Go-To Dinners: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

As a long-time fan of the Barefoot Contessa, I was thrilled to dive into her latest offering, "Go-To Dinners: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook." Ina Garten once again brings her signature style of simple elegance and undeniable flavor to every page, making this cookbook a delightful addition to any kitchen. **Content and Recipes:** The book is brimming with a variety of recipes, each embodying Ina's philosophy of using good quality, easily accessible ingredients to create delicious meals. The focus is on dinners that are both easy to prepare and impressive enough for entertaining. From cozy weeknight meals to more elaborate dishes for special occasions, there's something for every type of cook and occasion. **Ease of Use:** True to her style, Ina Garten ensures that the recipes are straightforward and easy to follow. The instructions are clear, and the ingredients are mostly staple items that can be found in an average kitchen or local grocery store. This accessibility makes the book a great choice for both novice cooks and seasoned chefs. **Photography and Layout:** The cookbook is beautifully presented, with stunning photography that not only showcases the dishes but also serves as inspiration for plating and presentation. The layout is clean and user-friendly, with each recipe accompanied by tips or personal notes from Ina, adding a lovely personal touch. **Variety and Innovation:** What stands out in "Go-To Dinners" is the variety of cuisines and the innovative twists on classic recipes. Ina Garten skillfully balances traditional cooking with contemporary flavors, ensuring that each dish feels both timeless and modern. **Practical Tips and Techniques:** Beyond recipes, the book offers valuable tips and techniques for cooking and entertaining, reflecting Ina’s wealth of experience. These insights are particularly helpful for home cooks looking to elevate their culinary skills. **Health and Nutrition:** While the book isn't focused on health food, many recipes are adaptable to various dietary preferences and restrictions, making it versatile and inclusive. **Conclusion:** "Go-To Dinners: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook" is a testament to Ina Garten's ability to make elegant dining achievable and enjoyable. It’s a treasure trove of culinary delights that strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and sophistication. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the Barefoot Contessa’s charm, this cookbook is a must-have, promising to transform your dinners into memorable meals.

After getting her autobiography, I bought Ina's most recent two books. Both are awesome. This one is a collection of recipes to have on standby, from the simple to the simply elegant. Prep and make them ahead, freeze them, assemble--whatever makes it easier. There's a seafood "boil" that's done in the oven, oven cooked polenta, an iced coffee drink called a Shakerato, roast chicken, and a brown butter skillet cornbread I'll try soon. Need a fancy dessert? Dark chocolate tart on page 215 is it. I'm looking at Rum Raisin Ricotta ice cream next.

EXCELLENT BOOK! We have made many of these receipes and they are not only easy, but amazingly delicious too

Ina has been my favorite home chef for many years. I love everything about her and I think I have all of her cookbooks. Aside from the recipes being great, I love all the narrative about her life with Jeffrey. Her books are so well done and the photos add so much pleasure to the books. I make a weekly menu for our dinners and I always include at least one of her recipes. You can't go wrong adding her books to your library.

I received my first Ina Garten cookbook, which coincidentally was her first, at a wedding shower for my first marriage - that's a lot of firsts! She was instrumental in teaching me how to cook food like these recipes - interesting, easy, delicious. Now, it's 23 years later and I am a much more confident cook, thanks in large part to the 20+ years I have spent reading her books and watching her shows. Will I get as much out of this book as I did some of her earlier ones? Candidly, no. Many if not most of these recipes I could now cook without a recipe at all (although I am actually very eager to try her "recipe" - really cooking tips - for basmati rice, as I have always struggled with rice). For Ina fans, as other reviewers have mentioned, there isn't that much "new" here - although the flavors and visualization of these recipes reflect the evolution in cooking that has happened since she began (particularly the vegetables) and there are certainly some interesting combinations presented, as well as plenty of eye-catching, of-the-moment trends in food presentation and styling, such as the boards that are included in each section. A select few recipes do seem to push things a little too far towards out and out recycling - for example a recipe that appeared in a previous book is here again, except this time it's cupcakes with no other changes. And I have always had a problem with the waste in her stock recipes - three chickens that are cooked only for stock?? Ina, tell us to pull them out after 40 minutes to save the meat and then put the bones back in for four hours - no one needs to waste upwards of 30 dollars of chicken! But, if this was my first Ina Garten cookbook, I'd love it. And, if I were newer to cooking and new to Ina, she'd be a revelation. I realized as I read this that I had been hoping for a slighter different Ina. Perhaps an "intermediate" Ina. But that's on me - right on the cover of this book it says - "easy dinners." So, if you love Ina, and you want to see what she's up to right now, I would definitely recommend this book. But just don't expect a different Ina - this is the same Ina we've all fallen in love with - and for good reason

If you like Ina, you’ll like this cookbook.

I Love cookbooks and this one rates as one of the best!!

Wonderful easy recipes to make. They are all delicious recipes in this book. Great for dinner parties Excellent

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Another great book from my favourite home chef. Her recipes always work out and never disappoint. They are easy and I love the pictures with each recipe.

As a child I wondered what Mrs Beeton was like? Was she a real person? What would her home feel like? With Ina Garden’s books you get a slice of her life. My mouth watered even at the date of this new book’s delivery. Arrived yesterday and I’m writing this in anticipation of what’s inside. Ina Garten is more than a Cookery Writer. She shares her tacit knowledge, it’s as if she’s a tutor at your table. Who else does that? I discovered Ina Garten 20 years ago and her recipes hoicked my attitude to cooking up several notches. These recipes may start a quiet revolution in the kitchen. Breakfast for dinner? Perfect Gruyere omelette? I’ve just made that. I’m British but these recipes are not from another culture. They’re everyman’s ideal eating. Absolute gems. My friend’s are getting Beatty’s chocolate cupcakes this week.

Tengo todos los libros de Ina Garten, todas las recetas vienen con su foto y explicadas con detalle, y salen. Alguna puede llevar algún ingrediente que aquí no encontremos pero en general, no.

Excellent book!