Friday, May 17, 2013

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

I secretly love the garden in winter because there’s absolutely nothing to do!  But then Spring comes along and I remember why I love gardens so much – the flowers pop out of the warm soil and the trees get bright green leaf buds.  This week is my favorite week of all – when the crabapple trees bloom – it’s as though they’re ready for their “close-ups” dressed in their billowing white ball gowns.  The bed in the front of the photograph is planted with deep blue “Scilla Siberica” bluebells combined with white and green “Spring Green” tulips;  in the back of the photograph is a grove of white “Snowdrift” crabapple trees.  I hope the weather is gorgeous where you are so you can be outside enjoying a garden somewhere!

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

RHUBARB SEASON!

Rhubarb is only in season for a short time in the Spring but it’s worth waiting for.  I love to stew it with strawberries and raspberries - and maybe with a splash of Grand Marnier, too!   It’s great for dessert with a cookie but also delicious for breakfast with a dollop of Greek yogurt.  I hope you love it, too!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

GIADA WAS HERE!

Giada De Laurentiis was here on Wednesday to film with me and we had a wonderful day together!  She made her divine Lemon Mascarpone Gnocchi for me (who knew gnocchi could be so light??) and I made my intense Chocolate Cassis Cake with fresh berries for her.  The tulips were finally blooming and we ate Lobster & Potato Salad in the garden with my friend Frank Newbold.  It was one of those magical days with really good friends.

Friday, April 19, 2013

BROOKLYN BOUND!

Jeffrey and I spent a few days in Brooklyn investigating all the fun new food places.  They’re amazing!  These aren’t big corporate restaurants that the owners dream of opening branches in China – they’re small and personal and very hands-on.  We loved them!  One of our favorites is called Seersucker and the food is delicious and Southern with a modern twist – stone ground grits with cheddar and chives, biscuits and gravy, and cornmeal crusted catfish.  I had to come right home and make my Oven-Fried Chicken for Jeffrey!  I hope you can get to Brooklyn to check out the food scene.  It’s so much fun!  I’d love to know about your favorite places in Brooklyn!

Friday, April 12, 2013

FUN ON "THE CHEW"!

OMG did I have fun this week cooking with Mario Batali on “The Chew!”  I had to pinch myself that I was cooking with the man who created some of my favorite restaurants in the world, starting with Babbo in NYC.  On the show, we made my Slow-Roasted Filet of Beef with Basil Parmesan Mayonnaise, and Mario and I talked about great tips for cooking meat.  (Click here to watch the show on your computer.)  With summer coming, it’s definitely one of my favorite – and easiest! - dinners for a crowd!

Saturday, April 06, 2013

LOCAL FOOD HEROES

I love exploring the local food producers in the Hamptons to see what ingredients inspire new recipes for me. There are so many farmers, artisanal producers, and people doing really interesting things at the East End of Long Island. I’m getting four fabulous local products and heading to the kitchen - all in the pursuit of research, of course!

First is Amagansett Sea Salt made from ocean water harvested at the beach!  I think I'll make my sweet and salty Salted Caramel Brownies - who wouldn't love that?

Next, it's literally farm to table with fantastic fresh beets from Quail Hill Farm for my Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad.

Third is Driftwood Ale, a delicious craft beer from The Montauk Brewing Company, a local micro brewery. 

Finally, I'm getting freshly baked ciabatta rolls from the Blue Duck Bakery in Southampton and I'll use them for roasted Salmon & Guacamole Sandwiches.  Local products and delicious recipes. They call this work??

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

EASTER FUN AT THE WHITE HOUSE!

Yesterday was the Easter Egg Roll at the White House and Mrs. Obama kindly invited me to make healthy guacamole with multigrain chips for the children.  I brought my friends Barbara Liberman, Kristin Fisher, and Charlie Allen (who’s almost four years old).  We had a ball listening to Justin Bieber, playing tennis, and rolling Easter eggs!  Click here for the Guacamole recipe and click here to link to the White House website to see the festivities.  I started my career at the White House and it was such fun going back as a guest!

Friday, March 29, 2013

DINNER’S READY!

Lots of people have asked where my Barefoot Contessa Sauté Dinners for Two are available so I wanted to update the list of stores for you. Right now, they're in the freezer sections of Marsh, Safeway, Schnucks, Shaw's, and ShopRite. They are also coming soon to AWG, Bashas', Crest Foods, Giant, Giant Eagle, H-E-B, Homeland, Meijer, Price Chopper, Publix, Raney's, Spartan Stores, Stop & Shop, select Walmart Supercenters, and Woodman's. They'll be available in grocery stores across the country over the next few months and I'll keep you posted. I hope you try them and love them!

Monday, March 25, 2013

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

This is an exciting week!  Tomorrow, I’ll be in Providence, Rhode Island at the Providence Performing Arts Center to talk with Johanne Killeen from Al Forno restaurant, which is one of my favorite places in the world!  Johanne and her husband George Germon make amazing Italian dinners, including their famous grilled pizzas and baked pastas.  If you can’t make it to Al Forno, you can always cook one of their iconic recipes at home – Roasted Sausages & Grapes – from my “Foolproof” cookbook.  Hope you love it as much as I do! 

On Wednesday night I’ll also be at The Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts in Worcester, Massachusetts, and on Thursday night at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

Hope to see you there!

Monday, March 11, 2013

DINNER FOR TWO!

Sometimes even I don't have time to cook!  I'm thrilled to announce that my new line of Barefoot Contessa Sauté Dinners for Two is coming to the freezer section of a grocery store near you. We're available at Shop Rite now and will roll out nationwide over the next few months.

As I have done with my cookbooks and television show, I’m personally involved in every step of creating these delicious dinners.  Based on my favorite recipes and using great ingredients, they allow you to cook a fresh dinner for your family in about 10 minutes.  Even Jeffrey can't tell the difference!

There are nine dinners, including Barefoot Contessa Beef Stew Bourguignon (pictured), Sesame Chicken & Noodles, and Shrimp Scampi & Linguine and they sell for about $8.99.

I hope you love them as much as I do!

Friday, March 01, 2013

GUILTY PLEASURES!

I’m often asked what my guilty pleasures are and I have to admit that really good bread and butter is definitely on the list.  When I want to treat myself, I go online and order a huge crusty loaf of sourdough bread from Poilane, the best bakery in Paris.  It’s enormous – it weighs about 4 pounds! – it’s made in their wood-burning ovens, and they FedEx it almost daily right to your door.  When it arrives, I cut the loaf in quarters and freeze some for later.  Poilane’s bread is dense and flavorful and it’s as good toasted with butter and jam as it is sliced for sandwiches or grilled for bruschetta.  Of all the gifts I’ve ever given, a loaf of fresh bread shipped from Poilane was definitely everyone’s favorite.  The raisin and walnut breads are also amazing! It’s like a trip to Paris without the jet lag!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

MY FAVORITE COOKBOOKS!

Writing cookbooks means I love to read them, too.  So of course I have cookbooks piled up everywhere!  I decided to build a room at the barn with lots of bookshelves so I could actually see what I have.  This weekend, East Hampton was completely snowed in so I decided it was the perfect opportunity to organize my books.  Some cookbooks were covered in food with the pages stuck together and some looked as though I’d never cracked them open, so I was reminded how I keep using the same cookbooks over and over again.  For me, they’re often the cookbooks from specialty food stores that have easy recipes that become staples in my house.  These are some of my favorites –

Anna Pump - “Summer on a Plate” (Loaves and Fishes)

Sarah Leah Chase – “Nantucket Open-House Cookbook” and “Cold-Weather Cooking”

Kathleen King – “Tate’s Bake Shop Cookbook” and “Baking for Friends”

Yotam Ottolenghi – “Plenty” and “Jerusalem”

Here is my favorite Sarah Chase recipe for Orzo with Roasted Vegetables that I make all the time!  I hope you love it as much as I do!  Happy cooking!

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

VALENTINE’S DAY!

I think there’s something so generous and satisfying to cook dinner for someone you love and Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity.  Since the holiday falls on Thursday this year, it also needs to be easy to prepare.  I’m making Jeffrey’s favorite one-dish dinner --Parmesan Chicken (with a salad on top!) and a decadent Baked Chocolate Pudding for dessert.   Who wouldn’t love you for that?  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

SNOW DAY MOVIES!

It snowed last night in East Hampton, which was the best excuse for a big bowl of hot soup for dinner and a movie marathon.  I made Winter Minestrone from my new book BAREFOOT CONTESSA FOOLPROOF and Jeffrey and I watched two great documentaries.  The first one, “Searching for Sugar Man”, is one of the most inspiring stories I’ve ever heard about singer/songwriter Sixto Rodriguez who sadly failed to sell any of his amazing albums in the United States while – unbeknownst to him – he was a hero and an icon to young people in South Africa, who listened to his music as a protest against Apartheid.  The second documentary is called “How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?” and it’s the story of the brilliant English architect Norman Foster.  The cinematography, the architecture, and Mr. Foster’s story are also incredibly inspiring.  Click here for the recipe for my Winter Minestrone and you can find the movies on Netflix or Apple TV.  I hope we’re snowed in every night!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

MY FAVORITE KITCHEN TOOL!

You probably think I’ve got a million specialized kitchen tools but the truth is I keep a very simple kitchen.  Garlic presses?  Why bother when a knife does a perfectly good job?  And I’ll bet that pasta maker you needed to buy is sitting totally neglected in the back of your cupboard.  But some tools I can’t live without – stacks of half sheet pans, AllClad cookware, a few sharp Wusthof knives, and my favorite tool – the rasp.  Originally used for woodworking, some smart cookie started using it in the kitchen as the perfect tool for grating lemon, orange, and lime zests.  You can buy one at most cookware stores or online at CassandrasKitchen.com.  I use it to make my favorite Lemon Yogurt Cake with lots of lemon zest and freshly squeezed juice. 

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

LE CHOCOLAT CHAUD!

One of Jeffrey and my favorite things to do in Paris on a cold day is go to Café de Flore, have steaming cups of hot chocolate, and watch the fashion parade go by.  Now that I’m back home and it’s cold and grey in East Hampton, I keep dreaming of those big mugs of sweet, rich hot chocolate. The good news is you can make it at home, which is exactly what I’m going to do right now!  I’ve included my recipe so we can all drink Hot Chocolate and dream of things we want to do in the New Year!  Bon appétit!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

NEW YEARS’ EVE IN PARIS

Every year, Jeffrey and I celebrate New Years’ Eve in Paris with close friends.  We splurge and hire a car to tour some of the famous French landmarks all lit up – the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur - then stop at an historic bar for a glass of Champagne - last year we went to the bar at the Ritz (which Hemingway said he personally liberated after World War II!).  Then we head home to our apartment for a midnight supper.   My favorite New Years’ Eve dinner is Lemon Capellini with Caviar – really easy and so elegant!  Then some good French cheese and a salad, plus an apple tart or a decadent chocolate dessert from a bakery.  What better way to start the new year?  We’re lucky enough to be in Paris but you can make the same special dinner anywhere in the world!  I wish you and your family a happy and healthy New Year.  I hope you’re looking forward to 2013 as much as I am!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

HOLIDAY BREAKFAST!

No matter what holiday you celebrate, December 25th is a wonderful day for a special cozy breakfast with your family (maybe still in bathrobes and pj’s!) to celebrate all the things we have to be grateful for.  Instead of making French Toast on the stove - one serving at a time - I like to make my favorite French Toast Bread Pudding.  I assemble it the night before and refrigerate it.  In the morning, the whole dish goes into the oven and then we all have the most delicious French toast to eat – together! - with good maple syrup and butter.  I can’t wait to make it for Jeffrey.  Happy holidays!

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

BEST DRESSED TABLE!

Well that was fun!  Erica Hill and her Today Show team came for the day to my barn here in East Hampton to film easy entertaining ideas to take some of the stress out of the holidays (the programs air on December 11th and December 29th).  We did a beautiful holiday table setting called a Della Robbia wreath (named after the classical Italian sculptor) that anyone can do at home.  I simply placed evergreens down the middle of the table, and then added small bunches of red and green grapes plus lady apples, Seckel pears, persimmons, limes, and clementines (all small!) tucked in among the greens. Finish it off with white votive candles.  The effect is festive and elegant -- but guess what?  Once you have some evergreen branches, you can buy everything else in the grocery store while you're shopping for dinner!

Monday, November 26, 2012

COOKIE SWAP!

I’ve always thought that the solution to many of life’s problems is a good cookie with friends.  So Ladies' Home Journal and I (that’s me with entertainment editor Susan Pocharski) invited some of our favorite food bloggers to my barn in East Hampton for a cookie swap – we all made our favorite holiday cookies for each other!  The story is in the current issue of LHJ and to whet your appetite, here’s the recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Globs that I made from my new book FOOLPROOF.  Happy holidays!

Thursday, November 08, 2012

FOOLPROOF THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year.  It feels like “the holidays” without all the pressure of Christmas.  To mix things up, I always make some traditional dishes like my Roast Turkey with Truffle Butter and Spinach Gratin plus one or two new dishes like Mushroom & Leek Bread Pudding and Orange-Braised Carrots and Parsnips.  If you don’t stuff the turkey, it will cook in less time – which means a moister and more delicious turkey!  The bread pudding comes out crispy on top and creamy inside, which is even better than stuffing.  I can’t wait to start cooking - I hope you like this menu as much as I do.  Given all the devastating storms in the East, it reminds us that we have so much to be grateful for.  Have a happy and safe holiday!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

HURRICANE SANDY!

This has been a truly difficult week on the East Coast.  Thank you all for your kind wishes; we in East Hampton have been mostly spared from the wrath of Hurricane Sandy but my heart is with all those folks who suffered so much this week.  Sadly, the East Coast part of my book tour was set for this week; we are trying to reschedule all the dates for sometime in November or December.  With the NY railroads and airports closed, it’s impossible for me to get to Chicago, so in addition to cancelling King of Prussia, Washington, Baltimore, and Annapolis, I’ve also had to postpone our events on Friday in Chicago and Milwaukee.  I’m so sorry but hopefully I will see you when we set up a new date.  I’ll keep the dates posted at BarefootContessa.com.

While I’ve been home, though, I had to make the comfort food from my new book FOOLPROOF that always makes me feel better – EASY TOMATO SOUP & GRILLED CHEESE CROUTONS.  It won’t fix the electricity but while you’re eating it, you won’t mind quite as much.

Stay safe!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

BREAKFAST IN PARIS!

Paris is my favorite city in the world - it’s so romantic!  I’m sure people think that I eat at fancy French restaurants, but when we’re there, in fact, Jeffrey and I prefer to hang out at small cafes and bistros.  We always arrive in the morning, so we head to our favorite Café Varenne for breakfast or lunch and order their delicious omelet with potatoes, bacon, and herbs.  Click here for my version of their recipe and you’ll have your own little taste of Paris at home.  As my hero Julia Child would say, “Bon appétit!”

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

THE BIG APPLE

People come from all over the world to spend the summers in East Hampton but secretly my favorite season here is the autumn. I love the chill in the air and the crunch of autumn leaves when you walk.  I particularly love that the local apple trees are filled with sweet and tart apples like Macoun and Gala.  I just can’t stop myself – I’m always driving to the Milk Pail apple orchard in Water Mill because I MUST make a big pot of roasted Homemade Applesauce or an elegant French Apple Tart. I hope you like these recipes as much as I do!

Monday, October 15, 2012

CALIFORNIA ROSÉ!

In the summer of 1999 when my first cookbook was published, Jeffrey insisted on throwing me a party.  I decided to serve chilled rosé so I went to the wine store and bought 6 different bottles to taste -- tough job! By far, our favorite was Robert Sinskey Vineyard’s “Vin Gris” rosé, which is the most gorgeous color and has hints of peaches and strawberries.  Last week when I was filming my show in Napa Valley, Maria Sinskey (who runs the vineyard with her husband Robert) invited me to cook with her and to taste their wines. Maria made the best Zucchini Tart with Lemon Thyme and Goat Cheese that I’ve ever tasted.  My new television series on Food Network starts in January and you’ll see Maria and me cooking together.  It was a really fun day that I’ll never forget!

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’

Last week, I was in San Francisco cooking with my friend Tyler Florence, whose passion and enthusiasm for great food always knocks me out.  He invited me to his restaurant El Paseo in Mill Valley where he taught me how to cook the perfect steak to go with his amazing side dishes like creamed spinach, buttery whipped potatoes with coarse California sea salt, and thyme-roasted wild mushrooms and shallots.  They were all so delicious!  I also love Tyler’s San Francisco restaurant called Wayfare Tavern.  In my new cookbook FOOLPROOF, I've included a recipe inspired by his Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts. If you’re in San Francisco, run -- don't walk -- to one of his restaurants!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

SNEAK PEEK!

I can't wait for FOOLPROOF to launch on October 30th!  To whet your appetite, here's one of my favorite recipes from the book – Raspberry Crumble Bars.  Raspberry jam, granola and almonds with a shortbread crust.  Trust me, they are delicious!  Click here to preorder a book, or to order a signed book for someone special (or for you).  Hope you love the new book!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

JUST PEACHY!

There’s a nip in the air in East Hampton and I’m eager to make the last summer dessert with local peaches.  The best way to choose yellow and white peaches is to just smell them.  If they smell ripe, they will be.  Here’s the secret – don’t press them, which just bruises the fruit and only tells you if the peach is soft but not if it’s ripe and delicious.  To peel them quickly, dunk ripe peaches in a pot of boiling water for 1 to 4 minutes, until the skins start to separate easily from the fruit.  Then plunge them into a bowl of cool water and the skins will just slip off with a small paring knife.  On Friday night, I’m going to make my Peach and Raspberry Crisp for Jeffrey with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream.  It might feel like autumn in the air, but dessert will still taste like summer!

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

GUILTY PLEASURES!

I’ve tried a lot of salted caramels but I always come back to the original ones.  OMG I love Fran’s chocolate-covered caramels with sea salt.  I serve them after dinner with a small glass of Pedro Ximinez (PX) sherry and I’m in heaven.  A box of 20 caramels wrapped in Fran’s beautiful caramel-colored ribbon is also my favorite hostess gift.  I guarantee you’ll be invited back!  To order click here: Fran's Chocolates.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

COOKOUT TIME!

I really need to use the basil that’s growing like CRAZY in my garden.  Fortunately, my favorite summer menu requires lots of it -- Grilled Herbed Shrimp and Spaghettoni al Pesto -- so that’s what I’m making!  I’ll use some of the basil to marinate the shrimp and then MORE of it in the Pesto.  And while I’m at it, it’s easy to make extra pesto to freeze for the long winter ahead.  The secret to freezing pesto is to put it in small containers and drizzle a thin layer of olive oil on top so it keeps its bright green color.  Have a happy and safe holiday!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

My friend Joanne Newbold's adorable dog Baxter is a 3-year old Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGB for short.)  He's a French scent hound (think Inspector Clouseau) and being French, he's a serious gourmet. For Baxter and all my friends’ dogs, I thought it would be a fun to bake a special treat to keep their tails wagging.   Dogs can't resist peanut butter and I've mixed it with whole wheat flour and wheat germ so it’s also good for them.  Here's the recipe for Whole Wheat & Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits.  Hope your dog finds it a triple woof, too!

Friday, August 17, 2012

ELMO AT THE BEACH!

Don't forget to set your DVR for tomorrow at 11am ET -- Elmo and his creator Kevin Clash are coming to cook with me.  So much fun! 

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

TAKE IT OUTSIDE!

Why does everything taste better outdoors?  Every summer I visit my friend Antonia Bellanca at her house on Cape Cod.  This time, Antonia treated me to a glorious day on the water.  We stopped at Pain d’Avignon for a delicious take-out lunch (don’t miss it if you’re near Hyannis!) and then we spent a relaxing day with friends on her boat.  When I’m home and I’m in the mood for a picnic, I make my favorite Shrimp Salad and Panzanella and pack them in white Chinese take-out containers.  Delicious lunch and not a thing to clean up afterwards!  Whether it’s in your own back yard, the park, or on a rooftop deck, enjoy these last few weeks of summer!

Monday, August 13, 2012

SWEET CORN PUDDING!

My friend Jim Pike’s farm stand in Sagaponack, New York has simply the best corn in the world.  It’s tender and sweet and perfect in my Sagaponack Corn Pudding.  But of course you can you use any sweet corn - the more local the better!  I assemble this in advance and bake it just before dinner.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

FRESH CORN SALAD

Salads are great for entertaining in the summer because you can make them in advance.  Fresh corn, lots of red onion and fresh basil give this salad lots of flavor.  Hope you love it!  Click here for the recipe for Fresh Corn Salad.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

LOBSTER CORN CHOWDER

I’m having friends for lunch on Sunday and this soup is on the menu.  All I serve with it is a big green salad and some fruit, cheese, and cookies for dessert.  Easy summer lunch!  Click here for the recipe for Lobster Corn Chowder. 

Friday, August 10, 2012

SAUTEED FRESH CORN

This is the easiest and most delicious side dish!  You can cut the kernels off the corn cobs in advance and just sauté them in butter for 8 to 10 minutes before dinner.  Old-fashioned corn flavor - and no corn stuck in your teeth! Click here for the recipe:  Sauteed Fresh Corn

Thursday, August 09, 2012

CHEDDAR CORN CHOWDER

Thanks for reminding me of how much I love Cheddar Corn Chowder!  I’m going to make it for Jeffrey this weekend.  And I love all the suggestions for cooking sweet corn – thank you so much!!  Hope you like my all-time favorite soup.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

CORN CRAZY!

In August, when the corn is piled high at the farmer’s market, I just can’t help myself.  Whatever menu I’m planning, it has to include some kind of corn – sweet corn simply cut off the cob and sautéed with butter, salt, and pepper; homemade corn bread filled with plump kernels of fresh corn; or big bowls of cheddar corn chowder for a cool summer night.  If you’re simply shucking the corn and boiling it, the later the corn is picked, the more the sugars turn to starch, and so will need to cook longer.  I boil the corn on the cob for 4 minutes and then just take a small knife and cut off a few kernels to taste.  It’s the best way to know if it’s done.  This week, I’m having a SWEET CORN FESTIVAL – on my blog I'll be posting one of my favorite recipes every day for a week!  First, it’s CONFETTI CORN from my book BACK TO BASICS.  Hope you love it, too!

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

KIDS COOK!

The Hayground School nearby in Bridgehampton has a program called Jeff’s Kitchen to honor my friend Toni Ross’ beloved late husband Jeff Salaway (that's Toni with Jeffrey and me).  Every day at the school, a group of children make lunch for the rest of their class.  They actually raise chickens and grow vegetables for ingredients, cook lunch, serve it, and clean up afterwards.  What a great program for kids of all ages working together!  Last weekend, Toni hosted a party to benefit Jeff’s Kitchen and the Jeffrey Salaway Scholarship Fund and lots of top chefs showed up to make their special dishes.  I was so pleased that dessert was the Sticky Toffee Date Cake from my upcoming book FOOLPROOF - I’m happy to report there wasn’t a crumb left! Joe Realmuto from Nick & Toni’s restaurant and Town Line BBQ organized the chefs.  That’s Joe cooking with his beautiful daughter Nicole.  Now, how great is that??!! 

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

INA ON TOUR!

It’s that time again! With my new book FOOLPROOF coming out on October 30th, I’m traveling around the country this fall meeting people and talking about cooking and entertaining.  I’m doing something a little different this time; in addition to book signing events, I’m also doing live conversations with food people and reporters in several cities around the country.  After the talks, I always love hearing from the audience, so please come with your toughest entertaining questions.  The first event is in Seattle, Washington, on Sunday, September 16th and the events continue through the end of the year.  Click here to see my entire schedule. This is going to be a lot of fun!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

WHAT A TOMATO!

Nothing tastes more like summer than a good ripe tomato ... but why are they so hard to find?  Lots of tomatoes are bright red on the outside but tasteless on the inside.  John McPhee once wrote in The New Yorker magazine that the commercial test for hybridized tomatoes is whether you can hold the tomato over your head with a straight arm and drop it without it going splat.  Who needs to know that and why isn’t flavor part of the test?  Happily, heirloom tomatoes -- the old-fashioned varieties which are grown for flavor instead of shipability -- are now available in grocery stores and green markets.  One tip: don’t refrigerate tomatoes - keep them on the counter until you’re ready to use them.  It preserves the flavor and the texture. This weekend I served Heirloom Tomatoes with Blue Cheese Dressing that was outrageously delicious.  But a juicy red slice with kosher salt, a drizzle of olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar is just fine with me, too.  Happy summer!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

CRANK UP THE TUNES!

We’ve all had this experience.  You’re the first to arrive at a party and it’s awfully quiet in the house.  Oops!  Wrong day? Too early? When I invite friends, I want them to feel as though it’s a fun party from the moment they arrive and nothing does that faster than great music.  I have a 6-disc CD changer -- you might have Sonos, Pandora, or an iPod --  but it’s really important to set up the music before your guests arrive.  I try to choreograph the evening with old and new recordings;  upbeat and fun during cocktails, like Cesaria Evora, Taylor Swift, and Aretha Franklin, and then switch to more mellow and romantic music during dinner, like Frank Sinatra, Carla Bruni, and Natalie Cole. Then, just as people are finishing dinner and they’re almost TOO relaxed, I crank up the tunes again and play old favorites like The Beach Boys and Marvyn Gaye.  But of course, don’t we all think everyone has better music than we do?  What’s your favorite party music?  I’d love to know!

Monday, July 02, 2012

FOOD, FIREWORKS and FUN!

Okay, I’m a sucker for traditions -- especially with a modern twist.  Fourth of July is the one day I love throwing hot dogs on the grill and making some really easy side dishes.  This year, like every year, I’m grilling Hebrew National knockwurst and serving them on Eli’s delicious brioche hot dog rolls with Gulden’s Mustard in the squeeze bottle (no fancy Dijon mustard here!), my Maple Baked Beans, and Vegetable Coleslaw.  But dessert is the real treat.  It’s a really big vanilla sheet cake decorated to look like our American flag with fresh raspberries (red), cream cheese frosting (white), and blueberries (duh!).  I frost the Flag Cake and let my guests do the decorating. Everyone gets a piece to take home.  It’s just doesn't feel like July 4th at my house without it.  Have a happy and safe holiday!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Cocktail Time!

When friends came for cocktails this past weekend, it was a beautiful summer evening so we sat on the porch at the barn.  I love my porch to feel like a living room.  Instead of hard wood garden benches, I have a comfy sofa covered with an all-weather cotton slipcover (it goes into the washing machine!), lots of pretty pillows, and hot pink dahlias from the garden on the coffee table.  I light some candles and there’s even a cozy throw in case someone’s chilly.  This weekend I served Champagne in my favorite silver bucket and put glasses on a silver tray – both from Hotel Silver – plus some Stilton & Walnut Crackers.  Fortunately, I had the dough in the freezer and all I had to do is slice and bake them.  How easy is that?

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Rose Parade!

I’ve never met an apricot rose that I didn’t love.  My friend and gardener Cathy Warren (we call her the “rose whisperer”) is my enabler.  Right now I have Autumn Sunset roses climbing on my fence, Pat Austin roses climbing on my wall with clematis and lavender, and my favorite of all is Just Joey hybrid tea roses in my cutting garden.  For an arrangement on the coffee table on my screened porch, instead of making a perfect round ball of roses as some florists do, I like to arrange them with leaves and buds so they look more like they do growing in the garden – it’s so natural and has a more country look.  If you want to find my secret rose whisperer, Cathy is at Broadview Gardens, 651 Sagg Main Street, Sagaponack, New York or you can contact her at Broadview Gardens.  In the fall, if Just Joey roses are available, you can order them from Edmunds Roses.

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Eli's Back!

As soon as he opens every summer, Jeffrey and I go to my friend Eli Zabar’s Amagansett Farmer’s Market (that’s Jeffrey and Eli together!).  Eli always inspires me because he cooks what’s simple and fresh – and in season.  The heirloom tomatoes for his salads come from his own “greenhouse in the sky” on top of The Vinegar Factory, his store on 92nd Street and York Avenue in NYC.  I adore Eli’s own breads – particularly the Raisin Pecan Loaf.  It’s dense and delicious and filled with raisins and nuts.  This weekend in honor of the Queen’s Jubilee, I made a proper English tea with Raisin Scones and Turkey Tea Sandwiches – with Eli’s bread, of course!  Click here for the recipes for Raisin Scones and Turkey Tea Sandwiches. The good news is Eli FedEx’s his wonderful breads; go to elizabar.com.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Ina in "BLOOM"

Over the years I've bought lots of wonderful furniture and tableware at my friend Mona Nerenberg's design store BLOOM in Sag Harbor, New York. So I'm thrilled she's just opened a kitchen store next door that has antique bowls, olive oils, jams, kitchen towels - and big baskets filled with my favorite cedar cutting boards, which I use to serve everything from Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta to my French Apple Tart. In fact, I'm holding Mona's board with the crostinis on the cover of my new book that comes out this Fall! The handmade Moroccan cutting board is 21 inches long and costs $125. To order, call BLOOM at 631-725-5940. Click here for the recipes for Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta and my favorite French Apple Tart.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Tickle Me Ina

Today was one of the most fun days of my life!  Sesame Street puppeteer Kevin Clash and his creation the super-adorable ELMO came for the day to film a show at my house in East Hampton.  Elmo and I made his favorite oatmeal cookies (he says Cookie Monster loves them), plus Kevin taught me how to make his mother’s famous crab cakes (he grew up on the Maryland shore.)  We ended the day with a very chilly – but hilarious! – picnic at Main Beach in East Hampton.  If you want to be in on the fun, watch Barefoot Contessa on Food Network on Saturday, August 18th and you'll find the recipe for Elmo’s cookie now at Elmo's Hearty Oatmeal Hearts.