Homemade Pita Chips
In the world of crackers and chips, the up and coming favorite seems to be the pita chip. Read more
Apr 4
In the world of crackers and chips, the up and coming favorite seems to be the pita chip. Read more
Apr 2
If I told you that you could make one of the easiest and most delicious chocolate desserts you will ever eat with just 3 ingredients would you believe me?  Of course you would, because if you are reading this, we are “chums” after all 🙂 Read more
Mar 27
Looking for something fun and memorable to do with your family over this Spring Break? Â Here’s an idea that turned out to be a BIG hit in our home! Â Read more
Mar 25
It is interesting to me that the egg is obviously present in both the celebration of Passover and that of Easter. There are many things that connect these two very important holidays. Perhaps that isn’t a coincidence given that the first Easter came at a time when Jesus, as all other Jews of the time, was celebrating Passover Himself. Read more
Mar 22
One of the best benefits of this season leading up to Passover is that there is matzo available almost everywhere in every market. Delicious by itself spread with butter, my favorite matzo dish is matzo brei…a sort of Jewish twist on French toast….yummy! Read more
Mar 21
Your mother or grandmother…especially if they happened to be southern…may have kept a can for collecting bacon grease on the back of the stove. Â You may have wondered where the tradition came from. Â Here’s your answer:)
Mar 20
It’s official…as of today Spring is here. Â And one of the best things about Spring is that with it comes more flowers. Â I love flowers, all kinds….any place , any time and for any reason. Â Yet the one place I have never enjoyed flowers is in my food. Â Read more
Mar 15
If there is an iconic food that everyone knows is associated with the Irish it would have to be the potato!
Mar 12
With only a few ingredients, only a little bit of time, and a very few pennies you can have a meal that tastes like a million bucks! Read more
Mar 8
Reading the title of this post you might have been expecting something people could ride on in a March 17th celebration parade in Boston. Â We have other tastier sorts of floats in mind:) Read more
Mar 6
If you asked most people what celery soup is, they would tell you that it comes in a can and is used in casseroles. Read more
Feb 27
Caramel has always been delicious but of late it is enjoying a new fashionability in food circles. Everywhere you turn these days there seems to be something about caramel, especially salted caramel.  And why not?  Who can resist the sweet sticky goodness that we call caramel:) Read more
Feb 21
 Oh, we all love cheese straws!  Most all of us have eaten and enjoyed  them, if not made them.  The lovely cheesy bites pictured here are the more sophisticated  cousin of the cheese straw. Read more
Feb 20
The most popular salad in America may well be the Caesar. Â Everyone seems to love this iconic salad. Â Making it at home is a lot easier than you may have thought. Read more
Feb 18
Last Thursday we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Â Do you have any idea just HOW MUCH chocolate was eaten? Read more
Feb 13
Tomorrow is the day we celebrate love. Â All kinds of love. Â Love is everywhere, even in the kitchen. And everyone loves pizza! Â This one is so easy to make, you can have it ready as fast as you can order delivery pizza. Â You don’t need any special kitchen equipment to shape it like a heart and when you do, you’ve got a fun and delicious way to celebrate LOVE:) Read more
Feb 11
Tomorrow is Mardi Gras…Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday when the season of Lent begins. Â If you happen to live in the south east especially in Louisiana, it is also the season for King Cake. Â Unless you are from this region or know someone who is, you may never have heard or known of King Cake. Â You will now, and you are in for a real treat! Read more
Feb 8
You surely know by now that Two Chums is all about love, joy and abundant living. Â We’ll get to that in a minute. Â First let’s talk about comfort. Â The comfort here relates to a comfort food …potato soup. Â Read more
Feb 6
Cobb Salad: One of the most famous dishes in American culinary history was created on the spur of the moment at the famous Brown Derby Restaurant in Hollywood. Read more
Feb 4
Today we have what can only be called a breakfast win/win. This is a way to use up old bread that is getting stale and make a delicious breakfast at the same time. Read more
Feb 1
Sunday is the Super Bowl. Â The whole country will be focused on New Orleans this Sunday. But if you ask me the football is secondary, the real celebration will be the food:) Read more
Jan 30
 There are many, many  delicious foods that are associated with southern cooking and with Mississippi in particular.  None is more iconic or tastier than Mississippi Mud Cake. Read more
Jan 29
How many times, when you are excited to make something, do you go to the larder and find that you do not have one of the main ingredients? Â Here is a list of a few things that you can substitute out that you might find helpful for the next time that happens. Read more
Jan 29
How many times, when you are excited to make something, do you go to the larder and find that you do not have one of the main ingredients? Â Here is a list of a few things that you can substitute out that you might find helpful for the next time that happens. Read more
Jan 25
Jan 24
If you have ever been to La Scala in Beverly Hills you know just how perfect a salad can be.  If you haven’t been fortunate enough to visit there yet, we have good news.  We have the recipe for the best chopped salad ever made! Read more
Jan 23
Ever wonder what to do with that lump of oatmeal after breakfast that no one ate? Â Here is one delicious and simple answer…Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Bread! Read more
Jan 22
Besides being a wonderfully sweet and tastey “nosh”, Â the pineapple has served as a symbol of hospitality and warm welcome through the history of the Americas. Read more
Jan 18
Chicken soup is synonymous for most people with being a homemade remedy for anything that’s got you down.  In the neighborhood I grew up in, and amongst some of my Jewish friends now, it is known as Jewish penicillin. Read more
Jan 16
Let’s face it, from time to time we all find ourselves with leftovers.  If there happens to be a lot left over, after a couple of meals we’re tired of whatever it was and ready to move on.  If there is only a little left, we have no idea what to do with it, but we feel guilty about  the idea of throwing away food.  So we wrap things up and put them aside or in the refrigerator where they sit until they become a science experiment, and we don’t feel so bad about throwing them away anymore.  Read more
Jan 11
How many little hands does it take to make a pie?  As many as you can get to help you would be my answer 🙂 Read more
Jan 4
The new year has begun and, for some of us, it’s time to get out of the rut of the meals we make week in and week out. Â Some repetition is good and some special meals feel like comfort food. But some dinners we make are the result of just not being able to come up with anything new. Read more
Jan 2
Your Two Cbums spent a wonderful evening at dear friends’ welcoming in the new year. Â It was a sweet evening – lots of grazing through wonderful appetizers and desserts!
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Dec 28
If there is anything you should know about your Two Chums, it would be that we love a celebration and we are very fond of traditions. Â Read more
Dec 27
New Year’s Eve is coming up quickly. Â Whether you are hosting a large party, an intimate gathering of friends, or you are headed to a potluck at your neighbor’s home, Â you will no doubt be sharing food along with some fun with your friends and family. Â And no matter what name you assign them – appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, or canapes – bite sized savory treats are sure to please! Read more
Dec 13
This week has been devoted to holiday traditions and memories. Â These are the things that connect us to our history and to each other. Â Food is a big part of that history and those special family memories. If you already have food traditions, nurture them and pass them on. Â If you don’t, now is a good time to begin creating them. Â And there is nothing like a special cookie that you make year to year to trigger the sweet memories of family gatherings. Â Â Read more
Dec 12
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Food is so much more than what we eat to sustain ourselves physically. Â It has the power to nurture us in many ways. For most of us there are foods that the sight, or smell, or certainly the taste of, can transport us back in time or to another place altogether or remind us of the people we love.
Dec 11
“What is a blintz?” many of you may be asking. Â It is a little pocket of yumminess, that’s what it is:) On this, the 4th day of Hanukkah we want to share with all our “chums” this very delicious treat that can be eaten for breakfast, brunch, lunch, a light supper or a late night snack. Â Read more
Dec 10
My maternal grandmother’s name was Willie.  My brothers, cousins and I called her ‘Nanner’, her grandmother name to us.  But her nieces and nephews called her “Aunt Bill”. Read more
Dec 3
When Father Christmas arrived at our house, he always found a plate of mince tarts and a tall, cold glass of milk. Read more
Nov 29
If you are a regular “chum” of ours you will probably remember my story about growing up in a very Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. Add to that the fact that I have a Jewish son-in-law, and two precious Jewish grandchildren, and you can see that my bond to Jewish people has only continued to grow stronger as the years go by. As a result I have a great respect and fondness for all things Jewish. Hannukah is no exception. Read more
Nov 28
What could possibly be better than a double chocolate cookie? Â Why, double the ways to eat it, of course:) Read more
Nov 21
On the day after Thanksgiving there is always the question of what to do with all the leftover turkey. Â We know this is the day BEFORE Thanksgiving but we have a suggestion that we think you and your family will really enjoy the day after….Turkey Pot Pie:) Read more
Nov 20
When most people think of a Thanksgiving pie they automatically think pumpkin. Â But in my family it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Pecan Pie:) Read more
Nov 17
 This week we have talked about chocolate, eggs, butter, and cheese.  Each of these things is wonderful and tasty by itself.  But put them all together and  you get ……Chocolate Cheese Cake of course!  It is hard to imagine a tastier result of this happy combination of yummy ingredients! Read more
Nov 15
People have been enjoying cheese for many, many, many years. Â It is not known exactly how many but it is believed that cheese was discovered accidentally between 8000 and 3000 BC.
Nov 14
Julia Childs is famous for having said in the unmistakeable voice of hers, “Fat tastes good!”  That is so true and truer still is the undeniable fact “Butter tastes good!”  Your Two Chums love our butter 🙂 Read more
Nov 13
If you are old enough, you will remember an ad campaign for eggs that touted “The Incredible Edibile Egg”. Â And incredible they are, for many reasons! Read more
Nov 11
It is odd to think of life without a good piece of chocolate! Â Although the peoples of the United States were introduced to drinking chocolate in the mid-1700’s, it was not until the mid-1800’s that they were able to enjoy chocolates, as we know them today, and not until later on in the 1800’s that milk chocolate was being made.
Nov 9
As the holidays approach, we all will either host or attend any numbers of parties and gatherings. Your Two Chums would like to offer you, over the next several weeks, some of our favorite cookie recipes to serve or give as hostess gifts. Â Today’s recipe offering is for Oatmeal Butterscotch cookies….aka Oatmeal Scotchies.
Nov 8
I learned to love apple crumble whilst at boarding school in England. Â It was one of my favorite deserts and, indeed, is served at many an English table. Â Read more
Nov 6
Two things seem to be quintessentially American…our democracy and apple pie 🙂
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Oct 31
When my youngest daughter, Amanda was little she couldn’t remember the word Halloween one year, so she just kept saying to everyone she saw “Happy Pumpkin Day!” Â She wasn’t entirely wrong. Â This is the day that all across this country we most associate with pumpkins. Â So besides the use of pumpkins for decorating, we wanted to give you one of our favorite pumpkin recipes…Pumpkin Bread. Read more
Oct 29
It is hard to resist a nice slice of pie…especially one that is this silky and sweet! Read more
Oct 26
Some years ago there was a wonderful restaurant spot off the beaten track, in Los Angeles, that was opened by the Lawry’s company called Lawry’s California Center. Â In addition to the restaurant, one could buy all the Lawry’s products there and see the history of this well known food empire. Â There was a lovely patio for dining and some very satisfying food that I enjoyed with my family from time to time. Â In particular there was a most delicious salad that was served with a cilantro dressing. Read more
Oct 24
“Chili concocted outside of Texas is usually a weak, apologetic imitation of the real thing. One of the first things I do when I get home to Texas is to have a bowl of red. There is simply nothing better.”
Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States Read more
Oct 23
In our home, as I think may be true in the homes of other Texans, pinto beans were a mainstay. I can hardly remember a day that there was not a big pot of beans simmering amongst other delights on the kitchen stove either in my grandparent’s kitchen or in my mother’s. Read more
Oct 19
One of our chums, Jan, sent us a great savvy secret for husking corn…we want to share it with you, our other chums 🙂
Oct 19
As the weather begins to cool down we all seem to look forward to certain signals that remind us it is Fall. Â Putting on our favorite sweaters, watching the leaves change color, seeing pumpkins appear on doorsteps and porches and the comfort of warming ourselves with soup.
Oct 16
No one seems to know exactly why this moist delicious cake is called Hummingbird Cake. Â But, there are many theories as to how it got the name. Read more
Oct 12
No matter what restaurant you go to in the South, you are bound to find Biscuits and Gravy on the menu. Â It is a favorite breakfast among Southerners. Â Who can resist a hot flaky biscuit fresh from the oven. Â Now add some creamy sausage gravy and it becomes even harder to turn down! Read more
Oct 8
The United States and Canada have many, many things in common and one of those things is that both countries celebrate Thanksgiving – one, on one given day, and the other, on another given day – each year. Â Read more
Oct 5
Whether you call it a Buckle, a Brown Betty or a Cobbler, the end result is the same……yummy deliciousness!
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Oct 4
One of the easiest and tastiest ways to prepare any food is roasting it.  But too often people are afraid of this method of cooking.  It may well be because we have all attended dinners or banquets where we were served the proverbial “rubber chicken”…a dry tasteless, tough, piece of meat.  If you are suffering from a fear of roast chicken, your Two Chums are here to help with that 🙂 Read more
Oct 3
OK, if you follow Two Chums everyday, by now you’ve realized this is “Chicken Week”. Â Today is the third installment in a week long line up of simple and tasty things you can make for dinner using chicken. Â Today it is Chicken Divan:)
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Oct 2
About 25+ years ago, my husband Randy and I, were at dinner with some great friends at an Asian restaurant in Beverly Hills. Â We hadn’t seen each other in several months, so as often happens, we were much more intent on catching up with each other than on reviewing the menu and selecting our dinner choices.
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Oct 1
Today I want to share with you one of my family’s favorite meals…..Chicken Stroganoff, a lighter version of the more well known beef stroganoff.  It is simple to prepare, can be made several days ahead of the time you plan to serve it, (it just gets better as it sits), and is one of those meals that after tasting it, people always request to have the recipe.  The way I happened to make it came about in one of those happy mishaps life sometimes gives us 🙂
Sep 25
Did you know that other than June, the most popular month to get married is October? Â Maybe you or someone you know is getting married this Fall or having an engagement party or celebrating an anniversary. Â If so, we have some fun ideas for treats to serve your guests.
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Sep 14
Now who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie? Â Everyone has their favorite recipe and if they don’t have a special one they defer to the one on the back of the bag of Nestle’s Toll House chocolate chips. Â It is a good recipe, but I think there is a better one.
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Sep 12
Nothing sets the tone for a lovely evening like some yummy hors d’oeuvres to start your party when you are hosting family and friends.  And if they happen to be really easy to make and easy to eat….well …all the better 🙂
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Sep 7
A picture is worth a thousand words….if you like Key Lime Pie you’ll love this recipe. Â It is quite simply the best!
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Sep 3
Labor Day is a legal national holiday dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. Â It has evolved into a general “last fling of summer” festival.
It started as a parade in honor of the working class by the Knights of Labor in 1882 in New York. The parade was held on the first Monday in September and was designated by them as Labor Day as it has continued to be known.
All over this country today, people will be having cookouts and celebrate the holiday with hot dogs.  Where  you are living in this great country of ours will dictate just what kind of dogs you will enjoy 🙂
Aug 31
All this week we have brought you a “potpourri” of  subjects.  We want to finish out this week with a recipe that will allow you to make a potpourri of shortcakes.
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Aug 24
Summer is almost over, a new season is starting, and school is back in session! Â As you know, your Two Chums firmly believe in celebrating the good and so what better time to do just that? Â Â We are celebrating the wonderful time we have had all summer and all that the months ahead have in store. Read more
Aug 22
Maybe the hardest thing about back to school for all mothers is packing lunches….particularly if you happen to have a picky eater.
Aug 17
OK I know you’re thinking this must have been a typo right? Because, after all, you must be wondering what kind of cup cake you can possibly make in 3 minutes!
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Aug 3
The word sandwich was born in London one night in 1762 when an English nobleman, John Montagu, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792), was too busy gambling to stop for a meal even though he was hungry for some food. Read more
Aug 2
Our thought, this week, is automatically going to London where the amazing Olympics are being staged…..and, when one thinks of London, if one likes to shop, the first two shops that  come to mind are Harrods and Fortnum and Mason.
Jul 27
Ready, set, go. Â London is ready and the world is waiting to see the Opening Ceremonies of the XXX Olympic Games tonight. Â Televisions are tuned, DVR’s are set to record, sofa cushions are fluffed and eyes agog! Â Everything is ready. Â All we need now is a Gold Medal snack.
Jul 23
When the dog days of summer kick in and you can’t seem to escape the heat, having something that is both cool and refreshing and is simple and easy to prepare is a treat for everyone to enjoy.  One of those special treats is what the Mexicans call agua fresca….fresh water.
Jul 13
There are so many wonderful ways to use fresh herbs whether from your own garden or a neighbor’s or friend’s garden, or from the local farmers’ market or grocery store. So today we are going to share just a few of our favorites with you.
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Jul 12
As you know, your Two Chums love the idea of sitting down and penning a note to convey their feelings but there is another, very fun, way to do exactly that…… through herbs and flowers. Read more
Jul 9
As I have mentioned previously, my darling father was an international banker and oh, what a wonderful life that afforded our family! Read more
Jul 5
Well it’s summer and no matter what meal you are planning, it would probably be better with some corn.
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Jul 2
Just 2 more days until people all over the country fire up their grills and barbeques for the country’s celebration of Independence Day, July 4th! Â Here are some helpful hints, better known by your Two Chums as Savvy Secrets….. for grilling….. Read more
Jun 29
Red, white and blue sangria, that is! Â All over this country this weekend, grills will be lit and barbeques readied as the celebration of our independence begins.
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Jun 27
Nothing is better in summer than sweet, ripe, delicious fruit. Earlier this week we wrote about peaches. Today we are talking about melons….specifically how to pick a good melon and then how to cut it.
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Jun 25
I love peaches. There are few things that say “summer” to me as much as a sweet, ripe peach. I am talking about the kind of peach that is so juicy you have to eat it over the sink or holding a napkin under your chin because the juice runs down your face when you bite into it. The kind of peach that is so sweet your fingers and hands are all sticky when you’re done. But you probably don’t even care because you feel like you just had a little taste of heaven. Just the fragrance that a bowl of ripe peaches gives off makes me happy. So today I am going to share some “peachy” drinks that I love and hope that you might enjoy them too.
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Jun 22
Now I ask you…..what could possibly be wrong with anything that combines, cookies, coffee, brandy, cocoa, and the creamy deliciousness of mascarpone cheese? Â Before you even taste it you KNOW you are going to love it!
Jun 19
This week we are exploring some of our favorite things. Yesterday we talked about childhood memories of swinging, one of our favorite summer joys. Today we want to share one of our favorite breakfast foods…Lemon Ricotta Pancakes.
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Jun 15
Whatever else goes on this weekend, Sunday is the national day for celebrating our fathers. Â And what could be better for doing that than to offer your father, or the father of your children something sweet and delicious?
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Jun 8
Well the week of celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II is coming to a close. Â In Britain and throughout the Commonwealth countries the celebrations will continue all year. Â But here at Two Chums we will move on to other subjects and just quietly continue to celebrate this monumental occasion. Â To close out the week we wanted to give you the very recipe for the chicken that was served at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation celebration 60 years ago…..thus the name…Coronation Chicken. Read more
Jun 6
As you have surely figured out by now, we are unashamedly fans and admirers of Her Majesty the Queen, and love knowing about all things “Royal”. Â We are assuming there are some of you who visit us here at Two Chums who just might feel the same. Â So we can’t help ourselves this week as we celebrate this most happy and extraordinary week for the subjects of the Queen who live all over the globe , Jackie being one of them as a Canadian citizen. Â Monday we shared some facts about the Queen but today here are some more fun facts ….or savvy secrets about Queen Elizabeth you may not know….including the recipe for the Christmas Pudding she gives as gifts every year….jolly good:)
1. She doesn’t have a passport.
Despite being history’s most widely traveled head of state—she has reportedly visited 116 countries during her 60-year reign—Elizabeth does not hold a passport. Since all British passports are issued in the queen’s name, she herself doesn’t need one. She also doesn’t require a driver’s license, though she has been known to take joyrides around her various estates in her Range Rover. Read more