About Pat S

Pat is the Youth Services Specialist at the Williamsburg Branch.

New Years Resolutions

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Pat S

ultimate low calorie book How many of you make New Year’s resolutions? How many of you are successful in keeping those resolutions? There will be a multitude of New Year’s resolutions made this year only to have them abandoned a few months later. Ahhh, but the thought was there and that counts for something, RIGHT? For many, January 1^st is the day they will start on the path to healthier eating. I think the key to succeeding is to have variety in your meals. English poet, William Cowper sums it up in a phrase from the poem, “the Task” (1785): ”Variety is the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor.”

Try some of these new or fairly new additions to the library for some inspirational recipes, and here’s to a new you in a few months.

The ultimate low-calorie book: more than 400 light and healthy recipes for every day

Hungry girl 300 under 300: 300 breakfast, lunch & dinner dishes under 300 calories

Fix-it and forget-it lightly: 600 healthy low-fat recipes for your slow cooker

Mason Jar Cookie Cookbook

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Pat S

Are you looking for a great gift from your kitchen? Why not try some Mason jar cookies. With a little time and effort you can create wonderful gifts for all the cookie lovers on your list. To get you started, check out the book, The Mason Jar Cookie Cookbook by Lonnette Parks. Have fun!

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips

½ cup sugar

¾ teaspoon baking soda

Wash and dry a 1 quart wide mouth canning jar. Layer the ingredients into a canning jar as they are listed above , pressing firmly with a flat bottomed object after each addition. Try to make your layers as level as possible. Secure the lid. Tie a bow around it all and you have an instant gift. It would also be helpful to type out the additional ingredients and instruction to give along with the jar.

To make the cookies you will need these additional ingredients:

½ cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F

2. Place all of the jar ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, and stir until well combined. Set aside.

3. Place the butter, eggs, and vanilla extract in a large bowl, and cream with an electric mixer set on low or mix with a fork.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, and mix with a spoon until well combined.

5. Drop the dough by heaping teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.

6. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes, or until light brown in color. Allow to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Then transfer to wire racks and cool completely.

7. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Yields : 2 ½ Dozen cookies

Panera Bread Cookbook

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Pat S

Every once in a while I like to treat myself to lunch at Panera Bread. I will order up a scrumptious sandwich made with their own homemade bread teamed with one of their savory soups , or one of their signature salads. Yum! For a lot of us, money is tight and eating out has taken a back seat to eating in. I discovered The Panera Bread Cookbook at the public library and now I can have Panera whenever the mood strikes me. If you are adventurous, why not try the recipe I included below.

Goat Cheese, Tomato, and Thai Basil Panini

1 Tablespoon salted butter

4 slices Country White Bread (the recipe is in the cookbook) or brioche

3 Tablespoons goat cheese (see note)

10 Thai basil leaves (see note)

1 large Roma tomato, cored and cut into 8 slices width-wise

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Spread the butter on one side of each slice of bread and flip slices over so ingredients can be placed on the inside. Evenly spread the goat cheese over the unbuttered side of bread and distribute basil leaves and tomato on 2 slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with a second slice of bread and grill in a press until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Cut the sandwich in half and serve immediately. A George Forman grill works great.

Note – for substitutions :

Thai Basil – common sweet

Goat Cheese – cream cheese or farmer’s cheese.