Crock-Pot Queso

On Friday night, some SLIS girls and I got together for some margaritas at Meredith's, and I found it the perfect excuse to try to make homemade queso.  I made a double batch to have some with and some without ground beef for the vegetarians in the group.
I brought the leftovers to a crawfish boil Saturday afternoon, and the rest was gone.

Crock-Pot Queso 

adapted from Two Peas and their Pod

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients: 
10 oz white American cheese (I got it sliced at the grocery store deli, then cut the stack of slices into 3x3 smaller squares)
6 oz Pepper Jack (sliced and cut 3x3, but if the deli will shred it for you, that will decrease cook time)
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 medium jalapeño, diced
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon onion flakes 
1 generous tablespoon dried cilantro 
1 roma tomato, seeds removed and diced 
1/2 lb. browned ground beef (optional)

Directions: 
1. Pour a small amount of extra virgin olive oil into a saucepan over medium heat.  Cook the jalapeño and bell pepper until softened.  
2. Brown ground beef in a pan. Set aside. 
3. Cut cheese slices into smaller pieces.  I stacked the slices and cut the slices into 9 smaller squares each.  
4. Combine the jalapeño, bell pepper, cheese, milk, and onion into the Crock-Pot on high.  Let cook for 45 minutes or until the queso is at the consistency you like, stirring occasionally.  
5. After cheese is melted, stir in cilantro and tomato.  
6. Just before serving, stir in ground beef.  Turn Crock-Pot to low to keep warm.  If the queso gets too thin, turn Crock-Pot off completely and it will thicken back up.  
7. Serve with chips.  

Crawfish Boil on Saturday

Thanks Ashlyn for the pictures from Saturday! 

Librarian Twitter Bingo

These topics are spot on. The dominate my Facebook wall and Twitter feed. 

via the cardigan librarian

Leavin' On A Jet Plane

Next week is the University of Alabama's Spring Break.  I am ready for a break, but will be busy travelling.  I've packed tons of school work to do on the plane and on the train.  I will be going to Philadelphia, New York, and Baltimore to visit friends.  I also have an informational interview at the Guggenheim while I'm in NYC.  I depart tomorrow on my ten day journey. And might I add, I am only bringing a carry-on and a purse. Pretty proud of myself.  But for now....

Book Talk Y'all

My good friend here at SLIS Callie Ann is starting a new series called "Book Talk Y'all." Check it out. It's awesome. She's awesome. Dr. Seuss is awesome. He has a birthday coming up, on March 2nd, Read Across America Day.

I make my first appearance in "Book Talk Y'all" at 1:39.  At 2:41 it starts going down hill and I get a little Kristen Bell on ya', then by 6:58, I've just lost it.

Dr. Seuss's first children's book

Did you know the book above inspired this CCR song? Learn all about it and more by checking out "Book Talk Y'all!" 

S-ART-urday (Eric Carle)

1. I am now in library school with many people aspiring to be children's librarians. (Roll Tide.)

2. My little sister is an elementary education major at LSU. (Boo Tigers).  

1+2 = my renewed interest in children's books.  

I have started keeping my eye out for children's books I can buy my sister for her future classroom.  I got quite a few at an end of semester book sale for great prices and picked up a few more while shopping at Kohl's after Christmas through the Kohl's Cares program, which sells kid-friendly merchandise and uses 100 percent of the net profit donated to support kids' health and education initiatives in communities worldwide.  Eric Carle books were for sale, and I picked up two.  I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the collage illustrations of Eric Carle as a child.  If you've forgotten too, allow me to remind you.  

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

The Very Busy Spider

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

View previous S-ART-urday posts: DIY Paint Chips, Tom Slaughter

I am not affiliated with Kohl's in any way and they did not endorse this post.  All opinions are my own.  

'Tis the Season

Now that finals are over, I am jolly. Very jolly. 

Library School humor

As my first semester of graduate school comes to a close, I am thankful for the new friends I have made, all that I have learned, and a new blog to follow regularly: Hey girl. I like the library too. This blog has given my library school friends and me several laughs recently and provided some much needed entertainment while working on our final projects.  Just to spotlight a few of my favorites:

For all those who checked out their first library book for that final research paper senior year.

ALL we did in my Reference class was use databases. If you have any questions, I'm your girl.

I get asked quite often, and yes, you do have to have a Master's to be a librarian.  

 Even the American Library Association has joined in on the fun on their Facebook page with this one:

And always remember: 

CustomCuriosities

Update: Even the publication Inside Higher Ed has gotten wind of these entertaining memes.  Check out their article