White house pastry chef Rolland Mesnier with First Lady Nancy Reagan

Getting to Know a White House Chef (and a Giveaway)

Phyllis Giveaway 43 Comments

Talking with the White House’s former executive pastry chef Roland Mesnier was among the most exhilarating interviews I have had in a long time. I felt like I was chatting with an old friend, even though I had never met him. Having served five administrations and handled everything from small teas to state dinners for 800, his road to the …

Cantaloupe & Ice Cream — An Easy Summer Treat

Phyllis Lifestyle, Video 35 Comments

When I was a child we would take summer trips to my grandparents’ farm. They always had glorious vegetable and fruit gardens, and one of my favorite things was the fresh cantaloupe. Back then, in the golden days, cantaloupe was seasonal and not available year-round as it is today. So the summer harvest of melons was a great time for …

Egg-Plates

An Easy Deviled Egg Recipe for Easter

Phyllis Lifestyle 16 Comments

Whether you call them deviled or stuffed, they’re one of the South’s quintessential dishes, particularly for springtime gatherings. The best thing about a deviled egg is its versatility. The humble egg is just a vessel for so much more. To Southerners, deviled eggs are the ultimate comfort food. We eat them in al fresco picnic lunches with the family or take …

MissGinny_1

Miss Ginny’s English Toffee

Phyllis People 3 Comments

Right after Thanksgiving is over and we begin the holiday season, our thoughts turn to gifts that will be enjoyed by the recipients on our lists. And when I run across something that turns my head, I have to share it with you. Miss Ginny’s English Toffee from Chattanooga, Tennessee, is my new find. I met Ginny at a local …