Barbara Costello , also known as the internet ’s favorite grannie , shares all things entertaining , plus what to expect in her coming cookbook .
Barbara Costello , better screw as Babs , could never have predicted how one TikTok picture in April 2020 would change her liveliness evermore . Costello ’s girl persuade the former teacher to make a cookery video during the other mean solar day of the COVID-19 pandemic — and the rest is history . She now has 3.8 million followerson Instagramand 4.1 millionon TikTok , is a USA Today intimately - sell author , and ( perhaps her pet title ) is a loving mother and grandmother .
" When I made that first TikTok , I had no idea I would be sit here four year later let the cat out of the bag to you—1,000 videos later . It ’s been an awing journey , " Costello say as one of her grandchildren zooms past behind her in the kitchen , an natural event she ’s used to .
Credit:Photo: Rikki Snyder | Design: Better Homes & Gardens
Here , Costello share all of her hosting must - dos , her cookery stirring , the details of herhistoric family restoration , and what to gestate in her subsequence cookbook , Every Day with Babs .
Barbara’s House Rules
Costello has two sets of home rule — one hanging on the wall of her home and one that is unspoken .
The House Rules Hanging on Her Wall
The Unspoken House Rules
A Second Cookbook on the Way
Costello is presently wreak on her upcoming cookbook , Every sidereal day with Babs , which launch in April 2025 and is available for pre - order now . It will concentrate on daily repast ideas , categorized by days of the week . This is a change from her debut cookery book , observe with Babs , which focused on and was organized by holiday .
" I never cogitate in a million years that I ’d write a cookery book , " Costello says .
Costello recognizes that each day of the week has a different docket and needs when it comes to mealtime . For instance , Monday ’s chapter is full ofsheet - genus Pan recipes , Thursday ’s formula usepantry staple , and Fri are for playfulness and experimental recipes — all inspired by Costello ’s real life story and mob tradition .
The 1830s “Basket House”
About two years ago , Costello and her hubby buy an 1830s home located on a river in Silvermine , Connecticut . It was in the beginning a blacksmith shop in 1830 , but in 1850 the edifice turned into a basket shop where they used the nearby river water to soak the reeds to make the baskets . Costello and her married man knew that it would need some renovations , but there have been unanticipated circumstances due to the house ’s age and historic preservation guidepost .
" We had to lift the sign , literally . We had to take down the chimneyand fireplace . We preserved all of the beams , doors , and hardware — anything we retrieve we would want to bear on and reincorporate into the remodel . It became a big project than we thought , but it ’s going to look so unbelievable when it ’s cease and so many elements will be from the original home , " Costello says .
The design is to be move in by the first of the twelvemonth , maybe even by the holidays . In the meanwhile , Costello say she has had a draw of play posting the progress on her social spiritualist accounts , even involve her following to voteon paint colors . She notes that the historical constituent of the renovation has been the tough one to work through , but it will be well deserving it when it ’s complete .
" Because the home is a diachronic property , there are so many ring we had to rise through with so many regulations . We need to keep the 1830s purport , we could n’t just gut it . It has been a balancing deed to update things but to incorporate the historical element as well , " Costello aver . " You always have to be mindful of the account of the home . It takes more prison term to keep up historic component and incorporate them . "
Photo : Rikki Snyder | invention : Better Homes & Gardens
Q: What’s one thing that makes your house feel like home?
In our home , we have always hadlots of category pictures . I have a mantle in my current home where I have all of the newborn photograph of all nine of my grandkids . We had a sept portrait done when my kids were acquire up and that ’s hanging in the living room . Your habitation is your palace , right ? So it has to show you and your history . So if it ’s not the kids and the family being over , then it ’s the photo fall up . That ’s where our syndicate story is . you’re able to always replace piece of furniture . you could always replace dishes . But you ca n’t supplant your family photo and story .
Barbara Costello
you could always replace piece of furniture . you’re able to always replace saucer . But you ca n’t supersede your family photograph and chronicle .
Q: What are your hosting must-dos?
Get everything organized so you ’re not frazzled and you canenjoy your own political party too . Get your grocery shopping done early and set the board the night before . Do n’t blank out to twist on all the light — no one want to draw in up to a dark house . Turn on the medicine — voiced music or whatever the humour of the political party is . It ’s also so easy tomake a potpourrithat you could have simmer on the stove . I retrieve doing all those little thing make it so special for guest .
Q: What’s your favorite type of party playlist?
I just got on Spotify for the first time . I love Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin , anything mellow . I also love to trip the light fantastic toe . My husband and I were two finalists at our homecoming dance in high school . We are two dance fools , I have to say .
Q: What’s your decorating style?
I ’m pretty classic . I ’m not a modern glass and metal character of person . I wish affectionate woods . I love the Williamsburghistorical look ; it stands the test of clock time . you’re able to make this take care more elated and fun withthe fabrics you chooseon furniture or the drapes . Having a beautiful base is very important to me .
To integrate some of Costello ’s decorate style into your home , check out her curated break up atBirch Lane .
Q: What is a cooking style that you take inspiration from?
I ’m Italian and Lebanese , so I was raised by a bunch of wonderful cook — cooks who did not use cookbooks . My mommy used a cookbook for baking but never for preparation . Italian , Middle Eastern , and Greek foods are all ethnic foods I love .
Q: Do you have a cooking icon you look up to?
My mother and grandmother , and I had a " foster " female parent , Ida . She was Italian , so she of line had to always feed you . In only 15 minutes , she would make the mostamazing frittata . I have the formula for her alimentary paste sauce , which for her was a two - twenty-four hours process . I give-up the ghost over one 24-hour interval and told her that every time she was about to put an ingredient in , I was going to measure it so I could have a recipe .
Q: Do you have any organizational rules you live by?
Doing the little things , like getting the kitchen counters cleared and loading the dishwasherbefore you go to bottom , can help a destiny . you’re able to easily unionise your home quick by fluffing up the pillows , putting away shoes , and wiping down the kitchen and bathroom countertops . airfoil cleansing go away a long way to make you experience at pacification in your own space .
Q: How do you unwind at the end of the day?
I have a go at it a hot bathtub with lavender - scented Epsom salts . I ’ll take a exhibitioner in the first light , but at night I roll in the hay to just soak in a red-hot bath . Sometimes I ’ll bring a book of account in there too . It ’s kind of like my own fiddling exigent watering hole .
Q: What is your go-to drink and meal for hosting?
I ’m a Prosecco girl — I know a field glass of Prosecco . It ’s high-flown and lovely and effervescent . If someone is coming over last minute , my go - to meal isa lovely knock poulet . It takes no attempt — if you have lemons , fresh herbs , and a whole chicken and attend to it with potatoes or Timothy Miles Bindon Rice , you have a beautiful dinner .
