I Remember Martha

I was baking Christmas cookies with friends over the weekend and I came across a 1989 vintage edition of Martha Stewart's Christmas. It filled me with nostalgia for the time when Martha really was a Connecticut matron trying to hold up the appearance of old money. Longing for the Newmans to come for dinner, resplendent in her Laura Ashley Victoriana fashion, Martha took on projects that one person might actually be able to accomplish. There's a great shot of her wrapping greens around pillars outside her house in beat up Nikes. We haven't seen that Martha in ever so long.

Remember Martha's kitchen before it became all stainless steel and cold? There were copper pots and baskets, herbs drying, speckled eggs straight from the chicken's bum---a homey kind of old New England clutter. This is Martha pre-CEO, pre-prison, pre-Bedford estate where the horses match the paint scheme. This is vintage Martha with her sleeves rolled up, believing that life can be a little more beautiful and WASPY for all of us-- if only we could get to those fabulous tag sales in Fairfield County where you can pick up linen napkins and odd silver pieces for $1.

God, I miss her.

Here's her popcorn ball recipe. They are delicious and you can hang them on a tree with a pretty ribbon. Unless that's too homey a look for you...


Vintage Martha's Popcorn Balls
(Great to do with kids)

Melt 1/2 stick of butter
Add 10 oz. mini marsshmallows
1/4 C light brown sugar
2 bags of popcorn

Toss it all in a bowl. Let it cool a little before you start forming balls. Let balls cool on waxed paper. Hang on tree with pretty ribbons. Or just eat.