I was very confused by many of the reviews here so I decided to try out the cookbook for myself. So, I checked out "Barefoot Contessa at Home" from the library and got ready to give it a test drive. First up, I went for her Whisky Sour recipe. Personally, I am not a fan of whiskey...but, I loved this drink. Absolutely, this would be worth the price of the cookbook for me. Ina says that her father drank whisky sours so she has fond memories of that drink---and she shows that with a lovely recipe that made me rethink whiskey completely. I even made it for guests and it was a hit.
Next up, I tried her Guacamole Salad recipe. I only chose that one because I had two avacados that were overripe and needed using up immediately. I had some doubt about eating this dish without some accompanyment since it was very heavy on cherry tomatoes, black beans, and jalepeno....but, the dish was a stunning surprise. My mother was visiting and she went ga-ga for the dish and honestly, the longer it sat the better it smelled and the more tasty it became. We finished it all that evening and wished for more.
Alright, so I was impressed...so time to try something that takes some real investment of my time: Shrimp Bisque. (I used frozen raw shrimp to cut down on the cost. Yeah, it took awhile to make the seafood stock (though it wasn't at all difficult but it had to simmer for an hour). Then I had to saute some shrimp and leaks with a few other ingredients, put them into a food processor and really it was so worth it. My, my, who knew that I could produce such a tasty Bisque? My husband wants this dish again. My children loved it as well. So, we are 3 for 3 now.
So, for tomorrow, I plan to buy the ingredients and try a Bloody Mary! I have never had anything other than the canned, yucky ones from cheap bars....so, I plan to update this review then. But, if you are confused about all these reviews about 'let down expectations', etc....then remember to pay more attention to the reviewers that really took the time to cook a few recipes before writing. Also, I have now ordered the book and it is arriving tomorrow (My mom bought a copy as well).
Update: I think the Bloody Mary recipe was just ok. Frankly, I don't have much experience with this drink so I wonder if maybe I should I give it a second try. My mother and husband also thought the Bloody Mary was just ok. But, given the other great recipes in this book, I am not particulary worried if I am not crazy about just one recipe so far. I think I will try out a couple more recipes from the book and then update this review accordingly.
Update May 27, 2010...I made the Mexican Chicken Soup on pg. 34 (basically, a Tortilla Soup) and it was lovely. Even my children ate it. My only variations were that I used leftover grilled chicken meat and canned fire-roasted tomatoes. As a side dish, I made the Guacamole Salad again and loved it even more this time!
Update September 21, 2011...I made the Roasted Shrimp with Orzo on pg. 74. Orzo is a small rice-like pasta. Fabulous! The recipe is very easy and contains: dill, parsley, red onion, scallions, cucumber, and feta cheese, as well as a few other items. I usually don't like red onion raw, but this is a very balanced dish. I even forgot the feta initially and it was still good, though more suited to adult tastes. The feta cheese counters nicely with the red onion by removing some of the bitterness. Once the feta was added, my children ate this dish too!
****My Most Important Note about Ina's Recipes: Please use only Diamond Crystal Kosher salt or Ina's own brand of Kosher. Morton's Kosher salt is different---as in way stronger, heavier and therefore saltier. If you use Morton's then you should cut the salt amount almost in half (1 tablespoon of Diamond Crystal would be only about 1/2 a tablespoon of Morton's). Morton's is simply a heavier salt whereas Diamond Crystal is very light and contains more air. Also, you must cut down the measurement if you substitute table salt for Kosher. Diamond Crystal has a website with a 'locate a store' option. Good luck!
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| MODERN COMFORT FOOD | COOK LIKE A PRO | BAREFOOT CONTESSA FOOLPROOF | BAREFOOT CONTESSA BACK TO BASICS | COOKING FOR JEFFREY | BAREFOOT IN PARIS | |
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| A collection of all-new soul-satisfying dishes! | Cook with confidence no matter how much experience you have in the kitchen! | Garten shares her secrets for pulling off deeply satisfying meals that have the “wow!” factor we all crave… | Explore the techniques behind Ina Garten’s elegant food and easy entertaining style—nearly a hundred brand-new recipes that will become trusted favorites. | Garten shares the beloved recipes she's been cooking for her husband over the course of their marriage. | Take a trip to Paris with Ina Garten as your guide through familiar dishes with her delightful twists that streamline recipes but still emerge with perfection. |
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Ina Garten makes entertaining accessible and enjoyable
I own several of Ina Garten's cookbooks, and each one is a beautiful piece of artwork, with amazing recipes, engaging and warm writing, and of course, gorgeous photos of how Ina entertains. This book, "Barefoot Contessa At Home," is no exception. Through this book Ina shows that entertaining for others in your home can be elegant and delicious, without requiring days of work or the most complicated recipes. There are some complex and elevated recipes included, but many are pretty simple so that even non-cooks can be proud of their first attempt. One of my favorite recipes is her Pesto Pea Salad recipe. It sounds simple, and may even appear simple based on the ingredients and instructions. But once you taste it, you will be transported to a lovely summer day on an estate in the Hamptons, or heck, even the south of France. It is just one example of great recipes you will find in this book, and make over and over again, to raves from friends and family.
Top reviews from other countries
A.
Abwechslungsreiche, gut folgbare Rezepte, super sympathische Autorin
Reviewed in Germany on August 21, 2016