The One and Only Ivan sequel

Did you love reading The One and Only Ivan by Katharine Applegate? It was such a beautifully written novel and won the Newbery prize!
We are returning to world of Ivan on May 5th as the sequel is published! Reserve your copy today on Overdrive.

Cook and share recipes

Here are some more recipes from our Cook and Share program:

Banana blueberry muffins from Ayla:

Easy Blueberry muffins • 3 ripe bananas (about 1 cup mashed) • 1 1/2 cups oat flour (rolled oats finely ground in a food processor) • 2 teaspoons baking powder • 1/4 cup peanut butter, applesauce, or yogurt • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey • 1/4 teaspoon salt • ¼ cup blueberries, you can also use chocolate or nuts • top with brown sugar or oats if desired • Stir all of the ingredients together in a bowl until it looks uniform, then divide it among the 8-10 muffin cups and bake for 25 minutes at 350F.

Chicken Cacciotore from Jeremy

Quick Boneless Chicken Cacciatore 

• 6 chicken breast cutlets or boneless thighs 
• Salt and pepper to season
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (more if needed )
• 1 medium onion diced
• half cup fresh peas
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic (or 8 cloves)
• 2 red bell pepper sliced
• 1 large carrot peeled and sliced
• 1/2 cup pitted black olives
• sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme
• 2 tablespoons each freshly chopped parsley and basil plus more to garnish
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• cup of red red wine
• can of crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 small tomatoes halved

INSTRUCTIONS

• Season chicken with salt and pepper. 
  
• Heat oil in a pan fry the chicken in olive oil with fresh rosemary and thyme and garlic 
• Take chicken out of pan when cooked and set aside
  
• Add the onion, peppers, carrot, chopped tomatoes and chopped garlic to the pan; sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are beginning to soften.
  
• Add the chicken 
• Pour in the wine; allow to simmer and reduce down (about 5-6 minutes).
  
  
• Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and peas
• Season with salt and pepper to taste and dried oregano. Continue to cook over stove top 
• cover with lid, reduce heat to low and allow to simmer (while stirring occasionally) for 25-30 minutes (depending on the kind of chicken you use). Add in the olives, allow to simmer for a further 10 minutes. Garnish with parsley.

Roasted sweet potatoes

Cube sweet potatoes as evenly as possible, toss with salt, pepper, minced garlic and dried oregano and olive oil. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. 

Sweet Potato Pie from Jeremy

Are you ready for a little Thanksgiving in April? This delicious recipe can be enjoyed any time and was presented tonight at the Cook and Share program.

Easy Sweet Potato Pie 

1 1/2 cups canned sweet potatoes or 2 to 3 roasted, peeled and pureed sweet potatoes

3/4 cup sugar 

2 large eggs 

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, softened 

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

Pinch salt 

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell, homemade or store-bought 

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the sweet potatoes and 1/2 cup of the sugar, as well as the eggs, butter, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Beat until thoroughly blended and smooth. Pour the mixture into the pie shell and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Allow the pie to stand for 15 minutes before baking to allow the sugar to melt.
3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour to an hour 20 mi. Cool before serving.

Cook and Share from Ayla

I can’t wait to try these scones that Ayla made tonight!

Mixed berry Scones 

1. 2 cups of all-purpose flour 
2. 1/2 cup of sugar 
3. ½ baking powder 
4. 1 pinch of of Salt, ½ teaspoon of Cinnamon, & Vanilla Extract
5. 1 stick of Cold Butter
6. 2/3 cup Heavy Cream
7. 2 eggs 
8. ½ cup Blueberries and raspberries 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, on a non stick cookie sheet spoon equal parts of the scone mix (about 10-12) 2 inches apart. Bake 14-16 minutes until cooked through. 

Harry Potter and the Socerer’s Stonoe

Did you know that the first book of the Harry Potter series is available on Overdrive? Because of the pandemic, author JK Rowling has made the first book available for download, All you need is a library card. JK Rowling wrote the series in 1990’s and it has been wildly popular ever since! Download the first book today and take off to the wonderful world of Harry Potter!

Two great books which will help get you through a pandemic

Hello, the RVC Library Chapter Club just read 2 books by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley that are perfect family reads that are comforting during this time. The novel is set in England during the Second World War. Ava has had a traumatic childhood; not only does she have a club foot but she and her brother are being raised by an abusive mother. When they are sent to the countryside to escape the bombing, their lives take a dramatic turn. This novel is one that demonstrates resilience and courage!! Check them out on Overdrive today! 

Kate DiCamillo Writing Lessons

During the pandemic, beloved author, Kate DiCamillo has been posting writing lessons for kids to try out at home. They’re really a terrific way for kids and their parents to learn different techniques from a master novelist.

Cook and Share

During this unprecedented time, the kids of RVC have been meeting every Monday over Zoom to share meals they have made: here are just a few.. thank you to Jeremy, Ayla, Natalie, Juliet, Luke, Maeve, Noah, Henry and Hannah for sharing your recipes:

Belgium Waffles made by Natalie:

Makes approx. 8-10 waffles

1 1/2 cups water, divided
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
3 large eggs, separated + 1 egg white
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups whole milk
8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 tsp vegetable oil
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Heat 1/2 the water to luke warm, 105°F-110°F. Dissolve yeast in the water with a pinch of sugar; let stand 5-10 minutes, until the mixture begins to foam.

Blend the sifted flour and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
Add 3 egg yolks, 1 egg white, and sugar to the yeast mixture. Stir to blend.
Add the remaining water, milk, melted butter, oil and vanilla; stir until mixture is smooth.
Stir the liquid mixture into the flour mixture and beat until the mixture is smooth.
Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites gently into the batter. Let the batter stand for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Preheat waffle iron to preferred setting (we use setting #4 on Cuisinart Double Belgium Waffle Maker)
When waffle grids are preheated, pour approx 3/4 cup batter evenly over the grid, use a heatproof spatula to spread batter evenly or follow your waffle maker’s instructions for cooking.
Waffles may be kept warm in a low (200°F) oven. Arrange on a cookie sheet.
Serve with whipped cream, fruit, powdered sugar, syrup or anything you would like.

Jason Reynolds

Did you know that Jason Reynolds is the National Ambassador for Children’s Literature for 2020. It really could not have come at a better time. For the month of April, Jason has been encouraging young people to write a poem a day.

Pam Munoz Ryan

Our author study focuses on Pam Muñoz Ryan who writes glorious books for children and they are all available on the Libby app through Overdrive. One my favorites is Esperanza Rising which tells the story of a young Mexican girl, Esperanza and her mom have to leave their privileged life and fleet to California to become migrant workers. Esperanza is used to having beautiful clothes and living a life of  luxury. She is in shock when their lives suddenly change. Her mother is a very strong woman and demonstrates how resilience is a quality that is needed in order to survive. This book is available on Overdrive and the Libby app.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Jude and her mother ave to abandon their home in war torn Syria in this 2020 Newbery honor award winning book called Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. Jude does not want to come to American and leave behind her father and brother. We follow Jude as she tries to fit in at school, adjust to her new life and try to make peace with the life she has left behind.