Barefoot Contessa Family Style: Easy Ideas and Recipes That Make Everyone Feel Like Family

I am the quintessential "ambitious but inexperienced" cook to whom Ina Garten's book are supposed to cater. Prior to using this book, my lasagnas would make messes, rather than good dinners. Where other recipes fail to deliver, EVERYTHING I have tried from this book has succeeded. Speaking of the turkey sausage lasagna... I made endless substitutions, right down to using vegan Tofurky sausage and pureed cottage cheese instead of ricotta. It turned out wonderfully, and my non-vegetarian "please don't put meat sustitute in my food" husband loved it. Following the recipes exactly might be important in some cases, but the cooking process seems to be the magical element in many others. In fact, my spouse doesn't really care for sauce-less veggies but loved the roasted asparagus recipe when I used baby broccoli instead.I appreciate the footnotes that help me when I want to stray from the original recipe, or make something ahead of time. This really increases the utility of the recipes.While the ingredients might be expensive at times, at least they end up producing "mmm's" at the table rather than ending up in the trash or dog bowl.And yes, there is a lot of butter used throughout, but the food turns out so elegant and rich it takes only a portion to be satisfied, and this calorie watcher has not gained weight despite eating the mashed potatoes.If you combine the ideas in this book with those from the t.v. show- make one main dish, a salad/veg & dessert- you will have a complete lovely dinner without needing 2 ovens and 2 hours. This book has made me feel inspired and successful, despite being quite average in the kitchen. If I can now make good tiramisu, so can anyone.

I Love My Ina Garten Cookbook. It’s A Wonderful Book And Has So Many Wonderful Recipes With Pictures. And As Always It Came Early And The Delivery Driver Was So Good And Handled My Order With Care.

This cookbook is amazing and has so many great recipes in it. I have been using it for years and bought this for a friend as a gift.

My friend loved it! It was very well packaged too

cookbook in very good condition. delivered promptly

Another wonderful book from the "Barefoot Contessa" lady!!! And this book seems to be her best yet because family is the center of this idea.Everything within the covers of her latest cooking effort stresses the point of having "family" be the reason for enjoying a good meal and for making great memories. She gave an interesting comment in the opening of this book that families have changed just a wee bit from the "Ozzie and Harriet" years, but that regardless, being with people we love is family enough. And so she helps us to prepare meals that are fun and delicious and easy to make. Plus, the pages of this book are the delicious glossy look, so the absolutely wonderful photography of her dishes just jump out at you with color and desire.Here is how the book breaks down:WELCOME HOME:This addresses the general points of family entertaining from setting the table and the mood, to how to incorporate traditions without getting it too complicated for simple meals.PLANNING THE MEALS:This deals with schedules, picky eaters, and sudden problems.STARTERS:East Hampton Clam ChowderChicken Noodle SoupRoasted Vegetable SoupBrioche CroutonsSmoked Salmon SpreadBuffalo Chicken WingsTuna TartareArugala with ParmesanGreen Salad with Creamy Mustard VinaigretteEndive, Stilton, and Walnuts (absolutely DEE-lish!)Parmesan Roasated AsparagusSALAD FOR LUNCH:Chicken with TabboulehMontauk Seafood SaladPasta with Sun-Dried TomatoesLobster Cobb SaladCurried Chicken SaladBrown Rice, Tomatoes, and BasilTomato, Mozzarella, and BasilWheatberry SaladHerbal Iced TeaDINNERS:Herb-Roasted LambSunday Rib RoastOven-Fried ChickenTequila Lime ChickenSaffron RisottoPenne Pasta with 5 CheesesChicken Stew with BiscuitsShort RibsFish and ChipsLasagna with Turkey SausageReal Meatballs and SpaghettiLinguine with Schrimp ScampiVEGETABLES:Roasted Winter VegetablesMashed Yellow TurnipsString BeansProvencal TomatoesMashed Potatoes and GravyZucchini with ParmesanSauteed CarrotsGarlic Sauteed SpinachMashed Butternut SquashSagaponack Corn PuddingWild Rice PilafRosemary PolentaDESSERTS: (always my favorite part of any book):Raspberry CheesecakeFrozen Key Lime PieEspresso Ice CreamOorange Pound CakeRaspberry Orange TrifleRum Raisin Rice PuddingStewed Berries and Ice CreamPumpkin Banana Mousse TartFlag CakeDeep-Dish Apple PieCoconut MacaroonsLemon Angel Food CakeChocolate MousseSummer PuddingTiramisuBREAKFAST:Blueberry Coffe Cake MuffinsBanana Sour Cream PancakesScrambles Eggs, 3 WaysPotato Basil FrittataSmoked Salmon FrittataChallah French ToastHashed BrownsBagels with Flavored Cream CheeseChive BiscuitsFresh Fruit with Honey Vanilla YogurtKIDS:Parmesan Chicken SticksMac and Cheese (defintitely very kid-friendly!)Broccoli and Bow TiesFruit Juice ShapesJam Thumbprint CookiesWhipped Hot ChocolateHomemade MarshmallowsToasted Coconut Marshmallows (you'll have SOOO much fun w/ this)Birthday Sheet CakeNINE INGREDIENTS:Ina's basic recommended kitchen staplesTEN KITCHEN TOOLS:The equipment she feels are your basic needsMENU'S:Menu's for all kinds of events, parties, themes, etcCREDITSINDEXRECIPE INDEXLike many of the other reviewers have already said, the recipes are delicious and easy, and everyone will have a great time if they want to help out. I myself, haven't quite gotten to the seafood recipes yet, in that I am not much of a seafood person, but I have family and friends who are, so they won't be too far down the track. But as for the rest of the dishes, they really are tasty, satisfying and wonderful; you won't be disappointed.Another note about what I enjoy seeing, that really doesn't have alot to do directly with the book itself, is the caring and emotion behind her love for her husband Jeffrey. In both her show and in her books, you can feel that beautiful and endearing feeling between the two of them when she either speaks of him or he is in the segment. It's a nice testament to marriage to see in this day and age. Oh well, I digress.Enjoy the dishes and the sense of bonding that cooking with family and friends can bring, courtesy of our Ina.

I remember many of these recipes from watching Barefoot Contessa years ago. I can't wait to try them again!

This is one of my favorite Barefoot Contessa cookbooks. I love her food-- simple ingredients, delicious food, elegant presentation and all with a minimum of fuss. I love that all her cookbooks are a reasonable size, I can actually use them in the kitchen! And I love that every recipe has a picture. I turn to Family Style whenever I am having company. It is so easy to put together my menu from this cookbook-- I have even been inspired by her table settings.In this book, I think the Dinners and Vegetables are the standout sections. In Dinners, don't miss the Herb-Roasted Lamb or the Penne with Five Cheeses. In Vegetables, be sure to make Mashed Yellow Turnips (a welcome change from mashed potatoes), Garlic Sauteed Spinach, and the Rosemary Polenta. I can't even count the number of times I have made the Spinach, I even make it for myself when I am home alone, it is so easy and good.