The Love of Books . . .

Between the ages of five and 10 I lived on a small airforce base in Manitoba, Canada. During the summer holidays I practically lived in the base library. I didn't often get there during the main school year, except on Saturdays, but in the summertime you could find me there just about every day. You were only allowed to take out one book at a time if you were a child and I was a voracious reader, so I'd be back and forth every day for a new book. I am sure they were quite sick of seeing me!



There is something really special about a library. They all seem to smell the same . . . a mixture of leather, paper and glue. The air is heavy with an aura of respect and reverence, quite like entering a cathedral in a way . . . everyone speaking in hushed tones, dulcet whispers and pages turning the only sounds, periodically interrupted by the heavy tap of the librarian's date stamp!

To get to the library of my childhood you had to travel down a long pathway that ran alongside of some railway tracks that were carefully set apart by a tall wire fence, topped with barbed wire. I can remember seeing bats hanging by their toes all along this fence and would ride my bicycle very quickly past them, my hands trembling and one arm desperately covering my long hair, the other hand clutching on to my bicycle hand bar tenaciously, as I was very afraid that they would fly into my hair. It's a wonder I ever made it past them without falling down or worse! I had read somewhere that bats will get themselves into your hair and get all tangled up . . . and I was taking no chances!



As a girl, I loved the tales of Enid Blyton. Her fairy stories were marvelous. I devoured them like a hungry man at a banquet. I also loved her tales of the Famous Five and Secret Seven. All her books carried my child's mind on adventures to faraway places that I could only ever dream of seeing and her characters got to eat wonderful sounding food, such as cherry cakes, ginger beer, and cheese and onion sandwiches. As a child growing up in Canada, these far off places sounded very exotic and it seemed quite wonderful to be able to have your very own parrot named Kiki!!



I also loved Nancy Drew and I believe I read just about every book in that series, some of them several times. She was my hero. She was pretty and smart and there was no mystery she could not solve. I fancied being just like her when I grew up.



Then there were the Bobbsey Twins, Nan and Bert, Freddie and Flossie . . . they lived in a bit house and had a cook/housekeeper and a handyman/man of work, something very far removed from any of my own experience in life. They got into adventures and scrapes too, which also helped to fuel my childhood dreams and aspirations.



Trixie Beldon was another one of my lives as were the great classics such as Little Women, Alice in Wonderland, and one of my all time favourites, The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew.

When I ran out of books to pick from the library, I would read our own encyclopaedia, the Book of Knowledge. It sat in a corner of the living room in our home in it's very own wooden bookcase. I believe I must have read it from cover to cover more than once. It was full of wonderfully interesting facts and loads of fascinating pictures. As well we had a small series of books on all the countries of the world, full of all sorts of pictures and information. I devoured these as well, their pages taking me to far off places in my mind that I one day hoped to be able to see in person . . .



As a teenager, I fell in love with the adventures of the British temptress, Amber St Clare in the novel entitled Forever Amber, and I used to eat up Harlequin Romance books as quickly as they could print them.

My love of books and reading is something I have carried with me my whole life. I am always reading one, or two or sometimes even three books at a time. Todd can't understand how I can keep track of so many plots. I guess I'm just a genius!! hahaha. I think the truth is that I get bored very easly and so my mind likes to skip around a bit. Perhaps it's my love of the written word that inspires me in a way to want to write my own words. I don't know. I only know for sure that my life would be a life only half lived without the written word to inpsire and enthrall me, and the library has always been the best and cheapest way of fueling my voracious appetite for reading.



I think I remember reading somewhere at one time that it was Benjamin Franklin who invented the lending library. Is this true? I guess it doesn't really matter who invented them, it only matters that they have brought countless hours of joy into my life and the lives of many others. Kudos to them, whomever they may be!

I am a great lover of Mexican inspired food. Tacos, nachos, burritos, enchiladas . . . when Mexican in on the menu, I'm one very happy camper! I'm slowly converting Todd as well, or at least he never complains when I make something of that nature for dinner. He's quite good really, he eats pretty much everything I set down in front of him and very rarely complains . . . unless it is pasta. Then he always reminds me he is not fond of Italian food . . .



Chicken Enchilada Lasagna*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

I just love this Tex Mex favourite! Don't let the long list of ingredients put you off from making it. It's quite easy to make and very, very delicious. Well worth the effort and time!

2 TBS vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
2 cups chopped peeled tomatoes (or use canned)
1/2 cup canned chopped green chilies (can roast and chop your own)
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 to 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
salt and pepper to taste

For the bechamel:
3 TBS butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/4 cup flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup canned chopped green chilies (can roast and chop your own)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese (Can use mild cheddar or gouda where Jack cheese is not available)
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
salt and black pepper to taste

In addition:
12 (6 inch) corn or flour tortillas
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese (can use mild cheddar or gouda)
2 cups shredded Sharp Cheddar cheese
sour cream and tomato salsa to garnish, if desired

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 cup of onion and the garlic, and saute until soft. Add the tomatoes, 1/2 cup green chilies, cumin and coriander and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken pieces and simmer for 20 minutes, until the chicken is tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside and keep warm.

To make the bechamel, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When it is foaming, add the 1/2 cup onion and the garlic, and cook for about five minutes until the onion is translucent and soft, stirring frequently. Do not brown. Stir in the flour and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Add the chicken broth and the milk and cook, stirring constantly, until thick, about 5 minutes or so. Add the 1/4 cup of green chilies, sour cream and the cheeses. Season to taste and set aside.

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Lightly grease a 9 X 13 inch baking dish. Cut the tortillas into quarters. Place a layer of them in the bottom of the baking dish. Spoon on 1/2 of the chicken mixture, spreading it out evenly. Pour 1/3 of the bechamel sauce over top. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheeses. Add another layer of tortillas, the last half of the chicken, 1/3 of the bechamel and another 1/3 of the cheese. Top with a final layer of tortillas, the last of the bechamel and the last of the cheese, sprinkling it evenly over top. Bake in the heated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until it is heated through and bubbly, and lightly browned on top.

Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into squares to serve. Garnish each serving with some salsa and sour cream if desired. Delicious!

PS - This also freezes very well. As there are only the two of us, I cut it into individual servings and wrap each one individually in strong plastic wrap. Then I pop them into a bag and into the freezer. I can then take out however many servings I want at a later date, thaw them out and heat them up. You can either use the microwave or the oven. I prefer the oven, about 160*C/325*F for 25 to 30 minutes, covered, and uncovered the last five minutes of cooking time.



To check out what was for dessert . . . mosey on over to The English Kitchen. Scrumdiddlyumptious!!!