Tea or Milk First?
Your Two Chums have always said that, when pouring a cup of tea, the milk should go in first and then the tea. Is this correct? Read more
Apr 5
2 Comments
Apr 4
Favorite Things
Just because Easter has come and gone for another year does not mean that we don’t want to cook any more eggs! Read more
Apr 3
What’s For Dinner? – Sesame Chicken
Want a quick yummy option for dinner? We’ve got that! Read more
Apr 2
Royal Wedding Countdown – The Cake
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry on May 19th. One of the central features of any wedding celebration is the cake. While we don’t know what the couple’s cake will look like, we do know what flavor it will be and who will make it. We got some good info from the British publication, Hello. And we have some fun photos and info about the cakes of other members of the royal family.
Read more
Mar 30
Carrots For Easter
Most people think of eggs and bunnies when they think of decorating, or preparing food for Easter. Today we’ve got some fun ways to use carrots as well. Read more
Mar 29
Well Done!
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. Read more
Mar 28
Countdown!
St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
With the royal wedding happening on 19 May, 2018, we are certainly counting down! A few etiquette tips: Read more
Mar 27
Easter Napkins
Today we have some fun ways to use cloth napkins to create table decorations for your Easter celebration. Read more
Mar 26
Mar 23
A Tasty Tradition
Your Two Chums truly enjoy going out to dinner. We like all kinds of restaurants but at least once a year, usually in the Spring, we have dinner at a local Japanese, teppan restaurant…it’s tradition. Read more
Mar 22
Having Fun With Food – Yummy Pandas
Making food fun is good for grownups and kids alike. Read more
Mar 21
The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier
Your Two Chums are touched by many things and this is one of them. Read more
Mar 20
Naturally Beautiful
Easter will be here before we know it. And it will again be time to dye those eggs that everybody loves. If you aren’t a fan of the synthetic or chemical dyes that can leach into your eggs, we have some other options for you today. Read more
Mar 19
Savvy Secrets – How To Hang Artwork
When we say “How to hang artwork” we mean “How to hang anything on the wall”! Here are all the things you will need for all the different kinds of wall surfaces. Read more
Mar 16
Sweet and Green – Happy St. Pat’s Day
Tomorrow, as you are surely aware, is St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you are technically Irish or not, it seems on March 17th EVERYONE is at least a little bit Irish. Read more
Mar 15
Initials Matter
Monograms are a timeless tradition. They are especially popular in the South. Mens’ shirts, children’s clothing, towels and bed linens, jewelry, silver serving pieces, even furniture can be beautifully personalized with a monogram. Read more
Mar 14
Happy Pi Day!
It’s international Pi Day. And do we have a “pie” for you! Read more
Mar 13
Mar 12
If You Are Anything Like Us . . .
. . . you leave the house occasionally having forgotten the one thing you needed to take with you. Read more
Mar 9
Hello Barbie!
This lady, Barbie, could have been walking on the red carpet on Sunday evening, for sure! Read more
Mar 8
Rise and Shine – South Of The Border
The weekend will soon be here. It’s time for another good breakfast option. Read more
Mar 7
Savvy Secrets – Oh Yes, We Do!
We have some fabulous cleaning tips here…thanks to BuzzFeed! Read more
Mar 6
Savvy Secrets – Onions, Honey and Your Health
Some people consider natural or home remedies as crazy or hokey, but there are many that have stood the test of time because they work. Onions, especially onions, and honey are among them. Read more
Mar 5
Everyone Loves A Pretty Dress
Last night was the Academy Awards show. As usual it was an opportunity for celebrities to bring out their finest and take a walk on the Red Carpet. Read more
Mar 2
A Confetti Celebration
It’s the weekend…. and the Oscars. And if those are not reasons enough, you may have any number of other reasons to celebrate. If you do, we’ve got something fun we know you’ll enjoy! Read more
Mar 1
Feb 28
Feb 27
For Those Disco Fans Out There…
Did you know that in 1980 for one year and for one year only, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences had a “Best Disco Recording” category? Read more
Feb 26
Savvy Secrets – Just Two But Very Fun
We saw these two furniture re-do’s and just had to share them! So, so easy, for sure! Read more
Feb 23
Rise and Shine – Breakfast Enchilada Casserole
The weekend is coming. Shouldn’t you have something yummy to start it off with?… or finish it up with? We think you should. This is easy, yummy and gluten free to boot 🙂
Breakfast Enchilada Casserole
Corn tortillas, cut in half
Red, yellow and green mini peppers, chopped (approximately 2 cups)
Green onion, chopped (1 large bunch)
Garlic, chopped (2 cloves)
1 lb. sausage or chorizo sauted
1/2 lb. pepper jack cheese, grated
1/2 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 1/2 cups half and half
9 eggs
1 teaspoon Lawry’s seasoning salt
Enchilada sauce
Sour cream (Approximately 1 cup)
lime juice (about 1/2 cup)
Cilantro, chopped
Butter the bottom of a 9″ x1 3″ baking dish and cover with a layer of tortillas. Add 1/2 of the grated cheese over tortillas. Mix chopped peppers, green onion, garlic and sausage and cover the cheese layer. Add another layer of tortillas and then the rest of the cheese. In the blender, mix well the half and half and eggs and seasoning salt. Pour over the tortillas, cheese and sausage. Bake for 30140 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven until golden brown.
While casserole is baking mix sour cream with enough lime juice to thin it to a pourable consistency. When the casserole comes out of the oven, pour a small can of enchilada sauce over the top and then drizzle with sour cream lime juice mixture. Put the casserole back in the oven for 10 minutes. Top with chopped cilantro and serve immediately with fresh fruit.
Feb 22
Well Done – Billy Graham
What a profound perspective and message! Billy Graham died yesterday at the age of 99. This humble and unassuming man has had a huge impact on our world for nearly 100 years. There are so many, many reasons for this…. Read more
Feb 21
Feb 20
Feb 19
Faith – We Can All Use a Bit More
Start your week off right with some inspiration on faith.We found these quotes and thought we would pass them along because we think we can all use some encouragement from time to time: Read more
Feb 16
Oldest Known Valentine
View of the tower where Charles was captured, illustrated in “Poems of Charles, Duke d’Orleans” c. 1500. (Credit: Apic/Getty Images)
To end up this Valentine Week, History.com furnished us with this wonderful accounting of the first known Valentine. It was actually written in prison. Read more
Feb 15
Favorite Things – Mascara
Here is another one of our “finds”. Read more
Feb 14
Looking For Love
Today is Valentine’s Day…the national day of love in this country and we have a question for you. Are you blindly rushing through life like most people, or are you looking for love? Read more
Feb 13
Mardi Gras Love At First Bite
Today is Mardi Gras. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! We have something yummy for you to make in a snap whether you are indulging today and giving up chocolate for Lent tomorrow, or celebrating tomorrow on the “day of love”. Today is a good day to make these sweet treats. Give some to those you love. They will surely return the love once they get a bite of these! Read more
Feb 12
Can You Ever Be Too Kind?
No, your Two Chums feel that one can never be too kind! Here are some great quotes to encourage us all. Read more
Feb 9
Savvy Secrets – Help Us To Remember!
What a fun few “ditties” to help us remember important facts: Read more
Feb 8
Feb 7
Updating An Old Favorite
Who doesn’t love a good Rice Krispie treat from time to time? Read more
Feb 6
Elizabeth II Becomes Queen
Yes, your Two Chums are certainly “Royal Watchers” and so we could not let this day go by without acknowledging that it was on this day in 1952 that then Princess Elizabeth became HRM Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Read more
Feb 5
Savvy Secrets – Marking Your Territory
If you are like most households these days, you have many power cords for your tech devices all about your home. Between phones, tablets, computers, and game devices, etc. it can be hard to tell which charger belongs to whom. So today we have an idea for you to keep it all straight and this solution isn’t just limited to power cords 🙂 Read more
Feb 2
Uplifting -Chums Choices
If you have pierced ears, or have a loved one who does, today’s post is for you. Read more
Feb 1
Broaden Your View – Chums Choices
If you have ever tried to take a group shot with your phone or tablet you know it can be difficult to get everyone in without losing those on the edges of the photo or taking the photo from such a distance you can’t really even tell who is in the photo. If you’re trying to take a group “selfie” it can be even harder. Read more
Jan 31
Eye Makeup Remover – Chums Choices
Whilst this eye makeup remover is not inexpensive, it really is the very best and does the very best job! Read more
Jan 30
Long Lasting Lipstick – Chums Choices
Your Two Chums have found another long lasting lip color that we feel sure you are going to love. We strongly suggest that you go into Target or your favorite drugstore to look at the colors as online, it is difficult to tell what color is what. Read more
Jan 29
Chums Choices
It is probably no secret that your Two Chums thoroughly enjoy shopping. We especially love finding great deals or hard to find items. From time to time when we run across some great products, we love to be able to share them with you our chums. We thought it might be fun to expand the category of posts here on Two Chums that we call Chums Choices to bring you some our favorite finds. So this week we will give you a new favorite find each day and then will be sprinkling them in as we come across them on a regular basis. Read more
Jan 26
Why Shrimp Turns Pink
Have you ever wondered why it is that uncooked shrimp is a grayish blue color, but when you cook it, the shrimp turns pink? Read more
Jan 25
Schnitzel With Noodles?
We watched the Sound of Music as a family the other night. It is always a treat, and in our family usually turns into a sing-a-long too. One of our favorite things is the scene where Maria sings to the Von Trapp children about what to do when things are bad or when you sad. She tells them through song “I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad!” What are those “favorite things?” Read more
Jan 24
Jan 23
The Real Fried Rice
When one thinks of fried rice it usually conjures up the thought of an Asian rice side dish with scallions, egg, perhaps some small bits of a meat of some kind and certainly soy sauce. It is quite tasty, but not the kind of fried rice we want to tell you about today. Read more
Jan 22
Feed Your Soul With Gratitude
G.R.A.T.I.T.U.D.E.
Anyone who knows Two Chums, knows that we value the act of gratitude and find it to be very powerful…. Read more
Jan 19
Victoria – Season 2
If you spend any time with us at Two Chums your know we have a great fondness for the British royals…current and past. Read more
Jan 18
Keeping Winter Warm And Sweet
Perhaps nothing is more soothing and comforting on a cold day or night than a tasty cup of homemade hot cocoa. Read more
Jan 17
Savvy Secrets – Kindness
Your Two Chums are convinced that the kinder you are, the better you will feel. Read more
Jan 16
Jan 15
Well Done – Choose Light And Love
Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is the day we celebrate the life of Dr. King and honor the man who is synonymous with the American Civil Rights movement. He is remembered with gratitude and respect for many things. But perhaps nothing he said in all his many speeches and national and international addresses was more profound, more powerful, or more pertinent to us today, than these words about light and love. Read more
Jan 12
Teach Your Children Well
I have been reflecting this week on the Christmas holidays and pondering the moments our family experienced together this year. Without question all of our children agreed that what we did Christmas night was the most meaningful indeed…as they said “It was the best part of Christmas”. Read more
Jan 11
A Tasty Hedge Hog
If you’ve never tried making garlicky cheese bread, now is the time to start. This Hedge Hog Bread is DELICIOUS! Read more
Jan 10
The Perfect Gift For The Queen
Well, well!
We are told that Meghan Markle’s choice for a Christmas gift for HRM Queen Elizabeth, her future grandmother-in-law, was a huge hit! Read more
Jan 9
Black Outs!
Ever found that you or members of your family are waking way too early in the morning – the moment of the first morning’s beam? Read more
Jan 8
An Inspiring New Years Tradition
(Photo courtesy of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
Melinda Gates is an American businesswoman and philanthropist. She is co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. And recently we read of her very special New Years tradition that we think bears passing along to you, our chums. Read more
Jan 5
Old Things Made New – Bread Pudding
It’s a new year. Time for new things. But sometimes the best “new” things come from “old” things. Read more
Jan 4
Why Pasadena?
Yesterday we asked (and answered) the question “Why Times Square?” with regard to the long and time honored New Years tradition in New York of celebrating New Years Eve. So today, we bring you the story of the New Years festivities that occur on the other side of the country to celebrate New Years Day, The Rose Parade. Read more
Jan 3
Why Times Square?
Have you ever wondered why Times Square and the “Ball Drop” are synonymous with New Year’s Eve? Read more
Dec 29
Old Favorites For The New Year
If you are planning a New Years Eve gathering or a get together for New Years Day, we have a list here of some old favorites that can help you ring in the New Year in a tasty way. Read more
Dec 28
Social Etiquette – Let’s Make Sure That It’s Here to Stay!
Your Two Chums are all about “etiquette” (just another word for social rules or boundaries) and feel badly that this word conjures up a horrible feeling in a lot of people. A feeling of, “what on earth do we need that for?”, or “I don’t know anything about the proper etiquette so let’s get rid of having to use it.” Read more
Dec 27
Crackers – Christmas Crackers At That!
We feel sure that at least a few of you had Christmas crackers at your table on Monday. Read more
Dec 26
Did You Know? – Boxing Day
For some, Boxing Day refers to the day after Christmas when things get “boxed up”. But did you know there is another meaning and purpose to the day that pertains to us all? Read more
Dec 22
Happy Christmas!
You might be thinking we are using the British holiday greeting. The Brits say “Happy Christmas” rather than “Merry Christmas”, as we do here. But this is about something different than how we greet each other at the holidays. This is a story about making choices. Read more
Dec 21
Dec 20
Dec 19
A Royal Christmas Card
(photography by Chris Jackson of Getty images)
We reported on Meghan Markle’s invitation to Christmas with the Queen yesterday, but we have more royal news for you today. The Christmas card of Prince William and family was released yesterday. No matter how much of a Royal watcher you are, or are not, you must admit they are a beautiful family. Read more
Dec 18
A Royal Christmas Celebration
Sandringham, where the Queen and Prince Philip always spend Christmas
As we all know, Prince Harry asked Meghan Markle to marry him and she said “yes”! Read more
Dec 15
Sweet Hanukkah – Matzo Toffee
Photography by Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
We are right in the middle of Hanukkah. Every holiday needs something sweet. The New York Times, known for it’s food section and recipes, is offering a spin on a classic toffee recipe, substituting matzo for the usual saltine crackers, and adding a bit of zing with ginger! Read more
Dec 14
A Great Party Planning Checklist
We realize that a lot of Holiday Parties have already taken place – at least you have assembled a guest list and the invitations have gone out ….. BUT Read more
Dec 13
Above All, Be Kind
It seems with all of the hustle and the bustle of this time of year, things can get pretty crazy Read more
Dec 12
Savvy Secrets for Traveling
This is the time of year when many people are traveling…traveling home for the Holidays, perhaps. We have a few great tips on how to do that! Read more
Dec 11
The Christmas Pickle
What does Christmas have to do with a pickle? As we’ve learned, it wouldn’t be Christmas without one in many homes. Read more
Dec 8
South Of The Border Brunch
The holidays are upon us and opportunities for get togethers to celebrate with family and friends are abundant. Though our holiday parties usually happen in the evenings, who says they have to be night time events. Why not have a brunch gathering instead? Read more
Dec 7
Gifts For Him
Often we hear people say that the hardest person on their holiday gift list to buy for is their dad, their husband, their brother, their close male friend….you get the idea. Men are sometimes difficult when it comes to finding something to buy for them without breaking the bank. If that’s you too, we have some ideas for you today 🙂 Read more
Dec 6
Popovers
Last week, when we gave our chums the recipe for one of our favorite Winter soups, Pasta e Fagipoli, we also promised to give you the recipe for the popovers that we served with the soup. Today we are making good on that promise 🙂 Read more
Dec 5
Fun Little Somethings To Take Along
You’ve got lots of gatherings to go to and need some inexpensive gifts to take along. We can help you with that! Read more
Dec 4
Savvy Secrets
With the Holiday Season right here, we wanted to share some Savvy Secrets that we hope you find useful. Read more
Dec 1
Cherishing Your Tree
For your Two Chums, at least, it is hard to believe that this wonderful time of year has rolled around….so quickly! Read more
Nov 30
Nov 29
A Lesson From A Little One
You may well wonder what this photo is all about. Well, other than the obvious, some child’s toys, dolls, sitting on a table, there is actually a profound and important lesson here. Read more
Nov 28
Nov 27
Soup’s On – Pasta e Fagioli
After all the “heavy” eating most of us have done since Thanksgiving and all weekend long with leftovers, it’s time for something a bit “lighter” and more simple. We think this soup is just the thing! Read more
Nov 24
Let’s Keep This Going
Even though the official “Thanksgiving Day” has come and gone for another year, let’s keep the gratitude going. Read more
Nov 23
Nov 22
Thanksgiving- The Supporting Cast
Turkey will be the star of the show on most tables around the country tomorrow. But we have some side dishes that make a great supporting cast! Read more
Nov 21
Marbled Sweet Potato Cheesecake
Thanksgiving is just two days away. If you are still deciding about dessert, we have a pretty delicious idea for you. This is a new twist on two old favorites…cheesecake and sweet potato pie! Read more
Nov 20
70 Years and Counting!
Seventy years ago today, Princess Elizabeth married her prince, who became HRH Prince Philip (of Greece and Denmark), Duke of Edinburgh on their wedding day. A few short years after they were married, Elizabeth became Queen and, we feel sure, not only did her life change forever but that of her husband probably changed more! Read more
Nov 17
Holiday Help -Baking
With the holidays upon us we feel sure many of you will be doing more cooking than usual, and certainly more baking. Read more
Nov 16
Nov 15
