Today I'd like to share a family recipe with you. Last week, the librarians all got together and made goody trays for the other city departments. We each brought or made a recipe of our own. Our director, Sarah, brought her mom's recipe for coconut balls and they were a huge hit!!! So, I thought I'd share it so you could try it this Christmas season with your own families....
Sarah's Mom's Coconut Balls
Filling:
1 bag coconut flakes
1 bag powdered sugar
1 stick butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Coating:
1 bag dark chocolate chips
1/3 to 1/2 block Gulf paraffin wax
Combine filling ingredients and roll into small balls. Melt chocolate chips and wax together in a double boiler. Cool slightly then dip the balls until totally covered. Let cool and harden on wax paper. Voila!!! Yummy coconut balls. Store refrigerated or out on your freezer in the garage! :)
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Thoughts for a Thursday...
Wow! These young adult novels are really getting me!! Love looking up words and learning new things!! This week's word comes from City of Bones by Cassandra Clare....
l] 
Show IPA
in·im·i·cal
[ih-nim-i-kuhl] Show IPAadjective
1.
adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful: aclimate inimical to health.
2.
unfriendly; hostile: a cold, inimical gaze.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
What's In Your Library Bag Wednesday?... To get you in the mood....
Hey it's Wednesday!!! What's in Your Library Bag???? I thought I'd include this famous poem today to help get you in the mood for this holiday season...if you are anything like me, you don't have lots of extra time to read, but this is a fun poem to share with your family...
Twas the Night before Christmas Poem
by Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
From Our Recipe Box to Yours...
I know that my co-worker Janette reads these entries and thinks that her whole recipe box goes on this blog, but she always has such yummy, good ideas I can't help myself!!!
Here's what's in my crock pot as we speak...Thanks Janette!
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos...
4 chicken breasts
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 pkg. taco seasoning
Low 4 to 6 hours. Breasts can be cut up or whole and also can be frozen. Serve with tortillas, hard shells or chips. Garnish with cheese, lettuce, sour cream and tomatoes as desired!!
Another co-worker, Kate, makes this same thing only her recipe goes like this...
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos Kate Style....
1 lb. chicken (frozen is fine)
1 can chicken bouillon
1 pkg. taco seasoning
Low 4 to 6 hours. Kate says she always makes more than 1 lb. of chicken and then freezes her leftovers in all of that liquid and it heats up wonderfully for a meal on another night when she is too rushed to cook!!
It's so fun to work with such great cooks!
Here's what's in my crock pot as we speak...Thanks Janette!
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos...
4 chicken breasts
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 pkg. taco seasoning
Low 4 to 6 hours. Breasts can be cut up or whole and also can be frozen. Serve with tortillas, hard shells or chips. Garnish with cheese, lettuce, sour cream and tomatoes as desired!!
Another co-worker, Kate, makes this same thing only her recipe goes like this...
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos Kate Style....
1 lb. chicken (frozen is fine)
1 can chicken bouillon
1 pkg. taco seasoning
Low 4 to 6 hours. Kate says she always makes more than 1 lb. of chicken and then freezes her leftovers in all of that liquid and it heats up wonderfully for a meal on another night when she is too rushed to cook!!
It's so fun to work with such great cooks!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thoughts on a Thursday...
I ran across this book within the first chapter of the latest young adult selection I am reading. Funny thing, I've run across more interesting words this last 6 months that I want to look up and learn in young adult titles than adult books. What does that say exactly?
insouciant [ɪnˈsuːsɪənt]
insouciant
in·sou·ci·ant ( n-s  s - nt,    s-syä)adj. Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant. [French : in-, not (from Old French; see in-1) + souciant, present participle of soucier, to trouble (from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *sollic  t re, alteration of Latin sollicitre, to vex; see solicit).]in·sou ci·ant·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
insouciant [ɪnˈsuːsɪənt]
adj
carefree or unconcerned; light-hearted
[from French, from in-1 + souciant worrying, from soucier to trouble, from Latin sollicitāre; compare solicitous]
insouciance n
insouciantly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. | insouciant - marked by blithe unconcern; "an ability to interest casual students"; "showed a casual disregard for cold weather"; "an utterly insouciant financial policy"; "an elegantly insouciant manner"; "drove his car with nonchalant abandon"; "was polite in a teasing nonchalant manner" unconcerned - lacking in interest or care or feeling; "the average American...is unconcerned that his or her plight is the result of a complex of personal and economic and governmental actions...beyond the normal citizen's comprehension and control"; "blithely unconcerned about his friend's plight" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
insouciant
adjective nonchalant, casual, carefree, gay, sunny, buoyant, airy, breezy, unconcerned, jaunty, untroubled, happy-go-lucky, free and easy, unworried, light-hearted He worked with insouciant disregard for convention.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday?
It's Wednesday my blog reading friends!! And I'm here to ask you What's in Your Library Bag this Wednesday? I missed last week with the Thanksgiving holiday, but I'm back and ready for your suggestions this week!!
For whatever reason, I haven't been reading as much as I normally do, but I did finish the newest Jeaniene Frost book, One Grave at a Time. It was nice to catch up with Cat and Bones again and Ms. Frost added an interesting twist by giving ghosts the ability to take solid form while introducing a new character heading Cat's old team that doesn't like her much as well. Dealing with both of these has Cat and Bones with their hands full. Cat's old best friend, Denise, makes an appearance as a shapeshifting dragon, too. Lots of paranormal, lots of mystery, lots of fun!!
There is a new book that looks intriguing that I recently placed a hold on: 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I have read Stephen King's biography, On Writing, but I haven't really read anything else of his. I know his writing is kind of fantastical, but seemed kind of weird.... This new one sounds intriguing. Here's a clip about it from goodreads.com...
November 22nd, 1963 was a rapid-fire sequence of indelible moments: Shots ring out; a president slumped over; a race to the Dallas hospital; an announcement, blood still fresh on the First Lady's dress. But what if President John F. Kennedy didn't have to die; if somehow his assassin could have been thwarted? For Maine schoolteacher Jake Epping, those hypothetical what if's become real possibilities when he walks through a portal to the past. Without special skills and still unfamiliar with his new/old surroundings, he struggles to discover a way to change the history he left. Like its Under the Dome predecessor, Stephen King's 960-page novel shows that this master of suspense is back at the top of his game.
Kind of time travel/fantasy, alternate history....I'll try it and let you know....
What are you reading or putting holds on??? Do you have a long list of titles that you want for Christmas?? Chime in and let me know....
For whatever reason, I haven't been reading as much as I normally do, but I did finish the newest Jeaniene Frost book, One Grave at a Time. It was nice to catch up with Cat and Bones again and Ms. Frost added an interesting twist by giving ghosts the ability to take solid form while introducing a new character heading Cat's old team that doesn't like her much as well. Dealing with both of these has Cat and Bones with their hands full. Cat's old best friend, Denise, makes an appearance as a shapeshifting dragon, too. Lots of paranormal, lots of mystery, lots of fun!!
There is a new book that looks intriguing that I recently placed a hold on: 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I have read Stephen King's biography, On Writing, but I haven't really read anything else of his. I know his writing is kind of fantastical, but seemed kind of weird.... This new one sounds intriguing. Here's a clip about it from goodreads.com...
November 22nd, 1963 was a rapid-fire sequence of indelible moments: Shots ring out; a president slumped over; a race to the Dallas hospital; an announcement, blood still fresh on the First Lady's dress. But what if President John F. Kennedy didn't have to die; if somehow his assassin could have been thwarted? For Maine schoolteacher Jake Epping, those hypothetical what if's become real possibilities when he walks through a portal to the past. Without special skills and still unfamiliar with his new/old surroundings, he struggles to discover a way to change the history he left. Like its Under the Dome predecessor, Stephen King's 960-page novel shows that this master of suspense is back at the top of his game.
Kind of time travel/fantasy, alternate history....I'll try it and let you know....
What are you reading or putting holds on??? Do you have a long list of titles that you want for Christmas?? Chime in and let me know....
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