In a chapter of sumptuous desserts, a young Stewart, then Martha Kostyra, donning coiffed hair and pearls, smiles in the only existing family portrait of the Kostyra family from the 1950s.

In an interview with PEOPLE in 1995, Martha’s mother, Martha Kostyra, admitted that the divorce “badly wounded" Martha, adding, “I don’t think she’ll ever get over it." Martha ...

(The two share daughter Alexis Stewart.) In an interview with PEOPLE in 1995, Martha’s mother, Martha Kostyra, admitted that the divorce “badly wounded" Martha, adding, “I don’t think she’ll ever get ...

Her background was not a privileged one as one of six children growing up as Martha Kostyra in New Jersey. She was her salesman father's favorite, but he was cruel and a perfectionist. She became a ...

The tip comes from Martha's mom, Mrs. Kostyra. If you’re whipping up a batch of mashed potatoes, take note of this easy one-ingredient upgrade I learned from Martha Stewart. The tip actually ...

Martha Stewart knows a thing or two about family recipes. Her mom, Mrs. Kostyra (also known as “Big Martha”), was known for her cooking skills. Stewart has shared several of her mother’s ...