Celebrating Mom: Lessons on Living with Flavor and Style

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Our founder is America's most trusted lifestyle expert and teacher. So what transformed a young Martha from Nutley, New Jersey, into such an influential icon? Besides unwavering vision and hard work, it likely had to do with her teacher -- her mother, Mrs. Kostyra. Click through for a batch of Mrs. Kostyra's time-honored recipes.

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Martha Stewart, Founder and Chief Creative Officer

"My mother ... gave me, from a very early age, complete freedom in her kitchen in our home in Nutley. It was nice to be trusted, and it encouraged me to experiment and create freely."
Photography: Bryan Gardner

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Mrs. Kostyra's Meatloaf

Dinner tonight: a recipe straight from the creative mind of Martha's mother-- a family crowd-pleaser!

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Roast Loin of Pork with Mrs. Kostyra

This was one of Mrs. Kostyra's favorites -- and Martha's too, when she was growing up in Nutley, New Jersey.

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Mrs. Kostyra's Kielbasa

Mrs. Kostyra had a secret for making kielbasa while ensuring a crisy skin.

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Mrs. Kostyra's Spice Cupcakes

The recipe for these cupcakes is an adaption from Martha's late mother, who adored baking.

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Stuffed Peppers with Mrs. Kostyra

Make sure your peppers are plump and firm with a glossy surface and no blemishes if you want your recipe to turn out like Mrs. Kostyra's!

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Pecan Pie with Mrs. Kostyra

Pecan pie certainly wasn't invented by Martha's mom -- in fact, it has a storied history -- but it sure was brought to another level by the Kostyra matriarch!

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Mrs. Kostyra's Mac and Cheese

Martha's grandmother was actually the originator of this delectable recipe. See how Martha and her mom gave it a more traditional spin.

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