from oven; place one rectangle into each cup.
2. Cut marshmallows in half crosswise using Professional Shears dipped in cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Remove from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack; cool 15 minutes. Carefully remove cups from pan. Cool completely.
3. Break remaining candy bars and place in (1-cup/250 mL) Prep Bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute-1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 20 seconds. Dip the top of each marshmallow in melted chocolate. Turn top-side up and let stand 40 minutes-1 hour or until set.

Yield: 24 cups

Nutrients per serving: (1 cup) Calories 100, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 3.5 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Carbohydrate 11 g, Protein 1 g, Sodium 60 mg, Fiber 0 g

Cook's Tips: Dipping the Professional Shears in cold water before cutting the marshmallows helps minimize sticking.

The time it takes the chocolate to set varies depending on weather conditions and room temperature. You can refrigerate the cups briefly until the chocolate is set; store them at room temperature.

Store the cups in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Freezing is not recommended.

For a richer chocolate flavor, substitute dark chocolate candy bars for the milk chocolate.

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SCHOOL, FRIDAY, MAY 27!

What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday?...Thoughts on Libraries...

     Welcome to What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday!!! I recently read this blog and it got me to thinking about our library and how I use it. Obviously, I work here, but I also use the library. Mostly, I check reading materials out and for me that means fiction. But, I also take home children's books, CDs, CD-Books, DVDs, cookbooks, how-to craft and photography books and magazines. Plus, whenever I have a techie type question, I ask a co-worker/librarian, for help. When I want to research buying something, I use the library's internet and Consumer Reports database. I also bring my kids to the library whenever possible to participate in programming here to help get them excited about reading and libraries. Why??? Because it is easy to use/find and it's FREE!!
     It seems in today's society, nothing is really free anymore. With quotes like, "For only $5 more a month, you can add this or that," pretty soon you're spending your week's check and waiting on your next one. And then, when I've bought every book I want, informational or otherwise, and read them, for example; then what?? they pile up somewhere in my home and suffocate me with clutter. Whereas, when I use the library, I save money, time and clutter! Amazing! With the advent of online databases and catalogs online, I can do a lot of browsing from home whenever I have time, place holds, whatever, still using my local library, just at my own convenience.
     My favorite use of the library isn't online, though. It's coming in to use the library. The seeing and touching of books and the visiting and connecting with people that that involves. The library to me, is as much people as it is place. It's getting those helpful hints on where to search for information and the suggestions on what to read next from like readers and the "I bought mine here and really love it!" advice that comes from people and place connections that helps make the library such a special institution to me. What do you love about the library; how do you use it? What keeps you coming back? Tell me; I'd love to know...

Book Trailer Monday...

Here's the latest book on my night stand....

From Our Recipe Box to Yours....

One of my co-workers, Janette, was telling me about this cookbook, Dora & Diego: Let's Cook! that we have here at the library, that she was trying things out of to get her children interested in eating different things and cooking. One recipe in particular, sounded really yummy. I thought I'd share it here with you.

Breakfast foods are one of my favorite things. I could eat them morning, noon, and night, so this gives me and you one more option to mix in....

TICO'S NUTTY STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

2 eggs
1/2 C low-fat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
6 oz. low-fat cream cheese
2 T. granulated sugar
1/4 C. chopped toasted pecans, walnuts, or almonds
8 slices firm-textured whole wheat bread
1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
1 T. butter
Powdered sugar, optional

In a pie plate, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, and nuts. Spread cheese mixture on 4 slices of bread. Arrange apple slices on cheese mixture. Top with remaining bread slices. Place a stuffed piece of bread in egg mixture and soak for about 5 seconds. Carefully turn and soak other side for about 5 seconds. Transfer to a large plate. Repeat with remaining stuffed breads. Brush breads with any remaining egg mixture. Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet. Cook stuffed toasts on medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes per side or until golden brown. Transfer to plates. Sift powdered sugar over toasts, if you'd like. Makes 4 servings.


DON'T FORGET!!

The library will be CLOSED Sundays AFTER Memorial Day weekend, all summer, until Labor Day Weekend when we will be open 2-5 p.m. again.

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

     It's Wednesday my friends and I have something new I want to share with you for What' s In Your Library Bag Wednesday??
     Do you ever find yourself running out of time by the end of the day with nothing left to sit down and enjoy a good book with? I know I sure do, although there are days where I just make time. Most days, especially lately, I run out of time to read. And I miss it.
     A friend and coworker of mine recently introduced me to a new concept in reading. She sent me a link called daily lit, http://www.dailylit.com/, and told me to go check it out. From this site, you can choose from hundreds of different titles and have them send you a five minute selection each day in your e-mail. Five minutes. That's all. Pretty soon, you've read the whole book in only five minutes a day. I can do that. I can find five extra minutes a day to read. This is doable.
     I had heard of something similiar to this along the lines of an online book club where you all read the book together through e-mails and then discussed it the same way. It always seemed quite intriguing to me. In this day and age, we all probably spend more time on our computers and smart phones and ipods, than anywhere else, so why not read and discuss a book that way? It just goes to show that reading is not, in the end, surpassed by all of that technology. We are just finding ways to use all of our new "techy" toys to read in different ways.
     So, if you find yourself craving some reading time and just don't know where in your day to find it, give http://www.dailylit.com/ a go and discover reading in a whole new light.

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

     What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday my friends??? Currently, I am trying to read Jane Eyre and A Knight in Shining Armor (again) and I am listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with my children. I was having a problem with Jane Eyre keeping my interest, so I started re-reading A Knight in Shining Armor after I reviewed it last week because I've been itching for a good romance. My fellow readers of Jane Eyre tell me it's a romance, but I haven't gotten there yet...
     What I really wanted to talk about, though, was the audio book I'm listening to. I know Harry Potter has been around for a long time, but my kids are just really getting into it. My son had his tonsils out last November and we started watching the Harry Potter movies. Since then, we've watched them each so many times, I can quote lines. So, I thought they might like listening to the story, too, as there is more to the actual book than the movies. I put the first book on my Ipod and started playing it one evening when I got home from work late and wanted get them settled in while I finished up a few more things. They got hooked and want to listen every night before bed and every morning before school. I love not only sharing a book with my children, but I love their interest in the story as it is one that I also love. Part of the appeal to listening to this particular story is the reader. Jim Dale reads all of the Harry Potter stories and he is an excellent reader, changing voices and creating the characters quite well.
     I have listened to other audio books, new titles and also ones that I have actually read the book in hand, before and I will tell you, that a good reader makes a world of difference. It's ironic how many people have talked to me lately about using/reading audio books. We have one patron that drives for his job and he checks out audios every week. Other people tell me about sewing and listening, gardening and listening, housework and listening, being outdoors with children and listening, excercising and listening...The list of things you can do while reading/listening is endless.
     I have heard comments about not enjoying listening, too, but usually, it's an audio with kind of a boring monotone reader. So, if you decide to try one and you don't think you like it, don't be afraid to try another...

Don't forget we also have NEIBORS, an online downloadable book source for more titles to choose from. Just visit our website, www.waverlyia.com/wpl and use the button on our front page to begin browsing.

Happy Listening!!!

A Book Trailer to share with a little one...

Hilaroious and fun to read children's book to share with a treasured little one!!