Layer cakes are absolutely essential to Southern culture. It is completely acceptable and quite common, actually, for more than one layer cake to appear on dessert tables at holiday gatherings, baby showers, church suppers…you get the idea! One of the more discrete Southern classics is the distinctive Lane Cake. Also referred to as Prize Cake or Alabama Lane Cake, this …
Chocolate on Valentine’s Day is a tradition that we all enjoy, but where does it come from? I did a little digging, and it turns out, this fabulous tradition originated in my favorite place on earth—England! By the 1840s, Valentine’s Day as a time to celebrate romantic love was widely adopted by most of the English-speaking world. Prim Victorians embraced …
Valentine’s Day really does just make me smile! It’s the first bit of brightness and celebration after an often long and dreary January—what a breath of fresh air! This day is celebrated in many ways other than romance. Some families have delightful Valentine’s traditions, and now, “Galantine” celebrations seem to be the thing to do! Which honestly, makes so much …
The word change can either excite you or terrify you, depending on your personality. I have friends that are thrilled by change and change as much in their lives as possible all the time. Then, I have friends who are comfortable in the rut, and change is like a disease to avoid. I can’t quite decide where I fall in …
When I am hosting a dinner or a family get-together, I like to prepare as much as I can in advance. Most of the dishes I make are fresh, but there are a few hidden gems in my cookbook that can be made ahead of time—a huge time-saver and still delicious. Below are my top five that I know I …
If you have been following along on Ribbon, you know good and well how deeply charmed I am with all things Great Britain. The sophistication of British life swooned me from an early age, and my dream of visiting this splendid country came true when I was 40 years old. From its picturesque streets to magnificent cathedrals, I could visit …
When we asked you for feedback about what you all wanted to read on Ribbon, one of the topics that kept appearing was “sisters,” particularly my sister (and her glorious rebuttals!). Today, we were laughing about the pecking order of children in the family. I am the oldest, my brother, Keith, is the middle child and only boy, and then …
Post-holiday season is a rather strange time of year. We often find ourselves with extra time on our hands and not much going on. So, what do we do? Embrace it! A season of rest after the hustle and bustle of Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve fun is much appreciated and much needed. A marvelous idea for those uneventful …
Now, this is an announcement that I am beyond thrilled to share with all of you! Bake from Scratch magazine just unveiled their third annual cookbook! Covering both sweet and savory, Bake from Scratch: Volume Three is filled with artisan recipes for yeast bread, pies, birthday cakes, and so much more. I am particularly excited about the plethora of birthday …
Yet again, it’s time for resolutions! Oh, my—I could write a book. I have vowed to lose weight for years. I have lost 1,200 pounds and gained 1,205, so that’ a net gain of 5 over the last 40 years! I thought about resolving to get organized, but then I would have to remember where I put everything. So maybe …
