The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
by Ina Garten, Martha Stewart
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Book Reviews of The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
Book Review: Very Good
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very good book, which I enjoyed very much. The recipes in here includce, Pecan Square, Raspberry Tart, Hummus, Roasted Tomato Soup, Roasted Vegetable Torte, Orange Granola with fruit and nuts, White Hot Chocolate, Guacomole, along with many others.I haven't tried a lot of recipes from this book, but I have tried the Provencal Potato Salad and Hot Chocolate, both of which our French exchange student just loved, and Homemade Granola, which my brother loves to eat for breakfast and snacks.A favorite of the whole family is the PEcan Shortbread, which a guest exclaimed that we must give her the recipe.It was also a hit with my grandmother, who has lost her sweet tooth. But since shortbread is not overly sweet, she loved these cookies. The hummus is also excellent, and is my favorite recipe for it. Another favorite is the Cranberry harvest Muffins, with hazelnuts and figs (I used dried figs, fresh were hard to find and too expensive) I also love a lot of pictures in books, and good descriptions, which the Barefoot Contessa gives. The only reason I gave it four stars was because I didn't like the scones very much. I made the Strawberry Scones, and the Barefoot Contessa is supoosedly famous for these scones, but it was too salty with not a lot of sugar and the dried strawberries were lost in the batter. But I did enjoy this book very much, and I love her other two. But I can't wait to try other recipes friom this book.Book Review: The Best Cookbook Ever.....
Summary: 5 Stars
As a self described cookaholic and avid cookbook collector and reader, I was amazed that I was amazed at the innovative and easy recipies contained in this book. I entertain often and even cater an occasional party for friends and family and I have used virtually every recipe in this book. Ina has a way of making things simple yet tasty. Her recipies are clear and concise and the clever kitchen tips she gives are priceless. I have always been one to "doctor" a recipe to my liking but I have found that with these recipies, no doctoring is needed. Even when the ingredient list is minimal as in the Indonesian Ginger Chicken or the Roasted Carrots, I am surprised at how so few ingredients can pack so much flavor (this is the only way I prepare carrots now as my husband loves them this way). Even the more lengthy ingredient list are well worth the time and effort, the Satay Dip has become a refrigerator staple as my 18 month old son dips everything from chicken to celery stalks in it. The Roasted Potato and Fennel Soup is sublime as well as the decadent Coconut Cupcakes. I gave this book to my sister for Christmas and her inlaws have not stopped raving about the Turkey Meatloaf and Parmasean Smashed Potatoes that she prepared. I have over 200 cookbooks in my collection, yet this is the one that I use every week. It is a wonderful addition to any kithcen librairy, if only for the glorious photographs.Book Review: Great for entertaining!
Summary: 5 Stars
I registered for and received this cookbook as a wedding gift in 2002, and it has been put to good use. I was already a fan of Martha Stewart (who writes the forward). Still, I found Garten's more carefree entertaining philosophy a breath of fresh air, especially in a two-career household, in which time is at a premium, but gourmet entertaining is fairly common and necessary. Everything I've made from the book has received raves, but it is not simply a cookbook or recipe book-- it is an entertaining book. I love that Garten doesn't insist that EVERYTHING be made from scratch; her advice to make some great dishes and get some good bread from a bakery mirrors my own menu philosophy. Why slave over the simple things that others can do better, when you can concentrate on your best courses? (For this reason, I've never understood the allure of breadmakers.) I love that she even includes a "recipe" on how to arrange a fruit tray or dessert tray from pre-made desserts (like cookies/brownies from the bakery). Perfect for those little get-togethers when you have a large number of guests, are busy with other things or want to concentrate on more complicated courses. I recently received "Barefoot Contessa Parties" as a Christmas gift, and cannot wait to wear it out as well!Book Review: A bit disappointed
Summary: 3 Stars
I LOVE BAREFOOT CONTESSA...but this book was a little disappointing. When I'm looking for recipes through foodnetwork.com, I always trust Ina's recipes and 95% of the time, they come out delicious. I've tried her roast turkey recipe, her stuffed mushroomed sausage, tomatoe + goat cheese pasteries, and a few other favorites and they always delievered. I really expected this book to include more fuller, dinner-like recipes but from looking through the book, I reaally just saw a lot of easy dips + chips, a lot of salads, and maybe a few "ohh I might try this." She even included a recipe for Lemonade. Like com'on? Really? It wasn't even a special lemonade recipe, it was a basic lemonades, sugar, and water ingreident. I kinda found it insulting. It's like having Julia Child include a recipe on how to boil an egg in her cookbook. I haven't made anything from this book yet so this review is not based on the taste or quality of the receipes; just overall substance of the book. I really do like the colorful pictures in there and I wish every receipe in the book had a picture so you can get an overall idea of how the dish is going to come out looking like. Who knows? Maybe once I try the recipes out, I might like it and give this book a higher rating.Book Review: A Great Introduction to The Barefoot Contessa
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the First Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and a great introduction to Ina's cooking. I think this is my second favorite Ina cookbook after Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home (my absolute favorite). I like that this cookbook (like most of Ina's cookbooks) is organized into Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Dinner, Vegetables, Desserts, and Breakfast. It makes it easier for me to flip to the section I need and find something I want to cook (never a problem with Ina). Every recipe has a picture and every recipe is delicious. Everything I have made has been wonderful, but in this cookbook, my favorites are:
Soups
Parker's Split Pea Soup, French Onion Soup, Lentil Vegetable (I also serve this under Salmon)
Vegetables
Roasted Fennel with Parmesan, Fingerling Potatoes, Spinach Pie
Desserts (the best dessert section in any Ina cookbook!)
Coconut Cupcakes, Lime Curd Tart, Pecan Squares (put something under the pan, they will bubble over...)
Breakfast
Raspberry Corn Muffins, Cheddar-Dill Scones (make these, I promise you will be happy you did)