Cast iron Dutch Ovens have been used in America since the 18th century. Some avid campers feel Dutch Ovens are an essential tool for outdoor cooking. From enchiladas to apple pie, the versatility of the Dutch Oven means it can be used for a variety of recipes. Below is a recipe for an easy corn casserole to try on your next camping trip. Scout Master Jason Friedlund from BSA Troop 206 in Washington, IL, demonstrates how to make this casserole in this video tutorial.
Dutch Oven Corn Casserole
Supplies
12” Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Lid Lifter (alternatively a Fireplace Glove can be used)
16” pizza pan
Charcoal Chimney Starter
Paper Tinder
Charcoal Briquettes
Lighter
Long-handled Tongs
Large Plastic Mixing Spoon
Can Opener
Ingredients
1 TBSP vegetable oil
2 – 8.5 oz boxes Jiffy brand cornbread mix
2 – 14.75 oz cans creamed corn
2 – 15.25 oz cans whole kernel corn, drained
1 – 4.5 oz can diced green chiles
2 large eggs
2 cups (8 oz) grated cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick), melted or cut into small chunks
Instructions
Using a chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes and paper tinder, light the paper on fire. Let the briquettes heat for 20 minutes while you mix the casserole ingredients.
Grease the inside of your cast iron Dutch Oven and the underside of the lid with the vegetable oil.
In the Dutch Oven, mix together all ingredients except for 1/2 of the cheese. Using a large plastic mixing spoon, stir to combine well. Place the lid on.
Put 16 of the hot charcoal briquettes on the top of the Dutch Oven. Put 7-8 hot briquettes in a circle on a 16” pizza pan and place the Dutch Oven over the top of them.
Cook for 1 hour, rotating the Dutch Oven base 90o (clockwise) and the lid 90o (counter-clockwise) every 15 minutes. A lid lifter or fireplace glove comes in handy for this portion. In the last 15 minutes, add the remaining 1/2 of the cheese to the top of the casserole and put the lid back on. Remove the lid and the pot from the heat and enjoy.
Cleaning & Care of a Cast Iron Dutch Oven
After each use, it’s important to properly clean cast iron Dutch Ovens and prepare them for storage to prevent rust.
Tools
Plastic scraper
Scrubbing sponge OR stainless steel chain mail cast iron cleaning tool
NEVER USE dish soap on cast iron!
Instructions
Using a plastic scraper, remove as much solid, baked-on debris as possible.
Remove solid bits and fill the Dutch Oven about halfway with hot water.
Using a non-metallic scrubbing sponge or a stainless steel chain mail cast iron cleaning tool, remove the rest of the solid debris completely.
Empty the Dutch Oven. Dry with a towel and brush off any ash from the exterior.
Spread a light coating of vegetable oil over all interior and exterior surfaces to prevent rusting.
The lid can be cleaned using the same steps.
Before placing the lid on top of the oven, place a couple paper towels over the edge of the oven to help wick away moisture while the Dutch Oven is in storage.
On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, guaranteeing all American women the right to vote. The Suffragist Movement was a transformative cultural and political movement that resulted in the largest expansion of voting rights in U.S. history. Celebrate the centennial anniversary of this historic milestone — and the remarkable women who fought to make it happen — with these books and documentaries from our collection. Explore the Library of Congress’ virtual exhibit Shall Not Be Denied and discover more from the all-ages reading list from the League of Women Voters.
Book Talk! Katie, our YA Librarian, shares some great Cursed read-alikes for fans of the show or anyone who likes Arthurian/Medieval Fantasy books! Place these books on hold through the links below, from our online catalog or the RSAcat Mobile app, or by calling the library at (309) 699-3917.
What is This Book About? The year is 1988 and Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since the fourth grade. They’re in their sophomore year now and are in the middle of enjoying their adolescence when the unexpected happens. Gretchen goes missing in the woods during a sleepover. The two are reunited the next morning, but Abby notices that something is…off about Gretchen. She stops showering, she hardly speaks to anybody, and she starts talking about urban legends of a local cult like they really exist. As Gretchen’s health and relationships begin deteriorating, Abby concludes that Gretchen has been possessed by a demon. Of course, nobody believes her when she tries to seek help for her best friend. So how will Abby save Gretchen? Is she really possessed, or are they both just crazy? Most importantly, will their friendship stand the test of demonic possession?
My Review: I loved this book so much. I listened to the audiobook version on a road trip with my mom, who was born the same year as the main character. The amount of times she would say, “Oh my gosh, I haven’t heard that in forever!” when somebody mentioned a celebrity, a song, or some other random 80’s trend told me just how authentic this book was in capturing the 80’s. The story was encapsulating right from the start. I cried and laughed with the main character throughout the whole thing. The author did an excellent job in painting all of the characters as well as the small town they lived in. This book really filled out every space it was trying to cover. It was scary when it needed to be, funny when the moment called for it, and heartwarming when the time came.
Rating: 5/5
Three words that describe this book: silly, creepy, heartwarming
Give this a try if you like: Stranger Things, IT, comedic horror, 80’s nostalgia
If you haven’t used the new RSAcat Mobile app yet, you’re missing out!
This app brings the library to your fingertips — manage your account, search the catalog, renew checkouts, and place holds at your convenience. Scan the ISBN barcode of any book you encounter to see if it’s available from the library. Use the app to connect directly to our digital collections (think eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, and more), our online resources (newspapers, HeritageQuest, GCF LearnFree, etc.), website, social media, and calendar of events. You can even pay fines or bills from the app, link household accounts, search other local libraries, and receive notifications for holds or due dates.
Did we mention how easy it is to use? So easy! (Way better than the old BookMyne app.) It also features improved accessibility for VoiceOver and larger text sizes. So head to the Apple or Google Play Stores, install the free app, log in with your FDL library card, and enjoy a whole new way to explore your library!
It’s a good idea to clean up your smartphone regularly — both inside and out! Here’s how:
Back It Up
Run a backup to the cloud on your phone, or connect it to your computer and follow the backup prompts.
Do this first to avoid losing anything precious.
Update if needed.
Delete Apps
Get rid of any applications you haven’t been using. You can reinstall them later if a need arises.
Apps take up storage space and deleting them will make your phone run faster.
Transfer Photos
Use an online storage service — such as Google Photo or Amazon Photo (fees may apply) — to save your images automatically.
Then delete them from your phone.
Amazon Photos: Amazon Photos offers unlimited full-resolution online photo storage and 5 GB free video storage to Prime members.
Print photos from the Walgreens or CVS apps, then delete the digital copies.
Go through and periodically delete photos you no longer need.
Kill Old Texts
Change the settings to auto-delete any messages older than a year.
Make History, History
In the browser settings, clear your history and web cookies.
Clearing web data will free up temporary space in your phone and make apps and other processes run faster.
Give It A Wipe Down
A study in the journal Germs found that some phones had 17,000 bacterial bugs lurking on the outside of smartphones.
Viruses and bacteria can survive on surfaces for hours, days, or even weeks depending on the strain, and can transfer from a phone onto your hands and then onto new surfaces in your home and office.
Do not use bleach or spray anything directly on your phone, and remember to remove and disinfect the case.
CDC Guidelines
The CDC recommends the following:
For electronics such as cell phones, remove visible contamination if present. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.
Consider use of wipe-able covers for electronics.
If no manufacturer guidance is available, consider the use of alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol to disinfect touch screens. Dry surfaces thoroughly to avoid pooling of liquids.
Completing these steps regularly will keep your phone running smoothly and reduce the number of microbes and possible pathogens you come into contact with.
In an election year unlike any other, voters need to understand their voting options — and new state legislation which applies only to the primary election on November 3, 2020.
“COVID-19 has changed everything,” said Constance Romanus, President of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria. “There will never be another election like this one and voters want clarity.”
The LWVGP, in coordination with Fondulac District Library, will host a special Q&A forum to provide solid information and answer questions at 5:30 p.m. Monday, August 3. Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman and Peoria County Election Commission Director Tom Bride will participate in the forum.
This event will be held at the East Peoria Civic Complex, adjacent to FDL and East Peoria City Hall, 401 W. Washington Street. Members of the press are welcome to attend wearing masks and seated in a socially distanced manner. Because of the virus, the public is not invited to attend in person. Instead, voters are encouraged to watch a broadcast on East Side Community Media or Facebook Live on the LWVGP Facebook page at facebook.com/lwvpeoria/. Viewers are encouraged to submit questions via Facebook to the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria’s page prior to the event on August 3 or during the event. LWVGP will attempt to get as many questions answered as possible but reserve the right to edit or combine questions as needed.
This will be a great opportunity to investigate voting options and the impact of Illinois’ recently passed voting legislation. Vote-by-mail applications for the November 3 general election will be sent to registered voters in late July and early August, but voters may also submit a mailed request for a vote-by-mail application through October 29.
It’s so important to stay connected these days, and sending letters is a great way to show someone you care. Handmade stationery is an excellent way to add extra crafty pizzazz to your correspondence, and DIY envelopes are sure to impress your friends and family! They’re so easy to make, you may find yourself sending more letters just as an excuse to make more envelopes! Minimal supplies and no experience required!
Let’s get started!
Things You Will Need:
Paper
Scissors
An envelope to copy or a printed template
Glue or double sided tape
Pencil
ENVELOPE #1
The size of the envelope you want to have will determine the size of paper you need. I used large sheets of craft paper for this first type of envelope, and I used an actual envelope as a template. That way, you know exactly what size you’ll end up with, and you can compare the template to the paper you have to determine if it is the right size or not.
Start with a plain envelope and carefully take it apart.
Trace the outline of the envelope on the back of your patterned paper. This way, if you don’t cut on the line perfectly and miss some pencil marks, you won’t have to go back and erase anything.
Cut out the envelope and fold along the creased areas. Since you took apart the previous envelope, you’ll be able to see where the creases need to go and where the glue lines are. I used a very thin line of tacky glue to glue down the bottom flap and keep the envelope together. Be careful not to use too much glue, or to glue over more areas than you need to. You may end up gluing your envelope shut on accident!
ENVELOPE #1 FINISHED!
ENVELOPE #2
Old atlases and maps make great paper for envelopes because they are so big! This envelope is made from an atlas page and a template I found online. It’s a smaller envelope and is folded together differently from the first one.
Find Your Template
You can search the internet for envelope templates. Find a free one in the right size for your needs and print it out! I liked this one because it looked very simple, but you can find fancy ones if that’s your style instead.
Pay Attention
This step isn’t quite as important if you’re using a patterned paper that has no apparent direction, but if you’re using something directional, like a map, you need to make sure you position your template correctly. Make sure the writing is going in the right direction for the main part of the envelope (it will be upside down for the other parts, that’s unavoidable for this envelope). If you’re having trouble determining which part that’s going to effect, pre-fold your template to see what it will look like as a finished envelope and extrapolate from there.
After tracing your envelope shape onto the paper, cutting it out, and folding it like you did for the first type of envelope, it’s time to glue it.
I used a glue stick for this one since atlas paper is a bit thinner than the craft paper.
Again, be careful not to overdo it with the glue, otherwise your envelope will stick shut in places you don’t want it to.
ENVELOPE #2 FINISHED!
A NOTE ON SENDING DIY ENVELOPES THROUGH THE MAIL
According to the USPS website, colored envelopes may be sent through the mail as long as the address lines are legible and un-obscured. If using a patterned envelope, and if in doubt of potential legibility, you can always affix plain white labels to the envelope and write or print the addresses clearly on those.
Happy Mailing!
(Stay tuned for a tutorial on how to make watercolor flower cards to send in your envelopes!)
What would you like to see in the green space beyond our Reading Garden? A music pavilion, farmer’s market, community garden, water fountain, playground… imagine the possibilities!
The East Peoria Community Foundation and The City of East Peoria are seeking public output for the community park to be built outside of the library and City Hall. Levee Park will be located in the large triangle green space between Richland Street and Washington Street, just south of FDL and across from Costco, and funded through the support of generous community donors. Please fill out the community survey at https://arcg.is/1KPimj0 and share what you would like to see developed! Learn more about the East Peoria Community Foundation and its plans at eastpeoriacommunityfoundation.org.
Think you can’t grow your own food in the city? Think again! Learn about different aspects of urban gardening and what it has to offer you. There are many benefits to gardening, and it doesn’t have to be reserved for people with huge tracts of land and loads of equipment. There are also many ways to go about it, and we will explore different small space gardening techniques for anyone, anywhere. If you have more questions, there are resources at the library available for checkout!
Why
Why bother growing your own food these days? Many people choose to for many different reasons.
Save $$
Have control over pesticides
Landscaping adds both beauty and value to your home.
As a hobby: Gardening is fun!
How
There are also many ways to go about growing your own food with minimal or no yard space!
Space Savers:
Square foot gardening
Container gardening
Straw bale gardening
Vertical gardening
Don’t have your own space to garden? Try community gardening!
Square Foot Gardening
This method was popularized in the ‘80s by Mel Bartholomew. It is still a very popular method, and its plant spacing techniques are utilized in other small space gardening methods.
Great for raised beds.
There are fewer weeds to deal with if you use the soil mix recommended in the book.
The basic premise: don’t waste space on unnecessary rows.
Incorporates vertical gardening for vining plants to save even more space.
Mel encourages a staggered harvest, meaning you plant only a small number of plants, harvest, and then start over. This way your harvest is diverse and doesn’t come all at once.
Square foot gardens tend to be 3×3 or 4×4, but they can be as big or small as you want as long as you can easily reach the center from the outside perimeter.
Build your box and fill it with Mel’s Mix*
1/3 peat moss
1/3 vermiculite
1/3 compost
* Some have said they had great success with just topsoil and compost. Do what’s best for you!
Plant your seeds/plants based on their need for space between each other, but ignore row spacing.
Container Gardening
This small space gardening method has already been used for years for floral décor.
You can grow vegetables and fruits too, even small trees!
It’s very useful for people without much or any yard space.
Things to keep in mind:
Proper drainage is crucial for container plants.
Fertilizer:
Potted plants need fertilizer because they will use up the provided nutrients in the pot.
Specifics on how much fertilizer to use and how often will vary from plant to plant.
Lean toward under-fertilizing rather than over-fertilizing.
Slow release fertilizer is a good option.
Use compost as part of your potting soil mix.
Purchase dwarf or bush varieties of seeds or plants, which are made specifically for containers.
Straw Bale Gardening
Practically speaking, this is another form of container gardening.
Advantages:
If you have poor soil or no access to soil, this method will allow you to grow plants without it.
Height of the bales act as a raised bed, which means less bending over to access your plants. Also a great height for people in wheelchairs.
No weeds!
How to get started:
Condition your bale of straw.
Add fertilizer and water to your bale for two weeks prior to planting. This conditions your bale and begins the process of decomposition.
For a specific conditioning schedule, see the book Straw Bale Gardens by Joel Karsten (starts on page 58).
Plant your bale. Some potting soil may be added.
If the interior of your bale is still hot from conditioning (above 105°), wait a few days to plant live plants. Seeds are ok.
Make sure your straw bale doesn’t dry out!
Vertical Gardening
This method saves ground space by growing up instead of out.
Great for people who have trouble bending over.
Some vertical gardening methods involve container gardening as well.
Some plants are easier to adapt to the vertical lifestyle, such as vining plants.
Herbs and small leafy greens do well, as do more flexible plants as opposed to more rigid and woody plants.
As with mixing any kinds of plants together, keep compatibility in mind (need for sun, soil type, agreeability between plants, etc.)
Community Gardens
For people who don’t have space or resources of their own, this is a great option.
Community gardens come in all shapes and sizes and serve different functions. One main aspect throughout: a group of like minded people spending time and effort gardening together.
Examples: School gardens as part of a curriculum, church gardens as a means of outreach, neighborhood gardens as a way for neighbors to spend time together and grow food for themselves or their families.
Local Community Gardens:
St. Ann’s Garden of Hope
Part of OSF’s outreach mission.
1414 W. Antoinette St
Renaissance Park Community Garden
622 W Main St, Peoria
Forrest Hill Organic Community Garden
Garden is adjacent to the Forrest Hill Methodist Church, and applications can be found at the church office.
706 E Forrest Hill Ave, Peoria, (309) 685-6243
Crittenton Center
Open to the community for people who need food.
442 West John Gwynn Jr. Ave, Peoria, (309) 674-0105
EP!C Harvest
Provides adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to be involved with their garden and market stand. They partner with many local restaurants and grocery stores. For more information, call Marc Britton @ (309) 689-3706.
More to Consider
Combinations of each! You don’t have to pick just one way! Lots of these techniques marry well. Do what works best for you!
Composting
Worm bins are great sources of natural fertilizer.
ENVELOPE #1
Container Gardening
Vertical Gardening