Great Books

One of the coolest things about working in a school library is that I have kids coming in to check out books all day.  When they come in to the library, I get a chance to read to them.  The book I am reading to the younger one this week is:

Me . . . Jane by Patrick McDonnell (Apr 5, 2011)

The book is about Dr. Jane Goodall as a young child and some of the things she did when she was young, with her stuffed chimpanzee, Jubilee.

This is a very cute book and the kids are really enjoying it.

For the older kids, we have been reading:

                                                  Wonder by R. J. Palacio (Feb 14, 2012)

This is a great book! I read this book during my summer vacation and I thought that it would be great for the kids at the school. This is a story about a boy who is born with facial deformities and has been home schooled all of his young life, until now.  It's a very touching story about what he goes through everyday and what it is like for him, going to a school with other kids as he enters the 5th grade. 

The kids are really enjoying this one too. Sometimes when I stop reading and tell them that we will continue next week, I have heard a few "Ah's." 

My Family

Here is a picture that I took in December of my family.  This is the picture I used to send out as our Christmas card this past year. I love photography, but I don't claim to be a photographer.  I just like to take pictures. I pin lots of pictures on Pinterest because I hope that someday I could take pictures like the ones I pin.  

De La Cruz Family

Cajun Barbecued Shrimp for dinner

Last night the hubby made me one of my favorite dishes of all time! The dish is a Cajun dish, Barbecued Shrimp with a side of collard greens. The Barbecued Shrimp recipe is one of Paul Prudohomme's. Let me tell you, it's not one of the healthiest dishes because it's loaded with butter, but it is so DELICIOUS! I was good all week, so it was ok for me to eat it. The collard greens were really good too and that is a recipe that my husband put together after his many trips to New Orleans.

Victor's Collard Greens

Now Remember that this recipe is just estimated because my husband, just like his mother likes to add just a little of this and a little of that (I really dislike that).

Ingredients
1 bushel of Collard Greens 
2 strips of bacon
1 tbsp of sugar
2 tbsp of vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

1. Chop collard greens, thin (chiffonade) and set aside.
2. Cook bacon to almost crisp and set aside.
3. Discard bacon fat from pan, but leave about 1 tbsp.
4. Chop up bacon and return to pan.  Add vinegar and sugar until it simmers, then add the greens.
5. Toss the greens and cover.
6. Wilt the green for about 20 minutes until cooked through, stirring occasionally. Then serve.

Gardening

My garden is coming along. It's so cool that it's 35 degrees outside yet I am growing herbs indoors.

Well it's official, I am finally starting my blog!