March Is Upon Us!

I know I've written about the delicious Irish Soda Bread on
page 161 of "Two Sisters and the Silver Spoon Cookbook"
but this recipe deserves more accolades!

Let's start...
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Using Baker's Joy, coat your pan.
Only hand mixing please!  No Kitchen Aid this time.

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
dash of salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
1 stick butter, melted
1 cup raisins

Sift together flour sugar, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.  Add eggs, sour cream and butter
Mix well.  Stir in raisins.  Place batter into an 8-inch round pan.
Bake at 350 degrees 55 minutes.
Yield: 8 - 10 servings

When cooled, I place it on an 8" round Wilton cardboard disk.  Wrap in
cellophane with green ribbons and a tag. 
Now, you're ready to spread the "Luck of the Irish".  Anyone eating this will
certainly feel LUCKY!!
Spread the JOY as we await the arrival of the GREEN!!

Listen...Do you want to know a secret?

Although I pride myself in making things from scratch, there is just
no getting around how delicious these scones are from King Arthur Flour.
Blueberry Sour Cream Scone Mix can be found in the baking
section of your market.  Cranberry Orange is delicious too! 
Perhaps, I'll try the plain scones.
King Arthur Products are perfection! 

Have company coming for the weekend or maybe tea? 
Just add 6 tablespoons of butter, 1 large egg and 1/3 cup of milk
to the mix and there you have it!  8 freshly baked scones.
Hot out of the oven with melting butter, this recipe is certain
to please your family and company!

Had Enough?

It's 7:00 in the morning and the sun is just coming up.
A beautiful scene from my window?  Yes, indeed!
Lots and lots of snow, tree branches laden with snow,
the pond covered with snow, tracks in the snow, benches
and paths covered in snow too!  The roofs on the house have
too much snow.  Icicles glistening in the sunlight twinkle
as the mighty sun gives a bright roar.
 

Now, we have all had enough!
 But, as my cousin, Mary Kay says,
  "Take time and enjoy the beauty of the snow, that will
set the tone for enjoying the beauty of nature."
Good advice?  Yes, I think so.  There's nothing we can do
about Mother Nature's plans.  Although she has been quite gruff
this winter, there is beauty for all who wish to see.

Happy Valentine's Day - Featuring Cherries and Raspberries!

Here's a great little recipe for February!

The color is great and the texture is terrific!

Sometimes, simple time saving desserts can be the BEST!

Here are the Sweetheart Cookies on Page 232 of
our cookbook, Two Sisters and the Silver Spoon Cookbook!
They are delicious and very pretty to look at!  We use Trappist
Seedless Red Raspberry Preserves for this recipe.  Not too time consuming,
this cookie is pretty put in cellophane bags with pretty ribbons and
vintage sticker on the gift tags!  Be creative, have fun and...
Spread the LOVE!!!

From Russia With Love?

It may seem like we are in Russia...It is so cold, dark and everything is frozen!
Mr. Squirrel is chubby and has to eat too!  Looking out the window at this
fellow, we see an animal that is eager to survive despite the temperatures
and perhaps lack of food.  The seed bell must be delicious for him as he fights
to keep it in place.

You can see the pussywillow bush which he climbs up and
then gingerly leaps onto the suet feeder.  How can we knock on
the window to scare him away?  After all, it's been a long, cold and
difficult winter for him.  Survival must be a challenge.  I think
we all know how he must feel. 

So, we say...Let him enjoy a treat and sometimes lots of treats.
Mr. Squirrel is one of God's little creatures.  We watch
with amusement as he fills his belly, slips off the feeder and
falls head first into the snow.  Quickly, he recovers!  Just when
you think he's had enough and will scamper off,  he returns for more! 
Good for him!  Does he know spring is a mere 5-1/2  weeks away?
 

Super Bowl...A New York State of Mind

What better a sweet for Super Bowl Sunday than...
Yes, you guessed it..."Big Apple" Pie!

Chips and Salsa on our fun NY china!

Having different dishes are fun and...you'll never know when
you'll find the opportunity to use them.  These dishes are used
during World Series and baseball playoff.  Dinner parties with
the NY theme serving Waldorf Salad, NY Strip Steak,
NY Style Cheesecake and so much more! 
Use your imagination in a BIG APPLE way!