Rating: 
Summary: Cookbook Virgin No Longer!
Review: I hate cookbooks. I'm intimidated by kitchen gadgetry and oils/spices that end up collecting dust in my pantry. Being a first time stay-at-home mom, I was determined to give this book a try....and WOW....my family and friends are RAVING about my new cooking skills. I've tried most of the soups and the turkey meatloaf is so yummy, my sister has agreed to babysit twice a week because her husband is addicted to my loafs. Ina's easy-to-read format and ingredients make the BFC my kitchen godmother. I'm so proud that my new book already has dog-eared pages with food stains on it. Thanks Ina!
Rating: 
Summary: I would give it 3.5 stars but that wasn't a choice...
Review: This is a visually beautiful cookbook. Some of the recipes are less-than-basic, but worth it -- I have gotten "best ever" reviews on a couple recipes. Certain recipes however are hit or miss and require a little ad-libbing. For example the salmon with fennel was missing something, beef bourgonion sauce reduced to nothing, the coconut cream cheese frosting yields twice the amount necessary (even if you dump the frosting on!) and the guacamole requires at least double the spices.....(the cupcakes and the guacamole by the way, are both excellent as is the whole chicken.) I don't know - maybe they got tired in the test-kitchen before they finished the book. Still worth the purchase - when it's good it's great.
Rating:
Summary: The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook : Secrets from the East Hamp
Review: This is one of the best cookbooks I have ever purchased. The recipes are generally very easy to make, and the food turns out exactly as the author describes (I'd like to say that's because of me, but I think it's the well-tested recipes in the book). I highly recommend this book (and her other book Barefoot Contessa) because of its ease of use, successful recipes, delicious food, inspiring photos, and nice prose. It's a winner! And the lime curd is absolutely the best I've ever tried!!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely wonderful, inspiring, and confidence-building!
Review: I didn't think I really "needed" another cookbook, with my own experience of more than forty years of cooking, and a grandmother who was a professional chef, but all it took was one look at this book and I was hooked! It's the best, most interesting, and inspiring cookbook I've seen in years! (I just wish I'd discovered it sooner!) Ina Garten's approach is so fresh and relaxed, and she makes cooking for guests sound so easy and like so much fun, that the reader cannot help but become caught up in her enthusiasm. Although she emphasizes that advance preparation takes the stress out of entertaining, her idea of preparation is far more casual than the start-the-meal-five-days-in-advance program many of us adopted twenty years ago when we first "discovered" Julia Child and became dedicated "French chefs." She is not afraid to suggest that you put together a beautiful and creative assortment of dessert pastries purchased from a local vendor, instead of trying to make something spectacular with homemade puff pastry dough; she provides loads of helpful hints to head off potential disasters (put the red cabbage you shred in advance for the Vegetable Cole Slaw into a separate plastic bag so that it doesn't turn the other vegetables pink); she indicates when you can save time by using commercial frozen products; and she gives wonderful tips about how to arrange the guests around the dining table so that you don't end up with separate groups at each end having separate conversations. Garten uses the freshest ingredients, and she is often inspired by what's available in her local market. She shows how to adapt some old favorites, such as Eggplant Caviar, to more health-conscious diets by roasting, rather than frying the ingredients. And the results are delectable. Her updated version of Beef Bourguignon, Indonesian Chicken, Kitchen Clambake, and Tuna Nicoise Platter are fabulous. The Roasted Carrots and Potato Fennel Gratin are delicious, and she even has inspired me to try Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts, which I once swore I'd never eat again, once I became a grown-up. This is a terrific book, sure to inspire even the most jaded or experienced cook. I just wish I had found it about twenty years ago!
Rating:
Summary: Worth every penny!
Review: You can't go wrong with this. I have both of her books and everything I've made has been delicious and a big hit. I give them as gifts all the time. The recipes are really easy and SO good!! And I consider myself someone who is still learning to cook.
Rating:
Summary: Oustanding success every time!!!
Review: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! My family is full of great cooks and I have been feeling the pressure! I am newly married and now staring to have dinner parties and occasions at my place and I now feel the need to impress (in my terms that means have great food that everyone enjoys and says wow!). You have made that possible. This is a fantastic cookbook for all seasons. I have tried more than a few dishes now, and everyone wants me to make them again and again. Thanks for giving me confidence!!!
Rating:
Summary: Ina Garten - Barefoot Contessa Parties
Review: This is a fascinating cookbook! The recipes can be used in everyday family dining. The ingredients used in the recipes are readily available, easy to work with, and delicious! The recipes produce nutritious appealing meals. The photography is absolutely outstanding and the entire book is extremely well written. I really appreciate the margin notes. The introductory comments to the recipes are very helpful. I loved reading this book and using the recipes. I am thankful to have this book in my "kitchen library".
Rating:
Summary: Cooking that Makes Sense for a Busy Lifestyle
Review: If you love to cook but don't seem to have the time you once did to devote to the art of cooking, I highly recommend The Barefoot Contessa cookbooks. The recipes result in food that not only looks beautiful and tastes great, but also takes a fraction of the time required by more intricate recipes. Of all the dozens of cookbooks that have taken up residence in our home to date, the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks are the ones that we cook from time and time again. I am amazed that these two cookbooks can offer so many winning recipes. Whether you are cooking a simple meal for dinner on a weeknight or you are entertaining friends, The Barefoot Contessa cookbooks offer a wonderful selection of recipes from which to choose.
Rating:
Summary: Simple and Delicious!
Review: This is not your ordinary cookbook. It is a visual feast for all your senses. The photographs are stunning, the recipes are simple to understand, and the tips are actually very helpful. Ina Garten expertly walks you through preparation to presentation, and injects personal anecdotes throughout. I was left with the impression that she truly wants her readers to appreciate the simplicity and beauty of a great meal. The book begins with an introduction to fresh ingredients and again, the emphasis is on quality and simplicity. Ina guides us through a farmer's market of fresh fruits and vegetables, explaining what to look for and how to select the very best ingredients for our meals. In the midst of this primer, she delivers a simple recipe for fresh lemonade (a quick application of what we have just learned!), followed by a glossary of kitchen terms, and all accompanied by beautiful photographs. The first section is devoted to appetizers, and includes detailed instructions on what to serve at cocktail parties (and exactly how to serve it) and how to make and present an elegant, yet simple fruit and cheese platter. My favorite recipe from this section was the vegetable sushi. She then covers Soups (including home made croutons), Salads (the French Potato is tremendous!), Dinner Entrees (including a kitchen clambake and the famous Indonesian Ginger Chicken recipe), Vegetables (with instructions on creating a stunning vegetable platter), Desserts (the country dessert platter is perfect for small groups get-togethers!) and a section simply entitled "Breakfast" with a wonderful recipe for White Hot Chocolate and a short primer on how to make "the perfect cup of coffee". The book ends with details for assembling party food and has a complete resource section loaded with information on how to find specialty items. I own many cookbooks, but I have found this to be the most inspiring and entertaining that I have read. The recipes are simple, and quite delicious, making this a terrific resource for both the experienced and novice cook. 5 Stars. Magnificent!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely phenomenal! The best of the best ...
Review: Although a recent acquisition, this has already become one of my top favorite (and most-used) cookbooks. The recipes are all tried-and-true, with introductions explaining how each was perfected, why it is so special, etc. -- i.e., everything I love in a cookbook, with the bonus of gorgeous photos. My one and only caution is to remember that this is a chef's cookbook, so be ready to substitute different pans. For example, the delectable (and quick and easy!) roasted vegetable tart calls for a 6-inch cake pan, which I had never even heard of and had no idea where to find. No matter; as it turned out, even my 8-inch cake pans were too small. However, the results were utterly delicious (and no one cared how much overflowed or had to be baked separately), and I just made a note to try a larger pan next time. I can't even imagine anyone not loving this book. It is beautiful, the recipes are well-tested and utterly delectable, and the descriptions let you know what to expect. Absolutely fantastic.
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