Happy 40th

Before it's too late, Happy 40th to the Class of 1966.

Library / Librarian Blogs, etc.

A few of the better ones.
Not in any particular order.
Ok - a few aren't blogs.

Tiny Little Librarian
Free Range Librarian
Jessamyn
Librarian Avengers
The Laughing Librarian
Wireless Libraries
Progressive Librarian
Google Librarian Center
Career Profiles: Librarian - from the Princeton Review
The Renegade Librarian
LibrarianInBlack.net
Librarian's Rant

Oct. 27th Post - too many cakes

Something's going on with the photo of the birthday cake.
In Firefox, there is one cake photo with two tiny rectangle outlines underneath the photo.
In IE, there are THREE photos of the cake.
I don't know what the problem is, and I don't feel like editing the HTML.

I fixed it by opening it up in IE and editing it there - backspacing out two of the photos.
That must be why those little rectangle outlines were at the bottom of the photo (in Firefox).
Maybe I should do all the editing in IE.

Muscats

I forgot to mention ...

Muscats are raisins which have had their seeds removed mechanically, leaving little holes in them.
Seedless raisins never had seeds to begin with.

Best Fruitcake Recipe

Fruitcake

Mix the following ingredients together in the boiling water, turn down and simmer for 20 minutes.
Let cool.

1 1/2 C. muscats - forget finding them at the store, but you can order them in bulk from Sun-Maid. I use the regular Sun-Maid raisins.
1 1/2 C. chopped, pitted dates
2 C. sugar
2 C. boiling water
1/3 C. shortening

In a bowl, mix together:

3 C. flour
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground cloves

Add the cooked ingredients to the dry ones. Mix thoroughly.
Add 1 - 3 ounce package of the following candied fruits: orange peel, lemon peel, pineapple, citron and cherries.
Add 1 C. chopped walnuts

Bake in one, greased and floured, 7.5 inch by 12 inch pan
Bake at 325 degrees for about 90 minutes.
I use empty coffee cans, or mini loaf pans, which will bake about 5 small cakes.
The batter will be heavy and sticky.
They will rise about an inch, or so.
*I tried adding the fruit & nuts to the cooked dates & raisins BEFORE adding the flour mixture. I like it better - it's easier to mix. - Dec. 15, 2007

When they're done, let them cool on a rack, then wrap them in brandy soaked cheesecloth, wrap in aluminum foil, and store for a few days, week, etc. Best to cool them in a cool place.

Updates:
http://deskdiva.blogspot.com/2008/11/time-to-think-about-fruitcake.html

http://deskdiva.blogspot.com/2008/11/first-batch-of-fruitcakes.html

Fave Books of 2006

Here's the list, not in any particular order:

Wild Fire - Nelson DeMille - extra fun because it takes place in the north country of NY state

Mayflower - Nathaniel Philbrick

Possible Side Effects - Augusten Burroughs

The Cold Moon - Jeffery Deaver another Lincoln Rhyme

The Messenger - Daniel Silva