Author: RJ

Friday Recipes

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Well, here we are again.

Friday.

And that means I get to (have to?) cook for the family once again. This week was a tricky week when it came to deciding what I wanted to make. Since I only was able to do one recipe last week (read the post), I felt I needed to knock out at least three this weekend.

While I’ve not given myself an “official” timeline, I am trying to do at least 100 recipes over the course of the next year. That comes out to about two recipes per week. Which I think is doable…for now at least.

I was feeling kind of down for most of the week. I’m not sure if it’s the seasonal change or the pandemic. Most likely both. So, I decided I was going to make something sweet to have as a dessert over the weekend!

And I think I found the perfect thing: Apple Pie Bars

This recipe is featured in Cooking For Jeffrey which is one of the books I haven’t made anything out of yet, even before this project began.

I chose this one for a number of reasons. First, it seems pretty easy. Second, apples are in season here in New England this time of year. And finally, because who doesn’t love apple pie? I mean, I know it isn’t truly apple pie. But it’ll give me the feeling of eating apple pie.

At least I hope so!

Now, the next challenge was what would I make for dinner?

After looking through some of the cookbooks I have yet to cook ANYTHNG out of, I decided on something from Foolproof. It is a pasta dish that I’ve wanted to make for a long time: Straw & Hay with Gorgonzola. I then decided to make a a salad to go with it. (I’ll have my three recipes!)

I went Back to Basics and found a tasty-looking autumn salad that I think will complement the pasta nicely. Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette just screams Fall. Doesn’t it?

I can’t wait to try these tonight. Now, off to get the ingredients I don’t have.

Review of “Barefoot Contessa Family Style”

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Welcome to the third installment of my Ina Garten cookbook review series. This is week three, so I’ll be reviewing Barefoot Contessa Family Style. This book, published in 2002 has a subtitle that reads: “Easy Ideas and Recipes That Make Everyone Feel Like Family,” and honestly, I think this book lives up to that statement.

Prior to Ina’s latest cookbook featuring comfort food, I would have to argue that this is her early take on that idea but with a twist that makes it elegant and “gourmet.” (As if we expected anything less!)

Continue reading “Review of “Barefoot Contessa Family Style”” →

So Many Recipes, So Many Decisions!

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Well, it’s Wednesday already! How can that be?

I was lucky enough to get away earlier this week for a mini-vacation. I went to one of the casinos in my state and stayed overnight. Luckily I didn’t lose too much money.

But Wednesday is usually the day when I start thinking about which recipes I want to make for the week. I’m feeling kind of blah this week, despite the little getaway, so I’m thinking something sweet is a requirement.

I am also considering grouping two or three additional recipes together to make a meal again…I’m thinking a pasta dish as the main course?

Thoughts….?

Pasta is usually my go-to when I’m feeling a little off. But if I do pasta, I probably won’t need side dishes with that.

Unless, I make a salad as a “first course” with the pasta. . . .

See what I mean?

So many decisions.

Almost too many.

I’ll be posting my review of Ina’s third cookbook tomorrow afternoon, so keep your eyes peeled for that! Friday you will find out what I will be making that day and over the weekend I’ll post my reviews of the recipes I make.

Stay tuned for more fun!

Recipe #9 – Ultimate Beef Stew

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From Modern Comfort Food, page 104.

With the release of Ina’s latest cookbook last Tuesday, I knew that this week’s cooking HAD to feature a recipe from it. So, I decided on a classic: Ultimate Beef Stew.

Let me first say, that I am not usually a fan of beef in any capacity except a hamburger. I’m not really sure why. I guess it’s a texture thing for me. Like, I don’t think I’ve had a steak in like 6 years and even then it was while I was in college and had chicken-fried steak once a month.

So why would I make a beef stew as the first recipe out of the new cookbook?

Well, we already had the beef in the freezer, so my wallet got to keep some of its money. Also, the photos of the recipe in the cookbook are so enticing that I just had to make it.

And let me tell you: I wasn’t disappointed!

While the recipe did take longer to prepare than I thought because of all of the chopping and prep work, it was worth it! The stew cooks in the oven for over two hours, which allows the meat to cook properly without getting dried out. Both the meat and vegetables were so tender when it was ready.

There were some things about this recipe that I didn’t like. First, it would take quite some time to prep alone. I would say before you even put it in the oven, you need a good hour to an hour and a half to cut everything and cook what’s needed on the stovetop. Also, like many of Ina’s recipes, the stew had a strong pepper taste throughout. And I only seasoned the amount she recommended when she recommended to do so. In fact, it was so peppery that my nose started to run!

Eating the leftovers the next day did take out some of the overabundant pepper taste, which was great for me.

Overall, this recipe was a hearty one-pot meal that surprisingly had fewer dishes than expected.

This Week’s Cooking

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Hello Readers!

I have been busy reading my way through Ina’s newest book, Modern Comfort Food, and I’ve decided that the recipes I make this week will come from that book. I am making dinner for the family tonight and may even squeeze in a dessert recipe over the weekend.

Look out for some recipe reviews coming at you later this weekend!

I can’t wait to try out the new cookbook. It really is beautiful and modern, in more ways than one!

Review of “Barefoot Contessa Parties!”

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This is part of a twelve-part series where I review Ina Garten’s cookbooks. Check back each week for the next installment in the series! The reviews will drop every Thursday afternoon at 1:30 PM.

This week I’m reviewing Ina’s second cookbook: Barefoot Contessa Parties! which was published in 2001.

Continue reading “Review of “Barefoot Contessa Parties!”” →

It’s Here!

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I’m so excited!! Ina’s new cookbook arrived today and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into and start looking over the recipes. I have only skimmed it so far, but I can already tell that I think this one will become my new favorite — my previous one was Barefoot in Paris. The photographs are so amazing and Ina looks great!

Look for my extended, full review in a few weeks as part of the cookbook review series that drops every Thursday. Tomorrow, I’m reviewing Barefoot Contessa Parties!

Sorry this is so quick, but I’m too excited to write much. I wanna check out the new book.

Be back soon!

My copy of “Modern Comfort Food”