November Crafting Fun Recap

Dec 8, 2023

Hello, it’s Anna, your friendly neighborhood librarian! I’m here with another update on our Crafting Fun!

Since the holidays are just around the corner,  I figured we would create a painting that you can hang in your home all winter long!

This lovely picture features a glowing lamppost and a couple of adorable cardinals. Snow cascades down around the lovebirds as they enjoy the season!

 

 

Click through this gallery to see the paintings our class created this month!

It is always wonderful to see painters step out of their comfort zones to create a beautiful painting. Sometimes a design seems too complicated and we don’t know where to even start. That is why it’s nice to take a step-by-step class like this. Not to mention you get to enjoy painting with your closest friends! In the end every painting turned out amazing.

Thank you so much for attending November’s Crafting Fun event. Don’t forget to join us in December for our TWO painting classes!

On December 11 at 4 pm, we are learning to create Watercolor Cards just in time for Christmas!

December 18 at 4pm, we will be having another acrylic painting class. This time we are creating a snowy landscape!

NEW Winter Hours

Dec 8, 2023

We invite you to join us for our new extended winter hours on Fridays and Saturdays!

Our updated hours are:

Monday: 1pm – 6pm

Tuesday: 1pm – 8pm

Wednesday: 1pm – 6pm

Thursday: Closed

Friday: 10am – 5pm

Saturday: 9am – 3pm

Sunday: Closed

We wish you a happy and peaceful winter!

October Crafting Fun Recap: Autumn Tile Painting

Oct 24, 2023

Hello, it’s Anna, your friendly neighborhood librarian! I’m here with another update on our Crafting Fun!

For October, our crafters could choose between four paintings, an adorable ghost, a spooky haunted house, a stack of pumpkins, or a cozy latte! Each of our talented artists created two tiles to take home. 

The crafters first traced their desired designs onto our 4 x 4 in tiles and then got to work laying down their colors.

I love how even each individual piece looks unique even though we all started from the same reference images. I have a special place in my heart for the cute ghost peeking out from a picture frame.

This fun craft really got me in the mood for fall and especially Halloween! Keep scrolling to check out everyone’s wonderful fall paintings!

I hope you enjoy our fall-themed Crafting Fun and I can’t wait to see you in November!

October What’s Cooking Recap with Recipes!

Oct 21, 2023

Missed this month’s cooking group? Looking for a great recipe to try out this Hallowen? You’re in luck! We have all of the recipes from this month’s event in one place!

 

Zesty Salsa

 

Ingredients:

10 cups chopped, seeded, peeled, cored tomatoes (about 6 pounds)

5 cups chopped and seeded long green peppers (about 2 pounds)

5 cups chopped onions (about 1 1/2 pounds)

2 1/2 chopped and seeded hot peppers (about 1 pound)

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons salt

1 1/4 cups cider vinegar

1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepot, adding hot pepper sauce, if desired.
  2. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
  3. Ladle hot salsa into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust two-piece caps.
  4. Process 15 minutes in a boiling water canner

Note: When cutting or seeding hot peppers, wear rubber gloves to prevent from being burned.

 

 

Slimy Potato Bugs

 

​Ingredients:

1 cup pitted kalamata olives

1 cup packed fresh basil

3/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts, toasted

1 clove garlic

½ cup parmesan cheese

½ cup olive oil

1 package frozen potato gnocchi (10 ounces)

Instructions:

  1. Toast nuts by spreading in a simple layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 8-10 minutes or until brown, stirring occasionally.
  2. Combine olives, basil, pine nuts, and garlic in food processor or blender. Process until smooth.
  3. Add cheese. With the machine running, pour oil through feed tube, processing until well blended.
  4. Cook gnocchi according to package directions. Drain, toss with sauce and garnish as desired.

 

Worm Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tub white decorating frosting

Instructions:

  1. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium bowl.
  2. Beat butter and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy.
  3. Gradually beat in the flower mixture until well combined.
  4. Cover and chill dough at least 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  6. Form dough into a 1 1/2 inch balls. Roll balls gently to form 5-6 inch logs about 1/2 inch thick.
  7. Shape into worms 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until set.
  8. Let stand on cookie sheets until cooled completely. Create eyes and stripes with white frosting.

 

Cabbage Soup

 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cabbage – chopped

1 -14 ounce can diced tomatoes

4-6 cups vegetable broth

1 onion diced

1 large carrot

2-4 teaspoons lemon juice

2 celery stalks

2 cloves garlic

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon basil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Saute in oil diced tomatoes, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes.
  2. Stir in garlic and spices
  3. Add cabbage and let sweat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until cabbage is soft.
  4. Add broth and diced tomatoes. Then simmer uncovered until vegetables are tender.
  5. Remove from head and add lemon juice and parsley.

 

Herbed Pecan Stuffing

 

Ingredients

8 cups cubed day-old multigrain bread

3/4 cup golden raisins

1/2 cup apple juice

1/4 cup olive oil

4 celery ribs, diced

1 large onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup minced fresh parsley

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1-1/2 teaspoons rubbed sage

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 large egg

1-1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth

1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans, toasted

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 225°. Place bread cubes in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until partially dried, tossing occasionally, 30-40 minutes. Set aside. Increase oven temperature to 325°.
  2. Meanwhile, combine raisins and apple juice in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; let stand for 15 minutes. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add celery, onion and garlic; cook and stir until tender, 5-7 minutes. Stir in parsley, salt, sage, thyme, fennel seeds and pepper; remove from heat. Beat egg and broth; add to vegetable mixture with bread cubes and raisin mixture. Toss well. Stir in pecans. Transfer to a greased 13×9-in. baking dish.
  3. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake until lightly browned, 15-20 minutes longer.

 

Monster Eye Asparagus Gruyere Tart

 

Ingredients

3 sheet puff pastry

5 1/2 ounces roughly 2 cups gruyere, shredded

1 1/2 pounds asparagus – roughly 15-20 stalks

1 tablespoon olive oil

salt and pepper

4 slices provolone cheese – or other white cheese

8-10 capers – or more depending on how many eyes you make

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spread out thawed puff pastry sheet on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Use a knife to score the pastry (about 1 inch in from the edge). Use a fork to pierce the inside rectangle roughly ever half inch.
  2. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden.
  3. Remove from oven and sprinkle with gruyere cheese. Alternate stalks back and forth across the tart.
  4. Spray or brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Return to oven for 20 minutes.
  6. Use a small round cutter (I used the back of a piping tip) to cut out 8 small rounds from the provolone slices.
  7. Allow to cool slightly. Place rounds in pairs on the tart. Top with capers as “eyeballs”.

 

Pumpkin Patch Taco Dip

 

Ingredients

16 oz Cream Cheese

8 oz Sour Cream

8 oz Plain Greek Yogurt (can sub more or less for sour cream.)

4 packages taco seasoning (1 oz each)

8 oz shredded lettuce

2 Diced Tomato

8 Oz shredded cheese (Mexican style suggested)

Optional additions:

1 can Black Olives

Jalapeños

Guacamole

Refried Beans

Taco Sauce

Instructions:

  1. Cream together Cream Cheese, Sour Cream, Plain Greek Yogurt.
  2. Add Taco Seasoning and mix well. Spread on the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan. Evenly spread diced tomatoes over mix, then spread lettuce over the top.
  3. Use Shredded Cheese to create small “pumpkins” on top. You can use the black olives to create a pumpkin stem, or save back some of the taco dip and place that on top of the small pumpkin shapes for a stem.
  4. Another variation is to create a spiderweb with the sour cream and spiders out of black olives. Use your creativity.

We hope you enjoyed this month’s What’s Cooking and don’t forget to join us for next month!

#PumpkinSpace Friends of KML FUNdraiser

Oct 13, 2023

Join Us at Tucker and Becky’s Pumpkin Patch for a Fun-Filled Fundraiser!

Autumn is in full swing, and there’s no better way to celebrate the season than with a visit to Tucker and Becky’s Pumpkin Patch on October 14th from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Not only will you enjoy the classic pumpkin patch fun, but you’ll also be supporting a great cause.

The Friends of the Knutson Memorial Library are excited to host a fundraiser at Tucker and Becky’s Pumpkin Patch about 15 minutes from Coon Valley 7099 Oboe Ave, Cashton, WI 54619. Your participation will help us support the library’s programs, facilities, and initiatives, ensuring that our community continues to have access to wonderful resources and events.

What’s a day at the pumpkin patch without some delicious treats?

The Friends of the Library will be running a food stand where we’ll be making mouthwatering pizzas and serving up refreshing beverages. Your taste buds are in for a treat, so come hungry and ready to savor some delectable delights.

For the young ones (and the young at heart), our library director has some exciting activities planned.

Children can get creative with crafts and listen to enchanting stories about space in honor of the annular eclipse taking place that day. Fall-themed stories will also be a part of the literary experience.

Don’t forget to grab a pair of solar eclipse glasses, courtesy of SEAL Solar Eclipse Actives for Libraries.

With an annular eclipse happening on the same day, this is a fantastic opportunity to witness a celestial wonder safely. Our library staff will be on hand to distribute these glasses and provide information about this rare event. The glasses are printed with the Fall Annular Eclipse Date, as well as the Total Eclipse happening April 8, 2024.

Of course, you can’t visit Tucker and Becky’s Pumpkin Patch without enjoying all the classic attractions. Pick your own pumpkins, snuggle some cute animals, shoot apples from the slingshot, and take a horse or hayride through the picturesque fields. It’s a day of autumn magic that you won’t want to miss!

Join us on October 14th at Tucker and Becky’s Pumpkin Patch for a day of fun, food, and fundraising.

Whether you’re a book lover, a space enthusiast, or just someone looking for a great time at the pumpkin patch, there’s something for everyone. Your support for the Friends of the Knutson Memorial Library will go a long way in helping us continue our community programs. See you there, and let’s make this day a memorable one for all!