Before classes start getting hectic, I wanted to do some baking. I haven't done much lately and I've missed making yummy treats to have on hand for a quick snack. I rediscovered a tiny book on my shelves titled "A Little English Book of Teas" which has a lot of recipes one can make for tea. I thought it would be fun for me to make something for Sunday Tea for myself (it ended up being me and Scooter).
The book is a really cool little collection. Recipes include tea sandwiches, biscuits/scones, cookies, and cakes--even ice cream and jam. I experimented with three recipes--all of which I liked and two of which could make an appearance at this year's Mother's Day Tea (if we have one). (K, you'll be getting some fresh-made samples this weekend--I wanted to test the recipes first!)
It's funny how this tea tradition started. K (my best friend) and I found a tea shop that served high Victorian tea down the street from where she used to live. The tea shop has all kinds of tea-related supplies--including many beautiful pots and tea cups--as well as the tea room. K and I spent many weekends there having tea and looking around at all the goodies, so much so that the owner got to know us on a first-name basis. K and I got inspired and we started doing an annual Mother's Day Tea for the ladies in my family. I've been hooked on tea time ever since.
I know this is not "on topic" for this blog, but it stands as an intro for the recipes I'm going to post today and tomorrow. The first one is banana pecan loaf, from my wonderful little tea book. The other two will follow tomorrow.
What you'll need:
1/2 c. margarine
3/4 c. dark brown sugar
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas
1/2 c. chopped pecans (can also use walnuts as the original recipe calls for)
2 1/4 c. self-rising flour*
1 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbs. milk
What you'll need to do:
1. Grease an 8-inch loaf pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric beater to cream the margarine and sugar together. Peel and mash the bananas, add to the mixture and blend in.
3. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well after each egg is added.
4. Fold in the flour and baking powder, stir in the nuts and milk, and mix until well combined.
5. Pour into prepared pan and bake in the oven for 1 hour or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean. Cool on a wire rack.
*Can substitute with 2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour, 2 1/4 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp + pinch baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt
This recipe will create a loaf that is more like the consistency of bread, rather than the cake-like loafs that many banana bread recipes create. A little margarine spread on a slice with a cup of tea is the perfect tasty snack!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Almost to the halfway mark!
I'm starting my fourth semester now, and I'm thrilled to have made it so far. After the semester ends in May, I will officially have reached the halfway point (yay!) of my program. It's certainly been challenging, and this semester may be one of the most challenging yet.
I have almost an oxymoronic attitude about my two classes that can be summed up in two words: nervous anticipation. I'm looking forward to sharpening my web development skills, and my instructor in that class is someone who does website creation and development for a living. I think the instructor and I will get along quite well. One line from the class green sheet reads "If a student has experience using Dreamweaver or some other...software package, it will not be allowed. To truly learn how to code, one must code." That is the philosophy I have worked by in my own ventures into web page creation. I refused to try using a software to help me because I knew the only way I would learn is if I did it myself--and I still do everything by hand in Notepad (old habits die hard, I suppose). Maybe this way is more time-consuming, but I feel I understand much better what to do and why to do it. I'm also looking forward to my cataloging class. It's not something I want to do all the time once I get my degree, but my reference class instructor highly recommended taking a cataloging class in order to better understand how and why resources are entered into the library catalog in the manner that they are. I personally think that it's a good idea for any librarian to have a decent grasp of what the various library departments do (and how they do it). It helps to build a respect for colleagues in other areas and makes the librarian better at her job because she knows how the parts of the library fit together as a whole.
So yes, I'm anticipating what I'll be learning and the skills I'll develop. However, as I've examined the syllabi and gone over some of the other material my instructors have provided, I'm starting to ask "What have I gotten myself into?" These two classes will both require a lot of work. I will need to stay on task and really manage my time well as both will require not only reading work, but also weekly assignments. It looks like that there are no papers to write and no really large projects until the final project is due. This is good, but I will still need to stay on my toes.
Well, as Doris Day's song says, "que sera sera." I'll do my best and what happens, happens. In the meantime, here is another crock pot recipe that Scooter and I tried on Monday. It's a perfect recipe to put together in the morning. It'll be done in plenty of time for dinner. So, from my crock pot cook book comes "Pollo Colorado."
What you'll need:
2 medium-size yellow onions
2 red bell peppers
2 frozen boneless chicken breasts (do not thaw)
2 frozen chicken thighs (do not thaw)
2 Tbs. garlic powder
28-oz. can of enchilada sauce (mild, medium, or hot to your taste)
Warm corn or flour tortillas
Shredded cheese (optional)
What you'll need to do:
1. Peel and slice the onions. Seed and slice the red bell peppers. Put into a medium or large crock pot and toss together to mix.
2. Place the frozen chicken on top of the vegetables.
3. Pour the enchilada sauce over the chicken and sprinkle the garlic powder on top.
4. Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 5 to 7 hours.
5. Remove any bones from the chicken thighs and serve with the shredded cheese and tortillas.
Dark meat will help add some flavor, but you can choose to stick with white meat and use 3 to 4 frozen chicken breasts as the original recipe calls for. The mixture will be very saucy and the sauce will be thin--you can thicken the sauce a bit with a milk and flour mixture added to the crock pot and allowed to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. If you wish, you can eat it over rice instead of having it with tortillas (Scooter like it this way). Enjoy!
I have almost an oxymoronic attitude about my two classes that can be summed up in two words: nervous anticipation. I'm looking forward to sharpening my web development skills, and my instructor in that class is someone who does website creation and development for a living. I think the instructor and I will get along quite well. One line from the class green sheet reads "If a student has experience using Dreamweaver or some other...software package, it will not be allowed. To truly learn how to code, one must code." That is the philosophy I have worked by in my own ventures into web page creation. I refused to try using a software to help me because I knew the only way I would learn is if I did it myself--and I still do everything by hand in Notepad (old habits die hard, I suppose). Maybe this way is more time-consuming, but I feel I understand much better what to do and why to do it. I'm also looking forward to my cataloging class. It's not something I want to do all the time once I get my degree, but my reference class instructor highly recommended taking a cataloging class in order to better understand how and why resources are entered into the library catalog in the manner that they are. I personally think that it's a good idea for any librarian to have a decent grasp of what the various library departments do (and how they do it). It helps to build a respect for colleagues in other areas and makes the librarian better at her job because she knows how the parts of the library fit together as a whole.
So yes, I'm anticipating what I'll be learning and the skills I'll develop. However, as I've examined the syllabi and gone over some of the other material my instructors have provided, I'm starting to ask "What have I gotten myself into?" These two classes will both require a lot of work. I will need to stay on task and really manage my time well as both will require not only reading work, but also weekly assignments. It looks like that there are no papers to write and no really large projects until the final project is due. This is good, but I will still need to stay on my toes.
Well, as Doris Day's song says, "que sera sera." I'll do my best and what happens, happens. In the meantime, here is another crock pot recipe that Scooter and I tried on Monday. It's a perfect recipe to put together in the morning. It'll be done in plenty of time for dinner. So, from my crock pot cook book comes "Pollo Colorado."
What you'll need:
2 medium-size yellow onions
2 red bell peppers
2 frozen boneless chicken breasts (do not thaw)
2 frozen chicken thighs (do not thaw)
2 Tbs. garlic powder
28-oz. can of enchilada sauce (mild, medium, or hot to your taste)
Warm corn or flour tortillas
Shredded cheese (optional)
What you'll need to do:
1. Peel and slice the onions. Seed and slice the red bell peppers. Put into a medium or large crock pot and toss together to mix.
2. Place the frozen chicken on top of the vegetables.
3. Pour the enchilada sauce over the chicken and sprinkle the garlic powder on top.
4. Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 5 to 7 hours.
5. Remove any bones from the chicken thighs and serve with the shredded cheese and tortillas.
Dark meat will help add some flavor, but you can choose to stick with white meat and use 3 to 4 frozen chicken breasts as the original recipe calls for. The mixture will be very saucy and the sauce will be thin--you can thicken the sauce a bit with a milk and flour mixture added to the crock pot and allowed to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. If you wish, you can eat it over rice instead of having it with tortillas (Scooter like it this way). Enjoy!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Super-easy crock pot recipe
Here is a recipe that Scooter and I tried this last weekend. We wanted something super-easy that didn't require a lot of prep and found exactly what we were looking for in this recipe: rigatoni and sausage. The original recipe comes from my wonderful crock pot recipe book, Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook that I have posted recipes from before. If you like crock pots, definitely pick up this book.
What you'll need:
1 lb. uncooked Italian sausage
1 26- to 28-oz. jar of tomato pasta sauce*
1 lb. uncooked rigatoni
1 Tbs. garlic powder
Freshly grated Parmesan, Asiago, or other hard Italian cheese
What you'll need to do:
1. Remove the casings from the sausage and crumble the meat.
2. Over medium-high heat, brown the sausage in a medium skillet until fully cooked. Drain off the fat.
3. Grease the crock pot with a nonstick cooking spray. Pour in the pasta sauce. Fill the sauce jar with water and add to the crock pot. Add in the garlic powder and stir together. Add the cooked sausage and rigatoni and stir until well-coated.
4. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Pasta should be tender.
5. Serve with grated cheese.
That's it! Something easy and good with little prep. A sharp-flavored cheese is essential to this recipe; the pasta and sausage can taste a little bland without it. Adding the cheese really brings the flavors together and makes them pop. I used a vodka pasta sauce, and I think the stronger tomato flavor of a red sauce would also make the flavor even better than we had it.
*I used a 24-oz jar for the recipe (it was what I had in the pantry) and would have liked a little extra sauce than we got. For more sauce, follow the original recipe amount noted above (or even add a little more from a second jar). If you like less sauce, try the 24-oz jar.
What you'll need:
1 lb. uncooked Italian sausage
1 26- to 28-oz. jar of tomato pasta sauce*
1 lb. uncooked rigatoni
1 Tbs. garlic powder
Freshly grated Parmesan, Asiago, or other hard Italian cheese
What you'll need to do:
1. Remove the casings from the sausage and crumble the meat.
2. Over medium-high heat, brown the sausage in a medium skillet until fully cooked. Drain off the fat.
3. Grease the crock pot with a nonstick cooking spray. Pour in the pasta sauce. Fill the sauce jar with water and add to the crock pot. Add in the garlic powder and stir together. Add the cooked sausage and rigatoni and stir until well-coated.
4. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Pasta should be tender.
5. Serve with grated cheese.
That's it! Something easy and good with little prep. A sharp-flavored cheese is essential to this recipe; the pasta and sausage can taste a little bland without it. Adding the cheese really brings the flavors together and makes them pop. I used a vodka pasta sauce, and I think the stronger tomato flavor of a red sauce would also make the flavor even better than we had it.
*I used a 24-oz jar for the recipe (it was what I had in the pantry) and would have liked a little extra sauce than we got. For more sauce, follow the original recipe amount noted above (or even add a little more from a second jar). If you like less sauce, try the 24-oz jar.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Fight against censorship
I was going to post another recipe, but I think in honor of the effort to stop PIPA and SOPA from passing in Congress, I will post the link to Google's page allowing supporters of stopping the initiatives to sign the petition: https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/. Please consider adding your name. These two initiatives seriously threaten Internet freedom and open access. While I don't know that they would be job-killers as many critics of PIPA and SOPA claim, I do think that they would open a dangerous door of censorship that would be hard to control, let alone close. The US Government would have the ability to block access to websites; I envision websites being blocked with vague explanations, or false or faulty reasoning (our government doesn't exactly have the best record for transparency). Many other countries worldwide block websites for one reason or another (France and Germany, I was amazed to find out, blocks websites with content related to Nazism and Holocaust denial).[1] China is an often-named example of serious censorship, but others include Cuba, Iran, Vietnam, and Syria (check the Enemies of the Internet list).
And I do agree with critics that say these bills will not help stop piracy. Those that illegally share or counterfeit media or other items will buy other domain names and continuously move their activity to other websites, which is no solution. The US government will be endlessly chasing after them. This is a poor attempt to create a stop gap measure. While Congress's intentions are good (stop piracy), the execution needs a lot more work, and much more consideration of the ensuing ramifications.
[1] Wikipedia. (2012, January 16). Internet censorship. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship
And I do agree with critics that say these bills will not help stop piracy. Those that illegally share or counterfeit media or other items will buy other domain names and continuously move their activity to other websites, which is no solution. The US government will be endlessly chasing after them. This is a poor attempt to create a stop gap measure. While Congress's intentions are good (stop piracy), the execution needs a lot more work, and much more consideration of the ensuing ramifications.
[1] Wikipedia. (2012, January 16). Internet censorship. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Online Resource Development
I know, catchy title. But it's a topic that I've become familiar with lately. I have the opportunity to work on a project (I can't discuss the specifics yet) that focuses on developing a resource for online students. It's the first project of this nature that I've had the opportunity to work on and play a key role in, and while the added work will limit my "free time" even further, the experience will be worth it.
Before we can go anywhere with the project, we have to plan it out. And a major part of the planning is content. What will be on it? In order to figure out the look and feel of the final product, I have to know a) what the purpose of the project will be and b) what information we will need/want to include. In order to help figure that out, there are two key questions I think need to be answered:
1. What online resources do the students already have access to?
2. What do online students need?
To me, the second one is most important. As an online student myself, I have three semesters experience with utilizing online resources. I rely totally on my school's resource availability. Even things like e-books (which I never thought I would use and still don't particularly like) have proven informationally useful several times, especially when working on papers. I tried to list the main factors of what I need for my program in general terms and came up with four things.
Reliable resources. Online students must, must, must have resources that actually work. That could mean links that are still live and don't take the student to an error page or an unrelated page, or it could mean databases that are kept up-to-date with current articles and information (especially for fields that constantly change or have new information like medicine and tech). When students are required to research for assignments, they have to know that the available resources will perform "as promised."
Information for research. Online students also require a wide variety of resources for research. One database of articles will not be enough. In my own research, I've utilized at least eight databases--not counting podcasts, videos, blogs, and press releases that I've found outside of what my school provided me with. It is this kind of variety that will help build a good resource for online students--and will provide the information that their research needs require.
Communication. Online students are much more isolated than traditional students. Most communication happens asynchronously. It's difficult for many students to ask for help if they can't expect a response very quickly. Researching without help can be extremely difficult, especially if the student doesn't know how to research effectively. I think a good online resource would have a way for students to communicate with librarians instantly through chat services and similar programs (a service many libraries have on their websites). There could also be a "meeting place" area for students to communicate with other students (especially those in other programs or outside their classes) and staff.
Career resources. I'm lucky that I don't need assistance with this, but I know that job-hunting assistance is a service that is high in demand. Providing information on resume/CV building, interviewing, job searching, and applying for jobs would definitely help out the online student. I know from various Linked In groups I'm a member of that many just-graduated students are looking for help/guidance/advice as they look for jobs.
Now that I have four main areas identified for things that the online student needs, it's time to start fleshing out some content. I'll post more details of the project when I am able to.
P.S. Super easy crock pot recipe to be posted tomorrow!
Before we can go anywhere with the project, we have to plan it out. And a major part of the planning is content. What will be on it? In order to figure out the look and feel of the final product, I have to know a) what the purpose of the project will be and b) what information we will need/want to include. In order to help figure that out, there are two key questions I think need to be answered:
1. What online resources do the students already have access to?
2. What do online students need?
To me, the second one is most important. As an online student myself, I have three semesters experience with utilizing online resources. I rely totally on my school's resource availability. Even things like e-books (which I never thought I would use and still don't particularly like) have proven informationally useful several times, especially when working on papers. I tried to list the main factors of what I need for my program in general terms and came up with four things.
Reliable resources. Online students must, must, must have resources that actually work. That could mean links that are still live and don't take the student to an error page or an unrelated page, or it could mean databases that are kept up-to-date with current articles and information (especially for fields that constantly change or have new information like medicine and tech). When students are required to research for assignments, they have to know that the available resources will perform "as promised."
Information for research. Online students also require a wide variety of resources for research. One database of articles will not be enough. In my own research, I've utilized at least eight databases--not counting podcasts, videos, blogs, and press releases that I've found outside of what my school provided me with. It is this kind of variety that will help build a good resource for online students--and will provide the information that their research needs require.
Communication. Online students are much more isolated than traditional students. Most communication happens asynchronously. It's difficult for many students to ask for help if they can't expect a response very quickly. Researching without help can be extremely difficult, especially if the student doesn't know how to research effectively. I think a good online resource would have a way for students to communicate with librarians instantly through chat services and similar programs (a service many libraries have on their websites). There could also be a "meeting place" area for students to communicate with other students (especially those in other programs or outside their classes) and staff.
Career resources. I'm lucky that I don't need assistance with this, but I know that job-hunting assistance is a service that is high in demand. Providing information on resume/CV building, interviewing, job searching, and applying for jobs would definitely help out the online student. I know from various Linked In groups I'm a member of that many just-graduated students are looking for help/guidance/advice as they look for jobs.
Now that I have four main areas identified for things that the online student needs, it's time to start fleshing out some content. I'll post more details of the project when I am able to.
P.S. Super easy crock pot recipe to be posted tomorrow!
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