TikTok’s Barbara ‘Babs’ Costello Shares Holiday Hosting Tips


Barbara ‘Babs’ Costello
Courtesy of Barbara Costello

Barbara Costello — recognized affectionately on TikTok and Instagram as Babs of Brunch With Babs — is the preeminent supply for kitchen traditions and internet hosting in type.

Internet hosting for the vacations — particularly for the primary time — can really feel so daunting. How do you make Christmas particular for the entire household? The vacations have appeared so totally different the previous few years amid the continued coronavirus pandemic, so Us Weekly consulted her for some recommendation.

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Costello, 74, bought onto social media early within the coronavirus pandemic, like so many different creators. She was residing together with her daughter, Liz Ariola, who was pregnant together with her third youngster on the time. She gained a following whereas serving to round the home and caring for her two grandsons. Ariola does the filming and enhancing, however Costello is the one who takes it away in entrance of the digicam and manages the feedback and messages behind the username.

The culinary star uploaded her first video in April 2020, and the remainder is historical past. Now with almost 5 million followers on TikTok and Instagram mixed, she’s earned her self-acclaimed title as “the web’s grandma.”

The Italian-Lebanese matriarch’s debut cookbook, Have fun With Babs, was printed in April. The e-book facilities round internet hosting and cooking for the vacations, and it features a recipe for each special day all year long.

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Whereas talking solely to Us, Costello weighed in on forging new Christmas traditions, giving the right present and even serving up the right cocktail with some inventive vacation drink recipes. Scroll right down to learn the total Q&A:

Brunch with Babs Candy Canes

Barbara ‘Babs’ Costello
Courtesy of Barbara Costello

Us Weekly: How did you get into TikTok? If you first made your account, what was your purpose?

Barbara Costello: One afternoon … [my daughter] mentioned, “Mother, I believe you need to attempt TikTok!” And naturally, I mentioned completely 100%. She mentioned, “Individuals are dwelling, they’ve time, they’ll recognize this. As soon as we began posting, the feedback had been very heartfelt. [It was] very a lot an outpouring in a really unsure time. I used to be giving individuals consolation, reminding them of their household, of their mother, of their mother who had handed away, of the grandmother they didn’t know.

Us: What are your finest suggestions for lazy ladies at Christmas? How do you make a vacation custom particular?

BC: It takes two years to determine a convention. I believe even if you wish to be low-key about it, I might counsel making it your custom, no matter that could be.

Do what you’re comfy with however set up custom. [It could be] having buddies over for a potluck throughout the week even, or possibly a brunch the place individuals come of their PJs, just a few enjoyable form of button-down concepts. As a result of if it really works for you, then it really works! And when you do it two years in a row, you might have your personal household custom.

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Us: Now, we’ve a really urgent query. What’s your favourite Christmas film?

BC: I’m a traditionalist, so my favourite is It’s a Great Life. I’ll watch it yearly. It actually nails it for me. Each life is so necessary, and also you don’t know the lives that you simply contact simply by being right here. It’s the essence of Christmas.

Us: How do you handle strain in relation to the vacations?

BC: I like Christmas. I like the baking, the decorations. However the factor that we have to corral is… don’t let the gift-giving overwhelm you! The gift-giving shouldn’t put you excessive and make you’re feeling like that’s the main target as a result of it’s not.

Us: Good level. Any recommendation for gift-giving when you’re combating funds?

BC: Take an image of your self with a bow in your head and put that image in a card and say, “Mother, Dad, Grandma, And many others., I’m your current! You and I are going to spend the complete day collectively and also you’re going to plan it out! I’m going to do what you need to do!”

[Quality time together] is one thing that will likely be remembered lengthy after you open a present that you simply’re going to neglect about in a 12 months or much less.

Us: Turkey or ham?

BC: NEITHER. Prime rib of beef. I solely purchase it yearly. That’s the major occasion for Christmas dinner. But additionally, with my Italian household, we at all times have ravioli or pasta earlier than the turkey.

Us: Any tips about setting the desk for Christmas dinner?

BC: I’ve my Christmas Spode. I believe as a result of individuals aren’t utilizing Christmas China now the best way they used to, a whole lot of items are discounted. You could find a starter set less expensive than you assume. You possibly can go to HomeGoods and they’re going to have these items are their shops. The day after Thanksgiving, I take out my Christmas China and I exploit it each day. I exploit it for cereal. I exploit it for on a regular basis meals. It’s not simply used for 2 meals. I exploit it for six weeks.

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Us: And what do you place in your cup? Do you might have a favourite vacation drink?

BC: We make beautiful Christmas margaritas with cranberry kombucha and pomegranate juice and tequila and Cointreau. You may make these forward of time and even put them in food-safe, clear glass ornaments. You then simply put one in a glass stuffed with ice after which individuals can open it and pour it proper on. Then garnish it with sugared cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.

For the youngsters, I’ve to say we love making slow-cooker scorching chocolate. It’s made with 2 cups of chocolate morsels, and 1 cup of caramels. It’s in a sluggish cooker for 3 hours, till the chocolate and the caramels have melted and, after all, 2 cups of milk and a pair of cups of heavy cream. Then, we love to embellish every of the mugs! Imagine me, that is fabulous for adults too.

And when you want a bit little bit of a kicker in that, you might at all times make it alcoholic with a bit Peppermint Schnapps. We enhance each mug with Brach’s Mini Sweet Canes. We take a kind of, put it right into a regular-sized marshmallow, dip it in some chocolate, after which add some vacation sprinkles. [After you] let it dry, you need to use the Brach’s minis as your scorching chocolate stirrer.

Reporting by Angela Cuseo