French Butter Cookies

The Cookie That Makes Everyone Happy

Phyllis Inspiration, Lifestyle 15 Comments

It’s time for another reader request topic: French baking recipes! Oh, I just love this subject. French baking sounds fancy, but in reality, is very simple. What makes it special is using the proper techniques combined with high-quality ingredients. The recipe I have chosen to share is perhaps the simplest cookie of all. It is humble in shape and color, …

lane cake

Can You Guess This Classic Southern Dessert?

Phyllis Lifestyle 4 Comments

Layer cakes are absolutely essential to Southern culture. It is completely acceptable and quite common, actually, for more than one layer cake to appear on dessert tables at holiday gatherings, baby showers, church suppers…you get the idea! One of the more discrete Southern classics is the distinctive Lane Cake. Also referred to as Prize Cake or Alabama Lane Cake, this …

birthday cake spread

Home Bakers…This Is For You!

Phyllis Inspiration, Lifestyle 6 Comments

Now, this is an announcement that I am beyond thrilled to share with all of you! Bake from Scratch magazine just unveiled their third annual cookbook! Covering both sweet and savory, Bake from Scratch: Volume Three is filled with artisan recipes for yeast bread, pies, birthday cakes, and so much more. I am particularly excited about the plethora of birthday …

Hallmark Home & Family

Behind the Scenes! Brian on the Hallmark Channel

Phyllis People 9 Comments

This past week I had the pleasure of watching the Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family, where my son Brian Hart Hoffman did a guest appearance on the show. He demonstrated a recipe from The Bread Collection cookbook that has just been released. As you know, Brian is the editor-in-chief of Bake from Scratch and continues to be featured on shows …

Royal Wedding

The Royal Wedding

Phyllis Lifestyle 21 Comments

One of our Ribbon friends asked for my take on Prince Harry’s upcoming wedding. That is such an interesting question, and you know me, I always have comments. I am always thrilled when two people who are in love decide to get married. I have watched Harry grow up through the years and finally make plans to settle down. Although, …

Birthday Cake

Big Sister’s Birthday! — A Sister’s Tale

Phyllis Lifestyle 30 Comments

It’s Big Sister’s birthday, so I am giving her the day off! There are many things that I could write about having an older sister.  A few examples: She was the first child—Mom and Dad practiced on her! She was the first to get her driver’s license—and then had to take our brother and me places! She was the first …

Traditional Galette Des Rois - Bake from Scratch

Traditional Galette Des Rois

Phyllis Lifestyle 9 Comments

I must confess that I had never heard of a galette des rois until Daniel Schumacher, editor of Louisiana Cooking, arrived with one at my office. When I opened that bakery box and saw the puff pastry, I knew this was going to be good. And it wasn’t just good, it was amazing. The cream cheese filing just put the …

Hoffman Media Blowout Sale 2017

The Blowout Sale Of The Season

Phyllis Lifestyle 3 Comments

Join our biggest Blowout Sale yet! It’s first come, first serve, so don’t wait. With discounted prices on all books, back issues and special issues you can stock up on delicious southern recipes, beautiful decorating inspirations, and stories from the women who’ve been there. I love to escape the winter chill with a warm cup of tea and a stack of …

Bake from Scratch Cookbook

Introducing: Bake from Scratch Cookbook

Phyllis Blog Spotlight 1 Comment

Yesterday we officially announced the Bake from Scratch Cookbook, and I’m so excited for our readers to get their hands on this beauty! These 350+ pages feature a collection of recipes from our first year of publishing Bake from Scratch magazine (2015-2016). With so many delicious recipes within reach, home bakers will have an endless supply of inspiration. From the …

Dough or No Dough - Bake from Scratch Magazine

Do you eat raw Dough?

Phyllis Lifestyle 30 Comments

As I was watching some of our staff walk around in these weird t-shirts, I didn’t want to admit that I had no clue as to the meaning of their shirts! But anytime you see a hashtag or # (I call it a hash brown!) you have to act like you know what it means or act like you have …