This time of year allows us to pause for gratitude and reflection, to savor pumpkin and nutmeg, and perhaps to curl up with a stack of books or a pile of DVDs. The Elsie Quirk Library can help you with all of those pursuits and more!
Come in and peruse the cookbook section; use your library card to login to the cloudLibrary and download some good post-feast reading; use Hoopla to stream your favorite television series, or find an uplifting movie to enjoy, from the comfort of your own couch. Not sure how this all works? We are here to help! We welcome you to visit the library to learn more about all of the print and digital resources Sarasota County Libraries provide.
This year, I am especially grateful for the privilege of serving the Englewood community alongside such a dedicated, kind, and skillful library staff. As an expression of my gratitude, I would like to share a pecan pie recipe that I have honed over many years of Thanksgiving experimentation. It’s my favorite genre of recipe—easy, but impressive.
Make your favorite pie crust and line standard pie tin. Preheat oven to 350F.
In a mixing bowl, combine:
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup Light Muscovado (This is a rich, raw sugar, but brown sugar can be substituted.)
- syrup, the darkest grade you can find.
- 5 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla or 1 tablespoon bourbon or 1 tablespoon cognac
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 full cups of pecans
(Whole, or roughly chopped, but not super chopped up. This pecan pie is full of pecans through and through, it’s not a dainty sprinkling of nuts on top of chess pie.)
Pour the mixture into the pie tin and bake for 45 minutes or until the pie is bouncy when pressed on with fingertips. (Don’t burn yourself!) For a transcendental experience, serve with fresh whipped cream.
For a next-level pie, add 3/4 cups dark chocolate chips to the mixture. Or add 1/2 cup raisins if that’s more your cup of tea. (It’s not mine, but people do like it.)
This week’s events:
Thursday & Friday
- Closed for Thanksgiving
Saturday
- Library open regular hours.
Monday
- Forty Carrots Partners in Play 10:15 a.m. OR 11:45 a.m.
For children, up to age 5 with a parent or caregiver. A free class for you and your child to enjoy together. Experience new educational activities, join in circle-time fun, meet other families and receive valuable parenting and child development information. Attendance is limited to 12 families per session. - Monday Night Movies 5 p.m. Our movie this Monday is based on a true story of spontaneous compassion and humanity amid the fighting of World War I.
Tuesday
- Master Gardener Plant Clinic 10 a.m. – Noon. Get free answers to your Florida gardening and landscaping questions. This is made possible through a partnership with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
- iPads For beginners: part 1 10 – 11:30 a.m. Learn hands on iPad basics, internet browsing, downloading apps, how to take a photo and more! iPads are available for participants to use. If you bring your own iPad you will need an Apple ID. Registration is required and limited to 10 participants.
- Health in Motion Bus 10 a.m – 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday
- LEGO Club 6 – 7:30 p.m. Children ages 5 to 12 will have fun getting together with others and sharing ideas, working together, and making new friends. LEGO bricks will be provided – bring your imagination. LEGO creations will be on display in the library until the next meeting date.
Thursday
- Great Books Discussion Group 10:15 a.m. – Noon. This group will be reading selections from the Great Books Foundation’s Great Conversations 4 and 5. A copy of Great Conversations 4 and 5 is available at Elsie Quirk Library’s Reference desk. December’s selection is Lava Cameo.
- Family Storytime 10:30 a.m. For ages 0-5. Interact and participate with your child in a variety of early literacy and school readiness activities that feature stories, music and movement, and crafts.
- Quirky Knitters 1 – 3 p.m. All are welcome to knit and chat.
- Englewood Area Mac Users Group 1:30 p.m. Apple computer discussion group. All are welcome.
