The Staff of Life – Or Is It?
If you read or listen to any news regarding food you can’t help but be aware of the controversy surrounding bread or more specifically wheat. Read more
May 31
3 Comments
May 30
Savvy Secrets – Yes, We Have More!
Yes we do! Oh, how we absolutely love sharing these helpful hints with all of our Chums. Read more
May 29
The Lincoln/Kennedy Coincidence
Today John F. Kennedy would have turned 96 years old. There are some amazing similarities between former Presidents Abraham LIncoln and John F. Kennedy. See what you think! Read more
May 28
Spa At Home – Detox Bath
Most of us would love the chance to have the day at a spa to relax and refresh ourselves, but not all of us have the time or the money to make that fantasy a reality. Now you can create the experience of a healthy detoxing bath in your own home!
Read more
May 27
Never Give Up – Just Let Go Chapter 2
As we mentioned last Monday, we are continuing our “series” of “Never Give Up – Just Let Go”. The things we should “just let go” of in order to “Never Give Up” on the good. Read more
May 24
The Last Full Measure Of Devotion
Abraham Lincoln in his famous Gettysburg Address referred to the slain warriors as having given “the last full measure of devotion”. Such a poignant few words and, oh, how true they are! Read more
May 23
Ever The Same
Why is it, you might ask, that period pieces such as the PBS Masterpiece series“Mr. Selfridge” that is currently on television and “Call The Midwife” are so very popular? “Downtown Abbey”, which is in between seasons at the moment, took this country by storm – everyone was talking about it and one quickly realized that it was near the top of the “Most Popular” list!
May 22
Hot Dog – Memorial Day is Coming
What could possibly be better than an all American hot dog?…a hot dog with a side of bacon! Read more
May 21
Savvy Secrets for the Bathroom
It seems we can all use some freshing up in our bathrooms or guest bathrooms from time to time. So we found some lovely ideas for doing just that at Martha Stewart and Real Simple and we wanted to share them with our chums 🙂 Read more
May 20
Never Give In – Just Let Go Chapter 1
This past week, one of our good chums, Pam, posted something on her Facebook page that caught our attention and made us ponder just what things we, your chums, are hanging on to that may be keeping us from becoming all we were meant to be. Read more
May 17
Crunchy Chickpeas
Sometimes nothing but a crunchy, salty, snack is the only thing that will satisfy you…especially with a cold drink or a nice glass of wine. But maybe you’re tired of potato chips or peanuts….OK nobody ever really gets tired of potato chips…Lays made a fortune on their ad campaign based around “Nobody can eat just one!” Read more
May 16
Salad Days – Shrimp Rice Salad 4 Ways
Don’t you just love things you can make ahead of time and with only a couple of slight ingredient variations have 4 very different tasty meals? Read more
May 15
Cover Your ‘Phone – Make It Your Own
“What did we do before cell ‘phones?” is the question! It is hard now to imagine life without them – they are involved in so much of what we do.
May 14
Keep Calm – It’s Tea Time!
Tea time in England, where I grew up, was not something that was reserved for a “special occasion” or getting together with friends but was a meal that was enjoyed EVERY day! Read more
May 13
Savvy Secrets for the Kitchen
No matter how experienced (or inexperienced) you are in the kitchen, everyone can use a good tip now and again….10 good tips, or as we like to call them, Savvy Secrets, are just ten times better! Read more
May 12
May 10
Breaking News : You’re the Best, Mom!
Think about it…by the time you were 18 years old your mother had served you breakfast somewhere in the neighborhood of 6,000 times! This Mother’s Day is your chance to return the favor 🙂
Read more
May 9
A Rose By Any Other Name
As the quote from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet goes, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. Here’s an idea…another name for those beautiful roses could be “sweet and thoughtful gift”. Read more
May 8
Elizabethan Or Charlesian? That Is The Question!
In this 1960 photograph, it seemed such a far way off that Charles would take over as Monarch from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Read more
May 7
Did You Know – Vodka
Vodka is known as one of the world’s most popular spirits. But did you know that vodka also has a long history of use as medicine? Over the years it has been sold to cure everything from infertility to colic and the plague. While not all of its touted uses over the years are viable, it is true that vodka has a wide range of potential uses beyond just being served as a social beverage. Read more
May 6
Avocados – Not Just on Cinco de Mayo!
Even though Cinco de Mayo is the time that the most avocados are sold, we love them all year long! There is NO time during the year that we do not love these wonderful yummies! So, just because Cinco de Mayo has come and gone, be sure to have a good stock of avocados in your pantry or refrigerator. They are so good for you as well as tasting great!
May 3
Homemade Tortillas – Olé
This weekend Mexicans, and anyone who likes Mexican food, will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Mexican restaurants across the country will be jammed. Most people there may not even know the history or meaning behind this very popular Mexican holiday. What they do know is that it is a great excuse to to have a Corona or a margarita…eat some chips and guacamole…and of course have that quintessential Mexcian food, the tortilla! Read more
May 2
The Sport of Queens
Saturday will mark the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby, the race always run on the first Saturday in May. Horse racing has long been referred to as ‘the sport of kings”. That may be true, but at this horse race anyway, “hat watching” could be called “the sport of queens”. Read more
May 1
Bring May Flowers
Today is May Day and flowers are in bloom everywhere….even on this delicious Bavarian Cream Cake! Read more
Apr 30
April Showers
It is that time of year…not the rainy season, but the time when brides-to-be everywhere are being celebrated at bridal showers. Your Two Chums were delighted to be guests recently at an absolutely lovely shower in honor of a beautiful bride-to-be, Megan. Her mother, aunts and grandmothers are our dear chums! Read more
Apr 29
Have You “Toilled” Lately?
And by that, we do not mean have you “labored” lately, as depicted in this wonderful piece of fabric, but have you used toile fabric to decorate lately? Read more
Apr 26
Shabbat Kugel
Today is Friday and in the Jewish tradition, that means that sundown tonight begins the weekly observance of Shabbat and in many Jewish homes, the tasty treat known as kugel. Read more
Apr 25
Mirror Mirror
You no doubt remember the question the “beautiful” queen asked of her mirror in the classic Disney movie, Snow White. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Few of us would ask that question expecting that the mirror would answer us at all much less tell us that we were the fairest, most beautiful. I came across a very interesting video made by Dove soap that examines how women see themselves versus how others see them. Read more
Apr 24
Savvy Secrets – Baking Soda Secrets!
Well, we all know the value of keeping a box of baking soda in our refrigerators to take care of horrid smells but ….. here are lots more uses for that same baking soda! Read more
Apr 23
Apr 22
Salad Days – All Dressed Up
With Spring already here and Summer fast approaching, it seems we all eat a lot more salads. But what are all those tasty salads wearing? Read more
Apr 19
Say Cheese – Grilled Cheese That Is
Did you know that April is Grilled Cheese month? It would appear that the favorite of all sandwiches…the grilled cheese….has come a long way baby! Read more
Apr 18
Savvy Secrets – Spring Cleaning
It’s that time of year again and your home is just waiting for that annual domestic ritual….Spring cleaning. Here are some great savvy secrets to make your work easier and things sparkle 🙂
Apr 17
She Left Us So Much – Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy
If we had to pick five people in the world who had left their mark on fashion, certainly Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy would be one of those five! Read more
Apr 16
No Red, No Blue – Just Red, White and Blue
In the wake of yesterday’s horrific events in Boston, we find ourselves once again faced with unexpected, unforeseen tragedy. Read more
Apr 16
If You Go Down To The Woods Today….
- Teddy Bears’ Picnic
If you go down to the woods today,
You’re sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today,
You’d better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.
Picnic time for teddy bears;
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch us catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily gad about.
They love to play and shout,
They never have any cares.
At six o’clock their mummies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they’re tired little teddy bears.
But….do you know how the “teddy bear” got its name? Read more
Apr 15
Anchors Away!
There is nothing like the timeless “sailor suit” made popular by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales in 1846. A the age of four, he was given a miniature copy of the of the uniform worn by the crew on the Royal Yacht. Read more
Apr 12
Sweet Scotland – Shortbread
Whether you call them biscuits or cookies, you can always call them delicious! If I had only one kind of cookie I could have for the rest of my life, I believe this would be the one. I am confident my dear chum Jackie would say it would be hers 🙂 Read more
Apr 11
Did You Know This About Scotland?
Continuing on with our “Scottish” week, we found some interesting and fun facts about Scotland that we thought you all might enjoy. Read more
Apr 10
Balmoral – The Queen’s Scottish Retreat
“A Victorian fantasy in the Scottish Highlands”, Balmoral Castle is the place the Queen calls “home” during the summer of any given year. Read more
Apr 9
A Tribute to “The Iron Lady”
We heard yesterday of the passing of one of the world’s most renowned women, Margaret Thatcher – otherwise known as “The Iron Lady” – the lady who, virtually single handedly, re-routed a falling nation and put it back on its feet with her tireless dedication.
Apr 8
Tartans and What They Mean
This being “Scotland Week”, Americans and Canadians alike are celebrating their Scottish heritage in all sorts of ways. Last Saturday, in New York, there was the Tartan Parade where people in all sorts of tartans and bands of bagpipes and drums walked the streets. Read more
Apr 5
Hummus Three Ways
Everyone knows the goodness of classic hummus as a spread on sandwiches and of course as a dip. Lots of “hummus love” out there:) Today we want to give you more ways to love hummus! Read more
Apr 4
Homemade Pita Chips
In the world of crackers and chips, the up and coming favorite seems to be the pita chip. Read more
Apr 3
Apr 2
A Slice Of Chocolate Heaven
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
Apr 1
The History of Today
Have you read in the news about the fact that they have now discovered that the world is, in fact, flat? Read more
Mar 29
Lavender Shortbread -An Easter Treat
Have you ever noticed that just like fashion, or music, or the genre of TV shows, even food is subject to trends? Lavender seems to be one of those culinary trends that is popular right now. As Easter approaches these shortbread cookies scented with lavender could just be the crowning treat at your Easter gathering 🙂 Read more
Mar 28
Top Off Your Outfit With A Hat!
Growing up in England, it was very commonplace to see ladies, and gentlemen for that matter, in hats. My darling Mother wore hats all the time. A lot of luncheons she attended called for a hat and definitely when my parents went to the races, be it Ascot, the Derby or any other special one, she would always have a wonderful hat on her head with Father beside her in his top hat and tails. Read more
Mar 27
Spring Break Pizza Milkshake Movie Party
Looking for something fun and memorable to do with your family over this Spring Break? Here’s an idea that turned out to be a BIG hit in our home! Read more
Mar 26
Ah Yes, Fabergé
When I think of eggs, the first thing that comes to my mind are those wonderful, absolutely exquisite, Fabergé eggs!
Mar 25
Passover and Easter -The Egg
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
Matzo Brei – A Passover Treat
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
Did You Know – Bacon Grease
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. You may have wondered where the tradition came from. Here’s your answer:)
Mar 20
Spring – A Taste For Something Floral
It’s official…as of today Spring is here. And one of the best things about Spring is that with it comes more flowers. I love flowers, all kinds….any place , any time and for any reason. Yet the one place I have never enjoyed flowers is in my food. Read more
Mar 19
That’s My NAME!
Years ago when Robin and Randy took a trip to London they came home with so many wonderful goodies. They had gone just before Christmas and so had done a lot of Christmas shopping whilst there. Read more
Mar 18
Francis: A Pope For The People
Why are even those of us who aren’t Catholic surprised and delighted by this new leader of the Catholic Church? Perhaps it is because Pope Francis’ familiar, “regular guy” style has already made a down-to-earth impression on the world. Read more
Mar 15
The Potato -What Could Be More Irish?
If there is an iconic food that everyone knows is associated with the Irish it would have to be the potato!
Mar 14
Mar 13
The Infamous Tube
All of you who have visited London, whether you actually used it or not, knows of the wonderful London Tube! London’s underground train system, commonly called “The Tube” celebrated its 150th birthday in January of this year. Read more
Mar 12
Soup’s On – Split Pea Soup
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 11
Rock-A-Bye “Royal” Baby
The world is in love with this darling couple and so happy for them as they anticipate the birth of their first child who will one day be the king or queen of England. Other than the question of whether this baby will be a boy or girl, or even possibly twins, the question many have, is what will the royal baby’s nursery look like. Read more
Mar 8
St. Paddy’s Day Floats
Reading the title of this post you might have been expecting something people could ride on in a March 17th celebration parade in Boston. We have other tastier sorts of floats in mind:) Read more
Mar 7
Mar 6
Leftovers 411 – Celery Soup
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
Mar 5
Did You Know -Why We Say That? (Part 2)
We all uses terms and phrases everyday and never know where they came from or what the origin of them is. From time to time we like to shed some light on some of these sayings and share what their origins are. Read more
Mar 4
Finding Treasures
Meet Mr. Chin. He is my latest “find” and, oh how we are welcoming him into our home!
Mar 1
Feb 28
Know Yourself
How very important it is to really know yourself….know what you are made of, all of the wonderful qualities that come together to make you you! Read more
Feb 27
Salted Caramel Candies
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 26
Did You Know – Cinnamon and Honey
Some really good and interesting info has come out regarding the healing properties of Cinnamon and Honey. Read more
Feb 25
A Night With Oscar
As we are getting up, Hollywood’s royalty is no doubt just heading to bed. Last night was the Academy Awards…the biggest celebration for Tinseltown and those who populate it….we celebrated right along with them!
Feb 22
George Washington
Oh, what a kind face this gentleman has. George Washington – a household name in our world – was the first President of the United States of America and he took his job very seriously!
Feb 21
Crackers for Oscar
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
Salad Days – Classic Caesar Salad
The most popular salad in America may well be the Caesar. Everyone seems to love this iconic salad. Making it at home is a lot easier than you may have thought. Read more
Feb 19
Savvy Secrets – WD 40
Who knew there were so many uses for this simple household product? We’ll bet you have some of this absolute treasure in a cupboard or in your garage right now!
Feb 18
No Guilt Chocolate
Last Thursday we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Do you have any idea just HOW MUCH chocolate was eaten? Read more
Feb 15
Did You Know? – Why We Say That
We use some phrases commonly and most of us never stop to think about what they really mean or where it is they came from. Here are some clues as to why we say what we say. Read more
Feb 14
Feb 13
Pizza Love
Tomorrow is the day we celebrate love. All kinds of love. Love is everywhere, even in the kitchen. And everyone loves pizza! This one is so easy to make, you can have it ready as fast as you can order delivery pizza. 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 12
Honest Abe
Abraham Lincoln was one of the great demonstrators of the term “the American Dream”. Being born to illiterate farmers who lived, at the time, in a one-room log cabin, Honest Abe, as he was known, rose to be one of America’s greats, ending slavery and, against all odds, keeping the country united. Read more
Feb 11
King For A Day
Tomorrow is Mardi Gras…Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday when the season of Lent begins. If you happen to live in the south east especially in Louisiana, it is also the season for King Cake. Unless you are from this region or know someone who is, you may never have heard or known of King Cake. You will now, and you are in for a real treat! Read more
Feb 8
Comfort and Love, Joy and Abundant Living
You surely know by now that Two Chums is all about love, joy and abundant living. We’ll get to that in a minute. First let’s talk about comfort. The comfort here relates to a comfort food …potato soup. Read more
Feb 7
Hearts Full of Color
Homemade crayon hearts. Make them yourself or with your little ones and you’ll not only make some beautiful crayons, you’ll make some great fun. Every mother or grandmother needs a project like this that she can pull out of her special “bag of tricks” 🙂
Read more
Feb 6
Salad Days – The Cobb Salad
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 5
Feb 4
Leftovers 411 – Baked French Toast Casserole
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
French Quarter Cheese – It’s Super!
Sunday is the Super Bowl. 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 31
Through The Years – Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
What a darling little girl Elizabeth, or Lillibet as she was called by her family, was! Winston Churchill described Elizabeth when she was two as “a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant”. Little did she know, at this young age, that she would one day become Queen of England. Not only that, but she would prove to be one of the longest reigning monarchs, if not the longest, ever! Read more
Jan 30
Mississippi Mud Cake
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
Can’t Find It? Just Substitute!
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? 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
Can’t Find It? Substitute!
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? 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 28
Let Them Play With The Dough
There are few things that all of us share as memories of childhood but it seems that play dough is one of them. There is something so soothing about playing with that smooth, soft dough. Rolling it into long “ropes” and squishing it between our fingers, many of us could pass many happy hours just playing with our play dough. Read more
Jan 25
Amanda’s Blueberry Muffins
“And they ate blueberry muffins and lived happily ever after.” If this could be the ending to a fairy tale that you would enjoy being part of, then this is your happy day!
Jan 24
Salad Days – The Classic Chopped Salad
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
Leftovers 411 – Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Ever wonder what to do with that lump of oatmeal after breakfast that no one ate? Here is one delicious and simple answer…Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Bread! Read more
Jan 22
The Pineapple
Besides being a wonderfully sweet and tastey “nosh”, the pineapple has served as a symbol of hospitality and warm welcome through the history of the Americas. Read more
Jan 21
MLK & Inauguration Day
Today we reflect on the impact that Dr. Martin Luther King had on us as a society and a nation. And we inaugurate our 44th president. Read more
Jan 18
Chicken Soup – Good For What Ails You
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
