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.
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.
When the fire was raging through the precious Library of Alexandria, one of the Pharaoh’s magicians cast a spell that transported the library into the digital future. Everything within it – scrolls, books, tables, walls – were transformed into a digital place of learning! But the magician believed that only the most worthy could access the knowledge of the library, and what better way to have them show their worthiness by passing his tests? Seek, knowledge-hunter, and find the name of the magician who protects the library …
While this escape room is recommended for tweens and teens, it can also be fun for families and groups to solve together!
Ready to get started? Click on the image to begin!
Want more mysteries to solve? Check out these YA books!
Have you ever thought about how your toys work? There is more to a top or kaleidoscope than meets the eye! Follow these instructions to become a toy-maker and a scientist as you learn the physics behind some of your favorite toys.
Below you will find instructions for making four toys: Spinning Top, Kaleidoscope, Parachute, and Ping Pong Ball Launcher. You will also find explanations for the physics of how these toys work.
Kits are available at the FDL drive-up window (while supplies last). There are some materials you will have to supply yourself such as tape, scissors, etc. The materials in the kits may vary. If you didn’t make it to the library to pick up a kit, most of the materials are things that you may be able to find in your home.
Please always ask a parent’s permission before using supplies from home.
Spinning Tops
Based on the Book Junk Drawer Physics by Bobby Mercer
You will need the following supplies. Items with an asterisk (*) next to them will be included in a supply kit you can pick up via the library’s drive-up window.
Materials List:
Old CD*
Marble*
Soda bottle cap*
Markers, crayons or colored pencils
Hot glue or liquid glue
Instructions:
Glue your marble to one side of the CD.
Glue the soda bottle cap, in the center of the other side of the CD.
Decorate your CD.
The Science Behind It
While the spinning top may seem very simple, there is actually a lot of advanced physics and mathematics that go into making a top spin. The spinning tops illustrates several physics concepts including angular momentum, inertia, momentum, centripetal force, potential energy, kinetic energy, torque, friction and gravity.
You are applying a force called torque to start the spinning, and that converts the top’s potential energy into kinetic energy.
A potential energy is the energy that an object has because of its position on a gradient of potential energy called a potential field, or just a potential.
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy that it possesses due to its motion.
Torque is the tendency of a force to turn or twist. If a force is used to begin to spin an object, or to stop an object from spinning, a torque is made.
Now our tops are spinning. The way the top spins around the rotation axis gives it angular momentum, and the angular momentum will remain constant until an external source of torque acts on the spinning top. (Think of a figure skater spinning.)
The Axis of rotation is an imaginary line passing through the center of mass of an object, around which the object rotates.
Moment of inertia, also called “angular mass“, is the inertiaof a rotating body with respect to its rotation.
In physics, the angular velocity specifies the angular speed at which an object is rotating along with the direction in which it is rotating.
This means, if a perfectly balanced, upright, spinning top achieves angular momentum after a source of torque makes it start spinning, the top will keep spinning until an outside source affects it, such as friction, gravity, or someone touching it.
However, our tops are not perfect and that allows other forces, including friction and gravity, to be applied to the top.
Friction is a force that acts to stop the movement of two touching things.
Gravity, or gravitation (in the everyday sense), is the force which causes objects to fall onto the ground.
As friction begins to slow down the spin of the top, it begins to wobble. That tilts the top of the axis to the side, and that allows gravity to exert a force on the top, causing it to begin to spin about another axis, that’s called gravitational torque.
The top continues to slow down and the wobbling get worse eventually the top falls and comes to a stop.
Based on the book Junk Drawer Physics by Bobby Mercer
You will need the following supplies. Items with an asterisk (*) next to them will be included in a supply kit you can pick up via the library’s drive-up window.
Materials List:
Cardstock,* scrapbook paper, or duct tape
Cardstock*/Aluminum foil or reflective paper (4 x 4”)
(If you are using cardstock/aluminum foil from home: cut 3 pieces of cardstock 1-5/16” x 4”, cover them in aluminum and tape them into a triangle shape with the shiny side toward the middle.)
2 clear plastic disks*
1 clear plastic disk with a hole in the center*
Sandwich bag or plastic wrap*
Small colorful objects*
Empty toilet paper roll or paper towel roll (4-1/4” long)*
2 rubber bands*
Scissors
Pen
Tape
Instructions:
Fold your reflective paper into a triangle and tape the sides and slide it into the paper towel roll. The triangle will be about ¼” shorter that the tube.
Place one clear disk into the top of the tube, resting on the triangle.
Add the shiny objects on top of the clear disk.
Set the other clear disk on the top of the shiny objects.
Cover the end of the tube with the plastic wrap and secure it with one rubber band.
Carefully turn the tube over.
Glue the clear disk with the hole onto the center of the aluminum foil. Poke a hole in the aluminum foil, matching the hole in the clear disk.
Put the clear disk/aluminum foil onto the end of the tube and secure it with a rubber band.
Test it out. Does light go into the bottom of the tube? Can you see the colorful objects? Do the objects move when your turn the tube? If the answer to any of these questions is no, adjust the end of the tube with the shiny objects. Maybe find some different objects or take a few out so that there is room for the objects to move.
Trim the plastic wrap and aluminum foil so that they are not too bulky.
Decorate the tube with paper or duct tape.
The Science Behind It
A kaleidoscope works by reflecting light, using shiny surfaces and colorful objects.
Reflection is the change in direction of a wave at a boundary between two different media, so that the wave moves back into the medium it came from.
We used reflective paper or aluminum foil for our shiny surface.
The light coming in the bottom of the tube travels in a straight line. When the light hits the colorful objects, it changes directions, and the colors are reflected back and forth between the shiny surfaces inside the tube.
As you turn the kaleidoscope, the colorful objects move and create new images.
You will need the following supplies. Items with an asterisk (*) next to them will be included in a supply kit you can pick up via the library’s drive-up window.
Materials List:
A napkin*
Four (4) 12-inch pieces of string*
A small, lightweight toy to suspend from the parachute
Scotch tape (optional)
Hole punch (optional)
Instructions:
Unfold your napkin and lay it on a flat surface.
***Skip Steps 2 and 3 if you do not have a hole punch.***
2. Reinforce the corners of the napkin with 4 pieces of tape.
3. Punch a hole through each piece of tape for a total of 4 holes.
4. If you used a hole punch, thread each of the 4 strings through a corner hole of the napkin and knot them twice so they stay in place. If you do not have a hole punch, you will instead tie each piece of string to a corner of the napkin using a double knot.
5. Gather the threads together tie them to each other like you would tie a knot to close up a balloon. Leave enough string after the knot so you can tie the ends of the strings to your toy.
6. Take your toy and use the ends of the strings to tie it to the parachute. Alternatively, you can use scotch tape to secure your toy to the ends of the strings.
7. Test out your parachute toy! Throw the parachute high in the air and watch it slowly fall to the ground, or drop it from a high place with adult supervision. You and a friend or sibling can both make one and see whose can stay in the air the longest when dropped from the same height. Have fun!
The Science Behind It
Gravity is the force that exists between any two objects that have mass. Weight is a measure of the force of gravity pulling on an object. So, does that mean heavier objects will fall faster?
In about 1590, as the story goes, Galileo Galilei went to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and simultaneously dropped many pairs of items, such as cannon balls, musket balls, gold, silver and wood. Each time, one object was heavier than the other, yet they otherwise had the same shape and size. They both hit the ground at the same time! Up until then, people figured that heavier objects fell faster than light objects. But Galileo determined that gravity accelerates all objects at the same rate, regardless of their mass or composition.
So, what happens if you drop two items that weigh the same but are different in size or shape? You can test this yourself using objects around your house to see that some objects will fall faster than others. Resistance and friction are what cause these changes in acceleration. Air resistance (also called drag) slows down the heavier objects. Drag opposes the direction that the object is moving and slows it down. So, regardless of weight, the more resistance/friction an object has, the slower the fall.
To slow down a fall of an object, you will want to create more drag. That’s the goal of a parachute! The larger the surface area of the parachute, the more air molecules that will be slowed down through air resistance and slow the fall of the object.
You will need the following supplies. Items with an asterisk (*) next to them will be included in a supply kit you can pick up via the library’s drive-up window.
A plastic bottle with a cap* (The bottle has been cut in half and the cap has a small hole poked through it)
2 rubber bands*
A heavy bead*
1 12-inch piece of string*
A ping pong ball*
Scissors
Instructions:
Take the pre-cut water bottle from the supply kit and cut four equally-spaced, one-inch long slits in the edges of the plastic.
Insert one side of your first rubber band into two slits that are across from each other. Wrap the rest of the rubber band around the outside of the water bottle. Your rubber band should look like a half-circle. Repeat this step with the second rubber band and the remaining two slits.
A small hole has already been made in the lid of your water bottle. Thread a 12-inch strand of string through the hole and tie it around the place where the two rubber bands meet, or the middle of the X.
Tie the heavy bead to the other end of the string.
Your ping pong ball launcher is ready to test out! Just place the ball inside the open end of the bottle on top of the rubber bands, pull the string, and send your ball flying!
The Science Behind It
Energy is the ability to do work. There are many different kinds of energy, such as light, sound, and heat.
We need energy for our homes to power lights, refrigerators, air conditioners, and computers. We use energy when we drive cars or pedal a bike. We power our devices with energy stored in batteries. Even sleeping requires energy!
Energy transfer takes place when energy moves from one place to another. Energy can move from one object to another, like when the energy from your moving foot is transferred to a soccer ball.
When we pull back the string on our ping pong ball launcher, we are using kinetic energy, or the energy an object has due to motion. That kinetic energy is then released when we let go of the string, and the rubber bands attached to the string pull the bead forward, which smacks against the lid of the water bottle. This allows the transfer of energy to take place between the bead and the ping pong ball resting on top of the rubber bands, sending it flying.
Experiment with your launcher by trying it out before tying the bead to the end of the string. Notice how far the ball moves. Now tie the bead onto the string and try it again. Does the ball move farther or less far? Why do you think the bead makes such a big difference?
Summer Reading will be a little different this year, but “Dig Deeper: Read, Investigate, Discover,” will take place June 1 to July 31, featuring access to digital materials, online programming, and more!
This summer, readers of all ages are encouraged to dig below the surface and discover the science of everyday things, the marvels of other cultures, and the wonders of nature and the environment while delving into the unknown, envisioning the future, and exploring a treasury of knowledge. Dig Deeper this summer and READ!
While the library building is still closed to the public due to COVID-19, kids, teens, and adults can participate in summer reading at home and earn points for reading to redeem for prizes! Virtual programming will include online story times and engaging activities for exploring creativity, gardening, science, family history, and more!
Follow FDL at fondulaclibrary.org and Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for virtual programs, activities, and updates.
Access our digital collection of eBooks, audiobooks, movies, and more from our website or the Overdrive, Libby, Axis 360, and hoopla apps.
If you’re unable to use Beanstack, download the form below to record your minutes and call the library at 309-205-5855 or 309-699-3917 or use live chat, M-F, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4-6 p.m., to report your progress.
Download or stream eBooks and audiobooks from fondulaclibrary.org or borrow books, audiobooks, and magazines from Fondulac District Library when we reopen.
Read items of your own or from other collections. All reading must occur within the program dates to count for the program.
Earn badges
Record your minutes in Beanstack or use this log to record and report progress to library staff via phone or live chat. The last day to record or report minutes is July 31.
Earn 1 badge for every 50 minutes (PreK-2nd graders), 100 minutes (3rd-8th graders), or 150 minutes (high schoolers and adults).
Earn 10 badges to complete the program.
Win prizes
Participants earn prizes for getting to the halfway point by earning 5 badges AND for completing the program by earning all 10 reading badges. Participants who complete the program will also be entered into a prize drawing!
Instructions for picking up prizes will be announced mid-June. Prizes are available while supplies last. The last day to pick up prizes is August 14.
While we may be home, we can still use our imaginations, though!
Let’s enjoy a spacey story time together by just following the easy steps below.
Step 1: Story Time from Space
Astronaut Kate Rubins shares Andrea Beaty’s Rosie Revere Engineer, “a beautifully-illustrated tale of a girl and her dream to become a great engineer. Where some people see rubbish, Rosie Revere sees inspiration. Alone in her room at night, shy Rosie constructs great inventions from odds and ends.”
Do you like to build things?
Step 2: Song Time with Miss Mikaela
FDL’s Miss Mikaela serenades you with Sesame Street’s I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon. Sing along!
Would you want to live on the moon? Under the sea?
Step 3: Craft Time
It’s time for you to be creative! Grab some cardboard, paper, tape, or anything else you might have on hand and build an awesome plane!
2020 Adult Winter Reading Program
Light Up the Season with FDL’s 2020 Adult Winter Reading Program! Cuddle up with some good books this winter, and explore the world vicariously. January 2 through February 29, patrons age 18 and older are invited to pick up a reading log at the library, read or listen to 4 books or magazines from Fondulac District Library, and enter the Winter Reading prize drawing. Register and track your reading with the Beanstack app or online at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org. Need help getting started? Talk to a librarian for more information, and be sure to submit your reading log before February 29!
Did you know Fondulac District Library has the largest collection of games available in the area? With more than 200 board games, video games, yard games, and puzzles for all ages and skill levels, the library is a great place to explore new favorites and rediscover the classics. More than just fun, playing video and tabletop games can benefit cognitive functioning, improve social skills, and build family traditions. So check out our growing collection, try one of our recurring gaming programs (listed below), and get your game on at the library!
Video Gaming at the Library
The Youth Services Department has a Nintendo Switch system for kids ages 13 and under, and PlayStations (3 & 4) and Steam computer gaming are available upstairs in the Teen Space for kids ages 14-19. (Gamers ages 20+ may use the Playstations and Steam Station on Grown-Up Video Game Nights.)
Board Games, Yard Games, and Puzzles
Patrons with a library card in good standing may check out games and puzzles two at a time for one-week periods and renew them once. Borrowers must return games to a staff member with all pieces and accessories. A $5 fine will be charged if games are returned in the drop box.
Board Games
New and classic board games for children, teens, and adults are available to check out from the Youth Services and Adult Services Departments. Popular games include: Azul, Quelf, Apples to Apples, The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game, and more! Visit fondulaclibrary.org/gaming-at-the-libraryfor a complete list of available games or find us on boardgamegeek.comfor more details and reviews!
Yard Games
Croquet, Yard Dice, Block Buster, Bocce Ball, Kubb, Lawn Bowling, Ladder Toss, Ring Toss, and Washoooes are available to check out from the Adult Services Department.
Puzzles
A variety of quality jigsaw puzzles with 500 or more pieces are also available to check out from the Adult Services Department.
It’s showtime this summer at FDL, so get creative and get excited for our Cosplay Contest on July 20th! Dress up as your favorite character from books, TV, film, comics, anime, or manga – the more homemade the costume, the better! All fandoms are welcome, as well as mash-ups and original designs.
There will be two age categories: Teen (ages 11-19) and Adult. Participants will be given up to two minutes on stage to introduce your character, preform a short skit, call out catch phrases, do some action poses, and discuss the cosplay construction with the judges. (Bring an image of your inspiration for reference.) Our special guest judges this year are members of Peoria’s awesome Ultimate Alliance Cosplay group, and they’ll select one winner and one runner-up from each age group to receive cool prizes!
Register ahead of time online, or at 11:30 a.m. at the event. Strike a pose in the photo booth, and then stick around for Games Day to get your game on! It’s going to be a fun day at the library, so start planning your costume now!
*Please refer to our Cosplay Contest Rules, Cosplay Costume Policy, and Props/Weapons Policy for more information – cosplayers are expected to follow these policies in order to participate in the contest! Call 699-3917 for more information.
It’s Showtime at Your Library! this summer with the 2019 Summer Reading Program for all ages! Participation is easy: check out books, eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines from FDL, track your reading time to earn badges, and redeem those badges for great prizes and incentives! The library has lots of great summer reading events planned, and participants can also earn a badge by attending 3 events. Complete the summer reading challenge by earning 15 badges to enter a drawing for even more prizes! And new this year, participants can track their reading and badges with the new Beanstack Tracker app (free to download from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store) or online at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org!
Registration begins June 3 with the Beanstack app, online at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org, or in person at the library. Visit the Summer Reading 2019 page for more information, and get ready for great entertainment and reading this summer with FDL!
(Please note Fondulac District Library’s Beanstack site at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org will not be accessible until registration begins June 3.)
We miss our story time friends!
