Chill a bit … and discover how frozen foods got their start.

    When you take a bag of frozen fruit or vegetables out of your home freezer, do you ever wonder about who figured out the process that keeps that freshly picked taste and appearance?  I have.

Since it happens to be National Frozen Foods Month, I figured this would be a good time to find out more about it.

I discovered a very helpful resource that is put together by The Library of Congress. It is called Everyday Mysteries Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress . When I searched “frozen food,” not only was I able to find out that Clarence Birdseye was the person “credited with inventing in 1924 the quick freezing method, which produces the type of frozen foods that we know today,” but there was also information explaining how it is done. In addition you’ll find some handy Related Web Sites and a list of more resources under Further Reading.

Should you poke around a little more on the EVERYDAY MYSTERIES site, you ‘ll find some great information on Who “invented” the TV dinner, complete with period advertising from the days when these frozen convenience foods were first becoming popular.

   If you would like to learn more about  Clarence Birdseye, the person behind the BIRDSEYE brand of frozen foods, you may want to read Birdseye: the Adventures of a Curious Man by Mark Kurlansky. When Birdseye moved to Labrador, before the start of World War I, he recognized that the frigid arctic cold kept fish tasting fresh after thawing. He knew that he was on to something. The book traces how he developed the process to freeze food successfully and how he overcame the skepticism of consumers about this new technology and how it could capture the taste and texture of the food for eating months later. You can find this book at the Fountaindale Public Library, in the Biography section, on the 3rd Floor. You can learn more about this very curious man, while you’re enjoying a tasty, hot slice of pizza that you bought in the frozen food aisle of your local supermarket!

- Tom D.

FROM THE MAGAZINE SHELF

FROM THE MAGAZINE SHELF is an occasional feature of the FOUNTAINDALE LIBRARY REFERENCE BLOG. Postings will highlight titles that you might find of interest, but haven’t yet picked up to read and explore.

Say it isn’t so! I certainly would like to, but the reality of the details in my post about BIRD TALK magazine is that this monthly publication, which has survived into it’s 30th year, is no longer going to be available as a printed magazine. The library has carried this informative magazine, whose motto is “Dedicated To Better Care For Pet Birds,” for at least ten years and it has been very popular with our customers. The September 2012 issue shown here will be the last print issue.

I had received word from our magazine supplier at the end of July that Bird Talk was no longer going to published, but they did not provide details. It wasn’t until I heard an interview on National Public Radio a few weeks ago that more information came forth. The NPR News segment, on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, was hosted by Audie Cornish. The piece was called ‘Bird Talk’ Magazine Folds Its Wings After 30 Years and was an interview with Susan Chamberlain, a longtime columnist and writer for the magazine. The demise of the print version of Bird Talk had gone the way of a number of long lived publications that ceased to exist over the past several years…economics…it was no longer profitable for the publishers to continue printing the magazine.  Shrinking advertising revenue was a main contributor. The readership was there. If anything, more people than ever are pet bird owners, according to Ms. Chamberlain.

I wondered what readers would do to get the same type of information from the columns that they regularly went to for tips like “How to give your bird stress-free nail trims” and “How to promote healthy skin and feathers on your pet.” Well, there is a silver lining to this grey, bleak cloud.  Some of the content of Bird Talk magazine will now be going online on BirdChannel.com

The solution to moving content online is not a perfect one. Not everyone has Internet access.  Some people just like the feel of holding a real print magazine in their hands. Anyway, pets and their caregivers are resilient. Most will make the best of the transition and continue doing what they enjoy most…being in each other’s company.

- Tom D.

Happy Birthday Woody Guthrie

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Woody Guthrie, one of America’s greatest and most prolific songwriters. If you’ve ever sung This Land Is Your Land, you’ve sung one of the best known songs of the man who had been dubbed the “Dust Bowl troubadour.”  That work was only one of the more 3,000 songs, essays and stories the folk musician wrote in a span of about 15 years.

Woody Guthrie’s songs were about people displaced by the dust storms of the 1930s, migrant workers, unions, the disparity between the rich and the poor, and about the beauty of this country. The influence of his music has touched countless people, from campers singing at a summer get-together to well known performers like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, and John Mellencamp.

To learn more about the man behind the songs and about his music, a great place to start is at the website of the Woody Guthrie Foundation. You’ll find biographical information, lyrics to songs, news articles, and much more.

You can listen to an interesting interview about Woody Guthrie and his music on  Fresh Air, hosted by Terry Gross on National Public Radio. The recent program titled Fresh Air Celebrates Woody Guthrie At 100  featured Ed Cray, who wrote the Guthrie biography,  Ramblin’ Man, and Jeff Place, Archivist at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, who co-produced a new 3-CD boxed set of Woody Guthrie’s music, Woodie At 100.

Finally, you can take an in-depth look at the song This Land Is Your Land in the book of the same title, by Robert Santelli.  You’ll learn a lot both about the work and the songwriter in this fast-paced, yet detailed history of this classic song.  You’ll find it  in the New Adult Non-Fiction area on the 3rd Floor of our library.  Check it out.

- Tom D.

Fire Up the Grill

With the 4th of July just a few days away, many people are making plans to get their grill fired up for their holiday get together. If you’re looking for some new ideas, a great place to check is the Barbecues and Grilling blog that is done by Derrick Riches. It’s a wealth of information for outdoor cooking at this time of year. Some of his recent posts included: “Making Stuffed Burgers” (June 30, 2012), “Top 10 BBQ Chicken Sauce Recipes” (June 26, 2012), and “Top 10 Pork Marinade Recipes” (June 22, 2012).

Several other resources that are well worth exploring are the websites for several of the well known names in grilling and barbecue:

• Weber has a wealth of information for you to check out. Under the GRILL OUT tab on their website, you’ll find recipes & videos, grilling tips, and a number of free, downloadable booklets.
• Kingsford, a name long associated with high quality charcoal, offers a wide range of tasty recipes. Just click on the GET GRILLING link. There is lots of instructional information under the KINGSFORD UNIVERSITY tab. Here you’ll find both tips and videos.
• Johnsonville = brats. Their website is chock full of tips and recipes. Click on the GRILLVILLE tab on the site.

In addition to these helpful resources, our library has a large variety of books and DVDs that can help you improve your grilling and barbecue skills and make your guests happy. Check some of them out on your next visit!

- Tom D.

FROM THE MAGAZINE SHELF

FROM THE MAGAZINE SHELF is an occasional feature of the FOUNTAINDALE LIBRARY REFERENCE BLOG. Postings will highlight titles that you might find of interest, but haven’t yet picked up to read and explore.

If you happen to be a fan of books and enjoy reading reviews and articles about authors and their works in the Chicago Tribune, you may have seen notices about some new publications from that newspaper earlier this year. The new publications are PRINTERS ROW JOURNAL and PRINTERS ROW FICTION. The library now subscribes to both. They come out each Sunday and can be found in our Magazines and Newspapers area on the 2nd Floor, with the magazines.

Among the features of PRINTERS ROW JOURNAL are book reviews, author profiles and essays, book club guides and reports, and news from Midwest publishing circles. PRINTERS ROW FICTION presents original short works of fiction (around two dozen pages, in booklet form) by Chicago authors. The pictures in this post show a recent sample of each of the publications.

Also on the radar of book fans in the Chicagoland area is the major event coming up this weekend, June 9 and 10. Returning for its 28th year is the Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest. It’s the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest. Among this year’s headlining authors will be noted cookbook celebrities Rachael Ray, Rick Bayless, and Daisy Martinez. Also on hand will be former news reporter, Dan Rather and sports writer, Frank DeFord, among others. In all, close to 200 authors will be at the Fest.

The event draws book lovers from across the country and will feature more than 200 booksellers who will be displaying and selling new, used, and antiquarian books. For a more complete listing of what’s happening, check out this link: Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest.

- Tom D.

Telecaster at 60

The sound of a Fender Telecaster cannot be mistaken for any other guitar.  The licks you heard played by Steve Cropper, in the song Green Onions by Booker T and the MG’s, in the movie American Graffiti… a Telecaster.  Jimmy Page’s famous solo in Stairway to Heaven… a Telecaster. The melodic chording and riffs of jazz guitarist Bill Frisell …a Telecaster. The blazing solos of country artist, Brad Paisley…that, too, is a Telecaster.

Officially introduced to the music world early in 1951, the guitar has become a musical icon over the past six decades and has become the go-to-instrument for many of the world’s top guitarists because of its unique sound qualities, simplicity, and versatility.

If you already own one of these guitars, if you’ve been thinking about buying one, or are just interested in learning more about these guitars and the artists who play them and the music they make, the library currently has a display of  books, magazines and CDs from our collections that are available for you to check out. The materials are conveniently located on the 3rd Floor, in the New Books area. While you’re browsing, go ahead and pick up a copy of the pathfinder, Telecaster At 60. The pathfinder will tell you a little bit about the books on the display, show you some guitar magazines that we subscribe to, and give you an idea of some of the Telecaster players that are represented in our CD collection. There’s even a web link to a great story about these guitars, The Telecaster: Still Wailing At 60, that was featured on National Public Radio (NPR).

Have fun looking, listening, reading, and playing!

Tom D.

Preserving the bounty of your late season garden

There is still time to do some canning, preserving, or freezing of items that are still in your late season garden or at the local farm markets. A little effort now can have a big payoff during the winter months!

Our library has a number of books to help you with your projects.  Here are two that you may not have used before.

The Complete Book of Small Batch Preserving by Ellie Topp (641.42 TOP) is a handy volume that will take the guesswork out of your home preserving. If you don’t have much time, but want to savor the taste of your garden in January, this is a good one to reach for.

Well-Preserved: Recipes and Techniques for Putting Up Small Batches of Seasonal Foods by Eugenia Bone (641.4 BON) is a simple and accessible guide to preserving meats, fruits, and vegetables in small batches year-round.  It includes methods like oil-preserving, curing and freezing, as well as traditional methods.

There are several good websites to explore if you need help with food preservation or if you need supplies or recipes.

• NATIONAL CENTER FOR HOME FOOD PRESERVATION – This is your source for current research-based recommendations for most methods of home food preservation.
• BALL CANNING AND PRESERVATION - Jarden Home Brands is the company that makes the popular Ball and Kerr lines of home food preservation products. This site is a good source of information, recipes, and products for home canning and freezing.
• CANNING SUPPLY – Since 1989, this division of Kitchen Krafts company in Iowa has been offering consumers hard-to-find tools, ingredients, and supplies.
• LEHMAN’S – Founded in 1955 to serve the local Amish community near Kidron, Ohio this well known store carries a wide range of canning and preserving items for your kitchen.

So, take advantage of the late summer and early fall produce that is still available. You’ll be surprised what you’ll be able to do!

Tom D.

Summer Cruise Nights

If cars are one your passions, then summer is your time of the year. From June through the end of August in many communities, and as late as September or early October in others, you can find cruise nights taking place in and around Bolingbrook and the Chicago suburbs on every night of the week.  These evening events draw crowds of enthusiasts who love to display and talk about their 4-wheeled pride & joy. Many of the cruise nights have music during the evening to add to the atmosphere. Some of the communities also devote specific nights to certain makes or models or time periods.

Leslie Mann’s recent article in the Chicago Tribune, Car gawk: Cruising nights lure collectors and their classic rides, gives you a good sense of what the events are like and includes information on towns in the area that will be hosting cruise nights this summer. Also, check out Don Speeno’s website for listings of 2011 CRUISE NIGHTS, arranged by the day of the week. Many of his listings include links for more detailed specifics about that town’s events.

So turn up the Chuck Berry on your ride’s sound system and get out and see some beautiful pieces of rolling sculpture on some of these summer evenings!

- Tom D.

911 Turkey

Every year, many people face the dilemma of not having a clue how to cook a turkey! How long do I thaw it? How do I stuff it? How do I carve it? Well, ponder no more! There are several websites you can visit for help. The biggest and most known site is  Butterball Help , where you can have many of your questions answered. The site includes cooking tips,how to choose a turkey,  special recipes and even a calculator to figure out how many pounds you need for how many people (and if you want plenty of leftovers!). And finally, it has its most famous and used number this time of year 1-800-Butterball, for all your turkey dilemmas. There is also an email link if you prefer to ask that way.

Other websites that can help you cook that bird include Honeysuckle, Foster Farms, Reynolds, and the USDA.

So don’t fret, help is just a click or a call away! Happy cooking and especially happy eating.

-Christine

Thanksgiving traditions…old and new…on the web

At our home, a few days before Thanksgiving, the worn copy of Betty Crocker’s Cookbook (Golden Press, 1969) comes off the bookshelf and out from the binder comes the well used recipe for Bread Stuffing that we’ve used for many, many years. It’s a basic recipe, nothing fancy. There have been a few small changes made to it , like the addition of some apples and raisins, that have been penciled on to the page. In our family, it’s what people want every Thanksgiving…it’s a tradition…it wouldn’t be the same meal without it.

 

Every family, over the years, has created its own traditions as far as what is served at the Thanksgiving table and which activities are enjoyed during the day, like watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, while preparations are happening in the kitchen and elsewhere.

I wanted to share a list of web sites and web pages that I put together recently for the Internet class that I teach at the library. Some are ones that I’ve used a number of times and some are new to me this year. I would enjoy hearing your comments about the ones listed and about others that you might use during the holidays. Who knows, you may create some new family traditions from your searching on these sites.

1 ) Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – This site features images and information about this annual parade held since 1924 in New York City. Includes a brief history, parade route, parade line-up, and behind the scenes look at the balloons and floats, and more.

2 ) Butterball Turkey Talk-Line – Open annually November through December, this site is where you’ll find the 800 telephone number to call in your Thanksgiving turkey cooking questions. You’ll also find lots of how-to information as well as recipes. Want to know even more? Have a look at Emily Bryson York’s article , Food Web sites surge, but Butterball phone line remains a staple and the accompanying article, What I learned at Butterball University, that appeared in the Chicago Tribune on October 31, 2010.

3) Ocean Spray – Here you’ll find recipes for all things cranberry, ranging from sauce to pie to breads and beverages.

4 ) Food Network - At this site, you can locate Thanksgiving recipes from your favorite Food Network personalities. So, if you’ve misplaced your copy of Paula Deen’s recipe for Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie, you can easily find it here.

5 ) In a Vegetarian Kitchen – If you’re searching for ideas on preparing a vegetarian / vegan meal for your Thanksgiving table, this is a good place to look first. Features a complete menu with recipes. From an author of vegetarian cookbooks.

6 ) Martha Stewart – Learn how to roast and carve the perfect turkey and much, much more at The Everything Thanksgiving section of Martha’s website. Recipes and menus included. There are even ideas on how to use all those leftovers!

7 ) Southern Plate – Looking for some satisfying down home style dishes to prepare for your Thanksgiving guests? Try Christy Jordan’s popular website.  The cookbook author and blogger has a large following for her comfort food recipes.

8 ) Libby’s Pumpkin – For many people, Thanksgiving would not be complete without pumpkin pie. Libby’s website includes the recipe for that time honored classic and shows you many other uses for pumpkin in your holiday and everyday meals.

Enjoy!

- Tom