When Times Get Tough...Your Library is Tougher!

Must admit, I love that tag line! If you look to the programs at the left, we have added a series of programs designed to help get you through these tough times. Please take advantage of these FREE programs for tips on savings, energy, home buying and selling, resumes and job searches.

Okay, so times are tough...that means you should be at home cooking those meeals and creating leftovers. May I suggest "The Joy of Cooking"? What an all-encompassing, comprehensive book that answers all your cooking questions! A friend suggested it to me and I immediately took it out of the library, and now I think I may need my own copy. I can't believe I had never looked at this book before! Of course, until a few years ago, I did not find the "joy" in cooking so that could be it! It even diagrams where all the cuts of meat come from. I loved that since I am still very naive about meats, but I am learning. I have learned that filet mignon for steak au poivre is very expensive! Veal shanks for the Osso Buco I made last night are not quite as pricey. And yes, I said Osso Buco! I was so excited to make this. Pete had it in the North End last year and I have been dying to try and make it for him. It was spectacular!! And in the two hour cooking time, I had time to make the risotto and veggies plus a lentil soup (courtesy of the Barefoot Contessa "Barefoot in Paris" ...did I ever mention that he surprised me with that cookbook one day...oh, how I love packages from Amazon.com!) and an apple and thyme tart from the book "On Rue Tatin" that have mentioned in previous posts. I was in the kitchen for 4 hours and actually ran out of pots, but it was so worth it! And now I have my lentil soup for lunches for the next few days.

Here's my non-cookbook book plug for this post...."The Silver Linings Playbook" by Mathew Quick. Lori had recommended this book and I loved it. Don't read the reviews or the book description as they do not do it justice. Just put it on hold right now. (You know how to log on to your library record and do that, right?!) Anyway... I could not put this book down. It grabbed me from the first page as a mother is discharging her thirty-five year old son from a mental facility. He is diligently working out and trying to be a better person so he can end the "apart time" with Nikki, his wife. But that is all you know for most of the book. You follow him through his struggles and endless Philadelphia Eagles games. Each character is so completely developed that you get so engrossed in the story it almost doesn't matter what caused his circumstances and the "apart time". Pat, our main character and ultimate optimist believes his life is a movie and all events have "silver linings". Read it to find out more.

Okay, I'm off. Lots of books to check in! You guys have really been busy, our circulation is way up! Glad to see you are taking advantage of all we have to offer!