Rachael M. Ali Library

Hello Spartans,

Welcome to the first weekly newsletter for the library. I have been missing all of you. The newsletters will be a combination of fun and library resources. This week we are going to teach you how to make our favorite chocolate cake. I am going to review and recommend some books. A new digital scavenger hunt is coming your way on the library Instagram. Follow the library Instagram for the quote of the day, pictures of my dog, and our new challenge. I am having kitchen table hours every weekday 10-12 and 1-3. Are you ready?

This is my Mother-in-law's recipe for chocolate birthday cake. Today is N's birthday. So we decided to teach you how to make our favorite cake.

The Recipe

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup strong black coffee

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Combine the four, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

2. Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.

3. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes

4. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes.

5. Test for doneness

This recipe should not be used for cupcakes. The batter is too thin for cupcakes.

Vanilla Butter Frosting:

Ingredients:

1/3 cup soft butter

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

about 2 tablespoons milk

Blend the butter and sugar. Stir in the vanilla and milk; beat until frosting is smooth and spreading consistency.

The library has several ways to use/borrow digital materials. After you have your library card and PIN. Download the Libby and Hoopla apps from the app store. Libby is the app used by the library for ebooks and audiobooks.

Hoopla is new to the library. Hoopla has audiobooks, comics, Ebooks, music, and videos. Use this link to learn more about Hoopla. The library also has a list of current magazines that can be read online. The magazines are found at the bottom of the library's homepage.

Audible has created a catalog of free audiobooks. There are books for all ages, from little listeners to classics. For those of you with younger siblings, this may be a constructive way to spend some time together. You may want to share a book with them, or maybe they will want to share something they enjoyed with you. Pull out a coloring book, puzzle, or simple craft and listen together. You may want to listen with a friend or parent and share thoughts and predictions. There are also books in French, Spanish, and Italian if you would like to listen to some stories in the modern language that you are taking.

Junior Library Guild has made some Ebooks available for free. Follow the link in the title for the collection. You can use this tool for free, no need for usernames or passwords. The list is broken down into elementary, middle school, and high school. Remember to share these sites and resources with your younger siblings.

Instagram: librarysmhs

Email: mboyle@stmarkshs.net
Website: https://stmarkshs.myschoolapp.com/app/faculty#communitypage/109227830/bulletinboard
Location: 2501 Pike Creek Road, Wilmington, DE, USA
Phone: (302) 757-8807