A May Basket Was Delivered to ME!

This beautiful, delicate, pink and green May Basket
was delivered to my door yesterday afternoon!  What a
pleasant surprise!  A dear friend of our Mother's, who has
been an inspiration in making May Baskets was the creator
of this charming basket.  Filled with Hershey Kisses,
it was a real treat and so thoughtful. 
This lady has been making baskets for years. Once, she
came to my second grade class along with my Mother and taught the children.
This pattern of crepe paper, paper cup, pipe cleaners & glue
was used when my church group made them.

May Day Poem and May Baskets

May Day

Let us take our baskets early

To the meadows green.

While the wild flowers still are pearly

Where the dewdrops sheen.

Fill them full of blossoms rosy,

Violets and gay

Cowslips, every pretty posy

Welcoming the May.

Then our lovely loads we'll carry

Down the village street,

On each door with laughter merry,

Hang a basket sweet.

Hey-a-day-day!

It is spring now,

Lazy folks awake!

See the pretty things we bring now

For the May Day's sake!


Old fashion May Baskets ready to be delivered tomorrow! 
Two slices of  "Mommy's Banana Bread" fill the inside.
The above poem is printed and attached to side.  Lilacs and pussy willows
help to decorate along with doilies, stickers, ribbon and Easter grass!
They can be filled with candy too! 



Eight lucky people will be receiving these baskets on May 1st.
Will you be one of them? 



Be creative...I used leftover scrapbook paper, old buttons for the sides
to cover staples, pretty stickers and a lot of thought! 
Resurrect the making and giving of May Baskets and start a tradition of your own!



The Two Sisters Spring/Summer Collection



Linens made in USA for the beach house
and summer settings!



Pink and Black to wear and entertain!



Delicious pillows, mini paintings from a
Cape Cod artist!



Colorful necklaces and wraps for cocktail
parties & cool summer evenings!



Scrumptious home made hot fudge and
 all natural preserves!

The season's latest color combinations...
All part of the Two Sisters Spring/Summer
offerings! 

The Mayflower!

The Mayflower is in bloom!  It usually blooms around Mother's Day
but since Mother Nature is far ahead of herself this year the Mayflower
and lots of her friends are displaying their glory earlier than usual.
Go to your local nursery and pick up one of these gems.  The fragrance
alone is enough to give you happy thoughts!  The scent fills the air.  So we suggest
planting near a walk or not far from a door!  You won't want to miss this!
Every time I say the name "Mayflower" it makes me think of the Pilgrim's journey!

Two Sisters Create Herb Project at Bemis Farms Nursery

Here's Nancy with Tina Bemis at the conclusion of the
"Thyme to Eat" project.
We stacked 13 culinary herbs on these tiered pots. We will enjoy
them all summer and bring it indoors to harvest fresh herbs all winter.
Nancy and I suggest you check out
Bemis Farms Nursery
29 North Brookfield Road
Spencer, MA 01562
Check out their website www.BemisFarmsNursery.com
or call 508.885.4247 for other classes offered this spring.
Bring a friend, have some fun and leave the mess behind!!

Cheese Lasagna - Page 135

Want a recipe that will make you feel like you're eating in Boston's North End
or on Atwell's Avenue in Providence?  This is the lasagna for you!

With family gatherings, graduations and other celebrations soon to be at hand,
this recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser.  Homemade sauce, fresh
parsley, basil and mozzarella cheese are hints of freshness in this popular dish.
Give it a try...you'll be glad you did! 

When spring is a distant memory...

Remember the loveliness of spring and its gifts!
Plant hyacinths...

Plant daffodils, tulips, crocuses...

They'll add sunshine to your life!

So in the autumn, when you see bulb catalogs...don't put them aside.
Start reading, planning and ordering!  Fall will be here in due time and
the promise of spring shortly thereafter!

We Invite You To Join Our Site!

Please sign on as a follower of Two Sisters Cook Book and More! It's fun entertaining and delicious!  We welcome you in advance!

Mr. Fur

Mr. Fur finds some shelter in one of the raised beds
in the kitchen garden. 

"Welcome"

Don't forget to create a nice greeting for your guests!
This "welcome" is at the entry to the porch.

Mommy's Banana Bread - Page 160

What do you do with 3 leftover bananas?  Here is the answer!
Made this for our aunts, uncles and cousins who will be
arriving over the weekend.

Armenia Easter Eggs "Naturally" Page 8

A large pot filled with water and onion skins that I've saved for the
last few months are shown here with eggs slowly boiling.

The color of the eggs are ocher, a moderate to deep brownish orange!
An Easter family tradition special and fun to make.

Standby for an Easter luncheon menu that will keep guests coming back!

Appetizers
Armenian Easter Eggs "Naturally" - Page 8
Maple Sweetened Goat Cheese - Page 15
Pineapple Cheese Ball - Page 16

Soup & Vegetables
Peter Rabbit's Carrot Soup - Page 41
Mustard Vinaigrette - Page 64 (over asparagus)
Yukon Gold and Sweet Potato Mash - Page 82

Main
Easter Ham with Mustard Glaze - Page 110
or
Peach Glazed Smoked Ham - Page 111
Apricots and Bows - Page 113

Desserts
Peter Rabbit's Carrot Cake - Page 180
Pineapple Upside Down Cake - Page 185
Buttermilk Pie - Page 193
Meringue Nests with Blackberries - Page 203
Lemon-Butter Easter Egg Cookies with Royal Icing - Page 229

Easy as 1, 2, 3 - Spring Chocolate Nests

The finished nest wrapped in cellophane or on a platter as part of your dessert selection is certain to captivate your guests young or old!
Combine it...
Melt it...                        
Shape it...
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk          2 - (5-ounce) an thin chow mein noodles 
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips 
Line 2 baking sheets with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.  Scrape milk into saucepan.  Add chocolate chips.  Cook and stir until blended and smooth.  Place noodles in a bowl.  Pour chocolate sauce over noodles.  Stir until coated.  Drop generous 1/2 cupfuls onto prepared sheets.  Lightly spray fingertips with cooking spray.  Pres a well into nests making a depression in the center to hold candies.  Refrigerate 30 minutes or until set.  Peel off foil.  Fill with candies or Jordan Almonds.  Yield: 8 - 10 depending on size - fewer if larger nests are made!                                                                    

Mixing chow mein noodles with melted chocolate chips and condensed milk.

 

Nests are ready for hardening in the refrigerator.

Spring Chocolate Nests
Page 247
Other NESTS...
Jemima's Chocolate Nests - Page 246
Edible Springtime Nests - Page 246

 All ready for the Easter Bunny to deliver!

Easter is just around the corner...



A collection of foil bunnies captivate this setting on the porch!
Notice the pink and green Depression glass. 



The bunny tray was a feature at last spring's
boutique!  What will this year's boutique feature...wait and see!
Green depression and an old Fostoria salt & pepper
set are used quite often.
 





Everyone loves chocolate he he!!!
It is fun to fool our guests!
They have said, "It is so warm out here.  We're surprised
the chocolate hasn't melted!"



The color purple along with pansy flowers are the theme here!
Vintage doilies, a milk glass basket, Easter books
along with a ceramic Easter egg made by our Mother
is part of this lovely setting.



Old Mrs. Rabbit, found in the attic, now has a special
place on an old white child's rocker. 
Lovely Easter pillows are scattered about the house!

Our love affair with Peter Rabbit continues...
This year in September we should all celebrate
the 110th anniversary of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit"
by Beatrix Potter. 

Carrying the Peter Rabbit theme into the dining room for
Easter dinner, the buffet is decorated and the table will
have the same theme too!

Springtime, Easter, Peter Rabbit and friends go hand in hand!

Orange Pound Cake - From Our Cook Book!

1 stick butter, softened     1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1-1/4 cups sugar       1 teaspoon salt        
2 eggs                         1/2 cup orange juice
2 cups all-purpose flour                                           
~Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and mix well.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt. 
Add juice alternately with dry ingredients to creamed mixture. 
Pour batter into greased and floured 9 X 5-inch loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees 50 - 60 minutes

PS:  This was Uncle Pepe's favorite and is now Uncle Vinnie's favorite!!

A few pansies, pussywillows and some
silk forsythia enhance this early spring display!

Hocus pocus
Comes the crocus!

Mr. Fur isn't too crazy about these hot temperatures.
He is still carrying around his winter coat!

Spring Arrived at 1:14 AM

Pussywillows picked earlier this morning!  With the summer-like
weather predicted for the next few days, I had to harvest Mother Nature's pearls!

Here's an adorable bunny pillow!  Made in the USA!!
A preview of what's in store for our
Spring Boutique on April 28 and 29!

Daffodils are popping up all over!  These warm temps
have us all confused.  We're a month ahead!

Two Authors Meet!

Meeting Christopher Sawyer, Co-author of
Denholms, The Story of Worcester's Premier Department Store,
was a thrill!  An evening of great conversation about
Worcester's past, present and future were great topics along with so much more!. 
If Denholms & McKay was part of your life and remains in your fond memory bank,
this is a must read for you!  It makes a great gift for all of those who shopped Denholms
many years ago!  Bring a smile to someone's face by giving them the gift of this great book!
...A Great Mother's Day Gift!...

Get your copy of this memory laden and factual book!
  Meet Christopher and Co-Author Patricia Wolf
during one of these special events!
Barnes & Noble - The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, Millbury, MA
March 31 at 1:00
Worcester Public Library - Book Signing & Slide Presentation
Sunday, April 1 - 2:30 PM - Main Library - Saxe Room
3 Salem Square, Worcester

Window Decorating!

Over the kitchen sink, where we spend a lot of time, is decorated
for early spring.  Bunnies begin to appear along with the forced forsythia,
vintage doilies and a lone daffodil.  Little white lights make this space bright and sunny even on
a cloudy day!

March Madness Pie

1 stick butter, melted                             1/2 cup sugar
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips         1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans                            2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla                                  1 (9-inch) pie crust, unbaked
1/2 cup all purpose flour

Pour warm butter over chocolate chips and stir until melted.  Combine pecans, vanilla, flour, sugar, brown sugar and eggs.  Stir into chocolate mixture. Pour filling into pie crust.  Bake at 350 degrees 30 to 40 minutes.  Yield: 8 servings            An old Southern tradition!

Got Syrup?

Winter ending and not quite spring...this time of year is sometimes called the "Fifth Season" - Maple Syrup Time!  Here are some recipes from our book you should give a try in case you haven't already!

Maple Sweetened Goat Cheese - page 15
Pink and Green Salad with Maple-Balsamic Dressing - page 54
Early Spring Maple Slaw - page 58
Maple Dijon Cream Salad Dressing - page 65
Maple Apple Sweets - page 81
Maple Mustard Glazed Pork Roast - page 107
Grilled Maple Chipolte Pork Chops - page 109
Chicken in Maple Sauce - page 115
Pumpkin Maple Corn Muffins - page 154
Maple Walnut Muffins - page 158
Maple Scones - page 166
Maple Walnut Pie - page 198
Pumpkin Maple Custard - page 208
Maple Pudding Cake - page 210

Check out the Denholms Blog!

For those of you who remember downtown Worcester in its heyday...check out the Denholms Blog.  Christoper Sawyer's grandmother, Josephine Carbone used to work at Denholms.  She was the inspiration behind Christopher's new book.  Visit the Blog and take a walk down memory lane.  You'll be glad you did!  Christoper will be at Barnes & Noble, Millbury on March 31.  Pick up this wonderful book as a gift or for yourself!  You'll find the link to the Blog if you scroll down on the right and find the Blogs we follow! 

The Soup Is In The Kitchen!

Minestrone Soup
2 -  14.5 oz. cans Diced Tomatoes with Italian Seasoning

       1 -  15.5 oz. can chick peas 

       1 -  can reduced sodium vegetable broth

       1/2 large yellow sweet pepper, chopped

       1 tsp. garlic powder

       1 tsp. dried basil

       black pepper

       1 cup dry rigatoni

       3 cups baby spinach

In a large pot, combine all of the ingredients except spinach.  Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium.  Cook covered for 10 minutes. 

Stir in spinach.  Top with shaved Parmesan cheese if desired.

Makes 4 - 6 servings

After a trip to Atwells Avenue in Providence where we had lunch at Joe Marzilli's

"Old Canteen" Italian Restaurant, I had to come home and try to duplicate their

delicious Minestrone Soup.  The walls are pink, the chairs are pink and the tablecloths

too!  This fabulous restaurant established in 1956 requires RESERVATIONS!

Telephone 401-751-5544 ~ 120 Atwells Avenue ~Sal Marzilli, Owner



Early Morning Sunrise Lights Up Teacups!

The sun is now at a different angle!  It lights up some of
Mommy's cup & saucer collection.

March is here! "A slice of Irish Soda Bread please!"

If you have our cookbook, Two Sisters and the Silver Spoon Cookbook
and you hopefully do...this is a recipe you MUST try! 
It is perhaps the most delicious Irish Soda Bread recipe you will ever make!
Page 161
Someone, please enter it into a contest!  I'm sure it will win!!