March 06, 2007
MainAmerican Customs of Celebrating St. Patricks Day
Here are a few Fun Facts about American customs of celebrating the day:
Festivities can begin up to a week before Saint Patrick’s Day. Many popular Irish entertainers go on tour at this time.
Colleges and universities have special Irish programs: poets, violinists: fiddlers, singers, dancers, actors, historians, storytellers and Celtic folklorists.
The highlight of the American celebration is the afternoon St. Paddy’s Day Parade in larger cities, such as New York, Chicago and Boston, which were the traditional settling places of the early Irish immigrants to America. Boston’s Parade is the oldest in this country and began in 1737.
Evenings are filled with dinners, dances, and celebrations in homes, restaurants, pubs, and Irish clubs. Many American bars serve green beer (a custom not shared in Ireland!)
Shamrock-shaped cookies are eaten by the ton and shamrocks are worn in pin form as well as other jewelry.
Many people also get into the spirit of the day by wearing green clothing and sending St. Patrick’s Day cards to friends and family. Green Mardi Gras beads are a new custom just appearing on the scene.
A final interesting fact about the people who started it all:
There are more Americans of Irish descent than the Irish. There are 4 million people on the island of Ireland and 40 million in the USA!
March 01, 2007
MainSaint Patrick
Saint Patrick is believed to have been born in the late fourth century, and is often confused with Palladius, a bishop who was sent by Pope Celestine in 431 to be the first bishop to the Irish believers in Christ.
Saint Patrick was the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Most of what is known about him comes from his two works, the Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, and his Epistola, a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish Christians. Saint Patrick described himself as a "most humble-minded man, pouring forth a continuous paean of thanks to his Maker for having chosen him as the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped idols and unclean things had become the people of God."
Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been - the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age. As in many old pagan religions, serpent symbols were common and often worshipped. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice. While not the first to bring Christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the "Holy Wells" that still bear this name.
There are several accounts of Saint Patrick's death. One says that Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on March 17, 460 A.D. His jawbone was preserved in a silver shrine and was often requested in times of childbirth, epileptic fits, and as a preservative against the "evil eye." Another account says that St. Patrick ended his days at Glastonbury, England and was buried there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still exists as part of Glastonbury Abbey. Today, many Catholic places of worship all around the world are named after St. Patrick, including cathedrals in New York and Dublin city.
Saint Patrick's Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.
So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations.
Submitted by:
Diane Kennedy
http://www.st-patricks-day.com/index.asp
Have some fun with this word search in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick's Day Word Search
December 05, 2006
MainSpotlight on Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration with focus on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and
self-improvement. Kwanzaa is neither political nor religious and despite some misconceptions, is not a substitute for Christmas. It is simply a time of reaffirming African-American people, their ancestry and culture. Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits of the harvest" in the African language Kiswahili, has gained tremendous acceptance. Since its creation in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa has come to be observed by more than 18 million people worldwide, as reported by the New York Times. When establishing Kwanzaa in 1966, Dr. Karenga included an additional "a" to the end of the spelling to reflect the difference between the African American celebration (kwanzaa) and the Motherland spelling (kwanza).
Kwanzaa is based on the Nguzo Saba (seven guiding principles), one for each day of the observance, and is celebrated from December 26th to January 1st.
1.Umoja (oo-MO-jah) Unity stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community, which is reflected in the African saying, "I am We," or "I am because We are."
2. Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah) Self-Determination requires that African-Americans define their common interests and make decisions that are in the best interest of their family and community.
3. Ujima (oo-GEE-mah) Collective Work and Responsibility reminds one of obligations to the past, present and future, and that there is a role to play in the community, society, and world.
4. Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) Cooperative Economics emphasizes the collective economic strength and encourages meeting common needs through mutual support.
5. Nia (NEE-yah) Purpose encourages one to look within oneself and to set personal goals that are beneficial to the community.
6. Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) Creativity makes use of creative energies to build and maintain a strong and vibrant community.
7. Imani (ee-MAH-nee) Faith focuses on honoring the best of African-American traditions, draws upon the best, and helps members of the community strive for a higher level of life for humankind.
Gifts are usually exchanged between parents and children and traditionally given on January 1st, the last day of Kwanzaa. However, gift giving during Kwanzaa may occur at any time.
The Kwanzaa Karumu ( FEAST ) It is a very special event as it is the one Kwanzaa event that brings us closer to one’s African roots. The Karamu is a communal and cooperative effort. Ceremonies and cultural expressions are highly encouraged .
Where did THAT come from...?
Decorating with Christmas Trees and Other Evergreens
Christmas tree decorating, decking the halls with boughs of holly, or perhaps even the kiss-promoting mistletoe seems so natural to us now during the holiday season, as it would have to pagans throughout history and pre-history. Surprisingly, the history of the Christmas tree in the winter holiday celebrations has not been one big merry sleigh-ride.
Get beyond the commercialism of Christmas, and think about the symbolism -- and the psychology. Evergreen trees and the clippings of evergreen shrubs are widely harvested from the Northern landscape and brought inside to promote good cheer and hope. When everything else on the landscape is dead or dormant, holly, mistletoe, laurel, boxwood and evergreen trees remind us of better times to come -- the return of a green landscape in spring.
However, Christmas tree decorating and using the clippings of evergreen shrubs as decorations for Christmas has been a controversial practice at times in Western history. When the Roman Church decided in the fourth century that Christmas should be celebrated on December 25, some of the pagan celebrations of the Roman Saturnalia (celebrated at the same time of year) were carried over. This caused much consternation amoung the Church Fathers.
In the sixteenth century John Calvin objected to observing the Christian calendar -- which included Christmas and Easter -- because he felt such celebrations promoted irreligious frivolity. It was in this same century that Germany, by contrast, was establishing Christmas tree decorating - a heritage from their Teutonic forebears. In England the Puritans, influenced by Calvin, forbade the observance of Christmas and it wasn't until the mid-nineteenth century, at the instigation of Prince Albert, German consort of Queen Victoria, that Christmas tree decorating achieved its present status in England.
Given its roots in English history, North America was predictably late in adopting the Christmas tree. The Massachusetts Puritans' second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out 'pagan mockery' of the observance, penalizing any foolishness.... In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued until the nineteenth century, when the influx of German immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy. In 1856...Christmas was made a legal holiday in Massachusetts.
Recipes from Near and Far...
KWANZAA RECIPES
Sweet Potato Fritters
1 lb sweet potatoes; peeled and coarsely shredded
3 large eggs
3 T. flour
1 sm onion; coarsely shredded
Vegetable oil for frying
Salt
Pepper
Spread potatoes and onion on clean dish towel; roll up, twisting towel to extract excess moisture from vegetables.
In bowl, whisk eggs, flour, 1/2 t salt and 1/4 t pepper until smooth
In large nonstick skillet, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium-high heat. Ad vegetables to batter; mix. Spoon mixture into skillet, allowing heaping 1 T for each fritter; with back of spoon, flatten slightly. Fry, six fritters at a time, 4 minutes. Turn; cook 2 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels; keep warm while frying remaining fritters, adding more oil if necessary.
Yield: 6-8 Servings
Benne Cakes
You will need: oil to grease a cookie sheet
1 c finely packed brown sugar
1/4 c butter or margarine, softened
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 c toasted sesame seeds
Preheat the oven to 325ÌŠ. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Mix together the brown sugar and butter, and beat until they are creamy. Stir in the egg, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and sesame seeds. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto the cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 mintues or until the edges are browned. Enjoy!
Benne cakes are a food from West Africa. Benne means sesame seeds. The sesame seeds are eaten for good luck. This treat is still eaten in some parts of the American South.
Southern Fried Okra
1 lb fresh okra, cut 1 inch pieces
1 lg green tomato, diced
1 med onion chopped
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
1 Jalapeno pepper halved & sliced, remove seeds if too hot
2 eggs beaten
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 c milk
1 c cornmeal
1/4 c vegetable oil
Combine okra, tomato, onion, garlic & jalapeno in large bowl. In separate bowl combine eggs, salt, pepper, milk. Pour egg mix over veggies and toss to thoroughly coat. Gradually add cornmeal until mixture on the okra and at the bottom of the bowl soaked up. Continue to toss till ingredients evenly mixed. Mixture will have a gooey consistency.
Heat oil in 10 inch skillet over med. heat until hot. Oil is ready when dash of cornmeal sizzles.
Spoon mixture evenly in skillet. Reduce heat to med low. Cover and fry till underside golden brown, 10-15 minutes. Then invert on plate and slide other-side up into skillet and cook uncovered 5-8 min until golden brown. Remove from skillet to paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve hot.
HOT ENGLISH WASSAIL PUNCH
Ingredients:
1 gal. sweet cider
1 cup lemon juice
4 cups orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3 teaspoons allspice
4 pieces stick cinnamon
Directions:
Combine all ingredients; bring to a simmer. Let stand in an earthenware crock overnight. Strain through cloth; reheat and serve hot.
This recipe for Hot English Wassail Punch serves 40
CHANUKAH CHEESE LATKES
Ingredients:
Soft cream cheese; (4 oz.)
2 eggs, separated
1/2 cup flour
1 Tbs. sugar
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
Cinnamon to taste
Directions:
Mix cream cheese with egg yolks. Add sugar and cottage cheese. Add flour, a little at a time, and mix well. Beat egg whites until stiff, then fold into the cheese mixture. Heat oil in pan and drop batter by spoonfuls into oil. Fry until brown, turn once. Serve with sour cream or apple sauce. Makes 30. May be frozen.
Happy Holiday Season to All…
Susanna King
September 18, 2006
Main“TAILGATE-TAILGATE...RAH-RAH-RAH!!�
As American as apple pie and the Flag, tailgating is as much a symbol of Autumn as scarlet leaves on trees and the smell of wood-smoke in the air.
Think the football-inspired frenzy of food and fun known as the “Tailgate Party� is a phenomenon of the past decade?...not so. Tailgating is a prime example of the unique American genius for combining two unrelated activities in order to provide the maximum “bang for the buck’!
The roots of tailgating go back to just after the end of the Civil War. In 1866, Charles Goodnight - a Texas rancher and entrepreneur, solved the need for his cowboys to have a “rolling chow hall� by transforming a U.S. Army Studebaker wagon into the first chuck wagon... a fully-equipped, mobile kitchen
In 1869, the party celebrating the first college football game ( between Ivy-Leaguers Princeton and Rutgers ) was declared “a fine example of sportsmanship and camaraderie.�
[ Probably the last time those two words would be used to describe such an event!!]
As college football’s popularity took off like a shot, visiting team fans often found it difficult to locate meals and refreshments in a strange town. History does not record the name of the first man to utilize the Wild West’s “fully-equipped mobile kitchen� to serve the collegiate crowd - but every Saturday and Sunday afternoon during football season libations are poured to his memory.
In praise of the American flair for celebrating a ball and a beer are a few great recipes for your next gridiron bash:
Buffalo Chipotle Chili
Ingredients
2 small cans chipotle peppers in adobos sauce
2 cloves garlic ( or more to taste)
2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pound ground buffalo ( or ground beef, if no buffalo are roamin’ around your range)
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup beer or malt-liquor
1 16-ounce can kidney beans (drained)
Thoroughly brown the meat ( eliminate the olive oil if you are not using buffalo ) then put the meat ( and everything else) in a crockpot. Let the chili cook 1 hour on High, then cook on low as long as you want -the longer the better!
Maple Glazed Barbecued Chicken
Ingredients
1 medium sweet onion, roughly chopped
11/2 cup ketchup
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup A-1 Sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon hot sauce ( or more to taste )
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
2-3 lbs chicken ( boneless, skinless breasts; or drumsticks; or thighs )
Put all ingredients ( except chicken ) in a blender or food processor and process until combined.
Marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator in ½ the sauce. Fire up your grill and discard the marinade. Brush the chicken pieces liberally with the sauce and cook on the grill until done- turning and basting occasionally. [ 4 to 6 minutes per side for boneless meat, longer for bone-in.]
Beef and Beer
2 pounds cubed beef stew meat
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup all-purpose flour for coating
3 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (12 fluid ounce) bottle beer
1 1/2 cups beef broth or beef bouillon
1 tablespoon crushed dried thyme
1 pinch dried dill weed
2 medium onions, chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Season the beef with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour to coat. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, brown meat on all sides, turning as needed. Place browned meat in a crockpot.
Add the onion and garlic to the pot; pour in the beer and broth. Season with thyme, dill and parsley.
Cook in crockpot on high for 1-11/2 hours, then on low as long as needed ( at least another 2 hours.)
Beer-Cheese Spread
8 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup beer
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
Combine all ingredients, except parsley, in food processor. Blend until smooth.
Add parsley and mix just to blend. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Eggs Pickled in Beer
You need to make these about 3 days in advance
24 small hard-cooked eggs
1 (12 fluid ounce) bottle beer
2 cups vinegar
1 tablespoon pickling spice
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
Hard boil 24 small eggs. Cool and peel. Pierce each egg several times with a knife or fork to assist in the absorption of liquid.
Place eggs to a large glass jar or other deep, sealable glass container. Mix beer, vinegar, pickling spice, and parsley flakes together in a bowl. Pour over eggs until fully submerged. (Be sure to select a container in which the eggs are completely covered, or add additional pickling liquid, if necessary.) Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 days before using. Can be sealed and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in pickling liquid.
Walnut, Rum & Honey Tart
1 cup honey
1/3 cup dark rum
2 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, stir together the honey, rum and walnuts until well blended. Pour into the unbaked pie crust. Bake for 25 minutes, or until filling is set and edges are golden brown. Allow to cool before cutting.
Submitted by
Susanna King
July 11, 2006
MainLazy Hazy Days of Summer
ROLL OUT THOSE LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER
The Fourth of July is past us now and the long, torpid days of summer lie ahead. Days for picnics, swimming, boating and backyard activities like badminton, volleyball and sandlot baseball. My childhood summer memories are filled with miniature golf, drive-in movies ( do these even EXIST anymore???) and collecting lightning bugs in a big glass jar. Yep...for those who can’t get enough of the sun, those “Dog Days� are just around the corner. As a kid I always thought those humid, do-less, HOT days of July and August were called dog days because our family pet seemed to be the only one smart enough to just lie quietly in the shade of a big tree until the sun started to set - however, it seems these days have been notorious for quite some time.
The term itself was coined by the ancient Romans, who called these days caniculares dies (days of the dogs) after the constellation of Canis Major, ( the Big Dog) within which Sirius “Canis Majoris� - the Dog Star - is found. As the hottest and most humid days of summer generally coincided with the period where Sirius rose and set with the sun, they believed that heat from Sirius was increasing the heat of the sun.
Sirius ( the brightest star of all as seen from Earth ), both rises after, and sets before, the sun and is hence lost in the latter's glare. This period of invisibility, for Northern Hemisphere observers, is caused by the fact that the position of Sirius in the sky is well to the south of the horizon. The ancient Egyptians observed that the annual flooding of the Nile Delta would typically occur shortly after the star returned to view immediately before sunrise, taken to be around mid-August in the current calendar.
Incidentally, dog meat is a food traditionally eaten during the hottest days of the year in South Korea. Sadly....no recipes for this delicacy will be appearing in our Summer Recipes section....
Susanna King
July 05, 2006
MainSummertime!
HOO-YAH, Y’all...it’s time to Barbecue!!!
Well, Summer is finally here and America’s favorite outdoor sport is taking off like fireworks on the Fourth of July....so, let’s get a-grillin’!!!
CHIPOTLE GRILLED CHICKEN with PINEAPPLE
INGREDIENTS:
* 1 (12 ounce) bottle Lawry's Baja Chipotle Marinade With Lime Juice
* 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
* 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple slices in natural juice, drained
DIRECTIONS:
1. In large re-sealable plastic bag, pour 1 cup Lawry's® Baja Chipotle Marinade With Lime Juice over chicken; turn to coat. Close bag and marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes.
2. Remove chicken from Marinade; discarding Marinade. Grill or broil chicken over medium hot coals, turning once and brushing often with remaining Marinade, 10 minutes per side, or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. About 15 minutes before chicken is done, place pineapple slices in a grilling basket, baste with chicken marinade and place to the side over cooler coals. Turn once and brush with more marinade.Garnish, if desired, with sliced green onions.
THAI-STYLE BBQ CHICKEN
INGREDIENTS:
* 1 cup soy sauce
* 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
* 1 cup water
* 1/3 cup sugar
* 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
* 1T. Basil
* 2t. Cilantro
* 1T. Mint
* 1 small, fresh Habanero chili cut lengthwise, seeded
* salt and pepper to taste
* 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients except the chicken. Place chicken in the bowl. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight. Turn chicken once while marinating.
2. Lightly oil grate of your grill.
3. Drain chicken and pat dry. Place chicken on the prepared grill over hot coals, and cook 10 to 15 minutes per side, until no longer pink and juices run clear. Discard remaining marinade.
BBQ TATERS
INGREDIENTS:
* 10 potatoes, peeled and halved
* ½ cup vegetable oil
* 2 tablespoons salt
* 2 tsp. Paprika
* 2 tsp. Chili Powder
* ½ tsp. White Pepper
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat grill for high heat. ( Briquets or gas )
2. Mix dry spices together in a shallow bowl or pie pan.
3. Place potatoes in a large saucepan with enough lightly salted water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cook 15 minutes, or until tender but firm.
4. Drain potatoes, and pat dry. Coat thoroughly with vegetable oil and dredge in seasoned salt.
5. Place potatoes on the preheated grill. Cook approximately 20 minutes, turning periodically with a spatula.
GRILLED BANANA S’MORES
INGREDIENTS:
* 6 large bananas, unpeeled, stems removed
* 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
* 1 (10.5 ounce) package miniature marshmallows
* 6 graham crackers, crushed finely
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the grill for high heat. ( Briquets of gas )
2. Spray 6 sheets of aluminum foil, each sheet large enough to wrap one banana, with cooking spray.
3. Slice the peel of the banana from stem to bottom, while slicing the banana inside lengthwise. ( The bananas can be cut into rounds instead if you like-while still in the peel-for easier handling later.)
4. Carefully open the banana just wide enough to place the chocolate chips and marshmallows inside the peel with the banana. Stuff with as much of the chocolate chips and marsh-mallows as desired. Top with crushed graham cracker crumbs.
5. Wrap the bananas with the aluminum foil and place on the grill or directly in the coals of a fire. Leave in long enough to melt the chips and the marshmallows, about 5 minutes. Unwrap bananas, open the peels wide, and eat with a spoon.
April 03, 2006
MainThe newsletter has a name!!
Thank you to everyone who made suggestions and voted on the name for the newsletter! The winning name is..........LibNews! Congratulations to Rob Fox for the winning suggestion -- as announced, Rob will receive a gift from the Notre Dame bookstore.
February 13, 2006
MainVOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE!!!!
It is time to vote for a name for the newsletter. Below you will find the suggestions that have been received by the editors. To vote, simply click on "comment" and let us know which one you prefer. The April edition will feature the new, winning name.
Hesburgh News
Inform
Ex Libris
Behind the Mural
Bibliophile
LibNews
Between the Pages
Among the Books
The Peep Hole -- A Look at the People Behind Notre Dame Libraries
Valentine's Day
The History of Valentine's Day
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. Who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial -- which probably occurred around 270 A.D -- others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D.
Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February -- Valentine's Day -- should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap"and began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.
According to the Greeting Card Association, approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women and an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
VALENTINE’S RECIPES
Triple-Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Cookies
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts
4 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate, chopped
4 ounces sweet baking chocolate, chopped
4 ounces white chocolate baking bar, chopped
Three-Chocolate Glaze
3 teaspoons shortening
3 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate
3 ounces sweet baking chocolate
3 ounces white chocolate baking bar
1. Heat oven to 375ºF. In large bowl, beat brown sugar, butter and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt (dough will be soft). Stir in nuts, 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, 4 ounces sweet chocolate and 4 ounces white chocolate. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
2. Bake cookies 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 to 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3. In small saucepan, heat 1 teaspoon shortening and 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and smooth; remove from heat. Repeat with 1 teaspoon shortening and 3 ounces sweet chocolate; repeat with 1 teaspoon shortening and 3 ounces white chocolate.
4. Dip 1/2-inch edge of each cookie into each glaze, allowing each glaze to completely set before dipping into next glaze and rotating dipped edge of cookie for each type of glaze. Place cookies on waxed paper to allow glazes to set.
Cherry-Fudge Cheesecake Dessert
1 package Betty Crocker Original Supreme brownie mix (with chocolate syrup pouch)
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups whipping (heavy) cream
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Stir together 1 1/2 cups of the brownie mix (dry) and the butter. Press in bottom of ungreased spring-form pan, 9x3 inches, or square pan, 9x9x2 inches.
2. Beat cream cheese in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed about 2 minutes, scraping bowl frequently, until smooth. Add remaining brownie mix, the whipping cream and chocolate syrup. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl frequently, until smooth. Pour over crust in pan.
3. Bake 45 to 50 minutes for spring-form pan, 35 to 40 minutes for 9-inch square pan, or until set; cool 20 minutes. Run metal spatula along side of cheesecake to loosen before and after refrigerating. Spread pie filling over cheesecake. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate any remaining cheesecake.
Macadamia Nut Brownie Cookies Recipe
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup all-vegetable shortening
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup white chocolate chips or chunks
1 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Place sheets of foil on counter-top for cooling cookies.
Place brown sugar, shortening, water and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs; beat well.
Combine flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda. Add to shortening mixture; beat at low speed just until blended. Stir in white chocolate chunks and macadamia nuts.
Drop dough by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375 degrees F for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are set. Do not overbake. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to foil to cool completely.
December 07, 2005
MainMunch Your Way Through the Holidays
" Oh, the weather outside is frightful" ... but the aromas and tastes of holiday treats can do a lot to quell the potential cabin fever of the blustery, gray days of December. Here are a few recipes to brighten up the Holiday Season:
HOLIDAY CHEER COOKIES
INGREDIENTS:
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 5 tablespoons butter
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
* 16 ounces candied cherries, chopped
* 16 ounces dates, chopped
* 16 ounces chopped pecans or walnuts
* 16 ounces candied pineapple, chopped
* 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
PREPARATION:
Cream together sugar, butter, and eggs. Sift flour and soda together then add to egg mixture; stir in milk. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, or until browned.
Makes about 4 dozen festive cookies
FIRESIDE PUNCH
INGREDIENTS:
* One bottle of red wine (suggestions: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot or a Spanish red)
* One peeled and sliced orange (keep peel to add zest to taste into cooking pot)
* One peeled and sliced lemon (keep peel to add zest to taste in cooking pot)
* 1 tsp ground nutmeg
* 2 tsp ground ginger
* 5 whole cloves
* 3 cinnamon sticks
* 1/2 cup sugar (or honey can be substituted)
* 2/3 cup brandy or cognac
* 1/2 cup water
PREPARATION:
Combine all ingredients in either a large pot or a slow cooker. Gently warm the ingredients on low to medium heat (avoid boiling), for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure that the honey or sugar has completely dissolved. When the wine is steaming and the ingredients have blended well it is ready to serve. Ladle into mugs (leaving seasonings behind), garnish with a blood orange segment and a sprig of holly and enjoy!
NEW YEAR'S EGGNOG CAKE
INGREDIENTS:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1 cup white sugar
* 3/4 cup butter
* 1/4 cup shortening
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 Tbs. rum extract or 1/4 cup dark rum
* 3/4 cup heavy cream
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x4 inch loaf pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and ginger; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together sugar, butter, and shortening until light and fluffy. Blend in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the rum and vanilla extracts. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the cream, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
CHANUKKAH JELLY DOUGHNUTS
* 3 cups of unbleached flour (sifted)
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 2 Tablespoons sugar
* 2 eggs
* 2 cups low fat sour cream
* Canola oil for frying
* Jelly of your choice
* Powdered sugar
In a bowl add the flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs and sour cream. Mix until well blended.
Heat the oil, when very hot add 1 tbs. of the mixture to the oil. Fry until doughnuts puff and become light brown, then flip over and cook the other side. Proceed until all doughnuts are cooked. Drain doughnuts on a paper towel.
Poke a small hole into each doughnut and fill with jelly of your choice. Sprinkle the doughnuts with powdered sugar and serve immediately.
Makes 25 doughnuts.
Note: To fill the jelly into the doughnut, you can use a syringe, or you can poke a hole with a skewer (do it slowly) and carefully fill the doughnuts.
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday!
Susanna King
December 06, 2005
MainChristmas Around the World
By: Diane Kennedy
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to celebrate Christmas in another country? Following are a few examples of how other people celebrate Christmas around the world. If you would like to visit other countries and discover their traditions, go to http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson041.shtml
CHRISTMAS IN IRELAND
by Bill Egan, Christmas Historian and Christmas.com Content Specialist
Candles, decorated with greenery, are placed in the windows of Irish homes on Christmas Eve to light the way of the Holy Family as well as any other poor travelers out on such a night. During the British occupation of all of Ireland, three candles were placed in the window at Christmas. One for the Father, one for the Son, and one for the Holy Spirit. Fellow Catholics passing by would know that the house was a Catholic home, and that all friends were welcome there to celebrate Christmas. The candles were also an invitation to priests to enter the home, say the Christmas Mass, eat dinner, and spend the night with the family. After the evening meal, the table is set with bread and milk and the door left unlatched as a symbol of the hospitality that the family is offering to Mary and Joseph and the little one to come.
To the Irish, Christmas is a time for religious celebration rather than revelry. A manger scene is displayed in most homes and there are few Christmas trees. The one festive note that is struck is in the special pudding that caps the meal.
St. Stephen's Day is celebrated in Ireland in a different way, but is similar to Boxing Day in that it also has to do with the solicitation of money. Young men in extravagant dress, sometimes wearing masks, parade noisily through the streets in the Wren Boys' Procession. They carry long pole on top of which is attached a holly bush. The bush supposedly contains a captured wren, and for whose sake the young men beg for money.
AUSTRALIA
Boxing Day, December 26, is a public holiday in Australia. The day probably takes its name from the fact that on the day after Christmas in Britain the alms [charity] boxes which had been placed in the churches over the Christmas period were opened. The contents were distributed to the poor. On the same day, apprentices and servants broke open small earthenware boxes in which their masters had deposited small sums of money. In large households, the family may have used this day to distribute Christmas boxes to their staff. In Canberra [Boxing Day] is the start of the annual exodus to the beach and a holiday at the coast.
MEXICAN CHRISTMAS
Joaquim Gabriel Andrade
My family and I celebrate Christmas the Mexican way because we are all from Mexico. We begin to celebrate on the 24th because that is Christmas Eve. We start opening presents at midnight or the 25th in the morning.
We always have a party every Sunday before Christmas. It is called a “posada.� It’s a party where you celebrate the arrival of Mary & Joseph in Bethlehem. You have a �piñata� which has candy & prizes in it. We also celebrate with fireworks.
On the 24th we celebrate Christmas Eve with the whole family gathered together: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We have turkey with cranberry-chili sauce, mashed potatoes, buttered veggies, turkey soup, and cod with chili gravy. Afterwards we have punch with marshmallows. At twelve we open our presents and after that we all go to our own houses.
On Christmas morning my brothers wake me up to open our Santa’s presents. Then I always go to my other grandparent's homes to spend Christmas. We eat a good meal. We break another piñata & then we exchange presents and see each other in one year.
SWEDEN
December 13th is a special day that children look forward to all year long. Saint Lucia [Day] is celebrated all over Sweden on December 13th. The custom with the girl dressed in white with candles on her head has a complicated background ... In our school we celebrate Saint Lucia Day outside very early in the morning while it's still dark. Our Saint Lucia is coming in a carriage pulled by a very small horse. She is followed by Santa Claus on a big horse and a lot of girls and boys in white gowns and a lot of candles. They all sing traditional Christmas songs and read poems. After the ceremony we all eat ginger cookies and bread with saffron. To celebrate is very important to Swedish people.
September 26, 2005
MainKeep Naming the Baby!
We have received several suggestions for the newsletter, but will continue to take your names through October 15th. Put your thinking caps on -- the winning name will receive a gift from the Notre Dame Bookstore.
September 22, 2005
MainMaking Communication Easier: Templates!
By Liz Dube for the Communications Working Group (Jo Bessler, Jean Cane, Dan Marmion, Jayne Schlutt, and Sandy Stellema)
If you’ve ever had to put a policy or procedure in writing, or if you’ve ever been tasked with preparing a charge for a committee or task force, you know that accomplishing such tasks can sometimes feel like reinventing the wheel. Instead of simply focusing on what you want to convey in your policy or charge document, you may find yourself faced with pesky details such as what should a policy look like?, or, is this task force charge missing some key detail? No doubt, it can be difficult to anticipate the types of information others might want to know about your policy or committee, and it can be difficult to determine the best way to arrange the information. You may also have found that once a policy or charge is written, it can be difficult to provide ready access to everyone who will need access—today, tomorrow, or even five years down the road. Finally, as policies and groups evolve over time, such changes can become increasingly difficult to document and communicate to others.
To assist with these challenges, the Communications Working Group (CWG) worked with Tom Lehman and Team Intranet to develop two electronic templates intended to simplify the process of preparing, communicating, and updating policies and team charges. As you put these templates to use, we ask that you please let Jo Bessler know what you think (jbessler@nd.edu or 1-6680). We hope the templates are useful and we look forward to making them even better, with your help!
Policy Template
What’s it for?
All new library policies and procedures affecting multiple departments are to be formatted according to the team charge template. All updated policies affecting multiple departments should also be formatted according to the policy template. All are welcome to voluntarily convert any existing policies and procedures to the policy template, if desired.
The policy template helps insure a transparent process whereby written policies are drafted in a consistent manner, shared publicly in a central location, and easily revised and shared.
Once a policy or procedure is written using the template and has received approval, email a copy to Elaine Savely (savely.1@nd.edu) so that it can be mounted in the “Policies and Procedures� section of UL@ND. Remember to alert/remind folks about the policies’ existence and location. Have a policy that’s not quite ready for prime time that you’d like input on? Drafts may also be submitted to Elaine; these will be posted in the “Draft Policy� section of the “Policies and Procedures� page of UL@ND. Again, don’t forget to alert folks about the draft policies’ existence and location.
Where is it?
In UL@ND, under “Forms� > “Library Related Forms�. Or, go directly to: http://libstaff.library.nd.edu/policies/policy_template.shtml
Team Charge Template
What’s it for?
All new formally-charged groups (committees, task forces, etc.) are to use the template to prepare their charge. The committee chair and LEC liaison share the responsibility for completing the charge template.
Once the charge is finalized, mount it prominently on your committee’s web page (or ask Elaine Savely to do that it you, if are unable). Don’t forget to publicize its availability.
Where is it?
In UL@ND, under “Forms� > “Library Related Forms�. Or, go directly to: http://libstaff.library.nd.edu/policies/committee_template.shtml
September 14, 2005
MainChanges in the University Libraries
Changes in the University Libraries
You may have noticed some not so familiar faces belonging to the UL staff lately, as well as some change in positions for current staff -- just to help you put a face with a name:
Joy Schosker is the Library Assistant in Chem/Physics
Lisa Stienbarger is the Supervisor in Serials Cataloging
Kurt Morris joins Current Periodicals/LL Microtext
Leslie Morgan and Felicia Smith are Librarians-in-Residence
Pete Reimers joins Architecture
August 17, 2005
MainCare Committee Volunteers Needed
It is a trait of maturity and compassion to look beyond ourselves, our own problems, our own desks, our own circle of friends and to genuinely get involved in some small way to assist a co-worker who cannot assume their customary place with us. With the recent increase in co-worker illnesses, accidents, surgeries, etc., some of us are exploring ways to assist/encourage them beyond what the library/departments customarily do. We are seeking a proper way to inform others outside the employee's department so that anyone wanting to send a card or make a phone call can do so before that person has already returned to work!! At the same time, we wish to protect individual privacy.
We would like your thoughts, ideas and suggestions on this. How might this service be offered so that it protected individual privacy, but alerted people to co-workers who would like some assistance? Would you be willing to help in some way-- send cards, drop off a meal or run an errand when necessary?
A name for this service might be "We Care" or "Hesburgh Helpers". HR has a similar group to coordinate their "efforts of caring" and have sent us their guidelines and ideas. Please let us know what you think by sending your thoughts and comments to either Patricia.A.Loghry.1@nd.edu or Alice.M.Barnes.27@nd.edu
Thank you.