Today’s White House floral designer Laura Dowling was just recently acclaimed in this month’s Veranda (January-February 2012 issue) stating that her “lush and irreverent arrangements capture the wild romance of the garden”. Her arrangements have been called more relaxed, natural and modern. Dowling studied the art of arrangement in Paris and operated her own shop,… Read More
Nancy Reagan loved Christmas – and like everything else that she did at the White House, she took Christmas to the next level, and their years at the White House were some of the most spectacular. And the Reagan library is carrying on that tradition. People loved the idea of going to Mount Vernon for… Read More
As I am going through my most favorite White House Gingerbread houses, I have to think of course about my good friend Roland Mesnier, the fabulous Executive Pastry Chef that created masterpieces for foreign heads of State as well as the President, his family and friends – and many times the fabulous staff that serve… Read More
Without a doubt one of the largest attractions each holiday season at the White House is the annual gingerbread house. Of course there had been gingerbread houses at the White House before the term of First Lady Patricia Nixon, but it was Pat Nixon along with Pastry Chef Hans Raffert (who later became Executive White House… Read More
So many people have already emailed that they love Mrs. Reagan’s monkey bread recipe – So I had to share another favorite! Barbara Bush’s fabulous chocolate chip cookies: Barbara Bush’s Chocolate Chip Cookies 1 cup butter 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda… Read More
© 2025 Jennifer B. Pickens