Sep 14
Now who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie? 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. It is a good recipe, but I think there is a better one.
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Sep 13
Napkins have been around longer than you may think. The ancient Romans are known to have used cloth napkins to protect from food spill and to wipe the mouth. The guests at a dinner brought their own napkins and carried away left-over food in them. With the fall of Roman Empire, napkins disappeared from the dining table.
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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 11
Everyone likes to feel wanted. That is why Jackie and I feel so strongly about using place cards when we invite anyone to a gathering where we will be sitting down to a meal. They tell the person whose name is on the card “we’re glad you are here and we planned on you coming.” Besides that, place cards can be just plain fun to design and make!
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Sep 10
Ten minutes before my guests arrive, I like to go around and light all of the candles. Candles create a wonderful atmosphere in your home, both, because of the light they produce and, if they are scented, the perfume they give off. Read more
Sep 7
A picture is worth a thousand words….if you like Key Lime Pie you’ll love this recipe. It is quite simply the best!
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Sep 6
You might be thinking that your Two Chums, or at least this Chum, has a foot fetish. We have mentioned ways to help your feet look better several times in the last several weeks. Here is one more…so now you can be sure I have a foot fetish 🙂
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Sep 5
We started this week with Labor Day and a time to remember those who serve in the work force, which hopefully is, or has been, most of us. So this week on Two Chums, our posts are about things somehow related to “Labor”. Yesterday we offered some info on some products that can make work at home easier.
But today I want to share with you the joy and benefits of another kind of labor…that of caring for our children and grandchildren.
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Sep 4
What to do with all of those plastic bags that you receive when buying different items at the store? We have found this wonderful way to store them! Read more
Sep 3
Labor Day is a legal national holiday dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. 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 30
If you were asked if you speak French, you might feel that your answer would have to be “no” but, in fact, there are words and phrases that we use in the English language all the time which are definitely French.
Aug 29
Most people these days take showers but there is nothing better than the occasional good soak in the bath tub…..and, even better, a good soak with some wonderfully scented bath salts. Read more
Aug 28
Here is a potpourri of very interesting historical facts that you more than likely have never heard about. It will help you to understand some of the phrases and terms we commonly use but maybe have never thought about their meanings or origins until now….
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Aug 27
One of our chums, Lisa, shared this potpourri of very useful Savvy Secrets and now we are passing it on to you, the rest of our chums 🙂
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Aug 24
Summer is almost over, a new season is starting, and school is back in session! As you know, your Two Chums firmly believe in celebrating the good and so what better time to do just that? We are celebrating the wonderful time we have had all summer and all that the months ahead have in store. Read more
Aug 23
Oh, the joys of reading! Nothing better than sitting down with a good book quietly and imbibing its contents. Actually, there IS something better, in our minds, and that is sitting down with our grandchildren, our little ones, and reading books to THEM.
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 21
When I was told at a particular school that there was no PTA, I knew that this was not the school for our son, Trevor! Read more
Aug 20
Oh it is that time again! Backpacks and lunch boxes are reappearing as the first day of school approaches. And in nearly every store you enter you see mothers and children shopping for back to school necessities.
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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 16
“Never lose your ability to be awed”….that was the caption on an ad Jackie and I saw recently. It sparked a conversation between us about staying childlike in our approach to each day.
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Aug 15
If you liked the list we gave you on Monday for some creative personal and household uses for vinegar, you’re going to love this list!
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Aug 14
Your Two Chums really do love to have fresh flowers around, either those cut from the garden or bought at the Flower Market or grocery store. Obviously, a plant lasts much longer than cut flowers and a favorite of ours is the orchid. Read more
Aug 13
It’s no secret, that whenever possible, your Two Chums like to use simple and natural products. So we were thrilled to come across so many great uses for that bottle of distilled white vinegar you have in your cupboard.
Aug 10
We all need to stop and rest from time to time. This comes easier and more naturally to some of us than to others. Until a few weeks ago I was one of those who resided in the “I’ll rest when I die” camp. Oh, I would claim that I could rest, or would rest, as soon as________(you fill in the blank), but those closest to me weren’t fooled by my announcements of having rested or of my plans to do so soon.
Aug 9
For two weeks the world has been watching as young men and women have put it all on the line to try to prove that they are the best at what they have been trained to do. We have had a front row seat to the “thrill of victory” and the “agony of defeat”.
Aug 8
There are two kinds of English….the original, the one spoken in England, and the one we speak here in America. Your Two Chums have fun comparing words used that are completely different but mean exactly the same thing.
Jackie grew up in England and Robin here in Southern California. We thought it would be a fun exercise to show you, through two letters saying exactly the same thing, how two completely different words can mean exactly the same thing. The first letter will be the British English version and the second, the American English version. Here’s your chance to see how good of an English translator you really are. Read more
Aug 7
Over the last two weeks we have been linking our posts here at Two Chums, to topics that are in some way related to the Olympics. So, you might be asking yourself what coconut has to do with the Olympics or The Sweet Smell Of Success….a good question, so allow me to explain.
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Aug 6
Who knew of the many uses of a cucumber? We were amazed when one of our Chums, Wendy, sent us this list of fantastic uses for cucumbers and felt that you should all know about them as well.
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.
Aug 1
Jordyn Weiber demonstrated superb sportsmanship on Sunday when, in front of the whole world, she failed to qualify to compete in the All Around for gymnastics. It was especially difficult for Jordyn as she is the reigning World Champion. Read more
Jul 31
Whether you’re an Olympic athlete or a Mom on the run, we all need to pay attention to our feet. Read more
Jul 30
Jul 27
Ready, set, go. London is ready and the world is waiting to see the Opening Ceremonies of the XXX Olympic Games tonight. Televisions are tuned, DVR’s are set to record, sofa cushions are fluffed and eyes agog! Everything is ready. All we need now is a Gold Medal snack.
Jul 26
1908, 1948 and now 2012! These are the years that London has played genteel host to the Olympics and yes, by Jove, London is ready! There has been much question about whether she would be ready but, of course, in total British fashion, she IS ready to greet her guests and we have no doubt that it will be a wonderful few weeks.
Jul 25
Today it is my turn to celebrate a very dear lady …….. Robin Northrup, my Chum! And such an amazing lady she is! Read more
Jul 25
August is quickly approaching and for many that means summer vacation and traveling with children. Jackie and I have a bit of experience with this, both with our own children and now with our grandchildren. So we have some ideas that might be helpful if you’re about to pack up and head for a fun and relaxing destination.
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Jul 24
Whether you are taking a summer’s weekend away, going on a two-week holiday across the country or traveling to London to the Olympics, a good packing job will help ensure that you look your best at the other end. Read more
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 20
As you can tell, your Two Chums see great value in a new coat of paint and that is not only on their walls and furniture but also on their lips!
Jul 19
One of the things I have come to enjoy over the years is painting furniture. There is a real satisfaction in being able to take an old and tired piece and make it truly better than new.
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Jul 18
Today we continue our week of painting ideas and tips by taking a look at applying glaze to the walls of a room to achieve a faux finish. So pretty, and easier than you might think to do yourself.
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Jul 17
This week we are looking at things that can be transformed with paint….walls, furniture, bathtubs….wait…bathtubs? Well the bathtubs aren’t exactly painted in the traditional sense, but they can be transformed with a technique that looks like painting and gives the appearance of a whole new tub!
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Jul 16
Your Two Chums love to paint! Painting completely makes things new! Through the years, we have learned many things about painting and want to share some of those tips with you. Read more
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 11
All this week we have been focusing on one of our favorite garden topics…herbs.
If you are growing herbs in your garden or in a terra cotta pot kitchen garden, you may not need to store them as you can cut just as much as you need for any given meal. But if you are buying herbs at the local farmer’s market or the grocery store or Trader Joe’s, you will want to store whatever unused portion is left to have for another day. Below are some tips for how to best store a few common herbs and keep them fresh as long as possible. Though you can wrap and store them in the refrigerator, I have found that keeping them in a cool place in one inch of water in a small glass keeps them fresh long enough for you to use them. If you think they are about to start wilting, use them up with some of the suggestions listed below.
If you have some ideas or experience with herbs you are willing to tell us about please write to us by clicking on the little envelope icon at the right side of the website or leave a comment in the comment section. We want to share your good ideas with all our chums for more joy, more love and much more abundant leaving for all. 🙂
Basil and Mint
Storing it: Keep at room temperature in a glass of water for up to a week
How to use it up: Mince and combine with sugar for an aromatic fruit topping.
Chives
Storing it: In a sealed plastic bag in the crisper for 1 to 2 weeks.
How to use it up: Chop and combine with softened unsalted butter; drop chunks on top of just-cooked steaks, pork chops, or fish.
Cilantro or Parsley
Storing it: In the refrigerator wrapped in plastic for up to 5 days.
How to use it up: Puree 1 cup leaves with 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 clove garlic to make a pesto; use on pasta or as a dip for bread.
Rosemary
Storing it: In the refrigerator in a sealed plastic bag for up to 5 days.
How to use it up: Whole branches make a perfect bed for roasted vegetables, or tuck them into the cavity of a chicken or other bird before roasting.
Sage
Storing it: In an unsealed plastic bag in the crisper for 3 to 5 days.
Use it up: Saute in butter until the butter browns and then store in refrigerator as a sauce for pork or chicken.
Thyme
Storing it: In an unsealed plastic bag in the crisper for up to 1 week.
How to use it up: Add chopped leaves to a skillet of sausage or bacon.
Jul 10
This week all of our posts will be about herbs in one way or another. Today we want to talk about how to grow herbs. Growing herbs is not hard at all, in fact a child can do it. My 8 year old grandson, Jeremy, actually planted the parsley plant pictured here on my kitchen window sill. He started the plant from seeds in a little dixie cup and as they sprouted and began to grow, we transfered them to this terra cotta pot. In he walked, one day after school, and beaming he announced, “Lolli (my grandma name) this is for you. I planted some parsley and I wanted you to have it because you love to cook and I thought you would really like to have it in your kitchen.” He was so excited and I was so proud of him. There is something very satisfying, no matter what your age, about putting some seeds in the dirt, adding some water and in a few days watching the little sprouts pop their heads up out of the soil looking for some rays of sunlight. I love Jeremy and I love having this special reminder of him in my kitchen greeting me every morning.
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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 6
If you grew up in the Baby Boomer era you no doubt remember that consummate icon of summer ….the Good Humor Ice Cream truck.
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 4
On this day that we celebrate our freedoms and independence, it seemed fitting to consider the words of wisdom from a great American and arguably our finest President….Abraham Lincoln. There is a bounty of quotes attributed to our 16th Commander in Chief, each of them wise and profound in it’s own way.
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Jul 3
When most people hear the term “barbeque” or “barbecue” or just “BBQ” they think of someone standing over a grill with flames, flipping burgers or steaks. Yet as anyone with southern origins will tell you, that is “grillin”…..REAL barbeque is something very different. Real barbeque is a slow method of cooking that involves smoke and a lot of time and eventually produces tender, succulent, flavorful goodness that can’t be rushed. Depending on where in the south you are, pork or beef will be the meat of choice and of course there is the difference in sauces regionally as well. But at the end of the day any meat slow cooked and infused with smokey flavor is delicious no matter which part of the country it comes from.
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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! 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! 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 28
The 4th of July is just around the corner and everywhere across this great country we will see the flag proudly being flown. In 1906 George M. Cohan penned the words to the popular song about our flag that will be heard again and again in the next few days:
You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
I feel a swell of pride each time I see an American flag flying and waving in the breeze and even more so on July 4th when flags are flown everywhere. Today we wanted to help you brush up on info about our flag, share some things you may not know, and the give you the official etiquette for flying our national colors.
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 26
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? Before you even taste it you KNOW you are going to love it!
Jun 21
Our “favorites” week continues today with my favorite centenarian….my mother’s first cousin, Douglas Manning. Douglas is the son of my grandfather’s older sister, Janie. This past weekend my mother and I, and two of my cousins traveled from California to Yoakum, Texas to celebrate his 100th birthday.
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Jun 20
As we continue this week with “favorite things”, today we want to share with you our favorite birthday memories. Jackie’s birthday last year was a very special one that we all were thrilled to be able to celebrate with her and to surprise her as well.
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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 18
Summer holds so many special memories for me. As a child I spent a lot of time at family gatherings. My mother’s family was especially large, she had 67 first cousins! So there were always relatives visiting from somewhere in Texas, and all those who had made their way west and were living in California, would gather to welcome them, eat lots of good food, swap stories, sing, talk some more, eat some more, and if you were lucky enough to be a child, play all afternoon uninterrupted because the adults were too busy laughing and talking and eating to care about what you were doing.
Whenever the gathering happened to be at my Aunt Rhoda’s home, I knew the afternoon would include two things: homemade ice cream and a trip to the neighborhood park to swing on the tallest swing I had ever seen. I could spend hours on that swing, climbing through the air up into the trees and overlooking rooftops so that I felt like a bird soaring through the air. Sometimes someone would notice how high my swing was going and call out “too high” and I would have to slow my swinging down until they were busy talking again and didn’t notice.
There was something about swinging that felt exhilarating and calming all at the same time. So I made a mental note that someday when I had my own home I wanted to have a swing that would be ever at the ready for any child who wanted that glorious experience.
Since I’ve been married, we have always had a swing of some kind in our back garden but when my grandchildren were born I found the perfect swing for little ones. My sweet husband found just the right limb in our big old tree and secured the robes to hold it and in no time it was up and ready.
It is a wooden chair swing with a safety bar across the front that doesn’t allow the children to fall out when gliding through the air. And glide through the air they have, nearly every day since it went up 8 years ago. It was originally painted white but has become weather-worn with age. The children love it. Every child who comes into the garden seems to make a beeline for the swing. They wait impatiently for their turns at birthday parties and family gatherings. What I love the most about this swing are the sweet giggles that only a child full of delight can make that come sailing through the air falling on everyone in earshot.
My niece Ashley asked me the other day where I got the swing because she wants one too. Then it came to me that if I love having this swing for my grandchildren, nieces and nephews and other little friends, there just might be others of you out there that would enjoy the sight and sounds of childlike delight that these pieces of wood fashioned into a swing would bring to you as well.
I had long since forgotten the name of the place it came from, but I did a little research and found a swing like it on line. If you have children and a tree to hang a swing from, you just might want one too.
Whether you decide to buy a swing like this or not, I hope soon this summer you may hear those same sweet squeals of delight and know again this kind of childhood joy. Childhood is fleeting but there are memories to be made that will last a lifetime. It isn’t just a swing, it is one of those small things that can so easily contribute to a more abundant life full of love and joy.
Jun 15
Whatever else goes on this weekend, Sunday is the national day for celebrating our fathers. 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 14
I came to realize a long time ago that a little girl learns how to be woman from from her mother, but she practices on her daddy. What a joy to spend some time this week reflecting about our fathers and what they have meant to us throughout our lives. So many sweet memories have been brought to mind again for both Jackie and me this week.
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Jun 13
It has been said, “One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.”
– George Herbert
What to give such an important person in our lives as a gift that will express our love and affection? For most fathers any gift you give with love will be appreciated. But so often one hears, “Men are so difficult to buy for – ladies are easy but men are really hard!”. Well, as far as Father’s Day gifts go, the first and foremost thing that we would suggest is love – wrap it up any way you want, but the very best may be to pour it, abundantly, into a little envelope! And, by that, we mean, that you might put pen to paper and express to your father or to the father of your children just how much you love him and what it is that you love about him most.
Jun 12
As you know we are focused this week on those wonderful people we will celebrate this coming Sunday…Dads:) They come in all shapes and sizes and have all different opinions and tastes. But it has been my experience over the years that one universal quality about fathers is that they all love comfort food….well for that matter who doesn’t? !!!
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Jun 11
I have the distinct privilege of penning some thoughts about that blessed group of people – fathers. Oh, how I could go on and on about my father – suffice it to say that my father was, and continues to be in my heart, very special. He is a rock – so principled and so kind. Read more
Jun 8
Well the week of celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II is coming to a close. In Britain and throughout the Commonwealth countries the celebrations will continue all year. But here at Two Chums we will move on to other subjects and just quietly continue to celebrate this monumental occasion. 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 7
Oh what a lovely week it has been thus far with all the grand celebrations in honor of Queen Elizabeth! Jackie and I have loved each and every minute of it, from the concert, the clothes, the fanfare and the drama of the pageantry! No one does ceremony and pageantry better than the British! And what joy to see so many people all over the world but especially in London coming together in national pride to honor their Queen.
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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”. We are assuming there are some of you who visit us here at Two Chums who just might feel the same. 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. 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
Jun 5
Once again, England has put on her party dress in celebration of her Queen’s Diamond Jubilee! The standards are raised, the trumpets are ready to be blown and the church bells are waiting to peal! Grab your flag and prepare to party like a Royal!
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Jun 4
This being the official week of Her Majesty the Queen’s Jubilee which marks her sixtieth year on the throne of England, we, being avid Royal Watchers, couldn’t help ourselves in sharing these facts with you. We found these on the Official Website of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
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Jun 1
Please join me in wishing my dear “Chum” many happy returns of the day and another year full of love, joy and abundant living!
Jun 1
“Put another one on the barbie” is a familiar phrase that we have come to expect to be spoken by someone sporting a distinctively Aussie accent when referring to shrimp. We are putting a little twist on that phrase.
May 31
We had a couple things we thought it would be fun to share with you today. They are totally unrelated except that they are things we love and wanted to pass them along to you, our “Chums”.
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May 30
These lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are here! One of our favorite things to do when we see the first signs of summer is to lie on one of these Swimways floats in the pool with a great Chum or a good book. Read more
May 29
A few helpful hints today for that wonderful American past time, “Cooking on the Barbecue”. I remember when I lived in London, barbecuing was unheard of. But here in America, at the time, and indeed now, it was going on every weekend in every backyard in America! Read more
May 28
When it comes to barbeque, I’m not just talking about grilling. I mean real true blue Texas style barbeque which involves some smoke and some patience and a lot of napkins 🙂
Menu
Baby Back Spareribs
Classic Potato Salad
Cole Slaw
Corn on the Cob
Watermelon
Deviled Eggs
Homemade Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream
Baby Back Spareribs
12 lbs. ribs
Dry Rub *(see below)
Sauce**
1-2 bags Mesquite chips
Charcoal
Soak mesquite chips in water for 30 minutes. While they are soaking, prepare the ribs and the barbeque. Rub slabs of ribs generously with dry rub.* Meanwhile light a fire at one end of barbeque only. When coals turn white, spread a couple of handfuls of wood chips on top of the coals. Place ribs on the grill away from coals and fire. Cover and smoke ribs for 3-5 hours. Add more soaked wood chips every hour and maintain a temperature of about 275 degrees.
When they look good and smoky (they will be pink and a little crusty on the outside from the smoke) remove ribs from the grill. Cut the ribs apart and dip into sauce to coat.
Place on a lined cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until very tender and very crusty on the outside. Grab some napkins and taste a little bit of heaven!
*Dry Rub
1/4 cup kosher salt
1 Tablespoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
**Sauce
1 bottle of your favorite beer
1 box (approximately 4 cups) brown sugar
2 cups dijon mustard
Mix together well. Can be made ahead and refrigerated.
Classic Potato Salad
10 potatoes
1 red onion chopped
1 /2 whole stalk of celery
10 hard boiled eggs
Best Foods mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste
Peel and chop potatoes in about 1 inch chucks. Place in a pot and add just enough water to cover. Add 1 tablespoon salt to water….(this sounds like a lot of salt but most of it is poured out when potatoes are drained). Bring water to a boil and cook potatoes until just slightly underdone, about 3-4 minutes (you will be able to pierce with a fork but potato won’t be falling apart). Drain and allow to cool.
Meanwhile, chop celery, including leaves of celery, and onion and place in a large mixing bowl. Peel eggs and grate into the bowl. Add cooled potatoes. Start adding mayonnaise, a couple large spoonfuls to start and mix together. Keep adding mayo until you have the desired consistency. Stir in salt and pepper to taste. It may take more than you would think but start by adding 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper and then taste and continue adding until it tastes right. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. The potatoes will absorb the mayo as it continues to cool, so if the salad seems too dry when you take it out of the refrigerator just add little more mayo.
Cole Slaw
1 head of green cabbage
1 bunch Italian parsley
1/2 whole stalk of celery
1 bunch green onions
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 cup Best Foods Mayonnaise
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Slice cabbage very thinly and then chop to shred. Place in a large mixing bowl. Chop parsley, celery and onions and add to cabbage. In another bowl, mix together the mayo, mustard, vinegar and sugar. Add to cabbage and stir well. Taste. Add salt and pepper as necessary.
Watermelon and Corn on the Cob
Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream
The addition of buttermilk seems like an unlikely paring with the strawberries but the little bit of tartness and tangy flavor of the buttermilk actually brings out the sweetness of the strawberries and increases their flavor.
4 cups buttermilk
4 cups heavy cream
4 cups strawberries, cut into very small pieces
2 cups sugar
6 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
Add 1 cup of the sugar to the cut up strawberries and mash with a potato masher. Set aside for 5 minutes, stirring regularly to draw out the juice. Separate eggs and whip egg whites until fairly stiff. In another bowl, beat together 1 cup of sugar, salt and the yolks of the eggs until the mixture is thick and light yellow in color. Add vanilla to yolk mixture and then mix in buttermilk and cream. Stir well to mix. Stir in strawberries and then add in whipped egg whites.
Mix well with a wire whisk. Freeze in ice cream freezer according to the manufacturers directions. The ice cream is best if you remove from the ice cream freezer when done and place in your refrigerator freezer for 1 hour to “ripen”. It is a very satisfying finish to a very satisfying meal….enjoy!
May 28
Today is the day we call Memorial Day. For most Americans, it is the signal that summer is beginning. It is a long weekend filled with gatherings at the beach or around a pool, cook outs in the park, and backyard barbeques with family and friends. I am all in favor of barbeques and love any gathering that includes my family and friends. We will be having such a gathering today ourselves and I will happily share some yummy recipes with you at the end of this post. Sadly though, many people have no real recollection that this day was originally meant to be an observance of those who gave their lives in service to their country.
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May 25
When you’re really hungry nothing is more satisfying than having a great meal you’ve been dreaming about. A good meal can completely change your outlook on life and the world. Sometimes, though I find that it is what is served on the side that really makes the meal. Just like a great pair of shoes or just the right handbag can turn an otherwise ordinary outfit into something with real WOW!….a great side dish can do the same thing for a meal.
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May 24
(We’ve added the video that should have been here earlier:)
Yes, we have done a lot of painting in our time! On the walls, on furniture, on clothing, you name it, we have done it. When we had our little shop called Chums, we were often out faux painting a customer’s walls in this way or that.
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May 23
When one of our sons, Trevor, just before his high school freshman year came home and said, “I’m going out for water polo”, I answered, “What is water polo?”……….!
May 22
Just like a great dress on a woman stands out, so a great tablecloth on a table “speaks” as well. Unless you have a really lovely table with beautiful legs or a handsome pedestal, a tablecloth is a very ‘good thing’ as Martha would say. Most of us don’t have our grandmothers beautiful antique mahogany table and chairs in our dining room or something comparable as an accent table in our living rooms or entryways. But a table is a very practical piece of furniture to have in almost any room. So if yours isn’t particularly beautiful on it’s own, you may want to think about “dressing it up” with a table cloth.
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May 21
It was largely at Nanner’s table as a child that I learned what is of worth to me now as an adult. Nanner was my maternal grandmother, also my mentor, my guardian angel and my dearest childhood friend. The lessons I learned were of love and life, forgiveness and repentance, hope and faith. They were there for the taking among the frosty glasses of sweet tea, the creamy macaroni and cheese, the platters of crisp fried chicken and biscuits. Sometimes I watched them played out before me like other children watched cartoons or Lassie. Sometimes they just came forth in conversation between participants at the table. And sometimes they were casually passed like the radishes and black-eyed peas and sweet cold slices of cantaloupe. These were the life lessons that seemed to be doled out like an allowance might have been, but when seen, all in total, as an adult I recognize now they are a great inheritance. I can’t help feeling it a privilege and an obligation to share them now with other people who were not as fortunate as I to have such a grandmother. She was fond of reminding me “to whom much is given, much is required.” So this recounting of her recipes for living (otherwise known as wisdom) and recipes for good food from my family’s table is my attempt at giving back from that with which I am so richly blessed.
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May 18
We have put together a few Savvy Secrets for Brides but a lot of these pertain to anyone who is hosting an event. Enjoy! Read more
May 17
We have talked a lot this week about being sure to hold onto your joy throughout the weeks and months leading up to your wedding and today we are really stressing that point as, inevitably, some things will go “sideways”, as they say, and you want to be in a position, emotionally, to handle those moments well. Read more
May 16
Oh my goodness, you have decided to get married and are planning for that wonderful event to take place. It might be months away, it might be two years away but the first thing you are going to want to do, especially if you have relatives and friends coming from all over the country and globe, is to send out “Save The Date” cards. Read more
May 15
Weddings these days can be huge affairs. Yes, marriage is a very important step and deserves to be given a very important place. Just because you cannot have a huge wedding, mind you, does not mean that you have a “small marriage”. The important thing in a marriage, obviously, is the love that is shared between the husband and wife. Money has nothing to do with that, clearly!
May 14
Getting engaged, for most people, is synonymous with joy. Everything about the occasion is joyous! How he actually asked you, the beauty of your ring, the idea of planning a wedding, and on and on. Oh, what an absolutely happy time it is and yes, it is really important to hold onto that joy. Read more
May 13
Happy Mother’s Day to all of our Chums! Whether you are a mother or not, we feel sure that you all have wonderful mothering qualities that you use to bless.
The Post you got this morning gives you a taste of what’s to come next week!
With love from you Two Chums.
May 11
As we’ve discussed before, every mother knows, those three words, “What’s for dinner?”, can be a horror on the days when you just can’t think of a thing to cook and if you ever see another chicken strip, or bowl of mac and cheese, or pizza, it will be too soon. You really want your family to have healthy home cooked meals, if only there was a cook at home to make them!
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May 10
First Photo of Sara Joy
No one knows pure joy like a woman who has just given birth….oh what joy it is! For me, that moment when I first knew this joy was 35 years ago today when my first child, Sara Joy was born. Randy and I had only been married 5 months when I found out I was pregnant. We spent our first anniversary in our first Lamaze class. It wasn’t what we had expected to be doing on that day but we were both very excited to be becoming a mommy and daddy.
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May 9
This week, being our week for “Mothering”, we are including Savvy Secrets for Mothers. Every mother needs these to stay ahead of the game! Read more
May 8
The second Sunday in every May brings joy for some and anxiety for others! “What on earth can I give my mother?” you ask. Perhaps it is because trying to find something meaningful enough to give to the person who actually gave you life can be difficult. Read more
May 7
It has been said that “laughter is the best medicine” and that is certainly true with the wonderful job of Motherhood. Read more
May 4
Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth day of May, commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). As a consequence, in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Puebla but not in the rest of the country. But it will surely be celebrated here all over the United States.
