White House Christmas 2015
formalities

White House Christmas 2015

One of the perks of being a former White House Social Secretary is that we’re invited back for a Christmas luncheon each year by current White House Social Secretary, Deesha Dyer. It’s a chance to dish with my friends, admire the holiday decorations, and enjoy the warm hospitality of Deesha and the White House staff. We had a beautiful dessert service in the Green Room (with visits from White House Executive Chefs Cris Comerford and Susie Morrison), after lunch in […]

WHITE HOUSE EGGNOG on Americas-Table.com
food

Fox and Friends

If you tuned into Fox and Friends this morning, we talked about a few of my favorite holiday recipes on the show. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does! White House Eggnog  Chocolate Sea Salt Shortbread Cookies  Barbecued Ginger Molasses Pulled Pork Tenderloin

LOUISA ADAMS’ CLAM CHOWDER
food

Louisa Adams’ Clam Chowder

Louisa Adams was the sixth first lady of the United States, the daughter-in-law of John and Abigail Adams, and the wife of John Quincy Adams. She was one of the most experienced and formidable hostesses the White House has ever seen, living in Prussia, St. Petersburg, and London while her husband was in diplomatic service, and then entertaining frequently when her husband became Secretary of State and later President. When I found her four-ingredient recipe for clam chowder, I was […]

TEDDY ROOSEVELT’S PUDDING
food

Teddy Roosevelt’s Pudding

One of the original desserts of early American cooking was hasty pudding, or, as it was sometimes known, Indian pudding. (You may remember that hasty pudding is mentioned in the lyrics of the Revolutionary War song, “Yankee Doodle.”) Made with cornmeal, eggs, milk, and whatever spices a cook had on hand, it was sweetened with molasses or maple syrup. Later versions added ice cream, or candied fruit. This is my updated take on hasty pudding, based on recipes found in […]