When it is winter and we are inside for several days, I love to get in my kitchen and bake. The house always smells so delightful, and the aroma lingers for days. Baking is therapeutic for me. There is something so fulfilling about working with the ingredients and then popping something into the oven. When the mixer is whirling, you …
I am so happy there is a national holiday celebrating the cherry pie! Who doesn’t love a splendid cherry pie fresh from the oven? It’s my dad’s favorite, and he requests it for his birthday instead of cake. Can we also count a cherry cobbler as a pie? Yes! I say anything that has crust and cherries qualifies as a …
Well, it’s that time again—spring, and that means spring dresses! Specifically, an Easter dress for my granddaughter. It always takes me a long time to make my decision before I begin sewing. I remember Easter dresses that Mom made for my sister and me. One year that particularly sticks out in my mind is the one we had dresses with …
What is your personal style? I am often asked that question, and I have to stop and think about it. I love English-style furniture, French fabrics, and antiques. I went through a period in my life where every room was wall papered, and that phase lasted only a little while. Truthfully, I find that I like to make small changes …
This week’s Valentine’s Day celebrations bring to my mind special Valentine’s Day memories from my teen years. First, my mom always got a big box of Russel Stover chocolates from my dad. Hers was always the big, bright shiny red box with a great ribbon or flower on top. Dad got us kids the small version of the red box. …
The term “cottage” means something different to each of us. I think of my grandmother’s house as a cottage. She had a large walnut tree in the side yard, a porch swing, and small intimate rooms. I can still see her crisp white curtains being blown by the breezes whenever she opened the windows every spring. There is something magical …
When I was a little girl, our family lived in Mobile, Alabama, and every year Mom and Dad would take us to the Mardi Gras parade to see the floats and make our attempts at catching candy and beads as they were thrown out into the crowds. Our next-door neighbor rode a float every year, and she would save us …
It is hard to believe this is the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl. It amazes me the number of people who never watch NFL football that are totally tuned in to the Super Bowl every year! Did you know that the sales of televisions are higher the week of the Super Bowl than any other time of the year? …
I spotted a wonderful young man in this video—my son Brian Hart Hoffman! He has taken on the role of the Culinary Traveler and finds the most wonderful places to visit for those of us who love great food. This time he is taking us to West Virginia, a great place to visit that offers wonderful places to dine during …
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to express love and admiration to those who are important in our lives. A tea is the perfect time to celebrate special ladies in your life. A best friend, a daughter or daughter-in-law, or a precious granddaughter will love being the honored guest at your table. Tea is a time when the world slows …
