Click on the title caption below the book image to see which El Paso Public Library branch owns a copy or to request a copy.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Hunger Games Read-Alikes
Are you still on the waiting list for The Hunger Games? Then, try reading one of these dystopian read-alikes in the meantime! This list is adapted from the Seattle Public Library's list.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
March CBC Recap
We held our first ever cookbook club potluck this past Saturday, and it was a deliciously fun time! The club began with everyone serving themselves a little bit of everything. After a few bites, each of us introduced ourselves and talked about the recipe that we chose to make. Here's how it went:
Lisa started the introductions since she is the librarian at Dorris Van Doren who coordinated the club. She made shortbread with lime zest, and was surprised to find that these cookies took 45 minutes to bake (she took them out of the oven 15 minutes early when they started to brown). She thought that the recipe was a little vague when the exact size of the baking pan wasn't mentioned. She decided to use a 13x9 glass Pyrex pan. Lisa liked the simplicity of the ingredients and ease of the recipe.
Luciano introduced himself next. He was the most ambitious of the bunch, taking on the Dr. Pepper Ribs. He was also the youngest. Luciano has been cooking since he was 3 years old, and this is his third time making ribs at the ripe old age of 11. Seriously though, his parents (which he brought with him) bought all of the ingredients and he cooked the ribs on his own. Luciano said the recipe took a long time to make when you combine the marinating and cooking times. He said there were a lot of spices in the recipe, two of which he didn't have on hand- mustard powder and allspice. Everyone loved the ribs!
Erika, who also works at the library made the cactus salad. She took the smart shortcut by using jarred nopales (cactus). For some participants, this was their first time trying nopales, and found that they actually liked them.
Dawn recently moved to El Paso from Ohio. She made the poblano mac & cheese, and said that it was an easy recipe that she would make again. The most time consuming part was roasting the poblanos and waiting for them to cool down. She also forgot to grease the pan, but this didn't make any difference. The recipe also recommended additional add-ins, such as chorizo, chicken, squash, or corn.
Lizzie is an intern at our library, and she made the Texas caviar. This was her first time completely following a recipe. She likes to cook without recipes or make changes to them. She also thought it was an easy recipe that she would make again. Prepping and chopping the ingredients were the only time consuming parts. She thought this might make a good base for a soup.
More discussion took place about food and cooking tips. Everyone agreed they loved pasta, and would like to see a pasta cookbook selected for an upcoming potluck. All left contently full and excited for the next Cook the Book Club potluck.
Make the recipes pictured below and more, from Lisa Fain's The Homesick Texan Cookbook. Click here to request the book @ your library.
Lisa started the introductions since she is the librarian at Dorris Van Doren who coordinated the club. She made shortbread with lime zest, and was surprised to find that these cookies took 45 minutes to bake (she took them out of the oven 15 minutes early when they started to brown). She thought that the recipe was a little vague when the exact size of the baking pan wasn't mentioned. She decided to use a 13x9 glass Pyrex pan. Lisa liked the simplicity of the ingredients and ease of the recipe.
Luciano introduced himself next. He was the most ambitious of the bunch, taking on the Dr. Pepper Ribs. He was also the youngest. Luciano has been cooking since he was 3 years old, and this is his third time making ribs at the ripe old age of 11. Seriously though, his parents (which he brought with him) bought all of the ingredients and he cooked the ribs on his own. Luciano said the recipe took a long time to make when you combine the marinating and cooking times. He said there were a lot of spices in the recipe, two of which he didn't have on hand- mustard powder and allspice. Everyone loved the ribs!
Erika, who also works at the library made the cactus salad. She took the smart shortcut by using jarred nopales (cactus). For some participants, this was their first time trying nopales, and found that they actually liked them.
Dawn recently moved to El Paso from Ohio. She made the poblano mac & cheese, and said that it was an easy recipe that she would make again. The most time consuming part was roasting the poblanos and waiting for them to cool down. She also forgot to grease the pan, but this didn't make any difference. The recipe also recommended additional add-ins, such as chorizo, chicken, squash, or corn.
Lizzie is an intern at our library, and she made the Texas caviar. This was her first time completely following a recipe. She likes to cook without recipes or make changes to them. She also thought it was an easy recipe that she would make again. Prepping and chopping the ingredients were the only time consuming parts. She thought this might make a good base for a soup.
More discussion took place about food and cooking tips. Everyone agreed they loved pasta, and would like to see a pasta cookbook selected for an upcoming potluck. All left contently full and excited for the next Cook the Book Club potluck.
Make the recipes pictured below and more, from Lisa Fain's The Homesick Texan Cookbook. Click here to request the book @ your library.
We hope you'll join us in April for our next Cook the Book Club potluck and discussion. Save the date for Saturday, April 21! Details at the information desk.
Friday, March 2, 2012
New Book Club!
Introducing a new kind of book club at the Dorris Van Doren Library! Every month, a cookbook will be selected, reserved, and put on display at the information desk. If more than one copy is available, you may check out the book. At the end of the month, we'll host a potluck to discuss and taste the recipes from the chosen cookbook.
We have decided to kick off March with The Homesick Texan Cookbook by Lisa Fain. I don't know about you, but as a native El Pasoan I've never felt comfortable calling myself a Texan. We live so far out west in Texas that it doesn't even feel like you're in Texas anymore. This fairly new cookbook offers a taste of all areas of Texas (including El Paso!) with beautiful full-color photographs and anecdotes. The book contains a wide variety of recipes that seem fairly simple to make. We hope you'll join us on Saturday, March 24 @ 2 pm for our first ever cookbook club potluck! Don't forget stop in the library by Monday, March 19 to register.
General Guidelines:
· Browse through the book to pick a recipe that piques your interest (or taste buds).
· A Post-it note with your name will be used to mark the recipe to keep track of potluck dishes, and to keep members from choosing the same dish.
· A staff member will make a copy of your recipe for you to take home.
· Prepare your recipe, then bring it to the potluck on March 24 @ 2 pm to share with other participants.
Potluck Guidelines:
· Pre-registration prior to each monthly meeting is required. The deadline for this month is March 19. Space is limited. You will be notified if the potluck is canceled.
· Make and bring one regular-size recipe on March 24 @ 2 pm. There is no need to double or triple recipes.
· Recipes should be prepared at home prior to the meeting. The library kitchen has a microwave that can be used for re-heating if necessary.
· Make sure to bring a serving utensil for the dish, as well as a beverage for yourself (the library has a soda machine, but beverages will not be provided).
· Potlucks will take place in the auditorium.
Contact us if you have more questions or suggestions!
-Lisa M., Public Services Librarian
(915) 875-0700
dorrisvandoren@elpasotexas.gov
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