Strawberry Fields Bread

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped fresh strawberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well.  Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; stir into creamed mixture just until moistened.  Fold in strawberries and nuts.

Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 - 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Madame Turtle

Madame Turtle makes her way up the lawn
in order to find the perfect spot to dig for her eggs.


 

Its a long walk up the hill!

 

She spends hours digging and scratching...
looking for the perfect spot.



Enough work for today...Madame
returns to the water in order to cool off!
Once her eggs are laid, she will leave and
never return.  Madame will never see her offspring.
When they are born, these babies
will  instinctively know everything
they need to know in order to survive in this world!
Now that's amazing!



A Time to Remember...

To all those that have given their lives for our freedom...
We thank you!  To the families and friends of those fallen
or injured...We thank you! 
Today, take a moment to reflect and give thanks.
We're lucky to be Americans!
Thank a Veteran for their service.
Fly our flag proudly.
It's not all about cookouts and opening the pool for the season!
Stop and think for just a moment.

Memorial Day

Do you remember dressing up in red, white and blue
for Memorial Day?  Our Mother saved these
lovely outfits and I'm glad she did!

Louisa May Alcott's "Orchard House"

A visit to the home of "Little Women" in Concord
Massachusetts is a trip back in time!
One Place, 100 Years, Millions of Memories
399 Lexington Road
Concord, MA
www.louisamayalcott.org 

Remodeled from two buildings built before the
Revolutionary War, this house was the home of the
Alcott family from 1858 - 1877.  Here Louisa May Alcott
wrote "Little Women in 1868.
Concord, Massachusetts...a great destination!

More Rhubarb!!

More rhubarb...this time paired with blueberries! 
Blue-Barb Pie
Two Sisters Cookbook page 192
This one is my husband's favorite!
Stay tuned for more rhubarb recipes and photos!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie - Everyone's Favorite!

To me...this is the loveliest sight of all not to mention
the wonderful aroma fresh from the garden!  The green and red of the rhubarb,
the red and pink of strawberries, the white glistening sugar and of course
my latest  find...Vietnamese Cinnamon (a.k.a. Saigon Cinnamon).  This
cinnamon is grown in North Vietnam.  It is sweeter and more potent than the
Indonesian Cinnamon  more commonly sold in supermarkets. 
Check out http://www.kingarthurflour.com/ if you'd like to purchase this baking must!

Ready for the oven...Made with King Arthur Flour!  Mmmm....
Two Sisters Cookbook Page 216 for "Kit's Pie Crust"...That's me!
Page 197 for Strawberry Rhubarb Pie.

This pie crimper makes the fluted edges of lattice pastry!  This
one was given to me years ago by my friend, Rose! 

A Local Nursery Worthy of Your Support!



Breezy Gardens on Main Street, Leicester,
Massachusetts is a local nursery you shouldn't miss.



Healthy plants for inside and out
are at Breezy Gardens!



Pink and Orange are fun colors to
put together in the garden!



Find your flower passion at
Breezy Gardens.  Tell Kim
and her husband, the "Pink"
sisters sent you!



Lilies of the Valley

 Here we have Lilies of the Valley in an old fashioned paper doilie posie holder.
These will be placed on our Mother's grave for Mother's Day.
The fragrance of Lilies of the Valley is evident all over my yard.
If your garden space lacks these fragrant flowers you'd better get
to the nursery and plant some immediately.

Happy Mother's Day!

"All that I am or hope to be
I owe to my Angel Mother."
Abraham Lincoln

Lilies of the Valley arrive early this year!

All things Lily of the Valley take their turn on display!  This
adorable dish belonged to my dear Mother-in-law, Lily.

One of my lovely Mother's delightful
English Bone China cups and saucers
finds a prominent place in the breakfast room.

One of our gardens is filled with these pearly bells.  Thousands
cast their fragrance into the air for all to inhale. 

Mr. Fur finds a sunny spot!



Mr. Fur finds a sunny spot on the porch underneath the wicker planter
filled with pale pink geraniums.  Brightly colored azaleas are the
background in this sunny picture of a lazy feline!



A Favorite...Basil

Basil is an annual that loves hot, humid weather.  This basil
was started inside and will be put outside when the weather warms. 
Basil has a spicy clove-like fragrance.  Its perfect partner is the tomato!
What could be better than fresh tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella and olive oil?
NOTHING!!  The most popular basil is Sweet Genovese.  I also enjoy
the other basil choices such as, lemon basil, lime basil and cinnamon basil. 
Pesto and other summer recipes thrive on freshly picked basil.
I like to make bouquets of basil and give them to friends.

A Quick and Easy Armenian Side-Dish!

Mock Keyma
1 cup fine bulgar wheat
1 large can or 2 small cans Hunts Tomato Sauce
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice (1 lemon)
1/4 to 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 bunch scallions, finely chopped
salt & pepper to taste
(We usually don't add any salt & add 1/4 tsp. pepper)
Combine & Refrigerate for a few hours.

This recipe is a wonderful side-dish and even enjoyed in a pocket bread
as a simple and quick lunch!
Yum!!

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!