What’s In Your Freezer?
In these dog days of summer, we are all just thinking of ways to stay cool and refreshed. Apparently, one of the favorite ways, (no wonder), Read more
Posts tagged ‘Two Chums’
Aug 18
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Aug 17
A Sincere Thanks To ‘The Father Of Cool’
What did those wonderful people do one hundred years ago on hot, muggy, summer days such as we have been having lately? Read more
Aug 14
A Simple Danish Pastry
Maybe your weekend needs something special. If so, we have just the thing for you. And it is easier than you might think! I have always assumed that good Danish pastry would involve a yeast dough filled with butter and that it took hours to make. Not this version. This is simple and quite delicious….good to the very last crumb 🙂
Simple Danish Pastry
This pastry is made in two stages and then baked to golden brown perfection!
First layer:
1 cup pf flour
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
2 tablespoons water
Cut butter into the flour using a pastry blender. Mix in water and combine being careful not to over mix. You just want to moisten the flour until it mostly holds together. Form it into a ball. Use you finger tips to pat the dough into a circle.
Second layer:
1/2 cup of butter (1 stick)
1 cup of water
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
This layer of pastry is also known by it’s French name – pate choux. It is basically the same recipe used to make the pastry for eclairs.
Bring butter, water, and sugar to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat and add in almond extract. Stir in flour and salt stirring quickly so that the flour doesn’t clump up. Mix well. Add in the eggs one at a time being sure to beat the mixture really hard after each egg is added, until it is completely smooth. Spread this over the top of the first layer and use a spoon to make indentations or put the dough in a piping bag and pipe it out making “rings” to hold the pastry cream filling.
Pastry cream filling:
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Stir milk and flour together well, and cook in a saucepan until thickened and bubbly. Reduce the heat and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat and cool without stirring. Cover the top of this mixture with plastic wrap so it doesn’t form a film or “skin” while cooling. Set aside. While this mixture is cooling, beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla and almond extracts until light and fluffy. Slowly mix in half of the cooled mixture beating on very low speed, then beat in the second half of it until very smooth. Spoon the pastry cream into the circles or indentations in the second layer of pastry.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with glaze and top with slivered almonds. Cut into wedges and serve 🙂
Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons warm milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix well until smooth. Drizzle over warm pastry.
Enjoy! It is good to the last crumb 🙂
Serves 8 generously
Aug 13
A Challenge – Make Someone Smile
After losing both his parent, this little 6 year old boy has a goal of making 33,000 people smile. After seeing this you are bound to be one of them. Read more
Aug 12
Brownie Brittle
Have you tried it? If you haven’t, you certainly need to. Yum!!!! Read more
Aug 11
The Start of A Sweet Tradition
In 1994, Mississippi couple Sherry and Craig Blackledge, adoptive parents to a little boy, adopted an 18-month-old girl named Brooke. It was then that Sherry decided to write a simple but sweet letter she would give to Brooke, on her wedding day. Now, more than 20 years later, right before Brooke walked down the aisle to marry boyfriend Tyler Zugg, she finally read the letter.
Aug 10
All About Love
Photo from justcreative.com
We are always talking about loving and loving more….. Read more
Aug 7
A Pie For All Seasons – Chocolate Cream Pie
Some pies are associated with a particular season or holiday. People just naturally think of pumpkin pie in the Fall or around the holidays for example. And fresh fruit pies seem to be naturally associated with summer. But chocolate cream pie? …. it’s just plain delicious any time of year 🙂 Read more
Aug 6
Purple …….. Royal? Why?
We ran across this on History.com and found it rather interesting….. Read more
Aug 5
Savvy Secrets – Epsom Salts
We’ve got some great uses for this common household product…. Read more
Aug 4
Go For It!
Melissa Kieling, CEO of PackIt, a line of freezable personal coolers, with her three children, Brennan, 18; Garrett, 16; and Emma, 11.
Just five years ago, Melissa Kieling, a mother of three, was going though a divorce. Her suburban home outside of Los Angeles was in foreclosure, her car was repossessed, and she had $13 in the bank.
Aug 3
Jul 31
Inside Out Jelly Donuts
These are basically what one might call a “deconstructed” jelly donut, which is just a fancy way of saying it is a donut that you dip in the jelly on the outside rather than injecting the jelly on the inside. Simpler to make, and every bit as yummy to eat! Read more
Jul 30
Even This Needs To Be Cleaned!
Photo: fotosearch.com
Have you ever felt that you want to give your garbage disposal a good clean? Well, we have a recipe for you! Read more
Jul 29
Homemade “Nutella”
Our good chum, Jen, shared a recipe the other day, that she found for making a homemade version of Nutella.
In case you’ve never tried it, Nutella is an Italian delight made of hazelnuts and chocolate. It is yummy on and in more things that you can imagine. Read more
Jul 28
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Recently, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and the wife of Prince Charles, future King of England, celebrated her birthday. Here are ten fun facts about Camilla. Read more
Jul 27
Freezing Fruit
Need some tips on how to freeze this wonderful fruit that we have at this time of year? Read more
Jul 25
Encore – Sadie’s Homemade Lemonade
It’s summer and in most places it’s hot. What could be better to cool you off than a big tall glass of lemonade, especially Cherry Lemonade? If Miss Sadie had her way you would all be using this easy and quick recipe to make your own, just like she did here for her mother on Mother’s Day a year ago. (Actually she and her cousin Savannah make it all the time.) So grab some lemons and a little sugar, a pitcher, some ice and celebrate summer everyone 🙂 Read more
Jul 25
A Very Special Day!
Happy Birthday To My Darling Chum!
Yes, today marks the day when Robin made her first grand appearance and blessed Dorthy and Bob Eccles with first-time parenthood. Read more
Jul 24
Easy Cheesy – Stuffed Shells
If you like cheesy goodness, easy preparation, and delicious Italian food (and who in their right mind doesn’t), we have a bright idea for dinner this weekend! Read more
Jul 23
Well Done – The Whole World Is In His Hands
We had to share this beautiful example of one person caring and touching another who seemed unreachable. This lovely older Jewish white lady uses Christian songs to reach this dear older black woman with Alzheimer’s disease, who no longer speaks or makes eye contact, in an effort to communicate love and safety to her. What happened was remarkable and very touching. Read more
Jul 22
Savvy Secret
We came across this “recipe” for taking out stains and have to share it with you. Read more
Jul 21
It’s A Party!
For anyone planing a party or big get together this summer, one of the hardest things to figure out is how much you will need for your guests to drink. No one wants to overbuy and spend money on drinks that they don’t need to spend, but running out is not an option anyone wants to face either. Not having enough to drink turns a fun time into no fun at all. So today we have a guideline for party beverages that just might help you estimate for that fun time you are planning. Read more
Jul 20
Southern Kitchens
If you have been around Two Chums for anytime at all you know that my family’s roots are from the South. I didn’t realize growing up that I was being raised in a very Southern atmosphere where Southern culture permeated everything we did. I didn’t know because my geographic upbringing was not in Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, or Louisiana where I currently have family living, or in Mississippi or Missouri where my children went to college, my physical home was in Southern California. Read more
Jul 17
Easy Cheesy – Enchiladas!!!!
If you like cheese and ease in cooking and delicious results we have a great dish for you! Read more
Jul 16
A Siri Tip
In the middle of typing an e-mail on your iPhone and you decide that it would be quicker to call?
Read more
Jul 15
Summer’s Icy Treat
Next time you are having friends over and nice warm summer’s day make sure you have these in the freezer! Read more
Jul 14
“Let Them Eat Cake”
In Paris, the Bastille was originally constructed in 1370 as a bastide, or “fortification,” to protect the walled city of Paris from English attack. It was later made into an independent stronghold, and its name–bastide–was corrupted to Bastille. On this day, in 1789 Parisian revolutionaries and mutinous troops stormed and dismantled the Bastille, a royal fortress that had come to symbolize the tyranny of the Bourbon monarchs. This dramatic action signaled the beginning of the French Revolution, a decade of political turmoil and terror in which King Louis XVI was overthrown and tens of thousands of people, including the king and his wife Marie Antoinette, were executed. And yes, Marie Antoinette is the one… Read more
Jul 13
Try A Little Tenderness
This story was just too good not to share it…even if you’ve seen it…you can never be reminded to many times to try a little tenderness. Read more
Jul 11
Encore- Watermelon Salad
On Thursday we gave you a post that encouraged you to eat more watermelon, so we thought it only right to give you this Watermelon Salad as today’s Encore post. Read more
Jul 10
The Perfect Steak
So often we think of a BBQ when we think of cooking steak, but for a truly perfectly done steak try this cooking method instead.
Jul 9
The Wonders Of Watermelon
Though most of us enjoy watermelon occasionally during the summer, we came across some reasons why you might want to think about including it in your diet daily. Read more
Jul 8
Well Done!
Last week a gentleman passed on – he was 106 years old. His name was Nicholas Winton…..Sir Nicholas Winton. Read more
Jul 7
What On Earth Is A “Double Rub”?
Your Two Chums have been enjoying working with the beauty of interior design for many, many years but had never heard of the term “double rubs”! Read more
Jul 6
She Has Been Christened!
Yesterday marked the day of HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana’s christening! Hers was slightly different from George’s, 2 years ago. Read more
Jul 5
Encore – Set the Alarm
This has become a very popular post due in part to Pinterest. Anyone with a car alarm should take minute to read (or reread) this one. Read more
Jul 3
Red, White And Sweet!
Need a last minute treat for your 4th of July celebration that is quick and easy? We’ve got that! Read more
Jul 2
Celebrate But Don’t Forget!
We feel sure many of you have seen this but think it is worth repeating: Read more
Jul 1
Firecracker Chicken
Crunchy, spicy, sweet, sticky and did we mention DELICIOUS? Firecracker chicken. This might just be the perfect thing for you to serve at your 4th of July celebration ! Read more
Jun 30
Who Said Wedding Dresses Should Be White?
The notion that white symbolized purity, or that wedding gowns in particular were supposed to be white, is an idea that dates only as far back as 1840.
Jun 29
Little Known Facts About Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has been in the news a lot lately as, apparently, there are a lot of renovations that need to take place in order to keep it safe and up to date. Did you know all of these facts?
Jun 26
First Impressions
For everyone who comes to visit you, the look of your front door is their first impression of your home. Read more
Jun 25
Tres Leches Cake
Moist delicious cake covered with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. How can that be anything but yummy? Read more
Jun 24
Savvy Secret – Boost The Bounty
Yesterday we shared the best way to store some of the bounty of summer. Today we want to give all you gardeners out there a savvy secret to increase the bounty of summer. Read more
Jun 23
Proper Storage Of Summer’s Bounty
Now that summer is here there will be a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables. There will be casual get-togethers and BBQ’s. And with children out of school and out of town relatives coming for a visit, most of us will have more food in our home than we usually would. So what and how is the best way to store all that food so it doesn’t spoil before we can enjoy it? We are glad you asked 🙂 Read more
Jun 21
Happy Father’s Day – In Tribute To My Father
Every child should be fortunate and blessed enough to have a loving father. I certainly was. People often think it so important that little boys have their father and of course that is true. But it is equally important for little girls to have their fathers present. After all, a little girl learns how to be a woman from her mother, but she practices with her daddy. Read more
Jun 18
Royal “Green” – Juice That Is
Now that summer is officially here, wouldn’t we all like to be healthy and slim? Us Weekly recently reported that Kate Middleton’s sister, Pippa, has arranged to have green juice (juices made from leafy greens, fruits and vegetables), delivered to the mommy of two little ones, three times a week. Green juices are the latest trend in healthy living. They give you a great big boost of vitamins and minerals, contribute to your daily vegetable servings, and keep you hydrated all at the same time. Knowing how fabulous she looks, our chum, Wendy, asked us if we could find out what is in that juice that Kate is drinking. Read more
Jun 16
Goofing Off?
Polo is the sport of Kings and certainly a sport that the British royals have great fun with. They all seem to feel very comfortable on the back of a horse, including Queen Elizabeth who still enjoys going out for a ride. Read more
Jun 15
Queen, King, King, King
This past Saturday, England celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s 89th birthday by having what they call the “Trooping of the Colour”. And here you have it: Queen Elizabeth, future King Charles (her son), future King William (her grandson), future King George (her great grandson). Read more
Jun 12
Salad Days – Steakhouse Thousand Island Dressing
Everywhere you turn you can find innovative and creative ways to cook and serve food. TV and magazines, not to mention the internet, are all full of cooking shows and ideas for new food dishes, or at least new takes on old dishes. But sometimes old school just hits the spot. Read more
Jun 11
Savvy Secrets – Fun With Napkins
We think cloth napkins are very underrated in the contribution they can make to any event or even to a simple table setting. Today we’ve got some fun and creative ways, that you may not have seen, to use your cloth napkins at your next party or event. Read more
Jun 10
Rise and Shine – Breakfast In Seconds
We all know breakfast is an important start to the day. But finding time to make and eat a healthy and satisfying breakfast can be a challenge. Read more
Jun 8
How Sweet!
Prince George and Princess Charlotte taken by their mother, the Duchess of Cambridge
The newest member of Britain’s royal family, 1-month-old Princess Charlotte, will be christened in a private ceremony next month, royal officials have said. You might well ask, “Where?”. Read more
Jun 4
Jun 2
On The Side – Cauliflower
Often veggies get a bad rap. This may partly be due to the bland taste rendered in some cooking methods and the mealy texture of some overcooked foods. But done right and prepared well, vegetables can be truly delicious and we all know they are good for us because our mothers told us so! We have a most delicious way to prepare an often very maligned veggie….cauliflower 🙂
Jun 1
Next Stop – Touring The Tea Houses
Now it is definitely time for a cuppa? Our “tea tour” has resumed. Read more
May 30
Encore – Old Things – New Life
Have you ever thought about what your decorating style is? Are you more French, English, or American in your tastes? This Encore post from September 2012 will help you answer that question and is one of our most popular on Pinterest so we thought it worth repeating today 🙂 Read more
May 29
May 28
Tea Anyone?
Your Two Chums love nothing more than enjoying a good cup of tea with each other, whether at home or at a cozy tearoom. One of our dear chums, Faith, who happens to live in Belgium, shared the delightful info about these wonderful tea rooms. What could be better than a trip around the British Isles sipping tea and taking in the sights at these charming tea houses? Read more
May 28
Savvy Secrets – Turning The Sour Sweet
Vinegar may have a sour taste but we have some uses for apple cider vinegar that we think you will find, as they say,…”sweet”! Read more
May 27
May 26
Going Back a Few Years
One of the designs for the Queen’s coronation dress by Norman Hartwell
This is a super fun article by Jennifer Wright, going back years with the Royals! Read more
May 25
Memorial Day – Final Salute
This day, Memorial Day, is set aside not as a reason for BBQ’s and anticipating summer’s arrival, but rather to remember and honor those brave men and women who have fallen in the line of duty. Service in our military has been completely voluntary since the Vietnam War ended. That means all those who have died since then are soldiers who have chosen to go into battle.
“Never leave a Marine behind.” The tradition began in 1775, and continues today via officers like Marine Colonel Steve Beck, whose job it is to notify the families of the loss of a loved one. Read more
May 22
New Surprises and Old Standbys
This weekend many of us will gather together with family and friends to celebrate Memorial Day. Your Two Chums believe strongly that this holiday should keep it’s significance as we honor and remember those who have given their lives in service to us and their country. Chances are as we talk about those who deserve our honor and respect it will happen over a gathering that includes a meal. Read more
May 21
May 20
Chesterfield or Camelback?
Do you know the name of the style and shape of sofa that you prefer? Are you thinking about buying a new one or recovering one you already have? Do you know how much fabric you would need to reupholster your sofa? We have a list that just might help:-) Read more
May 19
May 18
Well Done! A Sincere Well Done!
A fast-food joint isn’t exactly a place where you’d expect to have your heart warmed, but, last week, Ridge Quarles proved us all wrong. Read more
May 15
Different In Cannes!
Your Two Chums could not help noticing something very glaring in this photograph! Read more
May 14
And The Queen Said…
Contrary to what a lot of people are trying to say about how the Queen feels about the Duchess of Cambridge, we honestly feel that she thinks a great deal of Catherine and … Read more
May 13
Floored – Some Creative Ideas
The other day, in a fun new little French cafe in L.A., we were waiting for our food to arrive and taking in the creative decor when we snapped the photo seen here of the great stenciled cement floor. It got us to thinking about some other creative ideas for decorating. Read more
May 12
Is The Game Playing Your Kid?
Are you, and/or your children using your smart phone, iPad, iPod, Kindle, or computer for recreation and playing games? Are you sure it is you or your children who are playing the game and not the other way around? There is a new book out today that we think everyone could benefit from reading:-)
May 11
…And Here They Will Stay
Princess Charlotte was taken to their country home by her parents along with her big brother, George, and their nanny. Read more
May 10
Happy Mother’s Day!
Whether you are a mother yourself, or have a mother or grandmother you want to celebrate today, we want you to know we are celebrating with you! Read more
May 9
Encore – Family Tree – A Royal One
The royal family has been the subject of much discussion and interest in the last few days. So we thought it was time to have an Encore of a post we did in October of 2013. There are a couple of updates that have occurred since we first published this post. The most exciting one being, the birth of Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana this past week:-) Read more
May 8
May 7
May 6
Who Is This Nanny?
When Prince George was born, Catherine and William opted to not hire a nanny as they obviously want to be “hands on” parents. But….
May 5
Snacks Fit For A Princess!
Following up from last week’s post of a healthy snack, we ran across many, many more snack ideas on Realfarmacy.com and just HAD to share them with all of you. Read more
May 4
May 4
She Is Now “The Spare”
There has always been pressure on the reigning monarch and her successors to produce “an heir” and “a spare”, i.e. an heir to the throne and another child to be “the spare” if anything should happen to the heir. Read more
May 3
A to Z Facts
From A to Z…these are the facts about the royal birth, according to Robin Millard of Yahoo News… Read more
May 2
Encore – Rock-A-Bye “Royal” Baby
Not quite two years ago the world was preparing to welcome the future King of England. Not knowing then if he was to be a prince or a princess, we were speculating about what the nursery of the future monarch would look like. Today the world welcomed little George’s sister. We are again speculating as to what the “world” of her nursery might be like. Welcome little one. Read more
May 1
May Flowers
We all know the saying…April showers bring May flowers. Today we want to share with you, our chums, some flowers that not only “bloom” in May but can be yours any time and all year long:-) Read more
Apr 30
Apr 29
Four Years Ago Today…
…Catherine Middleton became the wife of HRH Prince William, and the couple became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Read more
Apr 28
Yummy AND Healthy
Who knew you could enjoy something we think of as decadent and be healthy at the same time? Read more
Apr 27
Fun Wedding Traditions
With the traditional wedding season upon us, we thought it would be fun to look at how other parts of the world celebrate this wonderful union. Read more
Apr 26
Encore – A Little Bit Of Paint Works Wonders
Spring means for many of us it is time to start freshening up our homes. A little bit of paint works wonders! Read more
Apr 24
Remembering
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. If you are like many people, you probably have no idea what this means. Read more
Apr 23
Happy Birthday, Mr. Shakespeare!
Today, being William Shakespeare’s birthday, we thought it would be fun to look at some of the things he, apparently, first penned. Read more
Apr 22
Apr 21
The Italians – Forget About It!
A dear Italian chum of ours used to say, “There are only two kinds of people in this world…Italians, and everybody else who wishes they WERE Italian.” Read more
Apr 20
Spring Has Sprung!
Photo Village Builders.ca
Spring has sprung and perhaps it is time to clean out your garage to make more storage space! Read more
Apr 18
Encore – A Bed With A Head !
With the onset of Spring we are cleaning out and freshening up our homes. Maybe your bedroom could use a face lift. We can show you a wonderful new DIY headboard that anyone can make 🙂 Read more
Apr 17
Simple Supper – Pork Chops
Sometimes the best food is simple food. These pork chops sauted in sage butter on a bed of pureed cauliflower are simple to make and simply delicious! Read more
Apr 16
The Moral Bucket List (Reprinted)
We ran across this gripping op-ed piece by David Brooks and felt that our chums would appreciate it just as much as we do. Read more
Apr 15
Apr 13
A Good Laugh For Monday
Here are some good reasons to have a giggle or two. Because we really believe laughter is the best medicine and think starting your week off with a good laugh is always a good idea… Read more
