Here's some exciting news! I've launched some of my favorite dessert pastries and cookies with Crumbl!
From now until November 8th, you can find seven of my best-loved sweet treats right on the Crumbl menu - Chocolate Tart Cookie, Coconut Layer Cake, Classic Fudge Brownie, Mile-High Lemon Pie, New York Cheesecake, Pumpkin Sheet Cake, and my Chocolate Chip Cookie Thins. Every one was inspired by my first book, Entertaining, which I just re-released earlier this week. I helped develop these mouth watering desserts with Crumbl's menu team. Buy one or one of each - they're perfect for gifting or making any gathering a little more special.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
I am so excited to collaborate with Crumbl to launch a selection of my delicious dessert cakes and cookies. All this week, the North American bakery is offering a lineup of seven treats on their menu.
Every offering is inspired by my very first book, Entertaining, just re-released earlier this week. I hope you have a copy – it’s ready for purchase at bookstores and online right now.
Limited-edition boxes of my desserts are available for 6-pack orders through November 8th.
I had samples of each cake delivered to my farm, so I could share them with my hard-working crew.
Every one looked so delicious – it was hard to choose which to try.
This is my Classic Fudge Brownie finished with a glossy chocolate glaze and white chocolate drizzle.
The cake is so moist with just the right amount of sweet frosting.
Here is my rendition of New York-style Cheesecake, personal size. It has a graham cracker crust and is garnished with fresh strawberries.
Many love the crust to cream ratio – it’s just right.
This is a Chocolate Tart Cookie with a chocolate cookie crust filled with silky fudge and chocolate mousse. Every cake and cookie is made from scratch with fresh ingredients every day.
To finish it off, it is topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls.
Another offering on the menu is this Coconut Layer Cake – a tender white cake mixed with shredded coconut, layered with vanilla mousse, and finished with toasted coconut pieces for a delicate crunch.
Perfect for fall is this spiced Pumpkin Sheet Cake crowned with vanilla bean cream cheese frosting and a buttery brown sugar streusel.
It’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet.
For those who love lemony desserts, my Mile-High Lemon Pie – also inspired by Entertaining. It features a bright lemon filling in a golden shortbread crust, topped with lofty whipped cream and a slice of fresh lemon.
It’s fluffy, light, and deliciously tart with just a touch of sweetness.
And don’t forget my delicious chocolate chip cookie. These are Chocolate Chip Cookie Thins – delicately crisp cookies with caramelized edges, chewy centers, and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
It’s crispy outside and chewy inside – a favorite combination for chocolate chip cookie fanciers.
I often display cookies and pastries on cake stands. Just place them on the table or buffet and let guests choose what they want, or try every one.
My crew will love all of these. If you have a craving for something sweet, get one of my mouthwatering dessert pastries or cookies from Crumbl today! You’ll love every bite.
This time of year, when most of the garden flowers have already faded, one stands out in a variety of gorgeous colors and forms - the heirloom chrysanthemum.
Last week, I attended a very informative and inspiring Heirloom Chrysanthemum Workshop at Bear Creek Farm in Stanfordville, New York. Bear Creek Farm sells an array of flowers, tubers and seeds and hosts several interesting flower seminars through the year. At this gathering, I, along with a small group of other "mum" enthusiasts, learned all about what makes these chrysanthemum blooms so special. We heard about their history and their unique growing needs, the secrets of cultivating strong healthy plants, certain growing methods and helpful tips - all with hands-on instruction and detailed explanations.
Enjoy these photos.
Have you ever seen a mum so beautiful? Chrysanthemum ‘Seaton’s Je’Dore’ is deep pink to almost white in color depending on the growing temperatures. It was just one of the gorgeous blooms I saw at Bear Creek Farm last weekend.
And this is another stunning bloom, ‘Fleur de Lis.’ It’s often called the “Queen of Fall Flowers” with its vivid bright pink tones and delicately curved petals.
And look at its size. This and many of the heirloom mums here are bigger than one’s hand.
And this is one of several chrysanthemum tunnels. Greenhouse tunnels allow for extended growing seasons, provide controlled environments with specific temperature ranges and protection from wind and frost. These mums are ‘Savanna Charleton’ and ‘Fleur de Lis.’
Chrysanthemum ‘Savanna Charlton’ is big, elegant, light pink, and early-blooming. Growing these heirloom mums requires careful attention and care. They thrive in sunny locations with well-draining soil and space to develop their spreading roots and tall stems.
Chrysanthemum ‘Hagoromo’ has a large in-curved form. It is a vigorous grower with strong, straight stems.
Here are Chrysanthemum ‘Jefferson Park’ and Chrysanthemum ‘Hagoromo’ – both about thigh-high and so healthy. All the mums grown at Bear Creek are heirloom Chrysanthemums, meaning they are grown using traditional techniques passed down through generations.
This is Chrysanthemum ‘Wind Dancer’- a tall mum with butterscotch rust colored flowers in a starburst pattern.
Chrysanthemum ‘Seaton’s Coffee’ has many layered petals formed in a large and open bloom. Its center is dark maroon and stretches to lighter terracotta with slightly gold tips. These flowers can grow up to four and a half inches in diameter atop strong stems.
‘Showers’ describes exactly what is seen, a beautiful shower of white petals and a yellow center. Chrysanthemums are actually short-day plants that require longer periods of darkness to form blooms. They flower best when the days are shorter and the nights are longer.
This Chrysanthemum variety is called ‘River City’ which features salmon colored buds that open to upward-facing apricot flowers. When harvesting, pick individual stems when the blooms are one-half to two-thirds open.
And this is ‘Woolmans Century’ – a very light pale green to white mum with petals that are incurved and interlaced.
This chrysanthemum is an easy grower on strong stems.
And this is irregular curved bloom is Chrysanthemum ‘White Out.’ Water chrysanthemums carefully. Be sure to check for dryness first at about an inch deep. If it feels dry, water deeply and always direct water to the base, so it does not damage any leaves or flowers.
This white mum is ‘Primrose Mt. Shasta’ – crisp white to light yellow blooms.
‘Connie Mayhew’ is creamy to bold yellow in color with a dome shape.
In this tunnel, proprietor Debra Kaye grows ‘Connie Mayhew’ next to Je’Dore. Early in the season, before blooming, Debra recommends disbudding. Disbudding is a technique used primarily on mums to encourage the growth of a single, large flower per stem. By removing side buds, the plant focuses its energy on developing one big bloom.
‘Apricot Alexis’ is one of the heirloom mums I am growing at my farm along with ‘Fleur de Lis,’ ‘Jefferson Park,’ ‘Apricot Alexis,’ ‘River City,’ ‘Woodman’s Century,’ and ‘Luxor.’ I will definitely grow a lot more varieties next year.
This gorgeous variety is ‘Kokka Bunmi’ – a most captivating mum loved for its intricate layers of lavender and pink flowers with shades of purple on the reverse. It also has long, trailing petals.
The unique bloom forms, rich history, and long vase life are what set these stunning mums apart. Learn more on Debra’s web site and follow her on Instagram @bearcreekfresh.
It's out on bookstore shelves today - the relaunch of my very first book, Entertaining.
Entertaining was first released in December 1982. And now after nearly 43 years, it's out again, identical to the first edition with all 300 recipes and 450 full-color photographs. The book is a comprehensive guide to entertaining, featuring my ideas for everything from planning tips to cooking delicious dishes perfectly suited for every occasion. To promote this special book, I am conducting a book signing today at Williams Sonoma in New York City. Yesterday's book signing was at Terrain in Westport, Connecticut. I also hosted a podcast inviting several of those who helped me create Entertaining - be sure to listen to that show tomorrow wherever you get your podcasts. I'm so excited about the reprinting of Entertaining - whether you have an original version or not, you will love this book too!
Enjoy these photos.
Here it is, the 2025 relaunched edition of my very first book, Entertaining. It is exactly like the original with all the great recipes, tips, and ideas everyone loves from the 1982 version. It’s in bookstores today and available to order online! Start your holiday shopping!
Yesterday’s events were held at Terrain’s Westport, Connecticut store, just an hour outside New York City. It’s one of two – the other Terrain is in Glenn Mills, Pennsylvania.
Terrain offers an assortment of seasonal plants and items for the home and garden. It also has indoor-outdoor nurseries, and a cafe.
The store is filled with beautiful items from stone garden ornaments and urns…
… to holiday décor.
These tables and shelves are filled with ribbons, ornaments, and lights.
There are also lots of items for children – books, nature-inspired kits, and toys.
On one table are items I personally selected – Martha’s Must Haves for the holidays. They include the Tree of Life Menorah, the Aged Iron Cluster Taper Candle Holder Dish, Golden Tinsel, a Twinkling Vine Bell, an Ivory Ceramic Faux Bois Vase, a Leafy Rattan Hinged Tree Collar, a Habit Form Tray, 15-inch Silver Beaded Trees – all available at Terrain.
I also selected these Faux Garden Leaves for a touch of metallic shine to an arrangement.
And these Candy Cane Glass Side Plates – handmade in Turkey especially for Terrain.
Some of you may even remember this book cover of me at my Turkey Hill home wearing Laura Ashley. And I still have all those dishes and goblets.
I was excited to host a podcast with several of those who worked on Entertaining with me. It was so great to see this group again and find out what they were all up to now.
Among those on the podcast was Corey Tippin, who was part of my catering team and later returned as a stylist for my television show and magazine.
It was so great to hear from all those who participated. You will love their memories. Be sure to listen to this nostalgic podcast.
Also from my catering team – Louise Felix and Vicky Sloat, who started working with me at my first shop, the Market Basket, after seeing an ad in the local Westport paper.
Remember Necy on the right? She was one of my first housekeepers and later a talented flower arranger and cook. She was also on my podcast and came with her daughter Clarissa.
My nieces Kristina Christiansen and Sophie Herbert Slater were also there for the event.
After the podcast, I did a book signing at the front of Terrain.
125 guests attended the event and purchased books.
Terrain gifted me with this gorgeous and large Medinilla magnifica. As the story goes, 13 years ago, when I first visited Terrain, I bought one of these plants – and they remembered. This specimen is even more special because it was grown by my friends Dennis Schrader and Bill Smith of Landcraft
Environments.
I chose this lovely Terrain urn for it. I am excited to see it thrive in my greenhouse.
So, whether you have a 1982 copy of it or not, get this new 2025 relaunched edition of Entertaining. And may you enjoy it for decades.
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