15 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother Martha's mom's recipes include pierogi, stuffed peppers, kielbasa, and more. Close Credit: Simon Brown Martha's love and mastery of all things food came from a very important person in her life: her mother, Martha Kostyra, also known as "Big Martha." Mrs. Kostyra lived to be 93, and the family matriarch often appeared with her daughter on TV. The recipes that Martha learned from her mother include traditional Polish dishes like kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, and several different pierogi recipes. There are also comfort food classics, including meatloaf and stuffed peppers. Big Martha's dessert recipes, from lemon meringue cake to blueberry buckle, are equally mouthwatering. We're sharing these family recipes so you can make some of Martha's mom's favorite dishes. 10 Essential decorvow Recipes Everyone Should Know How to Make 01 of 15 Country Cheesecake Credit: Bryan Gardner Rather than the usual cream cheese-filling and graham cracker crust, the cheesecake Martha's mom made pairs a filling of tangy farmer cheese and plump golden raisins with a piecrust-like pastry. View Recipe 02 of 15 BIg Martha's Mashed Potatoes Credit: Johnny Miller Another dish Mrs. Kostyra was renowned for was her mashed potatoes. What makes them so rich and delicious? The secret ingredient is cream cheese, but they also contain butter, cream, and milk. View Recipe 03 of 15 Grandma's Mac and Cheese Martha's grandmother made mac and cheese with some unusual ingredients, such as tomato soup and sour cream. When Mrs. Kostyra and Martha made the recipe, they tweaked it slightly to use more traditional ingredients such as elbow macaroni and two cheeses. View Recipe 04 of 15 Stollen Wreath Bread Mrs. Kostyra's stollen was a Christmas treat everyone, including Martha, looked forward to. It's a sweet, rich yeast dough accented with dried fruits and nuts, shaped into a wreath, and baked until golden brown. View Recipe 05 of 15 Basic Pierogi Pierogi are an incredibly versatile food. They are also Martha's favorite comfort food. She always uses her mother's recipes, like this one, when she makes pierogi. View Recipe 06 of 15 Mrs. Kostyra's Blueberry Buckle Credit: Jason Donnelly This streusel-topped, fruit-filled dessert is a crowd pleaser, perfect for a family celebration. View Recipe 07 of 15 Mrs. Kostyra's Borscht Packed with beets, mushrooms, and fresh herbs, Mrs. Kostyra's borscht is guaranteed to warm your heart. View Recipe 08 of 15 Mrs. Kostyra's Meatloaf Although many meatloaf recipes use just beef, adding veal and pork produces a more tender, juicier loaf. Mrs. Kostyra's recipe calls for an ample amount of breadcrumbs to give the meatloaf its distinctive texture and prevent it from becoming too dense. View Recipe 09 of 15 Pierogies with Cabbage Filling and Clarified Butter Credit: Simon Brown Follow Martha's recipe for making pierogi just like her mom did. Adding cream cheese to the filling slightly softens the cabbage and gives each bite a tender crunch. View Recipe 10 of 15 Mrs. Kostyra's Stuffed Peppers Choose firm, plump peppers with a glossy surface, and avoid blemishes or soft spots for Mrs. Kostyra's Stuffed Peppers. Substitute green peppers for the yellow ones in this recipe if you prefer more bite. View Recipe 11 of 15 Mrs. Kostyra's Kielbasa Sharing her special way of cooking kielbasa, which ensures a crispy skin, Mrs. Kostyra noted it is important to pierce the sausage casing so that it doesn't crack while cooking. View Recipe 12 of 15 Mrs. Kostyra's Perfect White Cake Topped with Italian meringue buttercream, Mrs. Kostyra's white cake is a sweet ending for any birthday or celebration. View Recipe 13 of 15 Mrs. Kostyra's Stuffed Cabbage When Martha was growing up in Nutley, N.J., her grandmother often made a Polish version of stuffed cabbage leaves, called golabki. The filling is a simple one—rice and meat with onions, garlic, celery, cloves, and green apple—but the dish is as tasty as it is comforting. View Recipe 14 of 15 Pierogi with Potato Filling and Brown Butter Credit: Simon Brown Make hearty potato pierogi creamy with the natural buttery flavor of Yukon Golds and a drizzle of nutty brown butter. View Recipe 15 of 15 Mrs. Kostyra's Lemon Meringue Cake This light, airy cake is the perfect finish to any meal. View Recipe Explore more: Holiday Planning & Ideas Mother's Day