"Classic" Children's Novels I Recommend To Patrons and Friends
All of A Kind Family
by Sydney Taylor
First in a series about 5 little girls growing up at the turn of the century on the Lower East Side of New York. I learned a lot about Jewish culture from these books, but above all they're great family stories.
Anne of Green Gables
and all other books by L.M. Montgomery
They are aimed at children, but the picture of life in turn of the century Prince Edward Island is a delight for adults!
Ballet Shoes
by Noel Streatfield
Very English and very charming.
Betsy-Tacy
First of the series, by Maud Hart Lovelace
My older daughter(10) loves these too.
The Story of Doctor Dolittle
First in the series by Hugh Lofting.
Don't settle for the movie messes made of these wonderful books!
Heidi
by Johanna Sypri
This is not that easy for a kid to read--and some may find it saccharine. But it's always enchanted me...
Little House in the Big Woods
first in the series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Another series my daughter loves as much as I do!
A Little Princess
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
There's only been one good version of this on film--a BBC mini series. If you haven't seen that one, you don't know this story!
Little Women
and all other books by Louisa May Alcott.
I read this first in 6th grade, but I didn't understand a lot of it until college..
The Moffats
by Eleanor Estes
A family you'd love to belong to.
Pinky Pye
also by Eleanor Estes
You don't have to be a cat lover to love this, and if you're not, Pinky just might convert you!
Mr Popper's Penguins
by Florence Atwater
The tone is deadpan but the humor is pure slapstick.
A well loved read aloud.
The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
There have been good films of this, but nothing beats the book, especially with the delicate Tasha Tudor illustrations!
The Trumpet of the Swan
by E.B. White
I love Charlotte's Web , but kids should also meet Louis the mute swan who gains a voice and a love. And if you liked Make Way For Ducklings (another favorite of mine) you'll recognize one of the settings......
The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame
Not a young child's book at all,but a beautifully written book about friendship, greed, self centeredness and love.
The best illustrations are by Ernest Shepherd. He was also the first (and only REAL!) illustrator of Winnie the Pooh!
Blueberries For Sal (& One Morning In Maine)
and other books by Robert McCloskey
The Nutshell Library
4 book set by Maurice Sendak
The music to go with the books is on:
Really Rosie by Carole King
Where the Wild Things Are
also by Maurice Sendak!
The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge
by Hildegarde Swift
(A beloved NY landmark!)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
and every other book by Eric Carle
Caps For Sale
by Esphyr Slobodkina
Madeline
by Ludwig Bemelmans
Beloved by little girls long before the toys or the movies!
Yes, I Read "Grownup" Books Too--When They're Worth It!
And These Are:
Silver Pigs
(1st of the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries) by Lindsey Davis
Welcome To Temptation
(and all other books) by Jennifer Crusie
Breakup
(Kate Shugak mysteries)by Dana Stabenow
And Ladies of the Club
by Helen Hooven Santmyer
The Cazalet Chronicles
(4 books) by Elizabeth Howard
Poldark
(the whole series)by Winston Graham
The Mitford Years
(series) by Jan Karon
Stranger In A Strange Land
(& just about any other book) by Robert Heinlein
Thursday Thirteen #23: Microwave Magic
Attention, Mark Bittman of the NY Times:
What do you mean making risottos in the microwave is not for you--"all that stirring"?
Hey, Mark, it's okay if you ignore me and all the others who told you on your "Bitten" blog that we make risotto that way.But do you mean to tell me you're ignoring Barbara Kafka, the cooking diva who wrote The Microwave Gourmet ? You interviewed her for the article!
Bittman's two articles and the comments people left him got me thinking about my microwave. I've had to think more than I'd care to about mine lately, since we had to spend way too much money to replace our lovely GE Spacemaker with the exact same model--only this time with that 3 year service warranty.
Sure, we make popcorn in ours. SC has learned how to heat soup and other such things in it so she can make lunch for herself and/or JR. And we reheat endless leftovers quickly and easily.
And sorry Harold McGee, your article on the science of the microwave was interesting, but I've never had the meat in a stew toughen up when I nuked it--it's always fine when reheated!
Those are just the basics, though. I use the microwave in a lot of different ways. I'll never cook as much with it as my mom does--and my food is a lot better for it! But there are a lot of things it can do, and a few recipes I do cook regularly with its help, so here are:
2)Melting chocolate--beats a double boiler any day. Do the same as for butter.
3) Thickening sauces from crock pot dishes. I often add 1T of corn starch mixed with 1T cold water when i do this, and let it heat for 5 minutes, then stir it and check it.
4)Corn on the cob No husking needed, just stick them in and cook 2 minutes per ear. Then run them under cold water for a minute and the husk will come off easily. Best way I've ever cooked corn!
5)Potatoes/Yams I'd rather oven cook these, but when JR wants one with dinner, it's easy to do them this way. You can also part cook them in the microwave and finish them in the oven. Make sure to prick them with a fork or knife to vent or they can explode in your oven!
6)Shrimp Frozen 40-45 count shrimp cook in about 3 minutes in the microwave.
7)Risi Bisi Well, it's not the authentic dish, but it's fast easy "risotto" with peas and parmesan cheese and my family loves it.
)8)Risotto w/Spring Veggies: Take that risi bisi recipe, add asparagus and spring onions, and you've got this recipe. Full instructions are in The Microwave Gourmet
9)Stuffed peppers I stuff mine with a corn/bean/salsa mix. The method for cooking the peppers is from Desperation Dinners, and they give you a traditional meat/rice recipe.
10)Turkey Meatloaf This is my notorious "Sponge Bob's Brain" meatloaf--ugly, but fast and delicious. And don't worry, the picture is gone!
11) White Sauce Learned this one from my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook Melt 1T butter. Stir in 1T flour. Add 2/3 c milk cook 2-4 mins, stir every 30 seconds. If you add shredded cheese, you'll have cheese sauce. Add a little beef stock/bouillon and a dash of nutmeg, and you'll have a Swedish meatball sauce that's a lot healthier than that mix packet they sell at Ikea!
12) Turkey Breast It's best roasted, but this way works surprisingly well. Cook the turkey skin side down in a microwave safe pan for 40 minutes on HIGH. Turn it over and add seasonings (I use lemon, black pepper and paprika)Cook 15-20 minutes more on MEDIUM. Turkey will be 170 degrees F when done. (Remove from the microwave, tent with foil and let it rest 15 mins before serving)
13)Drying Herbs Really! This works well with parsley, oregano, thyme and other similar herbs. Place on paper towels in a single layer. Heat for 1-4 minutes, stopping every minute to check. You may want to flip them so that they dry evenly.
CAUTION:Watch these very carefully because (eek) if they get too hot they can actually flame! But as long as you stop each minute, they'll dry beautifully and keep a lot more of their color. 
Most of these timings and techniques came from Kafka's book. Even if you don't use the recipes, the back section of the book discusses everything you need to know about microwave cooking. There is an A to Z guide to cooking just about any food you can think of in your microwave--that alone makes this a resource I turn to again and again.
Highly useful for anyone who wants to do more than make popcorn in their microwave.
