Happy New Year!

In the spirit of renewal, here is a website for you to check out if you are one of millions making some resolutions for 2009: http://www.43things.com/. Why 43 things, and not 50? Check out the FAQs for that answer. By creating an account (currently free, may not be in the future, but don't let that stop you) you can post your goals, chart your progress, peek at the lists of others, and celebrate your success! Any resolutions you want to share? Post in the comments.

Any special plans for New Year's Eve? Post in the comments.

See you next year!

Sparks Fly

Strawberry Neiman Marcus Cake

Neiman Marcus Cake

Bottom Layer:
1 Box Strawberry cake mix (original recipe calls for yellow cake mix - change as desired)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick melted butter
Mix and spread in greased 9x13 cake pan.

Top Layer:
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
2 eggs
1 tps vanilla
3 1/2 cups powder sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional)

Mix the cream cheese and eggs. Add vanilla and mix. Add sugar one cup at a time, mixing between. Add pecans and coconut. Mix well. Pour and spread over bottom layer.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

And a Good Time was had by all!

SW was the place to be on Friday evening. We had a great turnout for the library holiday dinner. The food was great, and the company better!

Thanks to everyone who participated, and to Bridget and Jessica who requested that we put recipes on the blog to share. You can put your recipes in the comments or create a new post! I know there are some great cooks in the library and look forward to adding to my recipe collection!

I will start by posting my recipe for Broccoli-Grape salad.
The original recipe calls for
1 broccoli crown, trimmed
1 C red seedless grapes
1/2 C sunflower seed kernals
1 med red onion, finely diced
1/4-1/2 C bacon bits ( pkg of the Oscar Mayer bacon bits works well )

Dressing:
1 C mayo or salad dressing (I didn't use this much. Maybe 1/2-3/4 C)
1/4 C red wine vinegar
1/4 C sugar (I only use a couple of tablespoons; the grapes add sweetness)

I have modified it by at least doubling the broccoli and grapes. You can adjust according to what you like! I don't use an entire cup of mayo for the dressing, or the salad would be swimming in it. I start with 1/2 C and if I don't think that is enough, add by the tablespoon until I think it will work, remembering to add vinegar as well. The dressing will be a light pink.

Stir it all together. Make this the night before so the flavors can meld.

What's Your Dewey?

Go to http://spacefem.com/quizzes/dewey/ to discover your personal Dewey classification.

Here is mine:
Melody Boren's Dewey Decimal Section:

002 The book

Class:000 Computer Science, Information & General Works

Contains:Encyclopedias, magazines, journals and books with quotations. What it says about you:You are very informative and up to date. You're working on living in the here and now, not the past. You go through a lot of changes. When you make a decision you can be very sure of yourself, maybe even stubborn, but your friends appreciate your honesty and resolve.
Me, stubborn?
Have fun!
Melody

Hardest Working Man in the Library

Here is one of APL's busiest employees taking a well-deserved break. More pictures are coming soon!

What to Give/What to Get from Bookreporter.com

Got a bibliophile or two on your Christmas list this year? Are patrons asking you to provide some titles of good books to buy for the people on their lists? Bookreporter.com has compiled a few suggestions that might be helpful:

http://www.bookreporter.com/features/wgwg2008/index.asp

Libraries Rule!

Ever get discouraged by people who "never" go to the library? This essay in L.A. Youth will give you a little encouragement. The 18-year-old author went from hating libraries to loving them.
http://layouth.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issue&action=IssueArticle&aid=2391&nid=82

Writing on the Walls of the Nation's Library

Take a look at this NPR story about quotations inscribed on the walls of the Library of Congress. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96049292