Breakfast Casserole Recipe

From our out of print 25th Anniversary Cookbook (in 1997):

Something delicious for Christmas brunch - Breakfast Casserole

12 slices bread, trimmed
1 lb crumbled bacon
1 lb shredded cheddar cheese
6 eggs
3 C milk
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Beat eggs and milk together.  Layer bread, bacon, cheese, egg mixture twice.  Refrigerate overnight.  Bake in a 9x13 casserole dish at 325 degrees for 1 hour.  Serves 8 to 12 people.

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Raggedy Angel who won the drawing for the $50.00 gift certificate!  Happy Holidays from all of us at The Tin Bin!

Follow the Blog!

We would like to know who's reading our blog!  For everyone who follows our blog, you will be entered into a random drawing for a $50.00 gift certificate that you can use in the store or online.  Click on "Follow" and sign into your existing account (Google, Yahoo, AIM, Netlog or OpenID) or create a new account.  Then follow the blog and you're entered into our contest.  The contest will end on December 20 and the winner will be notified by email and we will announce the winner on the blog.  That's it!

A Candle in the Window

From the outside looking in, a warm glow at each window of your home represents hospitality and friendship.

Many people use our welcome lights, also known as window candles, throughout the holidays. However, in Lancaster County, the tradition has been to let the welcome lights up throughout the year to have a nightlight in each room to light the way.

Now available are energy efficient dusk to dawn window lights - incorporating style and an innovative light sensor to automatically turn the light on at dusk and off at dawn.

Order Window Lights now in order to have them in time to decorate for the holidays!

Reed Diffusers

Ok, so I will admit it.  I am passionate about candles.  And, truthfully, I think they are a necessity of life - their glow, their warmth just seems to make the house feel cozy and, well, like home.  But sometimes a candle is just not what you need.  Sometimes you worry about forgetting to blow it out or for the kids or the cats to knock it over.  You get the idea.  That is what is so great about the newest thing in home scent - the Reed Diffuser (yes you can click here and order!).  A reed diffuser is an excellent alternative to candles or incense. This product is ideal for use in a home or office, or any setting because there is no flame, no batteries and no heat.  So...enjoy!  My favorite is Orange Clove.

Hooked Rugs as "Pictures"

Have you ever thought about hanging a hooked rug on the wall?  Sometimes a rug is just too beautiful to be on the floor!  Our hooked rugs range in price from about $70.00 to about $150.00, making them an affordable piece of art.  Hang one behind a sofa in a grouping with a few other pictures and a sconce.  Most of them come with loops to hang from a dowel rod.

Rug hooking began in North America around the mid 1800's on the eastern seaboard of New England. Housewives would use scraps of wool from making clothes or blankets and would cut them into narrow strips. The strips of wool would be dyed and would be hooked onto empty burlap feedbags. It was a great way to create inexpensive floor coverings providing warmth. Rug hooking flourished into an art form with many intricate motifs being created with artistic flair.

Click Hooked Rugs to see our collection - and feel free to use one as a "picture."

Best Selling Chandelier

This is one of our best selling chandeliers.  What is so great about this functional light is that the center cone is wired so it offers some task lighting over a kitchen table or island where the kids are sure to be doing homework or where you are making your grocery list.  The wired arms also give ample general lighting for the room.  The chandelier is wired with a three way switch so that you can turn on and off any of the wired elements.  Be sure to use a clear bulb in the center which allows the beautiful hand-punched piercing pattern to splash all over your walls and ceiling.  Click Kitchen Chandelier to order!

This Old House Magazine

Have you seen the November 2009 issue of This Old House magazine?  One of our sconces is pictured on page 32 of their section "get this look" where they feature a Colonial style dining room.  You can order the sconce by clicking This Old House Sconce.  A pair of them would look terrific on either side of a painting that you want to have noticed.

Dough Tray and Greens

Fall decorating is so much fun.  Here is a dough tray (or you can use a large wooden bowl) with some greens, gourds and pinecones surrounded by Christmas lights and topped off with a glass canister for your favorite candle.  These greens are artificial, but fresh would be even better.  Doesn't your boxwood need a good trim?  My favorite candle is what we call Evergreen and Citrus - and it's really great anytime of year because it does not scream of balsam fir which is typically a scent used at Christmas.  The citrus offsets the evergreen and creates the most pleasant smelling candle I have ever had.  Come in and try one!  Did you know that we have a candle club?  If you buy 6 candles at $19.95 or more, you get your 7th one free!  Hope to see you soon...

Click Treenware to check out our collection of Treenware.  There are some really nice wooden bowls to choose from.

37th Annual Holiday Open House

You are cordially invited to join us for our 37th annual holiday open house.  We will have special hours on Friday, November 27 from 9 am - 7 pm and on Saturday, November 28 from 9 am - 5 pm.  We will have refreshements for you to enjoy to ring in the holiday, including our traditional wassail (recipe below in previous blog).  We hope you join us and look forward to celebrating another year with you!

A Disney Vacation

So...my kids would love Disney World - Mickey Mouse and all.  But I am so excited to see the wedding gazebo because it will soon be surrounded by six of our post lights!  A great wedding photo opportunity awaits.  I hope they send me pictures and allow me to post them here!

Check out their choice of lighting at Post Light with Spider

Wassail Recipe

Sipping some warm wassail on a cold night feels heavenly. Try our recipe for your next holiday gathering - your guests will love it!

1 gallon apple cider
1 gallon cranberry juice
3/4 cup sugar
cloves, allspice, and cinnamon to taste

Combine above ingredients and heat. Serve in mugs with a cinnamon stick. Add some white rum if desired.