CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Jennifer Garner’s mother made her first appearance on the Today Show this week, offering a West Virginian’s perspective on life advice on everything from travel to cooking.
Jennifer’s mother, Pat, 86, is originally from Oklahoma but now lives in Charleston, West Virginia, where she raised her children.
In an interview that aired on WBOY on Monday, Jennifer said her mother was “very special” and taught her the most valuable lessons in life. Garner said her mother was non-judgmental, “had a gift for giving” and didn’t believe in guilt — all things Jennifer said she instilled in her daughters while raising them in West Virginia.
“When I was younger and I thought there was no way I’d ever be an actor, my mom would say, ‘Go live in New York. What are you doing? Living in New York is a much smaller thing than moving from West Virginia to Oklahoma to wherever.’ So she always encouraged us to, ‘Go, live your life,'” Jennifer said in an interview with Today.
Although Pat had many adventures of her own, visiting all seven continents and all 50 states, she called Jennifer and her other daughters her “life’s work.”
Pretend Cooking Show
In Pat’s latest adventure, the mother-daughter duo, who have a “pretend cooking show” on social media, brought their culinary talents to the Today Show to make “Barbara’s Blackberry Cobbler,” a West Virginia recipe made by the mother of Jennifer’s childhood friend, who, according to them, “can do it all.”
Pat said this is a staple potluck recipe because it’s easy and delicious. She was excited to share the recipe on the show, but added, “But now people are going to see it and be thinking, what else can I bring to a potluck?”
West Virginians say Jennifer is “Charleston, West Virginia. Leave the shoe store to Mom.”
Pat has some great moments in this segment, from scolding Jennifer to explaining why she buys blackberries from the store instead of picking them like she used to.
You can watch their cooking segment in the player above, and their full interview on the Today website.
