Cook Like a Pro: Recipes and Tips for Home Cooks: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

Ina never disappoints. As always, the book is beautifully written and photographed, and the "Tips" are, for the most part, instructive. I've made many Ina recipes, and their hallmarks are always well-tested, intelligently simplified recipes. These are dishes that you'll want to cook and eat. I love that the editors permitted this celebrated author leeway in using more than six ingredients and more than one page to which many editors restrict recipes. This is a pet peeve of mine: I WANT to know how it should look and feel and smell, even if it takes more than one page and if a recipe is best with more herbs and spices than salt and pepper, I want to know what they are. So, thank you, Clarkson Potter! Every ingredient is accessible to the vast majority of home cooks, and the recipes are simple and straightforward. Moreover, Ina makes intelligent use of store-bought ingredients. She'll sometimes tell us where she buys them. Finally, I'm ancient, and I did have fun making a quiz for another senior friend from Ina's tips. We passed with flying colors! In other words, if you're already a pretty darn good home cook, you won't learn much from the tips (I think my only takeaway was to calibrate my instant-read thermometer--something that had never occurred to me). However, I think this is a superb gift for less-experienced home cooks, especially because of the recipe testing. I'm addicted to cookbooks, and, thanks to Amazon, own zillions and, thanks to my public library, have read hundreds. I count in the dozens the number of serious errors I've found in "celebrity chef" and even "celebrity cookbook author" cookbooks. In fact, after photocopying quite a few recipes from my copy of "Pro," I gave the book to a thirty-something who was thrilled. Giving a delightful cookbook such as this one, with recipes that will not fail (thereby wasting precious ingredients and possibly an entire party), to a young home cook is truly a gift that will bring many blessings to the lucky recipient and his or her friends and family.

I dont know how many people reviewing this cookbook have actually COOKED from it, but I have made 30 recipes (and counting) and they are all fabulous! Breakfast: LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES - out of this world - lemony, my favorite pancakes. I even saved 1/2 the batter for the next day, and they were good then, too! ITALIAN ICED COFFEE - the first thing I made, its so easy, and delicious! MORNING GLORY MUFFINS - yummy!!! SHAKSHUKA WITH FETA- healthy and amazing! I make the tomato mixture, and portion it out for my husband and myself - 3 meals. I warm each portion up, and put a fried egg on top. Very quick and easy that way. Also froze some of the mixture. CHOCOLATE PECAN SCONES - a morsel of heaven! Soups and Salads - CHICKEN AND SPINACH AND WALDORF SALAD - one of the best salads I've ever made!!!! HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WITH HERBED RICOTTA - fresh and easy CHARLIE BIRD FARRO SALAD - incredible!!!! Substituted toasted walnuts for pistachios. Truly off the chart good. I added rotisserie chicken breast, to make a very satisfying and complete meal. CAULIFLOWER TOASTS - surprisingly fabulous! TUSCAN TOMATO & BREAD SALAD - super quick to make and I think I could eat it every single day - that good! TOMATO AND EGGPLANT SOUP - delicious! TRICOLOR SALAD WITH ORANGES - yum Dinner: CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CREAMY MUSTARD SAUCE - made with chicken breasts, skin on - super delicious FLOUNDER MILANESE - loved it! easy and quick! FRIED CHICKEN - (without the sandwich). Left out the garlic and jalapeño, but delicious, juicy and tender! RED WINE BRAISED SHORT RIBS - divine!!!!!! But my short ribs were mostly bone and fat. Next time, I would use a chuck roast. BAKED PASTA WITH TOMATOES AND EGGPLANT - just use some leftover soup and you have a main dish! FILET OF BEEF WITH MUSHROOMS AND BLUE CHEESE - maybe the best Christmas Dinner I’ve ever made!!!!!! SHRIMP AND GRITS - foolproof, and fabulous!!!! VEGETABLES AND SIDES: BAKED SPINACH AND ZUCCHINI - my husband isn’t a huge spinach fan; he says this is great and his fav! BUTTERNUT SQUASH GRATIN - delicious, can make ahead and I’ve even frozen it! Great holiday dish, too. MAPLE ROASTED ACORN - couldn’t be easier and delicious PARMESAN PESTO ZUCCHINI STICKS - :) POTATO GALETTE - kind of like a giant hash brown, but better, and reheating the other half the next day was as good! DESERT: TRIPLE CHOCOLATE LOAF CAKES - delicious - dont over bake. Made one with nuts for the adults, just chocolate chips for the grandkids. VANILLA ROASTED RHUBARB WITH SWEET YOGURT - I love this for breakfast! CHOCOLATE CHEVRON CAKE - deep and delicious and easy. If almost 30 5 star recipes dont qualify as a stupendous cookbook, I dont know what will! I will be making these recipes many, many times.

Just received this new book of Ina's and right out of the box I chose her recipe for Filet of Beef. OMG! Fabulous. Ina never disappoints. Can't wait to dive into Shrimp and Grits this weekend! Please take note of something concerning kosher salt. If you have any other brand besides Diamond Crystal, reduce the amount you use.

As always Ina has produced another great cook book. The recipes are clear and easy to follow perfect for a home cook. I only wish measurements and temperatures were given in both metric and imperial as being in Australia everything needs to be converted before starting to cook. However the results are delicious.

Me gusta mucho cocinar y disfruto muchísimo las recetas de Ina Garten

Ótimo, adorei, como esperava. Atendendo expectativas.

Amazing cookbook, it’s an easy read, recipes are easy to follow, tips are actually useful in so many situations. With so many other cookbooks I find myself thinking about how I would tweak a recipe if I made it again because it was missing something but no need with Ina’s recipes! So many of my go to meals are from Ina now. Great addition to my collection. Thanks Ina!