Feed Your Mind

Tech Advice - Web Browsers

2012-02-22T06:45:00.001-04:00

Our own AVRL Systems Support Team (we call them our computer gurus) has some advice to share:

Step 3: Web Browsers

One of the most important ways to keep you computer free of spyware is to be careful what you click on. Almost every webpage has some kind of advertising on it and not all of it is innocent. You can actually block a lot of the advertising simply by using a different web browser and using an “add-on” that prevents the ads from being displayed.

Firefox is an open source web browser that has been developed and refined over the last 10 years and has slowly been taking some of the market share away from Internet Explorer (big blue E on your desktop) All you need to do is download it and install the Adblock Plus add-on and you can say good bye to many of the ads you see while surfing.

Chrome is the new kid on the block. It was introduced by Google in 2008 and has become very popular because of its speed and minimalist look. It has also introduced the Chrome web store where you can download “apps for the web” that will work inside the Chrome browser.

AdBlock Plus is a small program that can be integrated into the Firefox and Chrome web browsers. It works by blocking advertisements at their source; preventing them from appearing on the page you are viewing.

Come back next Wednesday for the final installment on how to protect your computer!

Tech Advice - Protect your computer

2012-02-20T06:45:00.009-04:00

Our own AVRL Systems Support Team (we call them our computer gurus) has some advice to share:

By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly. There are many programs that claim to be the only one that you need to protect yourself, but we have found that using a combination of a few, each one taking a different approach to spyware is actually superior. A nice thing about the programs we are highlighting is that they are all free for individuals to use. Many of them also have more functionality such as automatic updates and scheduled scanning that can be unlocked by purchasing a license.

Step 1: Make sure you have an updated virus scanner.

There are some very good free antivirus programs that actually work better in some ways than the paid versions that may have come preloaded on your computer when you bought it. These companies make their money through licensing deals with large businesses and corporations. The free versions are restricted to personal use only and may have some limitations that the paid versions do not such as the ability to scan only certain parts of the computer on a schedule.

***Please note that you should not install more than one Antivirus (AV) program on your computer. Make sure you uninstall any existing AV completely before you install a new one.

Microsoft Security Essentials offers comprehensive virus and malware scanning with free updates, as well as real time scanning of files and email.

Step 2: Empty cache and clean up TMP files

Web caching is the caching of web documents (e.g., HTML pages, images) to reduce bandwidth usage, server load, and perceived lag. Whenever you visit a webpage, your web browser stores a snapshot of the page in its memory. This helps to improve browsing because it means you don’t have to download the page every visit. Temporary files or TMP files are created when an application needs to store some temporary data. Programs which use large amounts of data, like video editing software, may need to create many TMP files to keep the program running smoothly. They are usually deleted automatically by the parent application (the software, game, application) that created them; however there may be instances when these files are not removed from your computer and takes up unnecessary space.

CCleaner is a small and efficient program that scans the hard drive and gets rid of these temporary files. It can also be used to clean up old unused entries in the registry, and to control what programs are run when your computer starts up. There's a video tutorial here.

Come back on Wednesday for steps 3 & 4!

What is YA? Vampires!

2012-02-15T06:35:00.010-04:00

Why are vampire books so incredibly popular? There are plenty of theories, and here’s mine- who doesn’t want a rich, handsome, worldly, and slightly dangerous boyfriend (or girlfriend)? YA vampires are almost always as mentioned. The vampire boy (most often depicted) can also be needy – maybe the girl can help him be a better… person? Maybe her love will transform him into a feeling, nice, sweet blood sucker. Maybe he will give up his penchant for human blood, and hunt squirrels instead. Or if he must drink human blood, maybe he’ll only feast on bad guys. At any rate, the vampire is the perfect boyfriend, because he is so unattainable. He’s the perfect fantasy, he’s not real, but in the novel, he is hyper-real. He’s a bad-boy, yes, but he is stone-cold beautiful, difficult to love, but oh so worth the trouble. He’s the older man in a teenage body. He’s been around for so long; he is just waiting for the right girl to change him. What’s not to love? Most YA vampire novels are also low on the violence scale, so the story is more about the characters and the plot, less about graphic descriptions of throats being torn out. Yet there is still blood, because what would a vampire book be without blood?

One has to admit that the Twilight series recently gave the genre a huge push, but vampire books have held their own long before Ms. Meyer stepped into the half-lit night. Teens read Anne Rice’s Lestat books and Stephen King’s incredibly creepy Salem's Lot well before Edward Cullen was conceived. As an aficionado of all things vampire, I have to confess that the Twilight books are not my favourites. Yes, I’ve read them and yes, there were some good bits (like the movies), but there are plenty of other great vampire books out there. A recent favourite was Blood by K. J. Wignall. The vampire (he prefers the term Undead) in this book doesn’t even know who made him what he is. What he used to be was an Earl in line to inherit a fortune, and of course, he is a handsome, intelligent, and thoughtful killer. The story is complex, the English Midlands setting is perfect, and there are characters are aplenty. And of course, it is to be a trilogy. Riffing on Harry Potter, there are vampire boarding school books, such as the House of Night series by P.C. Cast, and for the A-List fans, snobby rich-kid vampires like the ones in the Vamps series by Nancy A. Collins, and even humorous vampires like the snarky star of Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst – and by the way, these 3 books all feature girl vampires. If you are already a fan of the genre, take a look at our Vampire booklist, you might find a title you haven’t yet read. For those who like their characters to be fully alive (at least when the book begins), tune in next month when we’ll explore some of the books that won the Michael Printz award for excellence in YA books.

WHAT IS YA? Will be a monthly feature, published on the 15^th of each month, written by Angela Reynolds, our Head of Youth Services. We are giving away YA books to go along with it! Make a comment below about one of the books we talked about, and you’ll be entered into a monthly draw for a YA review copy. Must be able to pick the book up at one of our branch libraries; no books will be shipped or mailed.

BOOK TO MOVIE

2012-02-13T06:30:00.003-04:00

We all enjoy movies but many of us are still surprised at how many movies are actually based on books. That being said should we assume that behind every good movie is a good book? Sadly this is not always the case, but it is fun to see which books eventually become movies and whether the movies are as good as the books or perhaps even better. By reading and then watching we can get very different stories and we alone can be the judge.

Several movies recently honoured with Golden Globe and Oscar nominations and awards are based on books. One example of this is Hugo, based on the 2007 children’s book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. This must have been a huge challenge for Martin Scorsese considering his filmography. His grandchild wanted to be able to watch one on his movies and suggested this book and it looks like he delivered.

Going back to 1995, we were introduced to Stephanie Plum a Jersey gal from the suburbs who becomes a bounty hunter in the book One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. Eighteen novels later with plenty of movie speculation it finally comes out in theaters in February 2012. There are plenty of Plum fans out there who can’t wait to see what kind of job they did with this book.

Brad Pitt hit a home run with Moneyball based on the 2003 book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis. Critics raved about this movie. Based on a true story, sports fans and non-sports fans alike were drawn into this amazing tale.

I am sure you have heard of the Stieg Larsson trilogy of books that started with the translation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in 2008. This is a fabulous set of books and the rush to the movie version resulted in three Swedish-made films; now Hollywood is taking a crack at it. Both versions have been very well reviewed so watch them all. I think it will be very interesting to see how these interpretations will differ.

So check out all your favourite movies old and new and see if they have a book companion. Were there any surprises? Which one excelled in the transition and which one disappointed? Which books do you think would have made a great movie? It’s a great conversation starter.

Patricia Milner, Head of Reference Services

Snowshoes on the Bookmobile?

2012-02-06T06:30:00.000-04:00

Being active doesn't take a lot of time, money or equipment... all you need is warm clothes and the great outdoors. Take the roof off winter and be active for your health!

Recreation Nova Scotia has partnered with Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness and developed the Take the Roof off Winter campaign. This campaign has been developed to help all Nova Scotians improve their health and quality of life by building physical activity into daily routine. The Annapolis Valley Regional Library Outreach Services Department is once again partnering with Annapolis County Recreation to provide a program that will benefit residents throughout Annapolis County. This program will provide ten pairs of snowshoes that will be made available for loan through the Bookmobile service. We have sizes available for everyone, and there is a three week lending period.

The Bookmobile schedule for this winter in Annapolis County is:

· Feb. 22 & March 14 – East Dalhousie, Cherryfield, Springfield and New Albany North

· Feb. 28 & March 20 – Margaretville and Torbrook Mines

· Feb. 29 & March 21 – Maitland Bridge, Clementsvale, Cornwallis Park, Bear River East and Bear River

Click here for the full Bookmobile schedule and locations.

The Bear River Winter Carnival runs February 9 – February 12 with many exciting activities offered each day. Some of the features include snow and ice sculpture, snowshoeing, skating, Nordic walking, yoga, cross country skiing, Tai Chi and Zumba. The Bookmobile will be there too and will offer library service on Saturday February 11 from 12 – 4 pm, as well as a family scavenger hunt! Bring your library card and have some fun. The Bookmobile will be parked in its usual spot, the post office parking lot. Click here for the calendar of events for the Bear River Winter Carnival.

The Bookmobile serves many of the Annapolis Valley's outlying communities and neighborhoods, aiming at all ages and interests. We bring the library to you, so you can feed your mind --and your body!

Wendy Kearnes

Outreach Services Manager

Food for Fines in February

2012-02-01T07:00:00.004-04:00

Remember the great Seinfeld episode with Mr. Bookman, the Library Cop?

If AVRL actually had a library cop, it would be worth holding a long overdue book just to get a visit from that guy! (If you haven’t seen this episode, treat yourself to a good laugh, either here on YouTube or by borrowing the Season 3 DVD set from the library.)

While not everyone can come up with a Jerry Seinfeld skit on demand, or have truly creative excuses for not getting their library items back on time, we do hear our share of stories, both sad and funny, truth and fiction, too, we think.

Here’s one of my personal favourite whining moments --

While seeking sympathy for the inability to pay a 50 cent fine on an overdue Metallica biography, the patron tells staff how much she enjoyed attending their recent concert!

Yeah, thanks for sharing that tale of woe.

Anyway, if you’ve accumulated library fines, you can pay them off in February and feel good about doing it. Just give us a non-perishable item for the local food bank, and we’ll forgive up to $3.00 in fines! And the really good news is that there is no limit on the number of fines which can be forgiven! Please note that this Food For Fines initiative applies to fines only, not other fees like lost books or printing costs.

While clearing up the fines, if you’d like to regale staff with a tale of why the items were overdue in the first place, please feel free to entertain us. We’re sending ideas off to Jerry for future comedy sketches.

And – more good news -- it’s a leap year, so we’ll even give you the extra day in February to get it done.

Happy Reading!

Wendy Trimper

Head of Branch Services

Mark Oakley in Wolfville

2012-01-30T06:30:00.001-04:00

This year, the Wolfville Library is happy to be one of the libraries our Writer-in-Residence Mark Oakley is most often stationed. As well as doing workshops in different branches, the Writer-in-Residence program is mostly designed for him to do his work and the rest of us to watch, ask questions, and consult him on works of our own creation.

One doesn’t often get to see the creative process in action. But this is exactly what happens with Mark Oakley: he comes in, sets up his easel and computer, and starts to make something out of nothing. First there are just faint boxes on the page, in pencil; then the boxes start to fill in with heads, backgrounds, dialogue bubbles…also sometimes magic and physical humour. At some point the fine point black felt-tipped marker comes out—but not necessarily in any discernible order, as some of the boxes on his page remain blank at this point and others are at various stages of completion. Mark goes over the lines, giving the drawing a final flourish, its definitive form.

It’s amazing to see the buzz of energy that gathers around him as people stop to watch what he is doing or ask him questions. Mark, ever gregarious, discusses his work or answers people’s questions, whether about his own work or something they have drawn. People of all ages enjoy checking out his work station and he is more than happy to discuss technique, materials, and inspiration. - Brogan Anderson

For more information on our Writer in Residence program, click here.

To find out where Mark will be next, click here.

Family Literacy Day - January 27

2012-01-23T06:00:00.022-04:00

Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 and held annually on January 27 to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. More than 1.5 million Canadians have already participated in the initiative since its debut. We celebrate Family Literacy in many ways at the library, but this special day (which often turns into a week due to library schedules) gives us a reason to highlight the importance of families reading together. The kids in this little film say it so well:

How about creating your own video about a book for the StoryTubes contest? That's Family Literacy, too!

We've got some special things planned, including the Bookmobile Celebration Tour at Windsor Forks School on January 26. The bookmobile will be parked out front from 6 to 7:30 PM , and we'll be offering special storytimes as well as checkout. Come see us! On Friday, January 27, at 11 AM, the Bridgetown Library is offering a special storytime with guest musician Caleb Miles. Then, head over to the Berwick Library for a Family Literacy Day Storytime later that day, from 4:30-5:30 PM. Come be captivated by stories of adventure and play! Speaking of play, the Windsor Library is starting a Lego-Rama group on January 27. For details on these programs and more, click here !

Find more resources from ABC Life Literacy Canada here. Happy Family Literacy Day!

Rover’s Return

2012-01-16T06:30:00.011-04:00

Ken & Deirdre, Leanne & Peter, Norris & Rita. If these names mean anything to you then you are probably a Coronation Street fan. Touted in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running television soap opera still in production, this British show has captured the hearts of Canadians.

Whether you have been watching the show for a few months or a few years, come on down to the Kentville Library at 95 Cornwallis Street on Saturday, January 21 from 2:30 – 4:30 for “Rover’s Return”. The Library is planning a mixer for Corrie fans including trivia, games and prizes. There will be tea and other traditional English treats. Feel free to dress up as your favourite character!

To get you in full Coronation street mode, why not check out some of our Coronation Street books and DVDs? Try 50 Years of Coronation Street or Coronation Street: The complete Saga to catch up on the history of the show. An Audience with Coronation Street DVD is hilarious and entertaining as we see the stars of the show perform songs. You haven’t really lived until you see Steve and Liz sing a duet of Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine”. The Coronation Street Treasures book is a personal favourite filled with memorabilia from the show making it seem like a real-life scrapbook.

People remind me from time to time that it is only a show – that these are not real people. To that I respond, “Yes they are. I’ve been there and I’ve met some of them.” Last year I took a trip to England and went on a tour of Coronation Street. As you can probably tell, I’m a hardcore fan thirty years and counting. I have walked the fabled cobbles and visited the set. I was there when they filmed the scene of Jason’s birthday party in the Rover’s that they aired a few weeks ago. I got to meet Norris, Julie, Sophie, Sian, and Ken – the man who holds the Guinness Book of World Records for playing the same character in a soap for over 50 years. Here's proof:

Speaking of Ken, a.k.a. Bill Roache, he is coming to Halifax in March as part of a cross country tour. He’ll be at the Casino on March 23 & 24 and tickets are going fast. More info on this event is available at Casino Nova Scotia. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Last but not least, the DownEast Streeters is a Nova Scotia based fan club for Coronation Street. Aside from “Pingfests”, they usually host an event with one of the stars each year. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Kevin, Ashley, Sunita, Molly, and Chesney at these events. No word yet on who they are hosting this year but you can join their email list at DownEast Streeters.

--Frances Newman, Regional Librarian

What is YA? - Audience

2012-01-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

I often get asked, “What is YA?” First off, it stands for “Young Adult”, and YA lit has become quite the trend in publishing. This feature will regularly explore some of the themes and memes in YA. Our first exploration here is AUDIENCE. Who are YA books for? When ordering, I generally think of YA books for grades 6 -12. That can mean both subject and reading level. Sometimes, a YA book could easily be read by a student in grade 4 or 5, but the subject warrants a more mature reader (for example, the last few Harry Potter books). And sometimes, the subject may be ok for many Grade 5’s, but the book could be very long and/or the writing is geared toward those with a higher reading level. The reader is the final determinant, though, and for younger readers, their parents may want to help them decide on a book. Your 10 year old may be capable of reading that popular new vampire book, but will they have nightmares because of it? YA books are the gateway to mature reading, and as such, tend to touch on themes that are best handled by mature children.

Many adults find themselves drawn to YA books, and I think I know why, being one of those adults! (PS, it is ok if you adults want to read YA books. If you are too embarrassed to admit it, just pretend you are getting them for a teenager.) A good YA book gets right to it. The story is ready to go from the first chapter, and holds the reader till the end. Sometimes we have to wait several books before we really know what happens, but that is part of the draw. That’s not to say that you won’t find fine characterization and exploration of meaty issues, because in many YA books, that’s exactly what you’ll find; in fact, YA used to be called “Issue books” – remember Are you there God, it’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume? YA books tend to fit the detail in just where it is needed, and give the reader enough to make them want more, rather than making them wish that the author would just get on with it. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, Patrick Ness’ Chaos Walking books, and Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver trilogy are good examples – great stories with engaging characters and settings that are easily gobbled up. Stay tuned for next episode, when we’ll look at the Vampire craze!

Hantsport is Library of the Month

2012-01-09T12:44:00.001-04:00

What’s special about the Hantsport Library? There are 78 public libraries in Nova Scotia but only four are combination school/public libraries. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? On the plus side it means one facility serves a dual purpose which is important in these times of economic restraint. Why should taxpayers have to fund a school library and a separate public library? A library is a library, right?

Except that it’s not. The school library’s purpose is to serve as a resource centre for their students while the public library’s purpose is to provide information and recreation to the general public. So for example, the general public cannot use the Hantsport Library during the school day. This means the Hantsport Library can be open to the public only after 2:30 p.m. on weekdays. Special permission was granted to enable the library to be open on Saturday mornings when the school is closed, thanks to support from the Town who pay for janitorial service and, if necessary, snow removal on the weekends.

Who runs the Library anyway? During the school day, the library is run by the School Board, their staff, their rules and policies. When the library is open to the public, it is administered by the Annapolis Valley Regional Library Board which is a separate entity and is regulated by a different government department. That is where things get tricky. In spite of some challenges, the Hantsport Library rolls along serving both students and public. The Library Board and the School Board share space, and work together as best they can as friendly housemates who understand the need to compromise and set boundaries to make this partnership work.

This month the Hantsport Library is being promoted as “Library of the Month” as part of the Annapolis Valley Regional Library’s campaign to promote its branches. RBC is sponsoring an Open House on Wednesday, January 18 from 3:00-4:30 featuring music, refreshments, and the Friends of the Hantsport Public Library are offering a book, DVD, and CD swap as well. Remarks from special guests take place at 3:30. Lots of other activities are happening at the Hantsport Library including:

· Cartooning Demo with Mark Oakley

· Preschool Storytimes

· Book Club for adults

· Free Computer Classes

More information about programs and services available at the library can be found on our website.

If you haven’t been in the Hantsport Library since you were a kid, do yourself a favour and stop by and check it out. You might be surprised how much it has changed!

---Frances Newman, Regional Librarian

Cookie Holiday

2011-12-24T07:34:00.004-04:00

Thank you to all who participated in the 12 Days of Cookies -- our bakers, tasters, public entries, delivery guy, and staff. We hope you enjoyed this fun treat, and maybe you found a new recipe or new favourite cookbook to enjoy! We'll be taking a holiday from cookies, but we'll return with the blog in the New Year, so come back and visit us for book reviews, program reviews, and more! See you in 2012. Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year to all.

More from you!

2011-12-21T09:17:00.001-04:00

We had a few more entries from our patrons, so we thought we'd show them to you! Ruth from Wolfville made these lovely Bizcochitos from the Gourmet Cookie Book:

Yes, upside down cookies.

And the Whitman family of Annapolis Royal was inspired to make 2 batches of cookies!

Soft Spice Bars

Chocolate Snowballs

Thanks for entering -- they all look very yummy.

Day 12: Cranberry Orange Pinwheels

2011-12-20T06:00:00.037-04:00

The 12th Day of Cookies! We hope you've been inspired to bake using our wide selection of cookbooks. Today's cookie is baked by Patricia Milner, Head of Reference Services. She's thinking healthy and cooked up a batch of Cranberry Orange Pinwheels from the book, One Smart Cookie

Here's the recipe:

CRANBERRY ORANGE PINWHEELS

DOUGH

1/4 CUP STICK MARGARINE OR BUTTER SOFTENED

2/3 CUP SUGAR

1 LARGE EGG WHITE

1 TSP VANILLA

1 ¼ CUPS FLOUR

¼ TSP BAKING SODA

¼ TSP SALT

FILLING

½ CUP WHOLE BERRY CRANBERRY SAUCE

2 TBSP ORANGE MARMALADE

2 TSP CORNSTARCH

· *In a medium bowl, beat margarine and sugar with an electric mixer for 1 minute, until well combined. Beat in egg white and vanilla until smooth.

· *In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the sugar mixture and stir by hand just until you have a soft dough.

· *Roll the dough between two sheets of waxed paper into a 12” square. Place on a cookie sheet in the fridge for about 30 minutes or the freezer for 15 minutes.

· * In a small saucepan, combine cranberry sauce , marmalade and cornstarch. Bring to a full boil over medium heat set aside until cool.

· * Remove the dough from the fridge and peel off the top layer of waxed paper. Spread the dough evenly with the cranberry filling going right to the edges. Gently roll into a log, peeling back the bottom paper as you go. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap and freeze for 3 hours or up to 3 months.

· *When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice the log into ¼ “slices and place 1” apart on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. (Patricia says they are hard to cut this thin. She ended up cutting them about a half-inch thick.) Bake for 12-15 minutes, until pale golden. Let cool on a cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

· Makes 3 dozen cookies. (Less if you cut them thicker)

Day 11: Candy Canes

2011-12-19T06:00:00.030-04:00

Our 11th Day of Cookies features baker Tim Jackson, who works at our Headquarters location in Bridgetown. He's made Candy Canes from Better Homes and Gardens: Cookies for Christmas. Hang these on your tree for an edible decoration!

Here's the recipe:

· 1 cup butter or margarine

· 1 cup sifted powdered sugar

· 1 egg

· ½ teaspoon vanilla

· ½ teaspoon peppermint extract

· Dash of salt

· 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

· ½ teaspoon red food coloring

· Peppermint Glaze

In a large mixer bowl beat butter or margarine till softened. Add powdered sugar and beat till fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt. Beat well. Add flour and beat till well mixed. Divide dough in half. Stir red food coloring into one half. Cover each half and chill about 30 minutes or till easy to handle.

For each cookie, on a lightly floured surface shape a teaspoonful of plain dough into a 4 inch rope. Repeat with a teaspoonful of red dough. Place ropes side by side and twist together. Pinch ends to seal. Form twisted ropes into canes. Place canes 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 375⁰ oven for 8 to 10 minutes or till done. Remove and cool. If desired, brush with Peppermint Glaze. Makes 48.

Peppermint Glaze: Stir together 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar, ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract, and enough water (4 to 5 teaspoons) to make a brushing consistency.

Day 10: Chocolate Wows

2011-12-16T06:00:00.015-04:00

Frances Newman, Regional Librarian, has baked Chocolate Wows from Cookies: Good Houskeeping favorite recipes. With that glass of milk standing by, you-know-who would enjoy a plate of these on Christmas Eve. Her cookies are going to Port Williams Library today.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

1/3 cup flour

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

6 squares semisweet chocolate, chopped up

½ cup butter or margarine

2 large eggs

¾ cup sugar

1 ½ tsps vanilla extract

2 cups pecans chopped

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 F, Grease 2 large cookie sheets.
In small bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking powder & salt.
In heavy 2 quart saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Remove from heat and cool.
In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat eggs and sugar until light and lemon colored, about 2 minutes, frequently scraping bowl with rubber spatula.
Reduce speed to low. Add cooled chocolate mixture, flour mixture, and vanilla; beat until just blended. Increase speed to medium; beat 2 minutes.
With wooden spoon, stir in pecans and chocolate chips.
Drop batter by rounded teaspoons, 2 inches apart, on greased cookie sheets. With back of spoon spread batter into 2 inch rounds. Bake for 13 mins until tops are shiny and cracked. Cool 10 mins on cookie sheet. With metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 36 cookies.

Day 9: New Year's Icy Shortbread

2011-12-15T06:00:00.037-04:00

Angela Reynolds, Head of Youth Services, has delved into the children's cookbooks for this shortbread recipe. It is from the book Make and Bake Amazing Cookies, by Elizabeth MacCleod. How can you go wrong with shortbread and candy canes? These starry treats are making their way to the Wolfville Library today.

Here's the recipe, with added notes from Angela:

You will need:

2 c. butter

2 c. lightly packed brown sugar

Peppermint flavouring (or vanilla)

4 c. all-purpose flour

½ c. crushed candy canes

Large mixing bowl, wooden spoon, wax paper, rolling pin, cookie cutters, lifter, baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.

1. Preheat oven to 315 degrees

2. Beat together the butter and sugar until creamy. Add 12 drops of peppermint flavouring (I used ¼ tsp of vanilla). Add the flour and mix thoroughly (you’ll probably have to use your hands for this step).

3. Roll out some of the dough until it is ¼ in thick. Cut out using cookie cutters. (Dip the cutter into flour each time to keep it from sticking to dough). Using lifter, transfer to cookie sheet. Sprinkle a little crushed candy cane on each cookie.

4. Bake 12-15 minutes, until firm and very pale. Cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooking area.

This is my first time to make shortbread, and it is quite tasty. I think these cookies would be fairly easy to make with kids. The book has some good tips for young bakers!

Day 8: Snickerdoodles

2011-12-14T06:00:00.001-04:00

They must love to bake in Annapolis Royal, because today's cookies again hail from there. Dorothy McDonald, the Branch Manager, has made Snickerdoodles from Betty Crocker's Best Loved Recipes.

Here's the recipe for this fun-to-say cookie:

1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. margarine or butter, softened
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs
2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees
2. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, margarine, shortening and eggs thoroughly. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt until blended. Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls.
3. Mix 2 Tbsp. sugar and the cinnamon, roll balls into mixture. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until set, 8-10 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet.

Note: Watch these carefully. Definitely check at 8 minutes. They are a nice, light cookie - nothing fancy, but tasty. And so much fun to say Snickerdoodle!

Day 7: Two Moons

2011-12-13T06:00:00.036-04:00

Sandie Troop, who works at the Annapolis Royal Branch, has baked Two Moons, a rolled ice-box style cookie with chocolate and pecans. Her recipe is from the book The Joy of Cooking: Christmas Cookies. Sandie's cookies will be at the Windsor branch today.

Here's the recipe for Two Moons:

Cream together:
7 oz unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar

Add:
1 large egg lightly beaten

Add, 1/4 cup at a time:
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour

Divide the dough in half. Wrap half in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
Divide the remaining dough in half.

Knead into 1 piece:
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans (Sandie toasted them)

Knead into remaining piece:
1 1/2 oz finely chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (Sandie used
Callibault chocolate)

Roll each flavored dough into a 10 inch long cylinder. On a lightly floured
surface, roll the chilled dough into an 11 x 9 inch rectangle and cut in
half lengthwise.

Brush with:
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Place 1 flavored cylinder in the centre of each rectangle. Completely
encircle each cylinder with the dough, gently smoothing the seams at the
bottom and ends.

Brush the logs with:
1 large egg beaten
and roll in:
1/2 cup coarse sugar crystals

Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 4 hours.

To Bake:
Preheat the oven to 400*. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or
greased aluminum foil. Slice each roll into 36 cookies and place on the
sheets. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. store airtight for
several days or freeze for up to one month.

Sandie says: "I have chosen this recipe because I'm super busy right now and this reads like an icebox cookie recipe so I can fit this into my life when I have
time. It makes a lot and I won't be snitching bits of yummy cookie dough
if it's rolled into a log and then sliced."

Day 6: Brandy Snaps

2011-12-12T07:00:00.012-04:00

Lynn Manning, who works at the Kentville Branch, has made Brandy Snaps, from page 18 of the Gourmet Cookie Book. This book features the best cookie recipe from each year of Gourmet magazine's 68-year publication. Lynn's cookies will be at the Kentville branch today!

Here's the recipe:

Heat together in a saucepan 1-1/2 cups each butter and sugar and 1 cup molasses, stirring the mixture until it is well blended. Stir in 4 teaspoons powdered ginger, remove the pan from the heat, and add 3 cups sifted all purpose flour, a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Drop the batter from the tip of a spoon onto a buttered cookie sheet, allowing 2 inches between the wafers. Bake in a slow oven (300F) for about 12 minutes, or until they are nicely browned.

Remove from pan immediately with a spatula (I used a steel one) and roll wafers over a wooden stick or the handle of a wooden spoon, (I used a 9 mm knitting needle). Or, if preferred, shape them into cones. Store the brandy snaps in airtight containers.

Lynn’s Recipe Notes

Use about 2 teaspoons batter for each cookie.
Be sure to remove the snaps from the baking sheet while they’re still warm and immediately roll them around the wooden stick.
Work quickly. Return the cookies to the oven for a few seconds if they cool and become hard to roll.
Brandy snaps not only keep well, they taste better on the second day.
Recipe says it makes 18 to 20 dozen cookies. Ha! I was lucky to get 8 dozen.

Day 5: Gingerbread People

2011-12-09T07:00:00.010-04:00

Today's cookies are baked by Wendy Kearnes, Outreach Services Manager. She's made gingerbread people from Mrs. Fields Best Ever Cookie Book, page 81. Stop by the Bookmobile at the Bridgetown Library today from 2-4 PM, and you might be able to try one of these delightful treats!

Here's the recipe:

Cookies:
3 ¼ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup salted butter
1 large egg
½ cup unsulphurized molasses

Icing:
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons milk

Yield:
About 2 ½ dozen 6-inch cookies
About 3 ½ dozen 4-inch cookies

Preheat oven to 325 F. Combine flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a medium bowl. In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream butter and sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add egg and molasses, and beat on medium speed until smooth. Scrape bowl and add the flour mixture. Blend on low speed just until combined; do not overmix. Separate dough into 2 balls and flatten into disks. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap or a plastic bag, and refrigerate 1 hour until firm. On floured surface with floured rolling pin, roll dough out to ¼ inch thickness. With floured cookie cutters, cut into gingerbread men. Gather scraps and reroll dough until all dough is used. Place on ungreased cookie sheets ½ inch apart. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes being careful not to brown. Transfer to a cool, flat surface with a spatula. Prepare the icing: Whisk sugar and milk together in a small bowl until mixture is smooth but liquid. If it seems dry, add ¼ teaspoon more milk. Spoon icing into a pastry bag fitted with a small piping tip. Decorate gingerbread men as desired.

Wendy says she used Scribblers (pre-made icing), and this is a fun (and quick) option for decorating the ginger people with kids.

Day 4: Triple Chocolate Cookies

2011-12-08T07:00:00.016-04:00

Today's cookies come from Charlotte Janes, Head of Systems & Administration. She's made some decadent Triple Chocolate Cookies from the book, Robin Hood home baking: from cookies & cakes to pizza, pot pies, and more. Don't they look enticing? These cookies are making their way to the Hantsport Library today.

Here's the recipe, with some comments from Charlotte:

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees

1 cup butter softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
1 2/3 cups flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans (I use white chocolate chips)

Cream butter in a large bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until light. Gradually beat in brown and granulated sugars, egg and vanilla until smooth. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture, beating on low speed until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if using).

Drop dough by tablespoonfuls, about 2 inches apart, on greased cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool for 5 minutes on sheet, then transfer to rack and cool completely.

These freeze really well. My kids say these are to die for.

Cookies from YOU!

2011-12-07T12:35:00.001-04:00

Gingerbread Cookie Mix in a Jar, baked by Diana in Lawrencetown, from the book Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen.

Day 3: Pecan Turtle Brownies

2011-12-07T07:00:00.021-04:00

Connie Jodrey, Bridgetown's Branch Manager, has baked Pecan Turtle Brownies from Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook.

Connie will be sharing these treats with the attendees at the library program in Bridgetown this evening (which is filled to capacity).

Here's the recipe:

Caramel

¼ cup plus 2 tbsp heavy cream

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup water

2 tbsp corn syrup

1 ¼ cup granulated sugar

2 tbsp unsalted butter

½ tsp vanilla extract

Brownies

½ cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for pan

4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

¾ cup all-purpose flour

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

2 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

20 pecan halves, toasted

1. For caramel: Pour cream into a glass measuring cup; stir in salt to dissolve. In a small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, combine water and corn syrup. Gently stir sugar into pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook for 4 minutes, until sugar is completely dissolved, without stirring. Uncover and cook for 4 minutes, without stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 2 more minutes, until golden and a candy thermometer registers about 360 degrees F.

2. Remove pot from heat and carefully pour cream into center of pot. Mixture will bubble vigorously; stir until cream is incorporated. Once bubbling eases, stir in butter and vanilla. Lightly coat a glass measuring cup with butter; pour caramel into prepared cup.

3. For brownies: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Set oven rack to lower-middle position. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with foil or parchment paper, letting foil hang over sides of pan. Lightly butter bottom and sides of foil.

4. In a medium heatproof bowl, combine butter, semisweet and unsweetened chocolates. Microwave until melted, stirring at least once; set aside to cool.

5. In a small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla until blended. Whisk cooled chocolate mixture into egg mixture. Fold in flour mixture until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Drizzle about ¼ of the caramel over top. Using tip of a knife, swirl caramel and batter. Bake for 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

6. Warm remaining caramel (you should have about ¾ cup) in microwave until pourable to still thick (do not boil), stirring once. Pour caramel over brownies; evenly spread caramel. Refrigerate brownies, uncovered, for at least 2 hours.

7. Using foil extensions lift cold brownies from pan. Run a knife around edges of brownies to loosen sides from foil (caramel may stick). Peel away foil. Using a sharp knife, cut brownies into squares. Press a pecan half onto middle of each brownie.

Connie's tips: Pour the finished caramel directly into a glass measuring cup that has been sprayed with nonstick spray or coated with butter. This makes for safe reheating in the microwave, foolproof pouring and easy clean-up. Also: the 35 minute cooking time seemed way too short. I continued cooking the brownies, checking every five minutes or so, until they were done, probably another 15 minutes or so.

Day 2: Pistachio & Almond cookies

2011-12-06T07:00:00.013-04:00

Wendy Trimper, Head of Branch Services, has created some lovely Pistachio and Almond Cookies from the book Cookies: 200 Inspirational Cookie Recipes

Her cookies are going to be in Lawrencetown. Here's the recipe:

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
2 tsp almond extract
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
heaping 1/2 cup ground almonds
1/3 cup pistachios, finely chopped

Place the butter & sugar in a large bowl and beat together until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg yolk and almond extract. Sift together the flour and salt into the mixture, add the ground almonds, and stir until thoroughly combined. Halve the dough, shape into balls, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375F/190C. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Unwrap the dough and roll out between 2 sheets of parchment paper to about 1/8 inch/3 mm thick. Sprinkle half the pistachios over each piece of dough and roll lightly with the rolling pin. Cut out cookies with cutter and place them on the baking sheets, spaced well apart.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes, then transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

With Pistachio Cream -
Whisk scant 1 cup heavy cream to soft peaks with 2 tablespoons of confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of green food coloring. Fold in 1/2 cup chopped pistachios and spoon into a bowl, then use as a dip for the cookies.

Day 1: Espresso Shortbread

2011-12-05T06:00:00.039-04:00

Sally MacDonald, who works at our Headquarters Office, has baked Espresso Shortbread from Martha Stewart's Holidays: recipes, gifts, and decorations, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Perfect treat with a cup of tea or coffee on a cold winter's day. Sally's cookies are making their way to the Annapolis Royal branch today!

Here's the recipe:

Espresso Shortbread

MAKES ABOUT 2 DOZEN

A simple shortbread with a sophisticated coffee flavor

½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter

½ cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ teaspoon powdered instant coffee

2 ¼ cups sifted all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

1. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla and coffee.

Sift together flour and salt ; add to butter mixture and beat well.

2. Chill dough until firm.

3. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

4. Roll dough ¼ inch thick and cut into 2-inch-by 5-inch bars.

Prick with a fork. Score middles of bars with a knife.

5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until light golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Sally's Tips: Since I can’t leave any recipe alone, I changed this a bit. I used the same ingredients, but I divided the dough into two equal parts and pressed each part into an 8” round pan. I pricked all over with a fork and baked in a 275 degree F. oven for about an hour. As soon as they were removed from the oven, I cut them into 16 equal segments with a sharp knife. Then I let them cool in the pan for a few minutes before removing them to cooling racks.

12 Days of Cookies - How to enter

2011-11-30T06:00:00.024-04:00

Want to join in on our 12 Days of Cookies? Here's how you can participate, and maybe even win a gift card!

Bake a cookie recipe from a book you borrowed from the library, send us the book title and a picture of your cookies, and you’ll be entered into a random draw for gift cards.

Selected entries will be posted on our 12 Days of Cookies blog page. All complete entries will be entered into the draw.

To enter, send the following, by email, to this address - 12daysofcookies@gmail.com

Please use the subject “12 Cookies” or your entry may appear as spam.

1) Book title (must be a book that is available through the AVRL libraries)
2) Name of the cookie recipe
3) Photograph of your baked cookies (must be your own photo)
4) Your name, email address, town you live in, and phone number, in case you win!
5) All entries must be received by midnight on December 20, 2011. You may submit more than one cookie, but your name will only be entered once.

By entering you agree that if your cookies are chosen to appear on our blog page, you allow your first name and town to be posted along with the entry. Personal information will not be used for any purpose other than this contest.

12 Days. 12 Cookies. 12 Books.

2011-11-01T13:57:00.007-03:00

The staff at Annapolis Valley Regional Library invite you to share in the joy of cookies. For twelve days in December, staff will be baking – and sharing – cookies. Each recipe will be shared online via Twitter @valleylibs and Facebook, on our website, and here, on this blog. The cookies will be sent around to various branches, so you might even get to taste them!

Staff will bake a recipe, photograph it, and share the recipe and book on our blog. “This is a fun way to showcase the library’s collection of cookbooks, especially during the holidays when many people are baking.”, says Frances Newman, Regional Librarian. The staff of AVRL invites everyone to take a look and see what we are baking on December 5-9, December 12-16, and December 19-20.