National Poetry Month

Although the poetry display on the 3rd floor of the library will only be up for a few more days, we still have several weeks to celebrate National Poetry Month! From haiku to limericks to the classics, there are a number of books in the library to get your poetry fix. Here are a few that might pique your interest:

 

Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia, and Beyond edited by Tina Chang, Nathalie Handal, and Ravi Shankar

Language for a New Century presents the works of 400 South Asian, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian poets as well as the works of those in the Diaspora. This anthology is organized by theme rather than nationality; each section begins with an essay from the editors that introduces the pieces and encourages the reader to reflect on their own sense of self.

 

 

The Rose that Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur

Discovered after his death, the poetry of Tupac Shakur sheds light on the artist’s innermost  thoughts and is shared here in The Rose That Grew from Concrete. These poems, created from the time he was nineteen, are written in Tupac’s own hand and express his honest views on the world in which he lived.

 

Book of Haikus by Jack Kerouac

Need more Kerouac in your life after seeing On the Road? Book of Haikus highlights Kerouac’s experimentation with haiku throughout his career, a lesser-known talent of the writer. Kerouac scholar Regina Weinreich shares an incomplete draft of a haiku manuscript found in Kerouac’s archives along with a large amount of his other haiku derived from both published and unpublished sources.

 

Happy reading!

- a -

Making Good on those Resolutions?

Now that we are into our second month of 2013, take a look at that list of resolutions you made. Are you keeping them? One resolution for many this year, including myself, is to get organized. File those papers away in their correct spots (or perhaps they need a spot made for them), clear out that jungle of a closet, and create a workspace for yourself that you can actually work in! Here are a few titles that I recommend to jump start your new, clutter-free life:

One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good – Regina Leeds
Leeds provides a year-long schedule with cleaning and organization projects for each month. This schedule is an excellent way to work towards your goal of having a spot-free, efficient space by managing the time you set aside for each task wisely. Leeds thinks of everything, too. For example, when weeding out the clothes you no longer wear from your closet, she suggests working on one section at a time rather than taking everything out and separating them. After all, if you get interrupted, you’ll be left with clothes everywhere!

How to Cheat at Cleaning: Time-Slashing Techniques to Cut Corners and Restore Your Sanity – Jeff Bredenberg
I love Bredenberg’s tip for presorting junk mail. Several years ago, he had subscribed to a few different magazines, all with different bogus names. Of course, publishers sell their subscription lists to marketers who then send you a ridiculous amount of junk mail, but whenever mail arrived for “Aloysius Bredenberg”, our author immediately knew that envelope was to be sent directly to recycling. Genius! This book contains a ton of different cleaning techniques for the home and even a few tricks for getting that grease stain out of your favorite shirt!

Clear Away the Clutter: Getting Rid of Excess Stuff that Clogs Your Life – Susan Wright
Wright gives some very helpful tips on keeping clutter out of our homes as well as offices and workspaces. For example, it is a good idea to avoid collecting small bins, racks, and trays to stash more stuff – eventually, you’ll have to find more bins for even more stuff! Also, making your office too much like home is a clutter trap of many. While it’s always nice to personalize your workspace with a photo or two of loved ones or pics from that awesome trip you had last summer, you may want to leave your collection of brightly haired troll dolls at home and reclaim some desk space.

Actually, you may want to get rid of those trolls altogether. It’s time to let go.

How do you keep — or attempt to keep — your life clutter-free? Share in the comments below!

- a -

Readbox

There have been plenty of hits at the box office this year, many of which were based on books that you can check out here at the library! While it’s my own personal belief that the book is always better than the movie adaptation, why don’t you check out these flicks and books to decide for yourself:

1. Cloud Atlas

Now in theaters, Cloud Atlas shares the linked tales of people from the past and the distant future. You can find the book here.

2. I, Alex Cross

Also currently in theaters, Alex Cross is a crime thriller about a detective who is bent on capturing his niece’s murderer.  Alex Cross discovers that his niece was involved with a group of menacing people and finds himself in a case that draws Alex into the heart of an underworld fantasy club. Find the book here.

3. Lorax

A twelve-year-old boy, in his quest to find a living tree, visits the Once-ler who tells him the tale of the cranky but lovable Lorax who tried to save the forest by speaking up for the trees. Both the book and film are sure to please audiences of all ages.

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Based on the novel by Stephen Chbosky, freshman Charlie has always been a loner until he meets a pair of seniors who guide him through the awkwardness of adolescence. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story of love, pain, fear, hope and the friends that make life bearable. The movie will soon be in our collection, but be sure to read the book as well!

5. Lawless, based on the novel The Wettest County in the World

Lawless is a gangster film based on the true story of the bootlegging Bondurant brothers in Prohibition-era Virginia. The movie and book are both at Fountaindale!

Christmas Cookies

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We may not have had any snow yet, but it still feels like the holidays with twinkling lights everywhere and the smell of fresh baked cookies out of the oven. Today I am sharing with you three cookie recipes pulled from a few of the library’s cookbooks that I tested myself over the weekend. Read on to find out how easy these treats were to make and how they stood up to a taste test.

Eggnog-Frosted Nutmeg Sugar Cookies
Very Merry Cookies by Better Homes and Gardens
Makes about 24 cookies

1/2 of a vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise, or 2 teaspoons vanilla
1 3/4 cups butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 tablespoon eggnog
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 recipe Eggnog Icing (see below)
Coarse sugar

Eggnog Icing: In a medium bowl stir together 3 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in enough eggnog or milk (3 to 4 tablespoons) to make an icing of spreading consistency.

1. Using the tip of a sharp knife, scrape pulp from the vanilla bean; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of the bowl occasionally. Beat in the egg, eggnog, and vanilla pulp or vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill dough about 1 hour or until easy to handle.
 

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface roll each dough half to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a fluted round 3-inch cookie cutter (I used a star-shaped cookie cutter instead), cut out dough. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are light brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. Spread eggnog icing on cookies. If desired, sprinkle with coarse sugar. Let stand until icing is dry.

For those of you that like eggnog, this is the cookie for you. It has the sweet simplicity of a sugar cookie with a holiday twist. I did have to wait an hour for the dough to chill, but preparing it was a snap. However, I would only use a dash of nutmeg instead of a teaspoon the next time around since my taste buds, as well as those of my taste testers, thought it was a bit much.

4/5 stars for taste, 5/5 stars for ease

Orange Snowballs
Cookies For Christmas by Jennifer Dorland Darling

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tablespoon finely shredded orange peel (set aside)
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel (set aside)
1 tablespoon orange juice
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon gold edible glitter (optional)

1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in orange juice until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the 1 tablespoon orange peel and remaining flour.

2. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake in a 325 degree F oven for 15 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes.

4. Meanwhile in a food processor or a blender container combine the 3/4 cup granulated sugar and the 2 teaspoons orange peel Cover and process or blend until mixture is combined. Stir in edible glitter, if desired. Roll the baked cookies, still slightly warm, in the sugar mixture. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool. Makes about 48 cookies.

I can’t say I’ve ever had a cookie like this before, but I’m glad I tried it. The orange flavor was pretty subtle, and if you want more of a citrus taste, I would suggest adding just a tiny bit of orange extract, perhaps 1/8 teaspoon, or perhaps increase the amount of orange juice by about 1/2 teaspoon. These cookies were quick and easy to make and while my taste testers and I enjoyed them, we all agreed they could use a little oomph.

3/5 stars for taste, 5/5 stars for ease

Baby Butter & Jam Sandwiches
Christmas Cookies by Lisa Zwirn
Makes about 36 cookies

10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus more for dusting the cookies
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Raspberry preserves (or strawberry or apricot preserves or some of each)

Cookie cutter needed: 1 1/2-inch round
Zwin shares an awesome tip and writes, “The first time I made these I couldn’t find my 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. I ended up using one of those little plastic cups that come with a bottle of cough syrup. The rim was a perfect 1 1/2 inches! And the cup can be gently squeezed to loosen any cutouts that get stuck.”

1. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter in a large bowl until creamy. Beat in the 1/2 cup of confectioners’ sugar until fully blended. With the beaters on low speed, mix in the flour and salt until thoroughly combined. Using your hands, gather the dough into a ball, then press it into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 1 hour or until the dough is firm enough to roll out. (If refrigerated longer, let the dough sit at room temperature for about 30 to 45 minutes to soften before rolling.)

2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

3. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of between 1/8 and 1/4 inch. Using the cutter, stamp out circles close together and arrange them about 1 1/2 inches apart on the prepared sheets. Re-roll the scraps two or three times. (Working the dough too much can make it tough.)

4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back about halfway through baking, or until the cookies are just beginning to color and the edges are pale golden. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool completely.

To assemble: Spread a little of the preserves on the bottom side of half of the rounds, taking care not to spread it too close to the edge. Top with another round, right side up. Just before serving, sift confectioners’ sugar over the sandwich cookies.

Store the plain rounds in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Once the cookies are spread with jam, they’ll start to soften after 1 to 2 days.

Out of the three recipes I tested, I’d say this one was my favorite. Soft, buttery, and flaky with the tartness of raspberries – what more could you want in a cookie? While I was impatient and didn’t want to wait an hour for this dough to chill as well, the prep process was very simple and the end product was well worth the wait! My only regret is that I didn’t make more of these!

5/5 stars for taste, 5/5 stars for ease

All three books are filled with plenty of other great recipes, so feel free to stop by the library to check them out and browse our other cookbooks! Happy Holidays!

-a-

Pumpkin Patterns Available at the Library

The pumpkin carving patterns are finally here at the library. We have a pumpkin carving display located on the third floor of the Fountaindale Public Library. There are several books on pumpkin carving as well as a handout that you can take with you that includes brief pumpkin carving instructions. We also have a wide variety of free, that’s right I said FREE, pumpkin carving stencils. Some of the stencils include Edward Scissor Hands, The Thing, The Avengers, Mario, Yoda, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Kruger, and many more. Just go to the third floor of the library and ask where’s the free pumpkin stencils and one of the librarians can point you in the right direction.

Look for the display on the third floor for your free pumpkin carving stencils.

-J-

Pumpkin Preparedness

During this time of the year right before October I try to  start thinking about what I am going to do for the pumpkin carving season.  I’ll just highlight on a few short topics of  what it takes to be prepared.

There’s really only four basic tools you need for carving pumpkins. These include:
-Long, thin, preferably serrated knife for large cuts (drywall saw or boning knife works best)
–Small, thin, preferably serrated knife for small detailed cuts (paring knife or carving kit knife works best)
–Sharp object to transfer your pattern onto your pumpkin (tack, nail, toothpick, etc.)
–Big metal spoon to scrape out the guts of the pumpkin
–Option of using a Dremel tool for more elaborate patterns or for carving the fake pumpkins

I usually find patterns online through out the year and print them out. Some websites I use for patterns include:
http://www.zombiepumpkins.com
–Website with a vast array of pumpkin carving patterns; you do have to sign up and pay a small fee
http://www.pumpkinlady.com
–Website with a vast array of pumpkin carving patterns; you do have to sign up and pay a small fee
http://www.carvingpumpkins.com
–Website with a vast array of pumpkin carving patterns; some free selections, you do have to sign up and pay a small fee if you want more
http://www.paperpumpkins.com
–Large selection of free pumpkin patterns
-Most local stores carry pumpkin patterns around October
-The library also will have a selection of free patterns

As we get closer to October, I will post more pumpkin carving tips and tricks.

-J-

Rambo: The Video Game…WHAT?!?!?!?

I just caught wind that Reef Entertainment announced a Rambo: The Video Game  release.  Although the date is unconfirmed they have an official website, a trailer, and a few screen shots. 

Being a fan of the movies, cartoon and also the Book First Blood written by David Morrell, I am pretty psyched to see a video game come out. Although there was the NES version and the Sega Genesis version that I liked playing as a kid, I am really looking forward to playing it with better graphics. This will probably be one of those video games that goes on my pre-order list, once the release date is announced. But for now please enjoy The Rambo: The Video Game release trailer.

 

-J-