I love watching Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, on the Food Network. She is one of my favorites. That is why I was so excited to find out she is coming to Cleveland on March 3rd at the State Theatre at Playhouse Square. She will be doing an onstage conversation about her 9th cookbook "Make It Ahead" which was released in October 2014.
The cookbook is beautifully illustrated. It has a beginning that gives make it ahead tips for cooking, baking, entertaining and prepping. Each recipe has an individualized make it a head tip included on the bottom of the recipe page. Some recipes are more make ahead than others. The recipes are organized into categories of cocktails, starters, lunch, dinner, vegetables, dessert, breakfast as well as sample make ahead menus with recipes from the book.
The recipes are very approachable. Dinners include Roasted Vegetable Lasagna. There are desserts such as Ginger Shortbread Cookies. They sound so delicious an include one of my favorite things, crystallized ginger. These will definitely be a must try. Some recipes are a little more exotic such as Truffled Chicken Liver Mousse. I might have a little trouble getting the kids to try this one, but I am up for it!
I wanted to test out a recipe to share. I have always wanted to try my hand at Homemade Ricotta. Ina's got a super easy recipe on page 243 of the book. If I would have know how easy it could be, I wouldn't have waited this long to try. The only thing you need to watch is that the milk products don't boil over. I almost had a small kitchen emergency :) She made this super easy and yummy recipe even better on page 240 by turning it into a fabulous Breakfast Ricotta with Berries and Maple Syrup. This recipe was everything you want, sweet mixed with a little salt, light yet still creamy and decadent. I skipped the toasted brioche and ate it more like a cottage cheese. Yum!!!
So "Make It Ahead" should be an definite addition to your cookbook collection. Click here to pick up a hard cover or digital copy of "Make It Ahead" from Amazon. And if you live in the Cleveland area and love The Barefoot Contessa there are still tickets available to her March 3rd show. Click here for more information. Not in our area? You can click here to view a list of Ina's events on her website.
Stay tuned for an update about the evening with Ina. I am so excited to have a "moms night out" with a close friend. We will fill you in on all this tips and tricks Ina has to share. It would be great if we could sneak a picture or two. Maybe one of these days I'll get to mee
t her, until then I'll enjoy her food. Thanks Ina for continuing to inspire me in the kitchen and put smiles on my families faces!!!
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She's one of my favorites too. And her recipes are actually doable. How exciting to get to hear her live. Thanks for the review of the cookbook too. I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteI think you will really enjoy the book. As I said the pictures are beautiful and the recipes very tasty!
DeleteThat homemade ricotta looks like it came out amazing! What a yummy and different breakfast recipe!
ReplyDeleteIt was so tasty. So happy the recipe made enough for left overs tomorrow :)
DeleteWhat fun names for her recipes. This is a great review!
ReplyDeleteI love her! Too bad I don't live in Ohio anymore or I'd want to go!
ReplyDeleteThat roasted veggie lasagna sounds amazing! I'm a ginger fan, too…maybe I'll get the book. Your pic on your sidebar makes you look a bit like Ina Garten!
ReplyDeleteGuess I was sporting the Ina hair in that picture :)
DeleteI love Ina! Will have to check out her cookbook! Thanks for sharing!
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