Barefoot Contessa, How Easy Is That?: Fabulous Recipes & Easy Tips

Ina Garten's cookbook, "How Easy Is That?" truly lives up to its name. I've tried several recipes and each one has been a hit, with the standout being the steak recipe. It's so good that I would buy this book for that alone. I've served it multiple times and received rave reviews - "the best steak of my life" was a recurring comment.That said, while the recipes are straightforward to make, they do call for high-quality ingredients which can be costly. But as any Ina Garten fan knows, her approach is about quality over compromise. So, if you're ready to invest in some top-notch ingredients for some truly delectable meals, this cookbook is for you.

This book was loaned to my daughter-in-law when she was going through chemo treatments - I was trying to help where I could and went through this book while there, to see if there was anything that would appeal to her. I have long been a collector of Italian cookbooks and have hundreds --- I actually read them like others read novels, comparing and learning about the regions, the people and the differences in how they differ in their handling of dishes that are familiar to all regions, including the region where my parents immigrated from. When I read through this cookbook (and I DID read through it all), I started to put cut-up "post it" strips to return to recipes that sounded very tempting to try - both simple and uncomplicated. I soon became aware that there were an awful lot of "post it" strips peeking out at the top an I wasn't nearly through the book! I was sure that I wanted it in my cookbook library, in the "Other Than Italian" collection, although there are so many "takes" on traditional Italian dishes, that I might consider it a "hybrid". I would say that it has something for everybody, though I will probably concentrate on the ones that sound familiar to my Italian heritage --- however, when I try the bread pudding on Page 18, instead of using "challah loaf", I am going to substitute my Italian "Panettone"from Italy! For Academy Award Night, or any other movie night with friends, I will be trying the "Truffled Popcorn ---, however, since I don't use microwave popcorn, I will use my stove-top popper, and pour the white truffle butter over when ready ! Looking forward to trying the "Celery (so good for you) & Parmesan Salad (with walnuts)" for Summer parties. I never thought to substitute the pizza dough I use when I make Sausage/Salami Bread --- and use puff pastry instead, to make it look really special for a fancier gathering (page 70). And --- as Ina says on page 71, "Who knew it was so easy to make ricotta?" --- though my mother made it, I wasn't paying attention --- Ina tells "how" on page 74 ---- then you can make the "herbed ricotta buschettas" on Page 73. There is a recipe for those who love cheese and find it acceptable in their diet --- I first tasted "baked cheese" when a guest in a private home in the town in Italy where my parents were from --- since my mother never made it at home, I didn't know how to approach it, but, I watched as others dipped bread into the soft cheese (fresh from the oven to the table), and I did likewise - OMG - heavenly --- I could hardly wait to serve it to my family at our next get-together - a winner ! (I don't know how Ina came up with it, but she nailed it !).Since I'm only on page 98, I will cease to comment on recipes that are "posted" for trying --- instead, I'll list ones that I know I will be trying, without commenting: Page 98: "tuna & hummus sandwiches" / Page 111: "wild rice salad (with grapes and nuts and cranberries) / Page 112: "tarragonpotato salad" / Page 120: "lemon chicken breasts" (one of my staples) / Page 154: "weeknight bolognese" / Page 157: "spaghetti aglio e olio" (my father's favorite --- interestingly enough, Ina mentions "DeCecco" pasta - a company that has been making pasta for over 100 years in the Region of Abruzzi, where my parents are from --- my father also liked to finish off this dish with chopped anchovy sprinkled over.) / Page 173: "garlic-roasted cauliflower" / and Page 182: "creamy parmesan polenta" (if I don't have any homemade chicken stock, I'll usea low sodium Organic chicken broth, found in the Stop and Stop "natural" foods aisle --- I stay away from canned products which are usually loaded with salt (even those marked lower-sodium). My mother added kidney beans to her soft polenta, which was poured onto a wooden board and served from there --- she sometimes made a "mushroom ragu" and poured it over the polenta. Polenta was a "peasant food" and served often in homes of the poor --- the cooktweaked it in some way for variety. Page 191: "warm french lentils" (I think the brown lentils will do). In closing, I didn't mean to go on so long with this review, but, I was so captivated, I didn't know where to stop ! In my humble opinion, this is a great cookbook, and I will be buying again and again, for gifting.

Perfect

Love Ina!

Yes, the recipes might be called easy, however almost all use ingredients which are not found in usual, larger grocery stores. Might be made to go to Whole Foods (whole pay check); or some other store catering to upper middle class families, or even rich people.I will make the effort occasionally but can't say it will be my "go to" cookbook

Good recipes.

What more can I say...it's from Ina!!

I have read some reviews of this book on the U.S. Amazon and felt that there was a lot of negative criticism that I truly don't understand. Personally, I have several bookshelves bowing under the loads of cookbooks that I was initially excited about, cooked from and found unreliable. They gather dust and occasionally I flip through them and look at the pictures. Sort of like a coffee table book - pretty to look at, but actually useless. One of my foodie friends once told me: if I regularly use one or two recipes from a cookbook, I consider that to be a good cookbook. Not so with any of Ina Garten's cookbooks.Just yesterday I made a recipe from one of her previous cookbooks, which became a classic in our family, and my husband could not stop raving about the dish (Real Meatballs and Spaghetti) - "These are the best Meatballs with Spaghetti I ever had".That is why I eagerly awaited the release of Ina Garten's pre-Christmas, pre-New Year cookbook. When I finally got it, I was NOT disappointed (that is to all you bellyachers). Some of you felt that this book should have more "new" recipes etc., and - fair enough - some of this book's recipes are reworked recipes from previous books, but it is a beautiful book with great recipes that never fail, great photographs of each dish (not just a few dishes) and great advice on how to stay calm, organized and collected when entertaining. Not everyone has Ina's previous books and, even for us die-hard fans, there still is a lot of really really good recipes that are new.I actually sometimes like to have a variation of an old classic as in my busy day I don't have time to experiment with new takes on dishes that I like. The thing that makes me coming back for more of Ina Garten's cooking is the fact that THE RECIPES NEVER FAIL. At the very worst, the dish is slightly above average. 90% of the time, the dish is exceptional. I made some of her recipes the first time for a party - a gamble that I would not dare with other cookbook authors.All of Ina's cookbooks are heavily used in my kitchen and this one will soon have splatters of sauces and butter stains, too: ) The garlic roasted cauliflower, the pear apple sauce, the rich beef barley soup and the greek panzanella are only a few of amazingly good recipes that alone are worth the purchase price of the book. Thanks again, Ina.

I love The Barefoot Contessa and her recipes are always reliable and delicious. I looked on the Barefoot Contessa website, where they list all of the books and every recipe in each one, and decided to start off with this one, as it had lots of my favourites in. I have been delighted with the book. The photos are beautiful, the recipes are easy to follow and well laid out, and everything is designed to make stunning food as simply as possible. A good selection of sweet and savoury recipes. The measurements of ingredients are in US (cup) measures, but they are simple enough to figure out. Highly recommend this book.

Brought for a very good price and as said was in very good condition. Arrived when stated and have only thumbed through book but looks to be some recipes I would really like to try.

Excellent used book, very pleased with its condition. Lovely book, very easy to read and follow the recipes. Arrived early cant wait to try recipes.

Good easy and substantial recipes and so easy to follow. Some ingredients I had to look up but no problems at all. Very pleased indeed with my purchase.

I love Ina; Her books are easy to read and follow with clear pics of what your food should look like. The recipes taste great. Ina is really setting people up for successful entertaining which is good if you are a novice, otherwise its just simple good food.