By Donna CorneliusJournal features writerWesley Lassen, owner of the Cook Store in Mountain Brook Village, knows her way around the kitchen.That doesn’t mean she wants to spend all her time there, especially during the holiday season.“My philosophy is to use make-ahead recipes so I can enjoy the party,” Lassen said.Pre-party prep is particularly useful … [Read more...]
Recipe for a Successful Cookie Swap
Birmingham Bake and Cook’s annual cookie swap had an international flavor this year.Pat Short, who was visiting her sister in Birmingham, Ala., all the way from Birmingham, England, not only attended the Nov. 10 event but took home the top prize.“Pat stops in to visit the store when she’s in town, and this year she happened to be here when we had the cookie swap,” … [Read more...]
Bake It and Take It
By Donna CorneliusJournal features writerCookie swaps are a great way to go home with a plateful of holiday treats.But they also can turn into occasions that remind participants of Christmases past – and help them create new memories.Peter Northcutt of Inverness said he thinks about his mother when he’s whipping up cookies for Birmingham Bake and Cook’s … [Read more...]
The Year in Review: 2014’s Hot News Starts with Cold Weather Crisis
By William C. Singleton IIIJournal contributorFor Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills and North Shelby, 2014 was a year of plans coming to fruition, city and community leaders coming and going, and a snowstorm arriving so unexpectedly it caught everyone by surprise and paralyzed surrounding communities, if only for a few days.Snow is usually a … [Read more...]
Vestavia Will Spruce up Southern Gateway
By William C. Singleton IIIJournal contributorVestavia Hills city officials want to ensure the first impression of their city is its best impression.City leaders are working on improving the southern gateway at Interstate 65 and U.S. 31 and have hired a Birmingham landscaping company to help them.The City Council recently approved a contract with Blackjack … [Read more...]