Artichoke Dip

One of my favorite appetizers to take to a party:

Artichoke Dip
1 C mayonnaise
1 C shredded mozzarella cheese
1 C parmesan cheese
1 to 2 coves of minced garlic
1 small chopped onion
1 T chives or parsley
16 oz can of artichoke hearts (not marinated)

Drain and chop artichokes.  Combine all ingredients.  Place in shallow casserole or deep-dish pie plate.  Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.  Serve with crackers or a French baguette.

New Treenware!

We have been busy adding new products to our website again!  We have greatly expanded our line of Treenware.

This great Farmhouse Bowl would look great with a piece from our collection of Primitive Glassware and your favorite candle and some botanicals.  We love the simple look of some artichokes, pomegranates and some pine cones.

The word "treen" comes from the middle English and means "wooden."  Treen is distinctively different than other pieces made from wood such as furniture or cabinetry in that it is a name for small handmade household items such as bowls or spoons. Our collection of "treenware" is made from a resin and is treated with a primitive patina giving it the look of an antique.  It is for decorative use only and is not suitable for any food service.

Farmhouse Kitchen

Rebecca Hitt Martin's photo of her kitchen looks like it leaped off the pages of Early American Life.  With a beautiful farmhouse table in the center of the room with mix and match chairs and our tin chandelier - what a great look!  Rebecca has lovingly displayed collections of yellow ware, baskets and mason jars.

We thank Rebecca Hitt Martin for sharing with us.  Would you take time to share with us as well?  We would love to have some more pictures of our products in the home.  You can go to our page on Facebook and post a message on our wall and before you hit share, click on the attach photo icon and upload your photo.

15% off Preorder Sale

We are getting ready to fill our retail shop and online website with some Spring!  We are offering a 15% discount off of any of the products in the following categories: Seasonal - Spring, Summer and Easter, Florals and Greenery, Primitive Baskets, Primitive Glassware, and Candles, Reed Diffusers and Botanicals.  The sale begins on January 18, 2010 and ends on January 24, 2010.  Upon checkout, you will need to type "preorder" into the apply coupon box and hit go.  The shopping cart will automatically deduct the discount.

To be clear, this is a "preorder" sale - we DO NOT have most of these products in stock.  We will be placing our orders for Spring and wanted to give you the chance to preorder and take advantage of these savings.  Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.  Your payment will be processed immediately.

Have fun shopping and think SPRING!

Luther Rabbit

Peanut Soup

The first time I ever had Peanut Soup, I was a little girl of about 8 years of age visiting Colonial Williamsburg.  We ate at the King's Arms Tavern.  Here is a recipe for this wonderful soup from our out of print 25th Anniversary Tin Bin Cookbook (printed in 1997).  Maybe we should do another cookbook?

Peanut Soup
1 med onion
2 stalks celery
2 sticks butter
1/2 C flour
3 qt. chicken broth
3 C creamy peanut butter
1 pt. milk
1 pt. half and half
salt and pepper to taste

Mince onion and chop celery and saute in butter until tender; add flour and stir to make a smooth paste. Slowly add broth while stirring and bring to a boil; add peanut butter and stir.  Reduce heat and add warmed milk and half and half.  Stir and heat about 3 minutes.  Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Chop peanuts or chives to garnish top.  Serves 12 to 14.

Wreaths, Garland & Candle Rings

We just added Wreaths, Garland & Candle Rings to our website.  This beautiful 18" Wreath features pine, pomanders and pinecones.  We think it is just beautiful.  So pop over and check out all the great things we just added to the website.  And keep up to date with us on Facebook and Twitter!

New Florals & Greenery

We just added some new Florals & Greenery to our website.  Although Spring is around the corner, and was the inspiration behind the additions, we just couldn't resist showing this adorable Pocket Back Basket and Christmas Pine Spray.

Yes, I know that Christmas is over but I don't have all the decorations put away at home.  We have started stripping down the store and making some Spring displays, although we do have Christmas all year round in our "Hearth Room."

So, who is ready for Spring?

New Hooked Rugs and Pillows

We have just added some new Hooked Rugs and Pillows to our website.  If you like the one pictured, you can see it here.

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.

Bread Pudding Recipe

Another recipe from our out of print 25th Anniversary Cookbook (published in 1997 in loving memory of James Dale Lutton - co-founder of The Tin Bin):

12 slices bread
 1 1/2 C sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 C milk
4 eggs
sprinkle cinnamon
raisins (if desired)

Cube bread into baking dish.  In a bowl, mix eggs, milk, vanilla and sugar.  Pour over bread cubes.  Add raisins if desired.  Sprinkle with cinnamon.  Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.  Serve with whipped cream.

Thanks to Jo Ann Lutton for all the great recipes, for being a great mom and for the opportunity to join the "family business."

Primitive Glassware

We have a new line of Primitive Glassware on our website.  These pieces are beautiful, hand-blown bubble glassware made in the old world style making each one unique and imperfect.

Use for potpourri and candles, fruits or pomanders, florals or any collection you want to display.

This particular Vase with Candle Plate is great to display botanicals or a miniature holiday scene in the bottom, while leaving room to burn your favorite candle on top.  It is offered in a variety of sizes - this being the 12" size that would hold about a 4" candle.

Come and see us soon or visit us online at www.thetinbin.com!

Updated Website

We are so excited with the recent update to our website.  We hope you take the time to check it out and we would love to hear your comments.  Of note, you can now make a Wish List of items you would like to purchase.  As you make your purchases over a period of time, the wish list keeps track so you can get everything you wished for.  You can also make a Gift Registry - perfect for your wedding or house warming events.

So, please take a peek and come back here and leave us a comment.  We really appreciate your feedback!

www.thetinbin.com

Frakturs by Susan Daul

On our website at www.thetinbin.com, we have a terrific collection of printed Frakturs, an artistic folk art stylized by the Pennsylvania Dutch.  We feature the work of Susan Soloway Daul, who has been drawing and painting since her early childhood.  "Old things" have fascinated Susan all of her life, as she fondly remembers accompanying her parents to visit homesteads of many of our founding fathers and countless antique shops searching for treasures from our past. Susan's Folk Art has taken many forms over the past 20 years, as she has used various media including wood and clay, usually incorporating animals into her pieces in some way.

It was a natural progression for Susan's focus to fall on the Fraktur, as their inspirational verses, charming use of animals and beautiful combinations of color proved irresistible from the first time she saw one. Initially given as gifts to special friends and family, Susan's creations have quickly become desirable to collectors as appreciation for her Fraktur has spread far and wide, finding their place in various Museum Shops throughout the country, including Colonial Williamsburg, The American Folk Art Museum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to name a few.