Dec 14 2008
Barefoot Contessa Parties Ideas and Recipes for Easy Parties
Barefoot Contessa Parties Ideas and Recipes for Easy Parties That Are Really Fun
After more than twenty years of running Barefoot Contessa, the acclaimed specialty food store, Ina Garten published her first collection of recipes. The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook was an overnight sensation, but it’s the kind of success that can only be grounded in years of experience. In it, Ina shared her ideas for familiar food but with outstanding flavor and — most important of all — recipes that really work.
Now, with Barefoot Contessa Parties! Ina shares secrets she has gleaned from her years not only as a caterer but as a dedicated party giver. The keyword here is fun. Ina’s parties are easy to prepare and fun for everyone, including the host. Forget those boring Saturday-night dinners that just won’t end. With Ina’s advice, you’re certain to have all your friends saying, “Wasn’t that fun!”
Ina has packed Barefoot Contessa Parties! with plans for pulling off parties like a pro, stories about her own parties, and tips on assembling food (rather than cooking everything) and organizing like a caterer. In the spring you can invite your friends to a party where they all make their own pizzas. Come summer, it’s into the garden for a lunch with grilled lamb and pita sandwiches that guests assemble themselves. In the autumn, when it’s not Thanksgiving, Ina roasts a fresh turkey, which her friends enjoy with popovers and a creamy spinach gratin. And on a snowy winter’s day, everyone is invited for a lunch buffet with seafood chowder and butternut squash and apple soup.
Ever since Ina published her first book, people write, e-mail, and stop her on the street to say how much they love the food. She’s reached new heights here with recipes like sour cream coffee cake–the ultimate breakfast treat. Salads? The red lettuce, balsamic onions, and blue cheese; Chinese chicken salad; and panzanella may be the best you’ve ever tasted. Filet of beef is easy to make for a fancy dinner with oh-so-good gorgonzola sauce, or sliced into sandwiches and served with lobster rolls for a Superbowl party. And fans of The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook will be delighted to find the recipe for the Lemon Cake they drooled over but only saw pictured, right here in this book.
With so many great ideas and recipes in these pages for you to use, your friends will start to wonder why your parties are always so much fun.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Barefoot Contessa Parties
This is a quality product, the best cookbook I’ve read in years! Each recipe is clear, precise, and appetizing. Yes, I will buy others written by Ina Garten.
5 Stars Exceptionally good recipes
This was my first introduction to Ina Garten and I loved this book so much, I ended up buying 2 more. Every single recipe in this book came out looking great and tasting even better. Her recipes are extremely easy to follow and are very detailed. This is great for any kind of cook, from beginner to advanced. Two thumbs up!
5 Stars Awesome recipes!
My friend invited me to a dinner party where she served the filet of beef, the gorgonzola sauce/gracy, the spinach gratin and the garlic potatoes…it was delicious! So I had to order a copy of this book for myself and the recipes are just out of this world. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who loves food.
5 Stars Forget the Fat
Forget the fat. Or don’t think about it anyway. Every recipe I’ve tried in this book is not only easy to make, but delicious. I’ve made the pesto and the pasta salad that uses it, both with great results. I’ve made the oriental dressing and have used it for salads as well as for a marinade for chicken. This is fantastic stuff–yummy and great for parties. You can’t go wrong.
4 Stars Barefoot Contessa Parties
As with all Ina books, this one was not a disappointment. Thoroughly enjoy her writing style and tried-and-true recipes.
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