I Like Big Bundts 2013 - Submission Form for Round Up

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

I Like Big Bundts 2013
Hello Bundt Makers,
If you make a Bundt to celebrate National Bundt Day on November 15, 2013, let me know so I can drool over your Bundt! I'm going to post a round-up to post on the blog. Here is the 2011 round-up.

Send me a photo and/or link to your blog and I'll be posting a listing like this one. To encourage everyone to bake and gift treats to friends, family, and co-workers, I'll send you some homemade food gift tags too!

Happppppy Happy Bundt Day!! Hope you have an awesome Bundt day! Chocolate Cinnamon Bundt on the blog as well as this year's #ilikebigbundts baking. Submit your bundt for a chance to win this pan too! :) #bundt #bundtlove
Jubilee Bundt Pan made this pretty Bundt!
And finally, if you bake a bundt, you'll be entered in a raffle for the cool new Jubilee Bundt! (Note: Sorry, no buttons this year...last time, the mailing/postage was a fiasco so I'm moving to flat items that are easy to mail. I'll mail the gift tags anywhere, but the Bundt pan giveaway is only for U.S. addresses.)

When you make your Bundt (and post it if you have a blog), fill out this secure ONLINE FORM and attach a photo! Deadline is November 23, 2013 so you can make the Bundt on the actual National Bundt Day 11/15/2013. Bundts need to be made within the last 30 days.

Submission deadline has passed for 2013. The round up is coming soon! Stay tuned. - mary 11/29/2013
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National Library Week Giveaway Winners!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

NationalLibraryWeek2012Banner
Winners

Thanks for entering my giveaways for National Library Week! I loved hearing how much you use your library! Whoo hoo!

I used Random.org and picked the winners.

Flour Bakery Cookbook - #86 Karen

Biscuit Cutters - #20 Barbara (she's a librarian too! how cool!)

Baked Explorations Cookbook - #113 Lisa

I'll be contacting you to arrange shipping of your prize! Happy Baking everyone! - mary
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National Library Week 2012 - Flour Cookbook Giveaway

Thursday, April 12, 2012

NationalLibraryWeek2012Banner

It's National Library Week 2012! I'm putting the Librarian in the Food Librarian blog this week!

I'm having a few giveaways this week. Today, I'm giving away a really pretty book - The Flour Bakery Cookbook. (See my other giveaways for Baked Cookbook and Biscuit Cutters - all end Monday, April 16th!)

Flour cookbook giveaway for National Library Week
Win a copy of Flour Bakery Cookbook

This cookbook is wonderful. I'm made a number of recipes. The yellow cake is so awesome. The Lemon Ginger scones? OMG. So good. And don't forget the Apple Snacking Cake, Chocolate cookies and Brownies! The text is very detailed and easy to understand. If you don't win the giveaway, you should definitely add this to your bookshelf!! See if your library by looking it up in WorldCat (a world-wide catalog of libraries - way cool).

Flour Bakery collage 3
I've visited Joanne Chang's Boston bakery last year and it was delicious! You can make many of these yummy delights at home with the cookbook!

Flour Bakery - Yellow Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Ganache Frosting
Yellow Cake from the Flour Bakery cookbook

To enter today's giveaway, simply leave a comment below (one entry per person) and I'll pick the winner from a hat (aka Random). Deadline: Monday, April 16, 2012 at midnight PDT. If your comment isn't linked to a blog where I can find you, please leave your email. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Cake not included, but recipe is inside so you should totally make this cake! Disclosure: I'm paying for the book and shipping.

Good luck and have fun at your library! More info about National Library Week is at ALA!
   - mary the food librarian
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National Library Week 2012 - Biscuit Cutter Giveaway

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

NationalLibraryWeek2012Banner

Yippppee! It's National Library Week 2012!

I hope you celebrate your local library all year long, but this week shines a light on libraries and library staff! I'm having a few giveaways this week to celebrate. Tell me about your library and staff - do you go for books, downloadable eBooks, programs, story time or just a place to study and use the computers? Do you have a special memory of your librarian? Thanks for visiting the library and making our job interesting!

Crystallized Ginger Scones - Williams Sonoma
I used these biscuit cutters to make some Crystallized Ginger Scones. You can win a set!

Giveaway: Stainless-Steel Reversible Biscuit Cutters
Set of 6 Contains 2"-, 2½"-, 3"-, 3½"-, 4"-; and 4½"-diameter cutters

To enter today's giveaway, simply leave a comment below (one entry per person) and I'll pick the winner from a hat (aka Random). Deadline: Monday, April 16, 2012 at midnight PDT. If your comment isn't linked to a blog where I can find you, please leave your email. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Disclosure: I'm paying for the cutters and shipping.

Good luck and have fun at your library! More info about National Library Week is at ALA!
   - mary the food librarian

P.S. And don't forget to enter to win a copy of Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented!
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National Library Week 2012 - Baked Explorations Giveaway

Monday, April 9, 2012

NationalLibraryWeek2012Banner

Whoo hoo! It's National Library Week 2012!

I hope you celebrate your local library all year long, but this week shines a light on libraries! I'm going to having a few giveaways this week to celebrate.

Sunday Night Cake (Baked Explorations)
Here is the post about making this delicious Sunday Night Cake!

To enter today's giveaway, simply leave a comment below (one entry per person) and I'll pick the winner from a hat (aka Random). Deadline: Monday, April 16, 2012 at midnight PDT. If your comment isn't linked to a blog where I can find you, please leave your email. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Cake not included, but recipe is inside so you should totally make this cake! Disclosure: I'm paying for the book and shipping.

Good luck and have fun at your library! More info about National Library Week is at ALA!
   - mary the food librarian
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National Library Week 2011 Winners!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Giveaway Winners NLW 2011

Congrats to the winners of my National Library Week giveaways! Winner were picked at random. Thanks for entering and celebrating National Library Week with me! :)

Day #1: Ann (entry #95) won Sarabeth’s Bakery cookbook
Day #2: Spike (entry #77) won the 4 Crate & Barrel ramekins
Day #3: Susan (entry #71) won the Everyday Food subscription
Day #4: Jen (entry #56) won the Silpat
Day #5: Frannie (entry #35) won the Dorie Greenspan Around my French Table cookbook
Library staff giveaway: Erin (entry #30) won the Amazon gift card
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Library Staff Giveaway!! National Library Week Bonus!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Hello Kitty Librarian
Library Staff Only Giveaway!

Happy National Library Week Librarians and Library staff!

To celebrate National Library Week and say thanks for all the wonderful and hard working librarians & library staff, I'm having a giveaway open to current library staff and current library students! You need to be working at a library or in a graduate program right now to enter.

Prize: $25 Amazon gift card for one lucky winner!

Library Week Giveaway



This giveaway is only open to current library staff or graduate library school students! To enter, just leave a comment on this post. (If you want, tell me what type of library you work at or general location...or anything else you want!) If your email isn’t associated with your Blogger account, please be sure to leave your email in the message.
Note: This giveaway is limited to current librarians, library staff and library school students. One winner will be picked at random using Random.org.
Deadline: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at midnight, Pacific Daylight Time
Disclosure: This giveaway is paid for by me.
*** Updated: Contest is closed. Congrats to Erin (entry #30) ***
I'm not going to ask for your library badge, pay stubs, or quiz you about the Dewey or LC classification system, so be honest and only enter if you are currently working at a library right now. And if you cheat and toss everything your mom taught you in the gutter...know that karma will make every single library book you ever check out mysteriously get lost or damaged, and you'll somehow manage to rack up fines that may ruin your credit. Just sayin'.
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Get Running App Winners

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Congratuations on the ten winners of the Get Running App!

Winners (listed below) will be receiving an email from me with the code to pick up the app in the Apple store.

Thanks everyone for entering! Don't fret if you didn't win...the app is only $1.99 and your health is worth at least that much!

- mary the food librarian

Winners:
Drawn using Random.org
Comment # / Name
2 Isabel
3 Emily
7 Topher / Chris M.
9 booksNyarn
15 Audrey
17 Kim
26 Naomi
33 Kimberleyblue
35 Ann MT
43 Bec
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Get Running App - Giveaway!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

GetRunning app giveaway
Last year, I wanted to try this crazy thing called "running." My friends do it. I've heard some good things about it. And it doesn't require a gym membership.

I heard about the popular Couch to 5K program...taking you from couch potato to a 5K or at least 30 minutes of running in less than 10 weeks. I didn't believe it.

But then I purchased the Get Running App from the Apple store (only $1.99) and loaded it on my iPod Touch.

And wouldn't you know it? It totally freaking worked!

Starting with 1 minute runs (I wanted to die during the first ones), the program gradually gets you running! An English woman gets you going with encouragements. You can read my detailed account of the app on this July 2010 post (including me hating the woman who speaks to you at first, then liking her)

Some programs have little bleeps or bells, but Get Running has an English woman guiding you through the workout and gives you encouragement. She says things like:

Today we are going to run... five 10-minute runs
You are halfway done, turn around and head home if you need.
You have one minute left (with enthusiasm)!
You have run 20 minutes! You have 5 minutes remaining.
Today's run is only 2 minutes longer than last week.
Great job! Congratulations!


The nice peeps at Get Running have given me 10 apps to give away so you can try the program out! The program is compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Before you laugh at the idea of someone running with their iPad (like I was), people had used the iPad with their treadmill. Ahhh...that makes sense. But it's only compatible with those devices so only enter if you have one of them, okay?

Giveaway:
1. You need to have an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. Please don't enter if you don't have one of these devices.
2. If you win, you need to download the app within 2 weeks. No, you don't need to start using the app...but why wait? Get a properly fitted pair of running shoes and good socks and you are ready to go!
3. To enter, just leave a comment. Make sure your email is on your Google login, or you leave your email address in the comment.
4. If you don't win, don't fret...you can buy the GetRunning app for only $1.99 in the Apple store.
5. And remember, I may be totally enthusiastic about this program...but please note that the $1.99 app does not get you out of bed in the morning, put on your shoes and get you butt out the door. Just sayin'. Just wanna be clear about it.
6. You have until Monday, March 28, 2011, Midnight PDT to enter. :) I'll do a random drawing for the 10 winners.

Disclosure: I did not receive anything from the makers of Get Running App for this post. They are offering the 10 apps free to the winners. Opinions about the app, the lady on the app, and running in general are my own. ;) - mary the food librarian

*** Updated: Contest is closed. Winners listed here. ****
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Countdown to 40 Giveaway - The Food Librarian is freaking 39 11/12 years old!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Lavender Lemon Bar from Surfas Cafe, Culver City, CA
Dude, I'm one month away from 40! I may be doing the I Like Big Bundts countdown to National Bundt Day on November 15th, but I'm really counting down to December 7th, my 40th birthday!

As you know, I've started this party a wee bit early by having a few giveaways the past few months to celebrate YOUR upcoming birthday because everyone has an upcoming birthday!

For my 39 11/12th, one lucky reader has the chance to win a $39 11/12 Amazon Gift Card ($39.92 U.S. Dollars).

As my blog name implies, I'm interested in Food and Libraries (public librarian by day, baker by night). Unfortunately, there are many who have limited access to both. In addition to the gift card, I'll be donating to two charities in your name! Feeding America to support local feed banks, and Oxfam's Book for Kids gift to provide children with books. ($30 to Feeding America and $20 to Oxfam). The holiday season is fast approaching (what?!), so I hope you consider giving the gift of food or books to those in need. 
 
To enter this little giveaway, just leave a comment (if you aren't connected to a blog, leave your email address...and if you have a blogger account but it's private so I can't see it...leave your email address). Deadline is Sunday, November 14, 2010 at midnight PST. FCC Disclosure: My birthday giveaways are paid for by me.

*** Contest is closed. Congrats to Linda of Tender Crumb! ***

I received my favorite lemon bar for my 39 11/12th birthday! This is a lavender lemon bar from Cafe Surfas in Culver City, CA. The Surfas restaurant store is my crack den. Thanks Jessica for the lovely lemon bar! If anyone has the recipe for this delightful treat, pass it along. The lemon is creamy, not like a regular lemon bar. It is one of my very favorite desserts! - mary the food librarian, enjoying my 39 11/12 years!
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Congratulations! Winner of my 39 10/12 birthday giveaway!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Congratulations to Anne Strawberry! Comment #116 is the winner of my 39 10/12 birthday giveaway (picked by Random.org)! Anne wins a $40 Amazon gift certificate and $40 donated in her name to A Chica Bakes marathon fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Anne has a great blog that you should check out!

Thanks everyone for entering! I'll be 40 in less than two months! Come back for more giveaways...and lots of Bundt cakes. More on that in the next post! :) - mary the food librarian
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Countdown to 40 Giveaway - I'm 39 10/12 years old!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Birthday Cookbooks

I'm 39 10/12 today! My birthday is right around the corner! As I head toward 40, I'm celebrating every month! Whoo hoo! 

I've been celebrating by ordering things on Amazon. Oh man, it is just too easy to click your way to a boatload of books on your doorstep. Anyway, I want you to celebrate your upcoming birthday with me (everyone has an upcoming birthday...even if it's 10 months away). I'm giving away a $39 10/12 Amazon.com Gift Certificate to one lucky reader.
 
In addition, I'm giving $40 in your name to A Chica Bakes marathon fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Eliana lost two close relatives to this disease. She has been training and training (in between making some delicious food) for the Chicago Marathon this month. Eliana has ALMOST reached her fundraising goal, and let's get her there!

To enter, just leave a comment (if you aren't connected to a blog, leave your email address...and if you have a blogger account but it's private so I can't see it...leave your email address). Deadline is Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at midnight PDT. FCC Disclosure: My birthday giveaways are paid for by me.

*** Contest is closed. Winner is #116 Anne Strawberry ***
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Dorie's Around My French Table Giveaway!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Win this book!

This summer was challenging. The weather was gloomy, and so were some other things. I dropped off a lot of blogging, but now that "fall" is here, I'm hoping to come back to the swing of things! (btw, "Fall" in Los Angeles includes 90 degree temps this weekend! Eeck!)

This fall, I'm joining a new cooking group! French Fridays with Dorie is a sister project of Tuesdays with Dorie. The awesome Dorie Greenspan has a new book out and FFwD is going to go through the book one recipe at a time.

Since "cooking" to me usually involves mixing TWO different cereals, soy milk AND a sliced banana (oh yes, that is four different ingredients!), I am looking forward this group!

And if you want to join, register here.

My Tuesdays with Dorie friend Mary (such a cool name!) has given me an early 40th birthday gift of Dorie's new book! Whoo hoo! It is beautiful and I can't wait to start cooking. Then I thought, what better way to celebrate Fall, Dorie, Birthdays, Friends and all that good stuff, than by paying it forward and giving one person a copy of the book?!

To enter the giveaway (one copy of Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours), just leave a comment (if you aren't connected to a blog, leave your email address...and if you have a blogger account but it's private so I can't see it...leave your email address). Deadline is Thursday, September 30, 2010 at midnight PDT. Only US addresses. FTC disclosure: I'm paying for this myself.

{10/1/2010 update: Contest is closed! Congrats to #35 The Goatherd}

Good luck and happy cooking! - mary the food librarian
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Winner! 39 8/12 Birthday Giveaway!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Congrats to Laurie of Slush, winner of the $39 8/12 Sur La Table Gift Card for my 39 8/12 birthday...as I head to my 40th birthday. (Picked via Random.org: Entry #22)

I'll be having MONTHLY giveaways until my December 7, 2010 birthday so be sure to come on back and get me to 40. :)

P.S. Sorry I didn't post this last week. I took a trip up to the Bay Area! More on that soon! :)
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Cream Puffs or Countdown to 40 Giveaway - I'm 39 8/12 years old!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Cream Puffs with Vanilla & Chocolate Pastry Cream
One cream puff for every year...

As I mentioned exactly a month ago, I'm turning 40 this year. And it kinda knocked me over a bit. So, I started my celebration last month and will continue to celebrate the end of my 30's until December 7, 2010. Today I'm 39 8/12. (And yes, math nerds, I know I can reduce that to 2/3, but just work with me here... ;)

Last week, Chef-in-Training Johnson & Wales student Rosie came over and taught me and my friends how to make Challah (see post here), Cream Puffs and Pastry Cream. I've always been afraid of pastry cream, but Rosie's excellent teaching technique brought us two perfect batches: vanilla and chocolate.

Cream Puffs with Vanilla & Chocolate Pastry Cream
Aren't these cute? Just wait til you see what's inside...

Cream Puffs with Vanilla & Chocolate Pastry Cream
Oh yes! Glorious chocolate and vanilla pastry cream. I could (and did) eat a boatload of these little gems of goodness.

Cream Puffs with Vanilla & Chocolate Pastry Cream
Here is the 8/12th cream puff! :) Heading toward 40...

We used Vanilla Paste - an inexpensive alternative to real vanilla beans. It gives you all the flecks of vanilla beans for much less green.

Cream Puffs with Vanilla & Chocolate Pastry Cream
Making some cream puffs. Rosie brought over her family's sheet tray...um, it has some "patina" on it.

Cream Puffs with Vanilla & Chocolate Pastry Cream
All lined up. Ready to be eaten! :)

To celebrate my birthday, I'm having a MONTHLY giveaway until I turn 40. For the "4 month" countdown, I'm giving away a $39 8/12 Sur la Table gift card to one lucky winner! ($39.67 US Dollar gift certificate to Sur la Table). FCC Disclosure: My birthday giveaways are paid for by me.

To enter, just leave a comment (if you aren't connected to a blog, leave your email address...and if you have a blogger account but it's private so I can't see it...leave your email address). Deadline is Saturday, August 14, 2010 at midnight PDT. (*Updated 8/8: I had Wed 8/14, but that is wrong so it is now corrected to Saturday, 8/14! Thanks Edana for the correction!)

**Updated: Contest is closed. Congrats to Laurie #22 who won!**

Cream Puffs with Vanilla & Chocolate Pastry Cream
Thanks to Rosie for the great pastry class, and thanks to all my readers for the warm pre-birthday messages last month. Yes, 40 is the new 30! Whooo hooo! - mary
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Winner! 39 7/12 Birthday Celebration

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Congrats to Vicki of A Work in Progress, winner of the $39 7/12 Amazon Gift Card for my 39 7/12 birthday...as I head to my 40th birthday. (Picked via Random.org: Entry #8)

I'll be having MONTHLY giveaways until my December 7, 2010 birthday so be sure to come on back and get me to 40. :)

Thanks for all your kind messages...I got a kick out of all of them! Yes, 40 is the new 30! And I hope you get a chance to make the peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies! :)
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies, or Countdown to 40 Giveaway - I'm 39 7/12 years old!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Happy Pre-Birthday.
To me.
Damnit.

I'm turning 40 in five months. I'll be honest with you and say I'm a little weirded out by this one. I'm THAT person who just loves birthdays. But this one is taking some getting used to...although I just heard 40 is the new 30.

So, to get into the groove, I'm starting the birthday celebration NOW. In my 30's.

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chunk Cookies
I'll be giving something away each month before my December 7, 2010 birthday.

And don't I know how to get this party started? Yes, by buying myself this cool serving tray at Crate & Barrel. Only $9.95! I'm frugal and 39 7/12!

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chunk Cookies
For the "5 month" countdown, I'm giving away a $39 7/12 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner! ($39.58 US Dollar gift certificate to Amazon.com) To enter, just leave a comment (if you aren't connected to a blog, leave your email address). Deadline is Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at midnight PDT. **Updated: Contest is closed. Congrats to Vicki #8 who won!**

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Here are 39 7/12 peanut butter chocolate chip cookies!

Recipe:
I've made these Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chunk cookies before, but they are a true favorite. This time, I used Cadbury Dark Chocolate Chips that my cousin brought back from a trip to Ireland.

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chunk cookies
(adapted from Everyday Food - Martha Stewart empire)

My printable recipe here

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky) (I used Jif smooth. I really like the smooth PB for this recipe)
4 tablespoons ( 1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar (I've made it with both light and dark brown sugar)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, cut into chunks (I've used Nestle chips, chunks and Cadbury dark chocolate chips...all with delicious results!!)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda; set aside. With a Kitchen Aid and paddle, beat peanut butter, butter, and sugars until light and fluffy...about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until smooth. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in chocolate chunks.
2. Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, 1 inch apart, onto two large baking sheets. I used half-sheet pans and a Silpat or parchment paper. Bake until golden, 13 to 15 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool.
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National Library Week 2010 Winners and Hello Kitty Librarian

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Hello Kitty Librarian
Hello Kitty Librarian

Can you believe this page?! It's Hello Kitty Librarian!!! Holy smokes! It combines so much in my life...if I could just have her hold a Bundt cake....

Huge thanks to my friend-with-a-cool-name, Mary of Popsicles and Sandy Feet for sending me a photo of this book "What Will I Be A to Z?" by Higashi Glaser from her son's preschool library. The book is out-of-print (ISBN: 978-0810945951) and I picked it up on Amazon for $.99! I'm going to frame this page.

Thanks SOOOO much for celebrating National Library Week with me! Whoo hoo! I loved all your comments about your library. We are facing some tough times, and library staff appreciates your support! Some comments this week:

- I always feel at peace when I am in the library, kind of like I do when I cook, everything just kind of melts away! (Emily)
- We're heading to our library for story hour in an hour. We've had a long lasting love affair with our local library. (Sarah)
- I am sitting in my university's library right now... (Memoria)

I also heard from several people who want to work at my library to eat the desserts I bring in! Hee hee!

Special thanks to my co-workers (Patty, Susan and Karen) who loaned me their Nancy Pearl Librarian Action Figure doll.

Thanks and Hello to the librarians and library staff that stopped by this week! I hope you had a great National Library Week!! Everyone, please visit and support your local library every week of the year! :) - mary the food librarian

Here are the winners of my 2nd Annual National Library Week on the Food Librarian blog! (All picked through Random.org)


Mini Loaf Pans from Surfas for Giveaway

National Library Week Giveaway - Disney Products

National Library Week 2010 Giveaway - Tulip Cupcake Liners

National Library Week 2010 Giveaway - Chef Set Page Tags
Day 5 Giveaway: Magazine Subscription and Chef Post-its
Amy (#63)

Thanks for visiting and congrats to the winners!
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National Library Week Day 5: Chocolate Chip Scones and Magazine Giveaway

Friday, April 16, 2010

Chocolate Chip Scones
Chocolate Chip Drop Scones

Today is the last day of National Library Week on the Food Librarian blog! (Sure, NLW actually goes til Saturday, but I gotta rest!)

Thanks for all your nice comments about libraries! They are really inspiring. We are all facing tough times, and it is great to hear that you appreciate your local library. Did you know that one easy way to support your library is by Going. To. The. Library. People love statistics, and high circulation and visits to the library really say a lot. So, please visit your library and check it out (get that pun? Yeah, library humor ain't so great...I'll stick to baking.)

Chocolate Chip Scones Chocolate Chip Scones
I made some easy-peasy Chocolate Chip Scones. Most of my baking is done before work; I'm a morning person and wake up at some crazy hour. But, hey, it's morning and I don't have time to fuss. Thus, the Drop Scone. No forming in triangles, just scoop, drop and bake (and take a shower while they bake! :)

Chocolate Chip Scones
Check out those sensible shoes on the Librarian Action Figure and her cool pile of books.

Today's library thing is WorldCat and Interlibrary Loan. Sometimes, your local library just doesn't have the book you want. So, here is a suggestion. Look up the book in WorldCat - a global collection of library catalogs. You can see if a nearby library has the item...perhaps it is worth the drive. If not, look into your library's Inter Library Loan (ILL) program. ILL is a worldwide system of borrowing books from other libraries. You start the process at your local library (there is usually a nominal fee). Even if your local library has a small collection, ILL can bring you books from all over the world!

National Library Week 2010 Giveaway - Chef Set Page Tags

To celebrate Day 5 of National Library Week, I'm giving away the following to one lucky winner:
a. Magazine subscription to Everyday Food OR Cooking Light (one year, U.S. addresses only)
b. Chef Set Page Tags (purchased from Girl of All Work)


To enter the Day 5 Giveaway, simply leave a comment below (one entry per person) and I'll pick the winner from a hat (aka Random). Deadline for all contests: Monday, April 19, 2010 at midnight PDT. If your comment isn't linked to a blog where I can find you, please leave your email. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Librarian Action Figure not included.

Also, don't forget to all the giveaways! Deadline is Monday!
Day 1 Giveaway: Cookbook and Chef Post-its
Day 2 Giveaway: Loaf Pans
Day 3 Giveaway: Disney Stuff
Day 4 Giveaway: Cupcake Liners

Thanks soooo much for celebrating National Library Week with me! And a special Hello to all the librarians who stopped by the blog! - mary the food librarian

Recipe:
Chocolate Chip Drop Scones
Click here for printable recipe
Adapted from Bon Appétit, December 2000
Original recipe yields 6 triangle scones. I got 18 small drop scones.

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, diced
1 teaspoon (packed) grated lemon peel (I skipped this)
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chilled buttermilk
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze: Milk and 2 T sugar

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Line with Silpat or parchment two baking sheets.
3. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. In a small mixing bowl or your measuring cup, blend together buttermilk, egg yolk and vanilla. Set aside.
4. Cut up cold butter into small pieces and add to the flour mixture. (If you are adding the lemon zest, add here). Using your fingertips, rub in butter until the mixture is sandy or like rice grains.
5. Mix in the mini chocolate chips
6. Pour buttermilk mixture over the flour mixture and mix until dough comes together. Do not overmix. Dough will be moist and soft.
7. If you want to make triangle scones, gather the dough and press out on floured surface into an 8-inch round. Cut into 6 wedges.
8. If you want to make drop scones, use a scooper to scoop dough onto lined baking sheets.
9. Brush tops of scones with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
10. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. (Mine were small so they baked in 18 minutes).
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National Library Week Day 3: Coffee Jello & Disney Giveaway

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Coffee Jello
Coffee Jello
Yeah, this isn't the stuff you get in the hospital.

It's National Library Week! This is the 2nd annual celebration on my blog. As I say, I'm putting the Librarian in the Food Librarian!

Last month, I had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant, and my friend ordered Vietnamese coffee - a combo of espresso and condensed milk. I love Vietnamese coffee, but I can't handle caffeine so I just had a sip. I knew I wanted to make it in Jello form. Right away.

The Japanese also make a coffee jello - sweetened black coffee gelatin cubes or cups. Often, it is served with cream. But I wanted mine all mixed together so it can be served easy-to-eat finger jello style.

Coffee Jello
I made this with Starbucks VIA (Starbuck's new instant coffee), Knox unflavored gelatin, and sweetened condensed milk. Because the milk is sweetened, I didn't add any additional sugar.

Coffee Jello
This was a CROWD favorite at the library. My co-workers love all coffee and mocha desserts. I brought it out at 3 pm and it was a perfect pick-me-up! Of course, you can make them with decaffeinated coffee...but the coffee drinkers will just look at you weird and wonder why anyone would do that.

Coffee Jello
I used mini-cupcake liners to serve the coffee jello. These are about 1-inch squares.

Coffee Jello
The Librarian Action Figure (modeled after real-life librarian and author Nancy Pearl) can eat a whole plate of coffee jello.

All this week, I'm highlighting a library thing (usually a public library thing b/c that's my gig). Today, it's Downloadable Media. My favorite provider is OverDrive. You can download audiobooks and eBooks to your home computer and transfer them to a portable device (such as MP3, iPod, Sony Reader, Barnes & Noble Nook). Remember that crazy 30 days of Bundts I did in November? I wouldn't have made it through all that baking and blogging without downloadable audiobooks. Downloadable media is free, easy to use and there are never any overdue fines. See if your library subscribes to OverDrive on their website.

National Library Week Giveaway - Disney Products
I'm having 5 days of giveaways during National Library Week!

To celebrate Day 3 of National Library Week, I'm giving away the following to one lucky winner:
a. Two Disney kitchen towels
b. Two Mickey Mouse shaped egg or small pancake molds

Living in Southern California has some disadvantages (our seasons are: Fire, Flood, and Earthquake) but sooooo many advantages. And one is buying the Disneyland Annual Pass. So, I picked up these cute kitchen Disney-themed items for today's giveaway!

Cinnamon-Oat Pancakes & Mickey Mouse Eggs
I have a set of the molds and made this last year (post here). Enter the contest so you can greet friends and family with fun shaped food. :)

To enter the Day 3 Giveaway, simply leave a comment below (one entry per person) and I'll pick the winner from a hat (aka Random). Deadline for all contests: Monday, April 19, 2010 at midnight PDT. If your comment isn't linked to a blog where I can find you, please leave your email. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Librarian action figure not included.

Also, don't forget to enter the Day 1 Giveaway: Cookbook and Chef Post-its and Day 2 Giveaway: Loaf Pans. Good luck with the giveaway, make some Coffee Jello, and see you back here tomorrow!
- mary the food librarian

Recipe:
Click here for the printable recipe

Coffee Jello / Coffee Gelatin
1/2 c cold water
2 cups strong coffee, hot. I used two packages of Starbucks Via. The coffee needs to be strong. This isn't the time for Sanka instant. :)
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
3 packages of Knox unflavored gelatin

1. Place 1/2 c cold water in a bowl.
2. Sprinkle 3 unflavored gelatin packets over the water. Let sit until the gelatin blooms, about 10 minutes.
3. Stir in the hot coffee and mix until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
4. Stir in the can of sweetened condensed milk.
5. Pour into glass pan. Thickness of finished jello depends on the size of the pan. I used a 7 x 11 pan but a 9 x 13 pan will give you thinner pieces and an 8 x 8 pan will give you thicker pieces.

Note: The combo of coffee and sweetened condensed milk is inspired by Vietnamese coffee. You can probably adapt this to use coffee or espresso, cream and sugar (be sure to dissolve the sugar in the hot coffee and gelatin). I find that 1 packet of unflavored gelatin will firm up 1 1/2 cups of liquid to finger jello "strength" (according to David Lebovitz's "How to Use Gelatin" post you can mold 2 cups with one envelope - but I feel finger jello needs to be stronger).
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