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Satisfying Body and Soul

Posted by & filed under Is That a Document?, Recipes, Special Days, Uncategorized.

An African American father, mother, and young daughter barbecuing in the backyard.

June is national Soul Food month, so before we all fry our way into July, we thought we’d highlight a government document soul food source.

The term soul food was apparently coined in the 1960s to describe an African American cuisine born in the rural areas of southern states. The distinction between soul food and the broader umbrella of southern cooking seems to stem from soul food having more heat, more seasoning, and somewhat more thorough use of meat products. Black home chefs took humble ingredients and turned them into delicious and satisfying menus.

Today we occasionally take old favorite recipes and convert them to adjust for busy schedules and modern diet needs. Our US Departments have also tried to help inform us and improve our health, and soul food hasn’t been overlooked. The National Cancer Institute created a series of documents called Down Home Healthy Cooking to help address the issue of higher mortality and disease rates in U.S. black populations.

Down Home Healthy Cooking: Recipes and Tips for Healthy Cooking

The New Orleans Red Beans recipe we profile comes from the 2006 edition of that document.

New Orleans Red Beans recipe

Diet consciousness isn’t purely a modern effort. President Johnson’s chef, Zephyr Wright, wrote the president letters for each meal that he termed her “love letters.” She would break down the nutritional information in his meal so he was aware of what he was consuming.


White House Chef Zephyr Wright and nutrition information for the Red Beans recipe.


The National Cancer Institute has written us a “love letter” also, so we are aware of the nutritional content if the recipe is prepared as written. The Institute’s red bean recipe is vegan, so it appropriate for a variety of diets, and although listed as a side dish, it is hearty enough to be a main meal. If you compare this health conscious recipe to a more traditional red beans recipe, the main alterations seem to be the absence of pork products or pork bones, and they suggest serving with brown rice instead of white rice. We suspect the sodium levels in the modified recipe are also much lower than in a more traditional recipe.

This dish is made up of affordable and healthy ingredients. It makes a generous amount, so we had some to consume, some to share, and some to put away for a quick meal on a future day. We pretty much followed the recipe as written, except that since we had a smoked sea salt, we would use it to make up for some of the smoke flavor that would otherwise be represented by pork products. We also added a jalapeño in place of some of the sweet pepper and added a dash or two of cayenne pepper to spice things up a little bit.

Red beans cooking in the pan.

The beans smell great simmering on the stove. The recipe states that the beans should be done after adding the last set of ingredients and cooking on low for 30 minutes, but we found it took significantly longer to help the beans go from watery to a creamier stage.

A plate of New Orleans Red Beans

Served over a simple brown rice, the dish tastes healthy but also soul satisfying.

More Resources to Explore

There are several government sources for healthy cooking recipes. SNAP Recipes are healthy, with a short list of affordable ingredients.

The ethnology of food is vast and thought-provoking. The UNT Libraries has several online sources for further reading about the history of African American cooking, and the history and influence of soul foods.

Here are a few of these sources:



Article by Erica Kaufman

Photo of Zephyr Wright by Donald Stoder, courtesy of LBJ Presidential Library/National Archives.

Image of family barbecue from the National Cancer Institute publication Down Home Healthy Cooking.

Celebrating Our Gardens

Posted by & filed under Boredom Busters, Special Days.

A toad admires the greenery near the front steps of Sycamore Hall

 

As the weather warms up and the days become longer, many of us look forward to spending time outdoors in our gardens. Gardening provides opportunities to enjoy nature, sunshine, and exercise as we dig in the dirt. And there’s something so satisfying about caring for plants and watching them grow to reward us with beautiful flowers or fresh produce.

 

  A helpful pamphlet for city dwellers, 1938

                         

Farmers have always grown vegetable gardens; but in the early 20th century, with the advents of two World Wars and the Great Depression, urban and suburban gardens surged in popularity. In 1942, the United States government launched a Victory Garden Program that sparked Americans to plant millions of gardens to support the war effort. By 1944, Victory Gardens were producing 40 percent of the vegetables in the United States.

Grow Your Own Victory Garden  

 

Victory Gardens weren’t solely about food security, however. Among the stated goals of the Program were the provision of healthful exercise and stress relief through gardening. Throughout the war and Depression years, American gardeners also enjoyed the benefits of community building, as many of the gardens were planted on public lands and overseen by local organizations.

   

The collective joy of gardening continues today at UNT’s own campus Community Garden. Membership is free to the UNT community, and tools are provided. (Alas, all the plots are currently spoken for. Check back with them in the fall!)

 

 

In the meantime, consider starting your own garden on a kitchen windowsill, a front porch, or whatever space you have available at home.

June is National Gardening Month, so don’t forget to celebrate your garden too, no matter how big or small! Social distancing may rule out in-person garden celebrations, but you can still take pictures and share them with your friends.

In celebration of National Gardening Month, here are some pictures of our library staff members’ own gardens:

   

Happy gardening to all!

   
More Fun Links to Explore

How to Grow Vegetables (Texas Agrilife Extension) 

Small Agriculture – A historical exhibit about school gardens, homesteads, and Victory Gardens. (National Agricultural Library)
 

Doughnut Delights

Posted by & filed under Recipes, Special Days.


Saturday was National Doughnut Day, and while the day has passed it’s never too late to break out the baking gear, knead some dough, and make some tasty homemade treats. I’ve been craving doughnuts for a while now, and having a day set aside for them was just the excuse I needed to dig up a recipe and try my hand at something a little more involved than biscuit doughnuts.

National Doughnut day comes from the Salvation Army. In 1938 they invented the day as a way to raise money to help those in need during the Great Depression and to honor the “Doughnut Lassies”. These women fried doughnuts in the helmets of soldiers during WWI while they were there helping the men fighting. This earned them the nickname “Doughnut Lassies” as well as helped popularize doughnuts in the US. It is celebrated on the first Friday in June, and has become quite the tradition across the US, with doughnut shops participating in all kinds of ways.

You can participate yourself this year by making your own doughnuts! I tried the recipe for Yeast-raised doughnuts as provided by King Arthur Flour, who have not only frying instructions, but baking as well in case you want to somehow make these doughnuts a little healthier (but let’s be honest, frying is the way to go). They didn’t include a recipe for icing, but don’t worry, we’ll add one for a sugar glaze and chocolate as well.

Ingredients
  • 3 cups (361g) All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons instant yeast or active dry yeast
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup (227g) milk
  • 2 tablespoons (28g) melted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 cups (907g) peanut oil or shortening for frying (I used vegetable oil)



The doughnuts on the left were fried, while the doughnuts on the right were baked

Instructions:

To make the dough: In a large bowl or the bucket of your bread machine set on the dough cycle, whisk together the dry ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Add all at once to the dry ingredients. If you’re using a bread machine, press Start. If you’re preparing by hand or mixer, mix and knead to make a soft dough. Cover and let rest for 5 minutes.

If preparing by hand or mixer, knead the dough after its rest for 6 to 8 minutes, until it’s smooth and soft. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turn it over to coat the top, cover, and let it rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until doubled in bulk.

To shape the doughnuts: Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently roll it 1/4″ thick, and cut out doughnuts with a 2 1/2″ to 3″ round cutter. Cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and let the doughnuts rise for 30 minutes to an hour, until doubled.

To fry: Heat the oil or shortening in a heavy frying pan or skillet to 350°F. Carefully place the doughnuts in the oil, 2 or 3 at a time, and fry until golden brown. Turn over and cook the second side; each side should take no more than a minute. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on absorbent paper. Fill or frost doughnuts as desired, using your choice of sugar topping or glaze.

To bake: Follow the recipe through step 3, letting the doughnuts rise for 45 to 60 minutes. Bake them in a preheated 350°F oven for about 14 minutes, or until they’re a light golden brown. Remove a doughnut from the oven, make a small knife cut, and peek inside: if it’s baked all the way through, with no raw dough at the center, they’re done. If not, give the doughnuts a few more minutes. Cool, fill, and top as desired.

Sugar Glaze:

Ingredients:
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Instructions:

Combine milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan and heat over low heat until warm. Sift confectioners’ sugar into milk mixture. Whisk slowly, until well combined. Remove the glaze from the heat and set over a bowl of warm water. Dip doughnuts into the glaze, 1 at a time, and set on a draining rack placed in a half sheet pan for 5 minutes before serving.

Chocolate Glaze:

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 cups (150 grams) confectioners’ sugar
  • 4 tablespoons (27 grams) cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons milk or water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions:

Sift together the sugar and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Slowly stir in the milk and vanilla, a little at a time, to make a smooth, pourable glaze.

Tips and Tricks I learned:
  • If you don’t have a cutter for your doughnuts, just use the rim of a glass. Flour it before you slice into the dough, and then go to town.
  • The top from a bottle of water is the perfect size to cut nice little round doughnut holes.
  • Much like with pancakes, your first doughnut will probably be a flop, don’t give up and try again!
  • When glazing try setting them on a cookie rack with some foil/wax paper underneath it, the glaze will drip down as they dry and then you can toss the foil/paper for easy clean up.
  • When making the glaze it’s okay to add more powdered sugar to thicken the glaze depending on what you prefer. Play with the measurements and taste until you get something you like.

I hope you all have fun trying out this recipe yourselves, and enjoy some doughnuts!

Stick a Spoon in It

Posted by & filed under Boredom Busters, Recipes.

Suggested serving of spoon bread in a bowl.

Lady Bird Johnson was known for the delicious dinners she served, typically prepared by their family cook, Zephyr Wright, who came with them from Texas when they moved to Washington, and continued to serve in the White House as the First Family’s personal chef while LBJ was president.

Spoon bread was a family favorite of the Johnsons, and one of Ms. Wright’s specialties. This versatile Southern side dish has a texture somewhat like a savory corn pudding or polenta. The history of spoon bread is obscure, but it may date back to the era of the American Revolution, and possibly has an origin in Native American cuisine. The first spoon bread recipe to appear in print was in the 1847 cookbook The Carolina Housewife, or House and Home, by “a Lady of Charleston.” (The Lady is now known to be Sarah Rutledge, daughter of Edward Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and singer of the showstopper “Molasses to Rum” in the musical 1776. But we digress.) Here is that early recipe:

Earliest recipe for spoon bread

The Johnson family’s spoon bread recipe had been shared with Lady Bird by LBJ’s mother. The First Lady enjoyed having it for breakfast with Ms. Wright’s home-made deer meat sausage. Later it became one of several of Lady Bird Johnson’s recipes that were printed on recipe cards and mailed out in response to requests. Here is the Johnson family recipe:

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's Recipe for Spoon Bread

This is a very simple, easy-to-make dish that requires very few ingredients. You may even already have them in your kitchen. (The reference to “sweet milk” might be confusing if you are younger or not from the South. It simply means milk that is not sour milk or buttermilk; it does not have sweetener added to it. In this case, I used almond milk.)

Spoon bread ingredients: sweet milk, corn meal, butter, eggs, baking powder, salt

The first step in preparing this dish is to bring two cups of sweet milk to a boil over medium heat in a medium-size saucepan, then stir in a cup of corn meal and keep stirring until it turns into a mush. Take it off the heat as soon as it gets fairly thick, but don’t let it get too solid. Pour the mush into a large bowl when it is ready and let it cool while you prepare the other ingredients.

Now you can turn on the oven and start pre-heating it to 350°F. Beat three eggs in a medium-sized bowl with a whisk until they are thoroughly blended together, and melt the butter for about one minute in the microwave. (The recipe calls for “butter the size of a walnut.” I used about three ounces. The recipe doesn’t say whether the butter should be salted or not. The vegan butter I used had salt in it, and the end result was very salty, so I would suggest using unsalted butter if you have it, but salted is okay, too.) Pour the melted butter into the eggs, add another cup of milk, three level teaspoons of baking powder, and one teaspoon of salt, then stir everything together.

The next step is to dump the egg mixture into the corn meal mush and stir everything thoroughly together with a whisk or a wooden spoon. The mixture will be very thick, and I never did get all the lumps out, but that didn’t seem to make any difference in the final product. It’s really very difficult to mess this dish up! Spoon bread is delicious plain, but you might want to experiment by adding some ingredients such as onions, jalapeños, cheese, or corn kernels. Once everything is mixed, pour it into a greased baking pan. A 9″ x 6″ pan is just the right size, but an 8″ x 8″ pan would probably work also.

Spoon bread batter about to go into the oven.

The oven should be heated up by now, so put the pan in and relax for about half an hour. When you take it out, it will smell so good that you’ll probably want to eat it right away, but let it cool for a few minutes. It seems very liquid when you take it out of the oven, almost as if it were not done, but when it cools it will congeal to just the right texture.

Spoon bread fresh out of the oven

When you’re ready to serve your spoon bread, get out a big serving spoon and scoop it into a bowl or onto a plate. According to Mrs. Johnson’s comments, “with a salad (fruit or green) and meat, it makes a perfect lunch.” (Beans make a good substitute for the meat for vegans and vegetarians.) This dish is delicious as is, but adding a drizzle of real maple syrup or some locally-made Texas honey brings it to a whole new level of deliciousness.

A serving of spoon bread drizzled with honey.

Spoon bread is best served warm out of the oven, but it is also good the next day, whether served cold or reheated. Either way, scoop it out, stick a spoon in it, and enjoy!

Article by Bobby Griffith.

Sycamore Listens: Audio Adventures with ECL

Posted by & filed under Boredom Busters, Recommendations.


Over the past few weeks a lot has happened, and many people are spending most of their time at home. Some people have transferred to working at home, some are taking care of their families, and some have more free time than they know what to do with. My free time has been mostly spent taking long walks, cooking more, and playing a rather embarrassing amount of Animal Crossing. The thing that has tied all of this together has been my love of listening to podcasts and audiobooks. I’ve gone through quite a few books as well as hours and hours of podcasts. I’ve even got a podcast playing in the background as I edit this post, a familiar one with familiar voices and fascinating topics.

While listening to these things started as a way to help me learn more or read those books I never can seem to find time to sit down and enjoy, it’s become a part of my daily routine now that I spend so much time in my apartment. Call them boredom busters, or excellent distractions audiobooks, podcasts, and all kinds of music are great ways to fill your day.

To that end, we wanted to share a list of recommendations from the students and staff at ECL to introduce you to some new content, and –if you go through podcasts as fast as I do– help boost what might be a dwindling supply of things to listen to. This isn’t going to be a one time recommendation either, as we collect more suggestions from staff we’ll post more lists of recommendations to keep you going, and help you discover new favorites.

Additionally, we’d love to hear from you! Drop your own recommendations for what you’ve been listening to lately (or even just an old favorite or two suggestions) and we’ll add those recommendations to our next post so everyone can see them.

Alright! On to the recommendations, these were submitted by staff and students this time. Each suggestion has a little tidbit written by the person who suggested it, as well as a link (or links) to author/podcast/creators websites so you can find more information on it:

Podcasts



The Partially Examined Life



A philosophy podcast that tackles works both big and small. It’s a great place to get an introduction on a philosophical book you may have been curious about reading but were unsure.

Pretty Much Pop



A more laid back podcast than the former that covers topics in pop-culture with a variety of opinions on them. This podcast covers everything from escape rooms to musicals.

BBC In Our Time



This is an educational podcast that gets experts on a topic together to give an introduction to it.

99% Invisible



One of my current favorite podcasts is 99% Invisible, or 99pi. One of the things I love most about 99pi is the breadth of topics covered. Just in the last month, I’ve learned the history of the song Who let the dogs out?; gained a better understanding of why we are experiencing a toilet paper shortage as part of the Coronavirus pandemic; and learned how map making has shaped our past and present, for the good and the not-so-good. I also love 99pi because it serves as a gateway to other amazing podcasts. The team at Radiotopia, the producer of 99pi, offers a slew of other amazing podcasts, some I’ve had opportunity to explore and some are on my list to explore. These include Articles of Interest, which documents the history of articles of clothing; Over the Road tells the stories of long-haul truckers; and This Day in Esoteric Political History, a new short-form podcast which explores that day’s political events and how they shaped history. Oh, and I have a voice-crush on Roman Mars (99pi host) and especially love it when he cracks up – in a very mellow, radio kind of way.

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend



I’ve wanted Conan O’Brien to be my friend since 1993 and though this podcast doesn’t get me any closer to that reality it does allow me to look a little like a mad woman on my socially distanced walks, which I think he would appreciate. Many a passerby in my neighborhood might attest to me walking the park paths and streets, earbuds in, giggling to myself or nearly collapsing with laughter. In this podcast, Conan, along with his assistant and podcast producer, chat with celebrities, comedians, authors, and former first ladies. The podcasts sometimes dip in the absurd, are sometimes revealing and heartfelt, and always, at least for me, lead to full belly laughs. If you find yourself needing to laugh your way through the pandemic, I suggest you give Conan a listen.

Side Door



Side Door explores all of the SI museums and offers a thread between how seemingly disconnected artifacts are actually connected.

Portraits from the National Portrait Gallery



Portraits from the National Portrait Gallery explores portraiture and the histories of faces and voices featured in the museums collections.

Lost at the Smithsonian with Aasif Mandvi



Lost at the Smithsonian with Aasif Mandvi offers a comedic exploration of some of the most iconic pop culture artifacts in the collections of the National Museum of American History. I love this one especially because Aasif, as he’s given a behind the scenes look into the SI collections, often seems like a kid in a candy store. Also, Aasif and I are of a similar age so I can easily relate to his fanboy attitude to artifacts like Fonzie’s jacket and the Bee Gees’ suits.

Audiobooks



Anything by Ann Patchett



Sadly, the UNT Libraries only offers a few of Ann Patchett’s titles in print, which are accessible for those that venture our to the Willis Library. I’m hopeful you all have public library cards and will be able to access her works via Overdrive or another audio or eBook service. Admittedly, I haven’t made my way through the whole of Ann Patchett’s catalog, but I am trying. My preferred method of consumption is through audiobook. My most recent listen was her most recent release, The Dutch House, which read by Tom Hanks and tells the story of young man, his sister, and the house that has a hold over them both. My other recommended reads or listens include Bel Canto and The Patron Saint of Liars. Whichever of her titles you might choose, I hope you enjoy and would welcome a note on what you think.

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek



This covers various stories of the author’s time in the military that he highlighted were filled with power, leadership, and faithful guidance to help him become a great leader, and that helps the military be as successful as it is.

The Sherlockian by Graham Moore



I had a lot of fun listening to this book. It’s told by alternating between the story of Harold White as he investigates a mysterious death at a Sherlockian meeting that has to do with a missing diary, and the story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the days after he’s killed off Sherlock Holmes and is suddenly swept up in his own real life mystery. The two stories parallel each other well, and both mysteries were engrossing and fascinating. This book is a stand alone novel, so no worries about diving into a long series with this one. If you enjoy stories that explore missing parts of history, and feature fascinating characters this story is for you.

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett



City of Stairs has a little bit of everything. It’s got fantasy, a tiny bit Science Fiction, political intrigue, once dead gods showing back up, and of course all of that is wrapped in the bow of a murder mystery. I really wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into with this one, but the book fascinated me almost from the very start. The world building is clear and vast, the magic system is fascinating, and the main character, Shara Thivani, is interesting to follow. You’ll find yourself endeared to her quickly if you too are Tired of Everything but passionate about history and magic. This is the first in a trilogy of books, but works well as a stand alone since the other books follow different characters.

The Last Wish Andrzej Sapkowski



If you’ve been on Netflix lately I’m sure it’s recommended The Witcher to you. The Last Wish is one of the many books that series is based on. It introduces readers to the Witcher through a series of short stories featuring Geralt of Rivia. The world of The Witcher is a somewhat medieval one, featuring magic, monsters, and just about every fantasy creature you can think of– plus some. One of my favorite things about the book is how it weaves traditional fantasy, fairy tales, and it’s own mythology together to create a world I wanted to explore long after finishing the first book (so much so that I immediately bought book 2 and started listening to it). I’m generally not a fan of books of stories, but each of these are so well done I didn’t mind the format at all. This is part of a series containing 6 books, with 2 short story collections to introduce it, so if you really need something to take up time this is a good one to jump into. As in most adaptations, the books here are heads and tails better than the tv series/

Music



Charlie Burg

Chet Baker

That’s it for this set of Sycamore Listens: Audio Adventures with ECL. If you have any recommendations or end up listening to any of these please drop it in a comment below!

Coffee and Cookies at Home

Posted by & filed under Is That a Document?, Recipes, Special Days.


It’s Dead Week at UNT.

Normally at this time of year, the Eagle Commons Library staff is busily gathering supplies and making plans for our traditional Coffee & Cookies event, during which we invite patrons to take a study break and enjoy free coffee and cookies in the library.

But this semester, the coronavirus pandemic threw a wrench in our plans. Library events are cancelled, and most students will spend Dead Week away from campus.



In April of 1942, the Girl Scouts in Washington, D.C. hosted a “Volunteers for Victory” pageant.


Reminiscing about cookies reminded us of a truly momentous event in cookie history: The 1942-1945 shortage of Girl Scout cookies. Due to wartime rationing of cookie ingredients, the Girl Scouts ran out of cookies and had to sell calendars instead. At the same time, thousands of Girl Scouts throughout the United States participated in volunteer initiatives to support the war effort. They sold war bonds, collected salvage materials, and worked as hospital aides.

This spring of 2020, the Girl Scouts once again had to curtail their in-person cookie sales (though they were still sold online). If you missed out, here’s a recipe for a home-baked version of Thin Mints, tested by our own staff member Matina Newsom. This recipe was taken from Sally’s Baking Addiction.



Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup (172g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 and 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)>
  • 3/4 cup (63g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder (or dutch process)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Topping
  • 14 ounces (395g) quality semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon canola or vegetable oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions

In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter for 1 minute on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy. Add the granulated sugar and beat on medium high speed until fluffy and light in color. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract on high speed. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.

Sift the flour and cocoa powder together in a medium bowl. Whisk in the baking powder and salt until combined. On low speed, slowly mix into the wet ingredients until combined.

Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Roll each portion out onto a piece of parchment to about 1/4″ thickness. Stack the pieces (with parchment paper between) onto a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling is mandatory. If chilling for more than a couple hours, cover the top dough piece with a single piece of parchment paper. You can chill up to 2 days.

Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Remove one of the dough pieces from the refrigerator and using a 2-inch round cookie cutter (I used an assortment of cutters for fun), cut in circles. Transfer the cut cookie dough to the prepared baking sheet. Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges appear set. The cookies will seem very soft in the centers. Make sure you rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before dipping in chocolate.

Once the cookies are cool, begin the topping: Melt the chopped chocolate and oil together in a double boiler or (carefully!) use the microwave. For the microwave, place the chocolate and oil in a medium heat-proof bowl. Melt in 15 second increments, stirring after each increment until completely melted and smooth. Once melted, stir in the peppermint extract. Dip each cooled cookie completely into the chocolate and use a fork to lift out. Tap the fork gently on the side of the bowl to allow excess chocolate to drip off. Place cookie onto a parchment or silicone baking mat-lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet into the refrigerator to help the chocolate set. Once set, enjoy!

In the tradition of Eagle Commons Library’s Coffee and Cookies, we invite you to find a cozy nook in your home (preferably adjacent to bookshelves). Gather some tasty cookies and a cup of coffee and take a study break.

Good luck on your finals!

More Fun Links to Explore

The original Girl Scout cookie recipe, published in 1922

More recipes from the Internet:

“The Cookie Song,” from the opera Daisy. The opera is based on the life of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low and composed by UNT alumna Julia Smith (who also composed the UNT alma mater). These sites are restricted to the UNT community and may require an EUID login.

  • Score
  • Audio recording (The Cookie Song is no. 18 on the list. If you get a redirect message, select the link to the old version of the page.)

Earth Day’s Golden Jubilee

Posted by & filed under Local Doings, Make a Difference, Special Days.

Earth Day 2020 logo

On April 22, 1970—the first Earth Day—a project conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson and coordinated by 25-year-old Harvard University student Denis Hayes, sparked a grassroots environmental movement that continues with no loss of passion a half a century later.

Every April 22 citizens of over 190 countries throughout the world now take the opportunity to honor Mother Earth and renew their commitment to the environment. Coincidentally (or conspiratorially?), Earth Day also happens to be the Episcopal feast day of conservationist and Sierra Club founder John Muir, the birthday of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton, and the birthday of communist leader Vladimir Lenin!

The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. The enormous challenge, as well as the vast opportunities, of action on climate change have distinguished this issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary. Read the Earth Day 2020 user’s guide on How to Act on Climate Change to take your own climate action to the next level. You can also recycle the still-useful 2017 Climate Education Week Toolkit to educate and engage K–12 students on climate change.

Legislation

The creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which is celebrating its own 50th anniversary this year, was one of the most important outcomes of the first Earth Day. This agency was established by President Richard Nixon and Congress to repair damage done to the environment and to establish guidelines that would ensure clean water, air, and land for America.

Other landmark legislation inspired by the first Earth Day includes the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and—a few years later—the Endangered Species Act.

These are just a few of the environmental accomplishments that have been achieved since the first Earth Day 50 years ago according to the EPA:

  • In 1970, over 40% of the nation’s drinking water systems failed to meet even the most basic health standards. Today, over 92% of community water systems meet all health-based standards all the time.
  • Since 1970, implementation of the Clean Air Act and technological advances from American innovators have reduced the six main criteria air pollutants by 73%. The nation has doubled to 86% the number of low-income communities achieving attainment with EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) since 2008. In the past three years alone, 38 areas have moved from nonattainment to attainment.
  • EPA’s Superfund and Brownfields programs are bringing opportunity back to communities. Last year, EPA delisted more Superfund sites than any year since 2001.

Learn about other environmental laws and regulations, determine whether you and your business are in compliance, and make comments or suggest changes in the laws.

Resources

EPA
  • Environmental Education Resources: Coloring books, lesson plans, games, and other environmental information and educational resources for distance learning and home schooling.
  • Environmental Topics: Read these articles to learn about scientific research and techniques, air and water quality, environmental effects on your health, conditions in your community, and many other topics.
  • Greener Living: Tools to help you learn and understand the issues and help you reduce your environmental footprint.
  • Labels and Logos: Keep an eye out for these marks to identify products and services that will help you save money, reduce pollution, and protect your family. Also includes logos of programs that teach children how to protect their health and encourage them to become good environmental stewards, and programs that help businesses and communities become more efficient, protect the environment, and save money.
EarthDay.org
  • 30 “Isolutions” for Coronavirus Self-Isolation: A lot has changed in the last month. As over 90 percent of Americans are under shelter-in-place and social distancing mandates in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, people are spending most of their days indoors, trying to keep themselves and others healthy. Here are 30 productive, calming, enjoyable, and often eco-friendly activities—”isolutions,” if you will—to keep your mind sharp, your body active, and your relationships strong.
  • Education Resource Library: Browse these resources to guide your environmental education lessons and stewardship activities on Earth Day and throughout the year. These resources can also be adapted in a digital way to be completed from home.
  • 2020 Teach-In Toolkit: The teach-in technique was deployed at the first Earth Day in 1970, where concerned citizens gathered across the country to learn about environmental degradation. The activism that followed led to the passing of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, which are considered landmark legislation in environmental protection. Use this toolkit to plan an effective teach-in that will bring your community together and build capacity to make change!
  • Earth Day Network: Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide by promoting climate action, scientific research and education, development of green communities, conservation and restoration, and reducing plastic and other forms of pollution.
  • Earth Day Tips: If you are one of those for whom every day is Earth Day, here are 46 ways you can make a difference every day of the year.
  • Take Action: Many ways you can make a difference by educating yourself about the issues and current events, participating in critical data-gathering, adding your support to a cause, organizing an event in your community or online, and sharing information with your social networks.

Events

Here are some opportunities for participating in Earth Day this year. Due to the ongoing worldwide pandemic, most if not all of this year’s in-person Earth Day events have been cancelled. Fortunately, there are many virtual events available, and they not only are accessible within the safety and convenience of your own home, but also are usually free of charge.

  • 24 Hours of Action: Through 24 hours of action, Earth Day 2020 will drive actions big and small, give diverse voices a platform, and demand bold action for people and the planet. Join them on April 22 as they issue a new call to action every hour. What can you do today?
  • EarthFest: Hosted by the UNT Student Activities Center, University Program Council, and the We Mean Green Fund, EarthFest is a sustainable event celebrating international Earth Day. Share some vegan/vegetarian recipes, identify plant and animal species in your backyard with iNaturalist, color Scrappy and Lucky, and participate in many other virtual resources, activities, and events.
  • Earth EXPO: The largest annual environmental exposition and programming initiative in the world, Earth Day EXPO brings together environmental organizations, businesses, academic institutions, government agencies, speakers, interactive programming, and subject matter experts along with live music, art, and food to create a fun and engaging atmosphere for thought and experiential learning. This year’s virtual event is brought to you free of charge by EarthX in partnership with the National Geographic Society.
  • Earth Day Live: The world’s largest civic event is going digital for the first time in its history, urging leaders to take science seriously, listen to their people, and push for action at every level of society to stop the rising tide of climate change. Tune in and help flood the world with messages of hope, optimism and—above all—action.
  • Sharing Window Artwork: Everyone is invited to participate in promoting public recognition of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by drawing pictures and making signs recognizing Earth Day to hang in the windows of their homes to celebrate with neighbors and their community. If your art skills are limited, you can download a sign to color, or even download a pre-colored sign. Those who wish to share pictures of their artwork are welcome to do so on social media using the hashtag #EarthDayAtHome, #EarthDay2020, and #EPAat50.

See Earth Day 2020 for other events taking place in your area and across the globe, and learn how you can take action as Earth Day goes digital.



Article by Bobby Griffith.

Illustration: Earth Day 2020 logo courtesy of EarthDay.org

Celebrate National Park Week 2020 Safely and Responsibly by Bringing the Outdoors In

Posted by & filed under Make a Difference, Special Days.

National Park Week 2020 logo

Every year during the month of April, a Presidential Proclamation sets aside one week for Americans to shine a spotlight on our national parks, acknowledge the men and women entrusted with their care, and reaffirm the importance of investing in the stewardship of these national treasures for future generations.

This year presents a special challenge. Although most national park facilities have been closed and their events canceled because of the current pandemic, the National Park Service (NPS) and its official charitable partner, the National Park Foundation, have come up with several ways that you can enjoy the national parks digitally this season from the safety and comfort of your own home.

First off, each individual day of National Park Week will highlight a specific theme:

  • Saturday, April 18: Junior Ranger Day encourages interested youth to complete a series of activities during a park visit, share their answers with a park ranger, and receive an official Junior Ranger patch and Junior Ranger certificate. Junior Rangers are typically between the ages of 5 to 13, although people of all ages can participate.
  • Sunday, April 19: Volunteer Day recognizes the contributions of the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who contribute million of hours of volunteer service in the NPS Volunteers-in-Parks Program.
  • Monday, April 20: Military Monday salutes the American military, veterans, and their families for the sacrifices they have made and continue to make for our freedom and celebrates the historical ties between the military and the national parks.
  • Tuesday, April 21: Transportation Tuesday highlights the intimate connection between the national parks and transportation in America, from the transcontinental railroad to the expanded access to parks necessitated by the advent of the automobile. This year some of us may have to ditch the cars and settle for a journey of the mind.
  • Wednesday, April 22: Earth Day is a world-wide celebration encouraging environmental education and responsibility, and will be observing its 50th anniversary this year.
  • Thursday, April 23: Throwback Thursday provides both an opportunity to explore the history preserved in national parks and an invitation to share your own memories of visiting our national parks with family and friends.
  • Friday, April 24: Friendship Friday acknowledges and celebrates the many individuals, groups, organizations, and communities that have partnered with the national parks and programs.
  • Saturday, April 25: Park ℞ Day promotes the healing power of the outdoors by encouraging everyone to safely enjoy nature in our homes, backyards, neighborhoods, and nearby parks and trails. This is also an opportunity to acknowledge and thank our Healthcare Heroes serving on the front lines.
  • Sunday, April 26: BARK Ranger Day provides an opportunity for park visitors to learn how to have a positive experience with their pets. BARK stands for Bag your pet’s waste; Always leash your pet; Respect wildlife; and Know where you can go.

In addition to these scheduled events, there are several more safe activities you can participate in at home. Here are a few:

  • Take a virtual tour of a national park. Many national park sites offer online tours and experiences that you can access anytime, anywhere.
  • Tune into PARKTRACKS, an innovative audio experience that can help counter the hustle and bustle of city life and promote tranquility and mindfulness with the relaxing sounds of America’s national parks, captured by the National Park Service’s Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division.
  • Make a gift to support the national parks. If you donate between now and April 30, Nature Valley will match every donation up to $250,000.
  • Finally, see how many experiences you can check off of this checklist of 20 Virtual Ideas for 2020. There are enough activities here to keep anyone busy for the whole week and then some!

What plans do you have for celebrating National Park Week? Be sure to share your experiences on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other Social Media. Above all, stay safe and recreate responsibly.

Stay Safe; Recreate Responsibly

Article by Bobby Griffith.

National Park Week logo and “Stay Safe—Recreate Responsibly” poster courtesy of National Park Service. Designs by Matt Turner.

April 13th – 17th is Student Employee Appreciation Week

Posted by & filed under Inside Sycamore Library, Local Doings, Special Days.

We believe that a library is defined more by its employees than by the space it occupies. So we would like to take this time to recognize a unique group of valued employees at the Eagle Commons Library @ Sycamore Hall — our student employees.

National Student Employment Week is celebrated the second full week in April every year. Academic employers across the country are taking this week to recognize their student employees, and some have nominated one of their students as Outstanding Student Employee of the Year. This year, our little branch of the UNT library system could not select just one student for this honor, but instead we would like to recognize each and every one of our student employees for their important contributions and dedication to their work.

Some of our wonderful student employees

Our students have achieved a lot over the past couple of years:

  • They helped to incorporate the juvenile collection into our building.
  • They were on the front lines of our battle against mold after a water incident in our basement.
  • They have been instrumental in reorganizing our spaces and collections after repairs to our basement were completed.
  • They help staff our service desk, organize our collections, and provide one-on-one assistance with patron questions and problems with technology in our Creative Learning Commons (CLC) area.

Student assistants relax after building the annual holiday book tree.

Our current situation requires our students to work remotely. They continue to assist our patrons by completing metadata for countless records in our digital library, and they assist with special projects and complete training to hone their skills so they may better assist our patrons in the future.

Our students are adaptable, capable, congenial, and all-around fantastic co-workers. We would like to send a heartfelt thank you to:

Trenecia
Nina
Christiana
Tripp
Miranda
Dalton
Steve
Harley
Raven
&
Adrienne

We hope you all know how much your work means, and that we sincerely appreciate what you do for the UNT campus. Happy Student Employee Appreciation Week!

Article by Erica Kaufman.

Photos of student employees courtesy of the UNT Libraries External Relations Office.

This Popular Dessert Is Just Peachy

Posted by & filed under Is That a Document?, Local Doings, Recipes.

Peach cobbler with a single serving in a separate bowl.

It’s National Peach Cobbler Day

It’s not quite peach season yet, but get out the canned or frozen peaches and you’ll be ready to celebrate National Peach Cobbler Day. Apparently it was invented by the Georgia Peach Council in the 1950s as a way to encourage consumers to buy canned peaches.

According to John Mariani’s Dictionary of American Food and Drink, a cobbler is “a western deep-dish fruit pie with a thick crust and fruit filling . . . It is served with a custard but no topping in Connecticut, with maple sugar in Massachusetts, and with a sour sauce in Vermont.” Texans frequently enjoy it topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it is so popular in this state that in 2013 the Texas Legislature designated peach cobbler the official state cobbler of Texas.

Today we’re featuring a peach cobbler recipe published by the Texas Department of Agriculture in an intriguing collection of recipes that feature Texas olive oil as an ingredient. The cookbook GO TEXAN Olive Oil Recipes: Savor the Flavors of Texas, which is available for checkout in the Eagle Commons Library, but is not published online, was released several years ago as part of the GO TEXAN campaign to promote Texas agricultural products. Did you know that Texas makes olive oil, or that olive oil can be used to make a peach cobbler? If not, here’s your chance to make something special! We’ll take you step by step through the process of preparing this unique dish. Here’s the recipe:

Peach Cobbler recipe

Let’s Build a Cobbler

First, be sure you have all the ingredients you need for the recipe. In these trying times, you want to minimize your trips to the grocery store, and you don’t want to start cooking and realize there is an ingredient you don’t have. I made a couple of departures from the exact instructions: instead of using all-purpose flour, I used half all-purpose and half whole wheat to give it more fiber. I also used Italian instead of Texan olive oil because that’s what they had in the store. Texas olive oil is difficult to find in many stores, even in Texas. In any case, this recipe is taken from another cookbook, and the original recipe does not specify Texas olive oil. That informal variation on the normal recipe is clearly an advertising gimmick and not an essential component of the dish. Here are my ingredients all laid out:

Ingredients for Peach Cobbler Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and lightly spray a medium-size casserole dish with olive oil cooking spray. I used an 8″ x 8″ pan.

Applying a coat of oil to the pan In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup of liquid from your canned peaches, 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1/3 cup of granulated sugar (I used raw coconut sugar), 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon (I used Saigon cinnamon, which has a sweeter, more intense flavor than Mexican cinnamon), and one large egg. The recipe says to “blend on medium” for one minute. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be put into a blender, but I just whisked it vigorously until everything was smoothly blended together.

Liquid ingredients in peach cobbler

In the same bowl, sift in one cup of flour (as mentioned earlier, I used 1/2 cup of whole wheat and 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour), 2 teaspoons of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Whisk everything together to make a smooth batter, then pour the batter into your oiled casserole dish.

Peach cobbler batter ready to pour

Distribute your peach slices uniformly over the top of the batter. If you want a fruitier cobbler, you might even consider adding a few peach slices from a second can. Sprinkle a tablespoon of sugar evenly over the top of the mixture for a little extra sweetness. Doesn’t this already look good enough to eat? (Don’t eat it yet, though, raw flour and eggs can make you sick!)

Peaches in batter, ready to bake

Your oven should be warmed up now, so put the dish in and bake it for 45 minutes, then check on it and keep baking until the top is brown. It shouldn’t take more than 55 minutes. My dish was ready (and even a little burnt on the edge) after exactly 45 minutes. While it cooks, the batter rises up and forms a delectable crust around the peaches. Mine turned out a very rich, dark brown, but if you use white flour and white sugar it will be a lighter brown than this.

Fully-baked peach cobbler

You should serve the cobbler right out of the oven if possible, while it is still piping hot, but you can also put leftovers in the refrigerator and warm it up in the microwave the next day. A scoop of ice cream on top of each serving creates just the right frisson of creamy cold against the warm fruit and pastry. Sadly, I had no ice cream in the house, but it is also delicious just by itself.

Would You Like to Know More?

This is only one of many government recipes for peach cobbler. Here are a few more:

  • Texas Peaches: This tiny recipe card is available in the Texas Documents collection in Eagle Commons Library under call number TxD A900.7 P313 80-5. The card also has recipes for “Fresh Peach Cocktail” (really more of a smoothie) and “Peachy Pecan Bread.”
  • Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler: This is in a collection of Dutch oven recipes on the Texas Highways Web site. Baked in a portable Dutch oven with live coals on the lid, this is probably as close as you are going to get to preparing your cobbler in the way it was made by the early pioneers who invented this dish. Well, except for the part that calls for a 6-lb., 10-oz. can of peaches in light syrup. Still, how many recipes have you come across where the “baking time varies according to the amount of wind”? This is also one of those recipes with a recipe-within-the-recipe. In this case, it’s a recipe for a “Vinegar Pie Crust,” and you can use the crust for your peach cobbler as well as for making pies.
  • Peach Cobbler: USDA Recipe for Schools: If you have a crowd on your hands, this USDA recipe for school cafeterias makes 50 or 100 servings.


Article by Bobby Griffith.

Process photos taken by Bobby Griffith.

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