Through the Power of MEL

I have long been a fan of Michigan Electronic Library (MEL) for several reasons:

1. It connects you with so many resources within and outside a drivable distance from where you live.
2. You can find all sorts of things on their website (mel.org).
3. It is a great option if you cannot find what you are looking for at your library and/or you don't want to spend the money buying that material.

Yes, it has the power to get you many materials within 2-4 weeks time, but perhaps you are unaware of MEL's other resources. Powered by MEL, you can do so much more than simply request materials for you to pick up at your local library. If you visit our website pdl.michlibrary.org, and select the "eResearch and Research" tab at the top of the page, you can explore more options that are supported by MEL.

Options such as MyHeritage allows you to look up historical documents associated with a person, or you can look for an old, obscure newspaper with Newspaper Source Plus. Additionally, EBSCO eBooks Public Library Collection can be used to find full-text magazines and reference books. This is particularly handy because you can pull up an interesting magazine or reference from anywhere that has internet!

I found the Auto Repair Source to be particularly helpful as I have always bought used cars and doing maintenance or troubleshooting them has not been my forte. MasterFILE is an interesting resource for finding businesses or individuals using specific criteria, so if you have been searching for something or someone, this might be a handy tool to take advantage of.

Novelist Plus is a resource similar to GoodReads as a source for finding your next great read. Simply by typing keywords, title, author, or anything similar you can find a book you've read and enjoyed in the past. Once you have found that book, you can choose between similar titles or authors, and Novelist will give you a concise list of books for you to try based on that search criteria.

If you're into researching or looking for another way to find information or particular materials, then try MEL's list of resources. It's powerful and free!

Fall Favorite Food: Recipes From an Amateur

Fall is a season full of cozy, homey feels. What is better than a warm sweater on a brisk, nippy fall day? Or a warm mug of your favorite beverage when it's dreary and cold outside? Personally, I like to snuggle under some soft, comforting blankets and watch a favorite TV show. Yet, I think food also comes to mind when the days start turning colder. I admit that I am new to playing with recipes and trying my hand at some season-themed dishes.

If you're a fellow rookie connoisseur of festive foods, have a look at a few simple recipes that you can make at home during the autumn months.

Hot Spiced Apple Cider

Ingredients

• 1 quart unsweetened or sweetened apple juice or cider
• 3 (3-inch each) cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole cloves (or sub 1 tiny pinch ground cloves)
• 2 (3-inch) strips orange peel (organic recommended // orange part only — the white pith will add bitterness)

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a large saucepan or pot and bring to medium-high heat. Once simmering, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
2. Serve hot. For entertaining, you can keep the cider warm in a slow cooker or on the lowest setting on the stovetop.
3. Store cooled leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or frozen in an ice cube tray to keep for longer. Reheat on the stovetop.

Minimalist Baker. Hot Spiced Apple Cider (No Added Sugar). Minimalist Baker. https://minimalistbaker.com/hot-spiced-apple-cider-no-added-sugar/.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup granulated white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
• 10 ounces chocolate chips

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, stir together the pumpkin, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and egg.
2. In another mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry and stir until a thick batter forms.
4. Stir in the chocolate chips.
5. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper and lightly spraying with nonstick spray.
6. Spoon the cookie batter onto the prepared baking sheet.
7. Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.

Emma Chapman. (10/04/2023). Simple Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies. A Beautiful Mess. https://abeautifulmess.com/simple-chocolate-chip-pumpkin-cookies/.

Autumn Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb of pre-cooked ground beef
• 1 cup of chopped onion
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup chopped fresh carrot
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped potato
• 1 (28 ounce) canned tomatoes
• 1⁄4 cup barley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon sweet basil
• 1 beef bouillon cube

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large kettle.
2. Cook until vegetables and the barley are tender (approx. 1 hour, 10 mins).
3. Option: can be placed in a slow cooker on low for 8-9 hours if wished.

CarrolJ. (2012). Autumn Soup Recipe. Food. https://www.food.com/recipe/autumn-soup-93684.

If you tried one of the recipes above, please comment below on what you particularly liked about it. Sharing is caring!

Fall is here, read a book

The days might be warm, but the nights are definitely getting cooler. All the Michiganders know what that means...fall is coming. Thank goodness it's not "winter is coming" for more reasons than one (shout out to all the Game of Thrones fans). So, throw on one of those wearable blankets, strap on your boots, and hold my spiced pumpkin latte because we're gonna dive into some autumn reads!

Looking for spooky, thrilling, macabre, and/or mysterious? Try these out:

Looking for something newer? Try these:

Looking for cozy reads? Try these out:

Fall into a good book this autumn!🍁🍂