Barefoot Contessa Parties!: Ideas and Recipes for Parties That Are Really Fun Review

Barefoot Contessa is my kitchen idol.  Her recipes are easy to follow, her ingredients are fresh and healthy and easy to find at the store. 

Ina -- the Contessa -- has a great following.  After a successful run as the owner of a gormet store in the Hamptons, Ina has written about 6 cookbooks and has a popular series on FoodTV.  She is funny, warm and her recipes are delicious!!  My favorites include: orzo with roasted vegetables, chicken chili (no beans) and sweet pea soup.  My husband and I cook each Sunday for at least 10 people and each week we turn to Ina for direction and tasty nibbles.  Success each week -- unless our family is fibbing!

My one complaint would be that she calls for more oil or butter and salt than we like to use.  So we simply reduce accordingly and all is well.

Her reicpes can also be downloaded on foodtv.com and it even comes with a handy grocery list!