I love Martha Stewart. I have never tried a recipe of hers that didn't turn out perfectly. I often laugh at some of the things she does because I know I would never attempt it, but I am always impressed with her perfection and sense of humour. I often wonder if there is anything she hasn't tried!

I was actually a subscriber of her magazine from the very first issue and for several years. I was never actually taught how to keep a house, so I've always kind of admired the perfection.

I've loved her ever since I bought a Christmas issue (which are always beautiful) years ago where she'd covered acorns with individually sewn velvet cases!! I still laugh about it!! I could never be as precise or organised as she is, but she pioneered a fabulous omni-empire of decorating/craft/cooking style that was totally fabulous! Yes her perfectionism borders on the bizarre, but she has like 13 christmas trees decorated in her house every year. Can you imagine trying to untangle that many lights if she wasn't super-organised??? (I know, she has staff...) :-)

Not on purpose.... and not since I realized (years ago!) that she has a whole cadre of employees who actually make and do all the things that SHE is famous for making and doing. Mostly I just don't like her.

HI -- Most of the things done or made is really not such a big deal but it's the way it is told to be done is so particular and this intimidates a lot of people to try to make everything so perfect . Well life is not perfect all the time .

My husband says Martha is to home and design as Norm Abrams is to furniture building. They are wonderful to watch, perfectionists but way beyond the average persons ability. Lol
Martha's magazines are full of beautiful ideas.

Martha taught me many things i did not know about particular plants and some of her cooking ideas are excellent. I adored her craft segments. I always enjoyed her halloween show, no one was ever as good, and christmas. A lot of her biggest problems are kinda unfair. Her exe was the one who told her that owning what ever she said was the way for her to go. And it did work, except many ended up hating her. She is very anal, anal people are never nice to work for. No one in the industry does all the things they teach you about, and if you watch you will find there has been a subtle shift to sharing with the staff responsibility for whatever. We just never noticed it before. Every star in these types of shows, is a little more than a talking head. You don't really think that Rachel comes up with close to 100 recipes a month for her mag and all the ones on her daily show? I think my biggest difference is I was already in my 30s when i started watching her, so i knew when it was bull and i knew noone could clean like that all the time, or at least that ship had long sailed for me and mine. On the other hand, I remember an interview conducted in her limo, where she was not only being interviewed but calling restaurants to try to get the best recipes for a certain chowder. So she did do a lot of research too. What i hate is that there is no replacement.

So the question is was I inspired by her. No, not inspired. I've used some of her products, never paid a lot of attention to her shows or magazine articles. Have seen some of her crafty ideas that are cute but no, never been inspired by her.

Why not, yes, i believe i burped on this question, i do not believe she inspired me. It takes a lot to "inspire" me. She has provided me with lots of information on topics that would take a lot to look up, and as mark said some of her tips and definitely a lot of her arts and crafts are great.

I am inspired by Martha's resilience! Her recovery after her stint in the *big house* is nothing short of, well, Martha Stewart. ;)

Her perfectionism is not healthy.

Coincidentally, I was checking out one my fav sites and saw this. Thought I'd share for her fans.

http://offerpop.com/campaign/779923

i have no idea if i've been inspired by ms stewart, i've never paid a bit of attention to her, nor have i ignored her deliberately. we just move in different circles. if its not in house beautiful, coastal living, better homes and gardens or cooking light, i dont know about it. or houzz of course.

lots of artists/artistes have workshops of people slaving away, Damian Hirst didnt personally paint all of those spots, and the guy who paints with light doesnt do all the brushwork. or so i've been told.

i like a little perfectionism, its good to aspire. no laws say you have to do the fussy projects, thats about you not them. i'm a bit baffled by all of the yarn company email patterns that come in my box, NONE of them are difficult. they all look like something my cat could knit by accident.

Inspired by, yes. Followed through and done, no.

The problem of fitted sheets is overcome in Australia by buying deep wall fitted sheets, that fit the bed perfectly.

unless someone wants to hear my whole bed setup again, i shall not bore. But, i too do not do fitted sheets. they do not work well on feather beds or comforters.

My intro to MS was circa 1985 when she did a "Holiday Entertaining" special on PBS. I was clueless who she was but thought the special was interesting. I remember her wrapping a turkey in puff pastry, and I thought it looked like a dog's head. Through the years she's inspired me in some ways...some. I totally get that she's difficult. Her daughter appears even more so. They'd both be interesting case studies.

BTW, for anyone interested, she has one of the best banana bread recipes I've ever tried...the one with sour cream. It's amazing and I'm not even that fond of banana bread.

Has anyone watched her cooking show on pbs? i liked the one where they did fast solutions with staff members. But I also really like the one where she does 3 or 4 recipes of a certain ingredient. Like I said research is done, and I do often learn something i did not know before. She probably would not have made it big if she were not so anal. Funny how many anal men held that against her.

Martha is very inspirational, both as a successful businesswoman and a gracious homemaker. If she were a man, she'd be lionized for her success rather than mocked. Haters gonna hate!

She really wrapped a turkey in puff pastry? Lol!

chloebud, this year for Thanksgiving, I wanted to do a brined turkey. Looking through cookbooks and dozens of food websites, I came across as many methods. Some contradicted each other. I then went to the MS website, followed the directions for a brined turkey exactly (juniper berries and all). The turkey was a success. I am sure some of the other methods would have worked but I had the most confidence in a Martha Stewart recipe. I cannot comment on Martha as a person as I have never met the woman but as a home decor, homemaking skills expert...yes, I guess she does inspire me.

I use her line though!

"it's a good thing "

There was a time when I was inspired by Martha , I watched her shows and even bought her Magazine and in fact still have some copies . Even folding towels like her and organizing my linen closet to perfection . Following good ideas is always as she says " a good thing !"

chookchook, I found a part of the PBS program from 1986. Check this out...the turkey/puff pastry part is about halfway through. Think of the leg end of the turkey as the "dog's" nose to see what I mean about a "dog's head." Wow...this sure brings back memories! I had no idea who she was in 1986.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka6K8S6_KSw

i do not know, but turkey is awful dry normally. I once wrapped a pork roast in I think it was a pie crust? something like that, yes, the crust tasted good though kinda heavy, the first piece of pork was fab, juicy, tender. then it began to cool. Same old dry chewy roast as always, what a waste of time. lol

Stuffing poultry with fruit helps. Also find a recipe that is short period on high to seal the outside, then long cooking on lower heat to keep in juices. A bit of water in the bottom of the pan is good too. Covered dish or baking bag is good, or foil on the legs.

I get so tired of being compared to Martha *sigh*

Yes, I too have had success with her recipes. She is kind of like america's test kitchen, which is where i first saw brining. You can pretty much take what they say to the bank, allowing for personal tastes of course. I have never gotten into the brining. it is much like the thread i ran, the more you are supposed to be conservative, the more everyone wants you to use it. I do disagree with both her and atk with brining due to the salt. And the whole theory of using salt while cooking pasta, no matter what their reasoning, is bull. i never use salt now in my pasta water, it does not slow the process up, at least not noticeably, nor does it affect it in any other way. Which is the one difference between her and other chef's except atk. She researches the recipes. She was the first, that i know of, to do that.

roxsol, this link has another good option for turkey brining.

http://www.melindalee.com/recipes/turkey-basicsincluding-the-ultimate-brine/

Where is Stewy2you?

Thanks chloe, maybe I will give it a try. :)

LOL. Margo....you are a legend in your own mind!! (The criminal Martha or the Domestic Goddess Martha???)

Margo, were you at Ann's house wearing your fruit hat? I think you lost something...it's on her table. :)))))

Oh, Margo, I could never compare with Martha. You have way more fun then she could ever have! i suspect she would be standing there tapping her toes and tutting us. lol

Ok, how unusual, i just got done watching a Martha segment- to much time spent on Houzz, tehehe. And i forgot how great she is/was/whatever. She is highly detailed and researched. She made silk and cashmere scarfs with a button hole to slide it through. She helped Molly Ringwald make mittens out of an old cashmere sweater - of course. And made leaf coasters, along with faux wood wrapping paper. I would use any of it.

Which i don't know how many remember, but that is the point of Martha. Homemade used to be, well home made. Martha is the Julia Childs of home made, before that it was not really fitting with your life. you had to make allowances for it. often you did not really like it very much. The person who made that 5 color pot holder was important. when it is a martha craft you admit it is nice, even if not your style.

chloebud, another thing about brining a turkey.....I have an insulated ice tub, with a drain spout at the bottom. I use it for BBQ's in the summer but it also makes a perfect brining container as it fits perfectly in the bottom of my fridge with a bit of shelf adjustment. :)

Her 'Everyday Food' magazine was my absolute favorite.

Has anyone heard of "deconstructed turkey"? You ask the butcher to cut the turkey apart, and cook it in pieces. I used this recipe last year with fantastic results. So much easier serving and slicing, and less mess since there is no carcass. And it used a brine, which I was reluctant to do, but again, this was great.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Deconstructed-Holiday-Turkey-with-Sage-Gravy-236317

Thinking about BBQs, I have a big Canada Day get together every year with about 40 people. I made a slow cooked, pulled beef recipe this year using Martha's method….another success!

roxsol, that ice tub sounds great!

smileyface, I have heard of deconstructed turkey. Not a bad idea, but I do like the carcass for soup.

jmr412, I also liked Everyday Food. Funny you should mention it...I'm making a Minestrone from an old issue today.

I think Martha Stewart was one of the first to provide info on decor ideas & home decorating? Her presentation was always done well & attractive. I've gotten inspired from many of her ideas & crafts.
A few months after I got married, Julia Child was on PBS Boston doing her Thanksgiving cooking show. Since then I've cooked turkey her way. It's always been a success- never's been dry, incredibly moist, flavorful & easy. Relatives & friends rave about it. One of the key components for cooking Julia's turkey is to use a natural, fresh killed one.

i have an easy solution to the turkey. yechh. Rock Cornish game hen. 6 in one hour. a little over 2 for the big people the rest for the fuzzies! Everyone has a great time!

Yes, she is a fabulous cook and has so many great tips for the home, I remember a few such as folding all bedsheets into their pillow cases for easy organizing on the shelves, folding a elasticated/fitted bed sheet, and so much more.

HA! but I have learnt a great new tip recently-no idea where it came from but received it from a friend on my mobile, it is changing a duvet bed cover using what is called the 'burrito method' you can see it on You Tube I think.

I believe the secret to martha is being comfortable enough with yourself that you do not think you have to do all those things. To take away what you want and forget the rest, I am sure she does not remember it all either. Oh and that hint mom of the bed sheets in the pillowcases? Great idea, but in my house it would be we stuff them in the pillow case, not fold. lol

Good point, havingfun..."take away what you want."

I love Martha. I could watch Martha Bakes all day.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And remember we are over 35 million, if we opt out, it will make a difference!

The Grand Dame Martha has inspired me ... her style resonated with me, even if her lifestyle did not. And her strength and resiliency was inspiring. And of course I love her snark. She's the master of cunning bitchery. Love it.

I do enjoy watching her shows and being an avid gardener, I found it hilarious when she said in one episode to braid the leaves of your daffodils as they fade away. Who has time for that?