Cover Girl Martha

Fans should keep their eyes peeled for two new magazine interviews featuring Martha Stewart on the cover. This Sunday's Parade magazine has a feature interview with Martha about her new book, Living the Good Long Life, and New You also interviews Martha for their May cover story on Powerful Beauty.

Martha's Second Annual "American Made" Awards Announced

This fall, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia will present its "American Made" program for the second year, as announced by Martha Stewart today at the Smithsonian Craft Show. The artisanal fair and workshop will be held October 16-17 at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall.

"American Made" is a movement for individuals and communities that have turned their passion for handcrafted, well-designed goods into small businesses. With small businesses in the U.S. creating the majority of new jobs, "American Made" shines a spotlight on the rising stars in this maker subculture with the "American Made Awards," selected by the editors of Martha Stewart Living in the categories of Crafts, Design, Garden, Style, Food, and Technology; as well as Audience Choice honorees chosen by popular vote on the "American Made" website. More than 230,000 people took part in last year's Audience Choice nominations and vote.

The inaugural 2012 "American Made" event transformed Grand Central Terminal's historic Vanderbilt Hall, featuring a retail store and cafe curated by Martha Stewart and the editors of Martha Stewart Living, as well as a classroom for workshops and panels with participation from luminaries such as Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; Calvin Klein; Millard "Mickey" Drexler; Tory Burch; Willie Geist; and Karen Mills, the 23rd Administrator of the Small Business Administration and a member of President Obama's cabinet. More than 100 hand-selected purveyors, sellers, artisans, and celebrities took part in the event, which was attended by approximately 500,000 people.

"There is currently a return to community that focuses on the handcrafted and local, and a repopulation of America's Main Streets with such businesses," said Ms. Stewart. "'American Made' is designed to celebrate and support these creative entrepreneurs in the fields that express MSLO's core values. I'm thrilled that we are able to make 'American Made' an annual event, and I'm looking forward to building on the success of last year."

For updates and to learn more about "American Made," and to nominate Audience Choice honorees (beginning on June 20), click here.

Living the Good Long Life: Out Today!

Martha's 77th book (yes, 77th!) is released today. Living the Good Long Life is Martha's latest book of instruction and is her first on the subject of aging well. The book focuses on healthy eating, fitness, maintaining a healthy brain and a positive outlook to help enrich your life as you age. There are also practical tips for caring for aging relatives and how to look after yourself while ensuring your loved ones are given the care they need and deserve. The advice is backed up by statistics and suggestions provided by several of Martha's closest medical advisors. Be sure to order your copy or stop by your local book store to pick one up in person! There is also a Kindle edition available. Click here to read more about the book. Martha will be doing a book signing on May 17th at Macy's Herald Square in New York City and will be appearing on the Dr. Oz Show on May 23rd to discuss the book.

Remembering: The Bunshaft House

Longtime Martha Stewart fans may remember the second home she purchased in East Hampton in 1995 - a stark, modernist residence designed and built in 1963 by famed architect Gordon Bunshaft. It was designed to be Bunshaft's principal home and was located in the Georgica Pond area of East Hampton, not far from Lily Pond, where Martha had purchased an 1880s Victorian home several years prior.  Martha owned the Bunshaft property for less than a decade but its presence in her life is worth reflecting upon. 

She purchased the home from New York's Museum of Modern Art for just over $3-million. It had been previously willed to the museum by Bunshaft's widow upon her death in 1994 but its council could not afford to maintain the property and was forced to sell it. When Martha purchased it, she vowed not to make any changes to the home's exterior but did commission an interior renovation with architect John Pawson. Not long after she purchased the property, however, an acrimonious feud erupted between Martha and her neighbour, real-estate magnate Harry Macklowe. The feud escalated to such heated intensity that Martha chose to abandon the home entirely (mid-renovation) and transfered ownership to her daughter, Alexis, who in turn sold it to Donald Maharam in 2004 for $9.4-million. Maharam has since demolished the home and constructed a new residence.

ABOUT THE BUNSHAFT HOUSE ("TRAVERTINE HOUSE")

The house was contained within a rectangular box, 100 feet long by 26 feet wide, with its long dimension tangent to the lagoon's shoreline to the south. It was raised on a broad six-foot berm above the floodplain. The exterior walls were poured-in-place concrete clad with travertine (the home was sometimes referred to as the Travertine House) and the exposed roof structure was made up of pre-stressed concrete beams with a "double T" shape, exposed on either edge with the openings filled with plate glass clerestory windows. The ends of the house were shaded by a 4-foot extension of the roof and side walls with a paved strip extending the stone flooring to the edge of the walls.

The main living spaces had floor-to-ceiling plate glass openings. Interior walls were white-painted plaster and the floors were travertine over a concrete slab foundation. The entry door, one of only two openings in the solid north wall, opened directly into a small entry hall between the central living room and the master bedroom. Opposite the open living area was a smaller guest bedroom and a study, separated from the living space by a U-shaped kitchen and the guest bath.
The Bunshafts decorated their retreat primarily in off-whites with natural wood and glass and occasional red accents. Lighting was designed to highlight their art collection which included works by Picasso, Le Corbusier, Jack Youngerman, and Henry Moore as well as rock sculptures by Mary Bunshaft.

Martha's interest in acquiring the home can be linked to her deep admiration for Bunshaft's designs, many of which are considered today to be New York City landmarks, such as the Lever House on Park Avenue and 53rd St., which was Manhattan's first glass-and-steel skyscraper, erected in 1952. As the only example of Bunshaft's residential design, the house was extremely important to his body of work. Martha's initial aim was to ensure its survival. The home was photographed for several decorating features in Martha Stewart Living magazine prior to its renovation. That the property's new owner chose to destroy the historic home to erect a new mansion was a bitter pill for many architecture enthusiasts to swallow.

Below are photographs of the home in its former glory and in its state of abandonment. Martha did manage to salvage the marble flooring from the home during her renovation process and has since repurposed it in her current home in Bedford, New York. The floor of her kitchen and the floor in one of her greenhouses employs the use of this salvaged stone.

Top three photos: The Bunshaft House in its prime. Photo 4: The house cleared and ready for renovation. Photo 5: The floor was removed in order to create a basement for the home. In this photo the years of neglect have clearly taken a toll. Nothing of the original structure remains today. Photo 6: The stone from the Bunshaft house is housed in this stone yard at Bedford, Martha's property in Katonah, New York.

My Favourite Good Thing So Far This Year

Martha's "Good Things" column has been a fixture in Martha Stewart Living magazine since its inception in 1990. Not a single issue since has been without this tried-and-true collection of innovative ideas that help make daily life a little simpler, a little more inspiring or a bit more imaginative. I think so much of the magazine's soul stems from these ingeniously simple ideas. My favourite Good Thing so far this year is this one from the May issue: create a box of nesting materials for birds and set it out under the trees in your yard. Watch from the window as the birds dive down to select their choices and carry them off into the branches above. Later, as you're walking through your neighbourhood, you may spot that little yellow scrap of ribbon tucked into a robin's nest in the oak tree on the corner and know that you had a hand in helping that Mama Bird build her home! I think it's also a great way to get children interested in nature. As they help you choose materials for the box, you can teach them how birds build their nests and they will be thrilled to see the birds flutter off with the offerings they chose. I like the idea of giving back to the beautiful world around us that we sometimes take for granted. It's also a great way to recycle shredded paper and donate those leftover pieces of ribbon and material to our friends in the sky. A wonderful Good Thing that I will be using this summer at the cottage!

Shredded paper, cotton balls, scraps of ribbon and yarn, mixed with dried grasses, dead leaves, twigs and pine needles are inserted into a small wooden crate to be left out under the trees. It won't be long before the birds start investigating! 

Lucinda Scala Quinn's Book Tour And Two Mad Hungry Fans!

When I first saw Lucinda Scala Quinn ensconced in one of my favourite Toronto landmarks - the quaint and charming Cookbook Store - I felt immediately at ease. I'm a fairly anxious person and have always struggled a bit with shyness and mild introversion, which is both a blessing and a curse, so it was with a little case of nerves that I opened the door and entered this little nest of a place to meet someone I've always deeply admired. Lucinda's voice, her smile, her sense of humour and her gold sneakers instantly made me realize that I was in the presence of a wonderful person.  

 

She is in the midst of a national book tour (international, I guess, since Toronto was happily on her list of stops) to promote her new book Mad Hungry Cravings, the follow-up volume and companion piece to her very excellent book Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys. I hurriedly picked up two copies (believe me, they were going fast) and waited my turn to say hello. I introduced myself as the creator of Martha Moments and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that she knew about the blog. She told me that it is well-known at MSLO and thanked me for the support over the years.

The book itself is a treasure trove of philosophies, ideas and strategies for eating, as well as cooking. What I love about it most is its very practical and realistic approach. Lucinda, more than anyone I know, understands that people lead busy lives. She is the executive editorial director of food and entertaining for Martha Stewart Living, an author, a television host, columnist, radio host and producer! She's got a lot on her metaphorical plate! And yet, she cooks for three grown boys (four if you include her husband) every week, stressing the value of local, fresh and seasonal ingredients as much as the time-saving measures that will get the meal on the table faster.

 

Cravings is all about replacing our urge to pick up a take-out menu with the urge to make what you crave right in the comfort of your own kitchen, saving money and ensuring that we connect with the food we put into our bodies as well as connecting to the people we will be feeding it to. Lucinda told me she loves to go out and explore new restaurants and she was very happy and touched that I gave her a list of my favourite Toronto restaurants...as well as some cookies from a local bakery and a recipe journal for scribbling down ideas. Her aim with this book, however, is to teach you how to make your favourite take-out or street foods at home. If you must go out, avoid chain restaurants in favour of local cuisine and order things you've never tried: indulge your curiosity as well as your cravings.

 

In speaking with Lucinda, you really do get a sense of her passion. I urge you to pick up a copy of her book and let your cravings guide you through its pages. Below are some photos of my meeting with Lucinda. Lucinda is also doing a television interview tomorrow on Global Morning, a local Toronto morning show to promote the book. Following the photos is a piece by Brian Utz who also met Lucinda on her book tour and was lucky enough to take one of her cooking classes! Brian is a regular reader and contributor to Martha Moments and he was the one who first informed me of Lucinda's visit to Toronto. I'm so glad he did! When she and I parted, Lucinda thanked me for stopping by and told me she would say hi to "everyone back at the Mother Ship!" Love her!

The Cookbook store is located in Toronto's historic Yorkville neighbourhood on Yonge Street, which is actually North America's longest street at nearly 1,200 miles long, stretching from Lake Ontario all the way north to Lake Simcoe, right through the core of downtown Toronto.  The store opened in 1983 and has been a Toronto landmark ever since, drawing celebrity chefs and patrons from all corners of the globe. The key to its success? Offering the very best cookbooks from all over the world, including tomes you won't find anywhere else. It's where I always buy my Martha Stewart cookbooks. Visit their website.

 

 

Brian Utz And His Mom Cook Brunch With Lucinda

 

Martha Moments reader Brian Utz shares his thoughts about Lucinda, her cookbooks and his cooking class with her last week at LivingSocial in Washington D.C.

 

She’s the genius behind bringing back the family meal, and she’s made quite a dent in the way we Americans eat. Was it all her doing? No. Was she an outlet for the 20, 30, 40 somethings who were pressed for cash and tired of going out? Yes! And to them she’s not just an outlet, she’s a Godsend!

 

Mad Hungry is a book I’ve been cooking from since it hit shelves. Lucinda’s stories and recipes in Martha Stewart Living have made many appearances at our own dinner table. I can actually remember the first time I attempted an apple pie at Thanksgiving, (November of 2006) and I used her Apple Raspberry Pie recipe from the magazine. I remember when her oldest son Calder graduated from college in Vermont. They had an eco-friendly graduation party at Shelburne Farms and entertained with local foods from the Vermont Region. And of course, I remember the beautiful video she narrated (and the accompanying article she wrote) on salmon fishing in the Copper River in Alaska for the premiere ‘Boundless Beauty’ digital issue of Martha Stewart Living.

 

Now that the show is over, I keep up with Lucinda’s travels, her family, and her job through her blog, social media, and the magazine. When I heard that “Cravings” was coming out, I was absolutely thrilled! The first thing I thought was ‘200 more recipes I can cook!’, and then I thought, ‘BOOK TOUR!!’

Lucinda, is in the middle of a whirlwind book tour taking place all across the country. This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting her and taking one of her classes at the LivingSocial offices in Washington D.C. She taught three classes, two on Saturday and one on Sunday. I attended the Sunday brunch class. We made 4 out of the 173 recipes featured in Cravings.

 

Lucinda was extremely sweet and incredibly genuine. It’s amazing that someone who is literally such a powerhouse, and a food icon is so down to Earth. She walked through the class and introduced herself to everyone individually. When she came to me, I said, “I’m Brian.” She said, “Oh, MorbidHomemaker!” (my instagram and twitter panhandle)

 

We started out with drinking a delicious black tea and citrus pitcher. We then went right into making the modern ambrosia salad. The staff at LivingSocial did a wonderful job doing the prep work. It felt almost as if you were on a TV set. The ambrosia salad was delicious. Traditionally made with cool whip and marshmallow, this modern version boasted ingredients like Greek yogurt, vanilla, honey, kiwi, pineapple, mandarin oranges, and sweetened coconut. Then, we started the double wrapped sausage. There were 4 sausages and 4 pieces of bacon. She taught us how to roll them, and how to make them ‘Sizzle’ by preheating our ovens and adding the pans to the oven while they preheat. We finished it up with blueberry buttermilk pancakes. Afterwards, we enjoyed our brunch, and it was well worth the effort. The recipes were absolutely delicious! After brunch, Lucinda came to each of us and hand-signed our copies of Mad Hungry Cravings.

 

And she signed it all with one sentence; To Brian, Cook What You Crave. Lucinda

 

Lucinda was very interactive with everyone there. She was also very humorous, pointing out that Cravings was voted one of the ‘Top 5 Cookbooks for Stoners’ according to a San Francisco newspaper, and Wiz Khalifa instagram'd a picture of his desk, with a copy of the first ‘Mad Hungry’ book on it. We also joked around about how we both brought the same bag (The black carryall tote from Martha Stewart Home Office line at Staples.) I shared with her my appreciation for people like her, Martha, and Sarah Carey who teach everyday people like myself the basics of home cooking. I also put a plug in about how much I adored the digital ‘Boundless Beauty’ issue, and how saddened I was about the folding of Everyday Food and Whole Living. I had my picture taken with her and said, this might end up on Martha Moments, and she exclaimed, “Oh, Yes!!”

She did mention that there’s a third book in the works! The one thing I do love about Lucinda and the Mad Hungry Team; It’s about quality. They’re not worried about signing onto a reality TV show, or pushing book deals for dollars to roll in. It’s not her style. She takes her time with these books and it’s evident when you pick up the book and not only do you get a recipe. You get a story. You get beautiful, candid photography, and helpful tips and tricks. As she says, “Recipes are just formulas,” but I’m telling you Mad Hungry Cravings, like its predecessor, is a character and a game changer in the cookbook world.

 

In the May issue of Martha Stewart Living, make sure you check out the essay on the back page. It was written by Lucinda. The first essay she’s ever had to write about something other than food. It’s a very touching essay, about the ailing health of her mother and how she reignited that creative spark within her mother through an impromptu trip to Europe. It was touching. As relevant as the essay was to Lucinda’s situation and her personal life, I couldn’t help but think… This woman through one way or another has ignited a creative spark within each of us. To rethink the way we eat, to save the scraps for something else, to make a meal out of pantry staples, and to stretch tonight’s dinner into tomorrow’s lunch. She’s an extremely accomplished individual, and yet she gives you the impression that she’s just the mom next door. (A very stylish mom next door I might add, with her gold metallic sneakers!)

 

This woman is passionate about food and the way we buy, prepare, and enjoy food. Her outlook is infectious, and her personality is instantly contagious. It’s a dream come true when you get to meet and cook with one of your idols. I am so happy I was able to have my mom along to experience the day with me!

 

Food is family. Food brings everyone together. Food is Lucinda Scala Quinn and her incredible new book, ‘Mad Hungry Cravings.’   

Mad Hungry Cravings is the latest cookbook by Lucinda Scala Quinn, filled with recipes and strategies for making all those delicious things you just can't resist! Click here to order your copy!

The May Issue

The cover of the May issue of Martha Stewart Living is picture perfect: a classic yellow cake with white frosting dressed with purple and yellow pansies. The recipe for the cake inside promises to be your go-to cake for just about any occasion and an article called "Flower to Table" will have you daring to bring some 'petal power' to your culinary creations. The magazine takes us to a dairy farm in Orwell, Vermont, and the following article on milk (and all its uses) drives home the essential importance of dairy to so many of our favourite treats. The drop cloth is reinvented and elevated to new heights around the house: dyed and tailored to add flare to indoor and outdoor spaces. Martha shares some of her best tips for aging well in an excerpt from her upcoming book "Living the Good Long Life" and Lucinda Scala Quinn pens a reflective essay about the joys and rewards of traveling with her mom. It's a fresh and lovely issue!

Paper to Petal

Rebecca Thuss was a ten-year veteran with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and has now released a new book called Paper to Petal, featuring 75 whimsical paper flower crafts, which will be out in August. Between 1996 and 2006, Rebecca held seven titles with the company and became one of its most influential stylists and designers. She was Style Director of Martha Stewart Weddings in 2003 and was made Editor and Style Director for the premier issue of Blueprint magazine in 2006. Her new book looks beautiful and has a foreword by Martha Stewart. It was put together using photographs by her husband, Patrick Farrell, who has worked with Rebecca since 1991. The couple has a design business called Thuss + Farrell whose work includes portraiture, still-life, travel and lifestyle photography, set design, furniture design, crafting, creative direction and graphic design. Visit their website to learn more! And be sure to preorder this gorgeous book, which is out on August 27th. I know you'll find it inspiring!

 

The "Home How-To" Series with Martha Stewart

In February, Martha Stewart Living and The Home Depot asked consumers to submit questions about home improvement. An avalanche of responses quickly came pouring in. To help answer these questions, a series of how-to videos was developed by Martha and The Home Depot, which you can watch beginning April 25th. Martha and a group of her home experts, including Kevin Sharkey, will show you how to tackle painting, decorating, organizing and gardening projects with confidence. There will be three videos a week, each with step-by-step instructions, ready-made shopping lists, behind the scenes information about how the Martha Stewart Living products are designed and Martha's personal answers to some of your questions. You can sign up to receive notifications of new videos by clicking here, where you can also watch a little preview!

The Loved One

When I first met Antonia Akai-Casuccio I thought she was from another time. Effortlessly glamorous, self-possessed and articulate, she simply exudes elegance. Antonia and I worked together at the first Anthropologie store in Canada, which opened in Toronto in 2009, and she continuously surprised me with her creative ideas and engaging spirit. Early last year, Antonia started her own business and I wanted to let you know about it, since I am so proud of her. Now that Spring is officially here and wedding season is blossoming (if not the flowers) I could think of no better time to introduce you to The Loved One.

In its current phase, The Loved One is an online bridal boutique specializing in unique and luxurious accessories for event dressing. Antonia works closely with local and international designers to bring the selection of beautiful, bespoke pieces to a market that might otherwise not have access to such originality. Based here in Toronto, with much of the product photography coming straight from her living room and her husband Scott's digital camera, the business is truly homegrown - an aspect that Antonia relishes, since it gives her time to work closely with her clients. With plans to expand into a showroom and introduce apparel to the brand, Antonia's vision for her business continues to evolve. Below are some examples of the gorgeous products The Loved One proffers, followed by an interview with Antonia about her business. Be sure to visit the website for product information.

Why did you name your new venture "The Loved One?" What's the origin?

There is something so wonderful about the process of planning and prepping for a wedding, and I feel that being 'The Loved One' is the perfect way to describe a bride-to-be. The name comes from the satirical 1948 Evelyn Waugh novel of the same name, but the inspiration comes from the name only, not the subject matter of the book, which is quite dark!

Describe your vision for the business? How did it begin and what is it all about?

I started thinking about the concept for the business about 5 years ago, while shopping for my own wedding. It was frustrating going from store to store, looking through racks of big, frothy dresses and uninspiring, expected accessories. I looked at vintage stores, and the pieces I loved either didn't fit, or were damaged in some way. Slowly, the concept started to take shape and evolve towards what it is now. I love how organic this whole process has been, and how the business continues to grow in unexpected ways. My vision for the business is being instrumental in redefining what bridal and event dressing can be, and taking an uncompromising approach to product selection and customer service.

Describe your clientele.

In a word, exceptional! I've been so lucky to meet such a diverse group of women who are stylish, intelligent, individualistic, and not content to be cookie-cutter brides. Many of my clients have been same-sex couples, and I find it really gratifying to be able to contribute, even in a small way to an issue that is so important to me.

Do you have a favourite product?

My goodness, that's like asking a parent to choose a favourite child! My favourite pieces vary all the time - I own the Gatsby Braided Bracelet, and I love that it looks just as chic with a wedding dress as it does with a pair of jeans and a great pair of heels. I'm particularly enjoying Tanna Paradis' reworked vintage pieces right now, (also fabulous dressed up or down), and I'm obsessing about a piece that milliner David Dunkley is working on for me at the moment - it's inspired by a Russian tiara from the 1800's, and I can't wait for him to finish it. All of the pieces on the website are there because they evoked an emotional response when I saw them. So far, this seems to have been a successful strategy for choosing product!

You mentioned to me once that your dream is to have a store one day. How would that store look and what sorts of services would it offer?

Well right now I'm in the process of looking for a showroom space, which is the next step. In addition to accessories, the product assortment will expand to include apparel (I use that word purposefully, as it will be more than just dresses), and event décor. As for aesthetics, it's no secret that I've been obsessed with the 1920's for as long as I can remember, so there will definitely be art deco elements. What it won't look like is a traditional bridal salon. I love a mix of glamour and rustic, high and low, and the space will reflect that. I want the space to be unexpected and experiential, from the product offering, to the display, merchandising and fixturing to the unparalleled customer service. One of the services we offer now, and will continue to offer with the showroom is the option to customize many of the items available. I really love liasing with our brides and the designers to create something personalized and one-of-a-kind. The showroom will be by appointment only, which allows us to focus on one client at a time, again, going back to evoking a feeling of truly being 'The Loved One.' Going forward, as the showroom evolves, I'm flirting with the idea of adding in other options like eco-friendly invitations and floral design. And from there, there's really no limits.

'Martha Home' Unveiled!

Martha fans may want to plan an excursion to JC Penney tomorrow. The first category of merchandise by Martha Stewart will be unveiled at 500 stores nationwide and online at the JC Penney website. Martha Celebrations features products designed for celebrating special occasions: paper puffs, streamers, paper plates, napkins, wrapping paper, invitations and stationery, gift bags and so much more. There are more than 500 items in the Martha Celebrations line. Other categories in the Martha Home line include Martha Lighting, Martha Pantry, Martha Decor and Martha Window. Martha Stewart Crafts will also be sold at JC Penney. These shops will be unveiled throughout the month and into May as JC Penney restructures its entire home department, introducing new names like Martha and Jonathan Adler. You can begin browsing the various Martha Home collections at the website now! Click here to see what's on offer! You can also view the official promo here.

 

Mediation between JC Penney, Macy's and Martha Stewart Living continues this week, after a judge ordered the parties to come to an agreement regarding the sale of Martha Stewart branded home items at both Macy's and JC Penney - rival department stores. The talks are likely to continue into next week. Hopefully an agreement will be reached soon that will satisfy everyone involved.

New Cooking School Season, Plus Martha Bakes on PBS

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia today announced that the second season of the James Beard Award-nominated Martha Stewart's Cooking School and the first season of Martha Bakes will premiere on PBS stations nationwide beginning April 6, 2013 (check local listings). The programs will be presented in association with WETA Washington, D.C., the flagship public broadcaster in the nation's capital. JC Penney and KitchenAid will serve as sponsors, along with charitable partner March of Dimes, for the second season of Martha Stewart's Cooking School. KitchenAid has signed on as the exclusive sponsor for the first season of Martha Bakes.

The second season of Martha Stewart's Cooking School comes on the heels of a successful first season, which averaged approximately 1 million viewers each week and was seen in more than 92% of US households. In each 30-minute episode of the second season of Martha Stewart's Cooking School, which was both produced by MSLO and inspired by Emmy-Award-winning TV host Martha Stewart's bestselling book of the same title, Martha will demonstrate more classic cooking techniques and basics using her signature step-by-step, how-to teaching process. Episodes will include everything from soups, stews and seafood to roasting, sauteing and preserving.

"I'm very happy that Martha Stewart's Cooking School has been so well-received," said Martha. "Cooking and teaching—my two biggest passions—are front and center on a show that viewers are finding accessible and useful. Home cooking is truly one of life's greatest pleasures, and it's wonderful to see that more and more people are enjoying meals cooked in their own kitchens."

Following the success of Martha Stewart's Cooking School, Martha Stewart will re-air Martha Bakes, a 13-episode teaching series that originally aired on The Hallmark Channel. Throughout the series, exclusively sponsored by KitchenAid, Martha shares her best tips and techniques, giving viewers the confidence to create the finest desserts and delectable baked goods in their own kitchens. From the perfect cheesecake to flaky, melt-in-your mouth puff pastry, Martha's updated versions of the classics will set the standard.

"We couldn't ask for a more perfect fit. Our viewers have an affinity for cooking shows and they tune in to public television to learn," says Dalton Delan, executive vice president and chief programming officer of WETA. "These series are ideal for people who want to learn cooking and baking techniques — and who better to teach them than America's most trusted lifestyle expert?"

"We are so pleased that our stations will have the opportunity to bring their viewers more episodes of Martha Stewart's Cooking School and now Martha Bakes," said Donald Thoms, vice president of programming for PBS. "For decades, PBS has been a destination where viewers learn how to cook from some of the world's foremost experts, so we are happy that legacy will continue with new seasons of Martha Stewart sharing her culinary expertise."

In addition, MSLO has created and produced 13 original Martha Bakes videos and 13 original Martha Stewart's Cooking School videos exclusively for KitchenAid, which will launch on April 6th on marthastewart.com. Each video, either hosted by an expert from MSLO's culinary team or narrated by Martha Stewart, focuses on delicious recipes, helpful tips and techniques to make baking and cooking easier and more fun for every home cook.

Full episodes of the second season of Martha Stewart's Cooking School and the first season of Martha Bakes will also be available for viewing on PBS.org.