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

     Well friends, it's Wednesday again and it looks like snow. So, what are you keeping in your library bag for a snowy day? Maybe you just don't know what to read anymore. This happens to me all the time. I may have a list a mile long, but sometimes it becomes overwhelming and nothing sounds particularly interesting to read. Sound familiar?
     I hope you noticed my form Stacey Suggests...that I put on the blog last week. I'd be happy to help you sort through things you like and new titles you might also enjoy to get you on the path to reading again.:)
     But, if that's not your style, I have another suggestion that you can do at home in your pajamas :). I have finally broken down and got myself an account at goodreads.com.  A library patron actually talked me into it as a way to keep track of all that I read, as opposed to the yearly list I did last year. Plus, as an added bonus, when you rate books you liked and didn't like, this website will give you recommendations based on what you said. Or, if none of those titles trip your trigger, there are lists that other users have compiled and voted on to give you more ideas. You can also just browse by author, title or genre to find new reading loves! If you want to, you can connect your goodreads account to your facebook account and collect "friends" and then see what they are reading or how they rated books to also lead you on your way to reading more.
     The next time you are at your computer in your pajamas, go ahead and start browsing, sign up and "friend" me so we can start getting more ideas in reading!! :)

Book Trailer Monday...

     Here's a true story for all of you non-fiction readers. As an added bonus, it's also an Iowa story!! Check it out!

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

     Today's recipe is inspired by my new cooking magazine Food Network Magazine and the season of Lent. Being a Catholic, I am encouraged to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. So, I am always on the lookout for new meatless recipes to try. The focus in this month's magazine is cheese. The recipe I have chosen is fun and meatless: Cheese Fondue.

Cheese Fondue

12 oz. gruyere cheese, shredded (about 4 cups)

4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

2 T. all-purpose flour

1 clove garlic, halved

1 C. dry white wine

1 T. fresh lemon juice

2 tsp. dijon mustard

1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg (optional)

Assorted dippers, for serving.

1. Toss the cheeses with the flour in a bowl. Rub the inside of a saucepan with the cut sides of the garlic; discard the garlic.

2. Whisk the wine,  lemon juice and mustard in the saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Add half of the cheese mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until melted. Add the remaining cheese mixture and stir until smooth; add the nutmeg.

3. Continue to cook, stirring, 2 more minutes. Transfer to a fondue pot or slow cooker to keep warm. Serve with your choice of dippers.

WIERDLY GREAT

Try these unlikely dippers:

Iceberg lettuce

Dried figs

Pasta

Avocado

Pearl onions (blanched)

Mini hot dogs

Candied walnuts

Gherkins

Pineapple

Popcorn

Bacon

Shredded wheat

Mini bagels

Butternut squash (roasted)

Celery

Corn on the cob

Croissants

Grapes

Beef Jerky

Thoughts on a Thursday...

Here's a good word for today...Did you ever wonder where  

valentine's come from?

Read on and find out...

Val·en·tine

  [val-uhn-tahyn]  Show IPA

noun

1.

Saint, died a.d. c270, Christian martyr at Rome.

2.

Also, Valentinus. pope a.d. 827.

3.

a male given name: from a Latin word meaning “strong.”

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013. 

World English Dictionary

valentine  (ˈvælənˌtaɪn) 

 — n

1. a card or gift expressing love or affection, sent, often anonymously, to one's sweetheart or satirically to a friend, on Saint Valentine's Day

2. a sweetheart selected for such a greeting

Happy Valentine's Day All!

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

     Well, it's Wednesday already. Ash Wednesday to be more specific. And I am wondering if you have something new in your library bag today. Or, if maybe you are looking for something new to read? I recently created a form for people to fill out about their reading likes and dislikes so that I could suggest some new titles for them and help find that next favorite read.

I found this on Pinterest the other day and thought said it perfectly...


So, here's to helping you find that next favorite read for your library bag.

Just print this form and fill it out and then drop it by the library and we'll get started...

Book Trailer Monday...

     What a fun book talk video that this gal Cassidy does! It really makes you want to go out and read the book, Legend by Marie Lu. But, I already have. And I'm reading the sequel Prodigy right now. Awesome!!!

A Saturday Morning Recipe....

     Here's another Pinterest find that I am trying tonight....

SLOW COOKER CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN

In a slow cooker, mix together:

One 24-ounce jar medium or mild salsa

Juice from one lime

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

One 1.25-oz. package taco seasoning

2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional)

Add 4-6 boneless chicken breast halves (completely defrosted) to the slow cooker and coat with the salsa mixture. Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours.

Serve the chicken with the salsa mixture spooned over the top. If you're feeling crazy, throw a dollup of sour cream on top with some crushed tortilla chips.

This is also delicious as a taco filling or in a taco salad. 

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

Homemade Goldfish Crackers

• 1 C all-purpose flour
• 4 T cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 8 oz cheddar cheese (This is the fun part! Pick out whatever type of cheddar that you like! I used orange cheddar for half of the fish, as shown above, and white cheddar for the other half, as shown below. Both cheddars that I used were extra sharp because that's how I like it!)
  
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 t fresh-ground pepper
• A fish cookie cutter. I got mine from CopperGifts.
  

1. Pulse the flour, butter, cheese, salt, and pepper together using a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
2. Pulse in 3 to 4 tablespoons of water, one tablespoon at a time, and only enough so that the dough forms a ball and rides the blade.
3. Remove, wrap in plastic, and chill for 20 minutes or up to 24 hours.
4. Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper and set aside.
5. Roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. (If you roll it thicker, it will still work, but the crackers won't be quite as crunchy. This dough rolled out so easily; you'll wish that you always worked with cheddar!)
6. Cut out as many crackers as possible.
7. Place them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking pans.
8. Bake at 350 F until golden and crisp - 15 to 20 minutes.

Pinterest strikes again!! I thought these would be fun...