Angels and Friends Cookbook Recipes of Cheese Croutons
Ina Garten is a true marvel. Her charm, elegance, and beauty is something most of us strive for, but it can seem hard to attain. Watching her easily whip up some homemade chocolate cake or roast chicken, all while assuring us that store-bought vanilla or angel tears are just fine, is possibly one of the most comforting things in the world. But to emulate that grace can be intimidating. That's when we turn to her cookbooks. Over the past two decades, the cooking maven has released a dozen of them, each a guide to how to bring a little more Ina into your life—something we could all use a little more of.
And any serious Ina fan can tell you there's an Ina Garten cookbook (or two or 10) out there for everyone. Each type of home cook can find his or her comfort zone in an Ina tome. Maybe you feel stressed in the kitchen and want Ina's calm demeanor, or maybe you want to become an expert in throwing the best dinner parties. Guess what? There's an Ina cookbook for that. There's even a cookbook that has her cooking through the best French food. Goals? Um, yes!
As Ina super fans here at Delish, we have taken it upon ourselves to tell you which book is best for you—although, honestly, we are not opposed to you buying them all. After all, that's how to attain peak Ina. Let's jump in. Fabulous!
1
For the Summer Home Owner
The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
Ina's inaugural cookbook from '99 (with a forward by Martha Stewart) is a delight to read from start to finish—mostly because it imbues you with the sense that you, too, might be a cookbook mogul with an East Hampton summer home and 50-plus-year marriage someday. The recipes are decadent—Crab Cakes with Rémoulade, Indonesian Ginger chicken—and generally easier for those who have grills, stacked ovens, and/or space to host. There are certainly more accessible recipes to be found (her turkey meatloaf is phenomenal and able to feed 12-20 people), but this one's really for more seasoned cooks.
2
For the Organized Cook
Barefoot Contessa Parties!
Everything about this book is as advertised—bb Ina curated tons of fun, easy, and festive recipes that just about everyone could make. What makesParties! so special, though, is that thewayshe curated the recipes is entirely more structured than in any of her other books. Rather than flip to a course of a meal, you can turn to "Super Bowl Party" or "When the Boss Comes to Dinner." It allows anyone who prefers a straightforward process to buy all their groceries upfront and know exactly how their meal will progress if she sees it all the way through. Genius!
3
For the Leftover Lover
Barefoot Contessa Family Style
Family Styleis another special Ina book because it combines three of her very favorite things: pushing your boundaries, keeping it simple, and...leftovers. The book is really made for those who love to meal prep and/or are moody eaters who crave the same thing for a while. Her Saffron Risotto with Butternut Squash is a prime example of that, as is her Oven-Fried Chicken. They're sneaky enough that you have to work hard to perfect them, delicious enough that once you do you'll think they're easy, and gigantic enough that you're good for at least four days.
4
For the Comfort Food Obsessed
Modern Comfort Food
In Ina's newest cookbook, she delivers the coziest, most heartwarming dishes ever. Most of the recipes are inspired by some of your childhood favorites—but with so much more flavor. The cheddar and chutney grilled cheese sandwich, black and white cookies, and crispiest hash browns are only a few you'll find. This book is made for those who are totally obsessed with comfort food, but with that little Ina twist that amps up the dish just a little. And just like all of her recipes, any of these would be sure to impress the dinner party crowd.
5
For the Aspirational Chef
Barefoot in Paris
Ina fancies this book a trip through her all-time favorite city with her as a guide. That's all well and good, but...it's not always easy to keep up with a Contessa. I've always foundParisto be the most frustrating of her books, even though it's certainly one of the most beautiful. She throws the average home cook a bone everyone so often (hello, Kir Royale, and, sure, yeah, Boeuf Bourguignon), but unless you're prepared for battle, the Crème Brûlée is going to make you cry. Best of luck. Let me know how it goes.
6
For the Semi-Pro Baker
Barefoot Contessa at Home
WhatParisis to savory,At Homeis to sweet. She's got crumbles, cupcakes, parfaits, cakes, and so, so much more, and if you take your time with it—and have a deft baking eye—you're gonna do great. If you're looking for some more straightforward sweets, stay with me untilFoolproof. Honorable mention goes out to Eli's Asian Salmon, though. That is a flawless recipe.
7
For the Adventurous Cook
Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics
Back to Basicsis a charming book almost everyone who likes to cook should have in their kitchen, if you ask me, but more specifically, it's for people who like to try new things. There's not a recipe in here that feels overwhelming, but there are quite a few that will make you go, "Huh—I have never had anything like that before." Like, OK, Truffled Filet of Beef Sandwiches, I see you, let'sgo.
8
For the Ina Die-Hard
Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?
Take everything I said aboutFamily Styleand multiply it by a gazillion; this book was clearly an Ina passion project. It's like she looked her most loyal fans in the eye and asked them one by one, "What doyouwant me to help you make?" Each recipe is a glimpse into her life (example: Jeffrey's Roast Chicken ,duh) while simultaneously helping you with yours. Goodness knows you've been waiting for the Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe for years. So did she. And she always delivers.
9
For the Hostess With the Mostest
Barefoot Contessa Foolproof
At its core, an Ina recipe is meant to be used for entertaining. Foolproof's are maybe the most entertainment-worthy of them all. Ina cranks out craveable biteafter craveable bite in this book knowing full well people who host parties are going to crank their way through all of them. If you do pick this book up, and don't make Easy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons and Salted Caramel Brownies for all of your friends the next time they're over, you're a terrible person. I'm just saying.
10
For The Meal Prepper
Make It Ahead
Queen G makes her way back to a more organized style of cooking inMake It Ahead,which is particularly welcome as most of Ina's readers are people looking to make delicious and simple food quickly. French Chicken Pot Pies and Roasted Vegetable Lasagna are just a few of the things she makes possible on a weeknight by walking you through what steps you can first take on a Sunday to get there. Bless.
11
For the Patient Cook
Cooking for Jeffrey
Consider this a 272-page love letter, essentially. Which is so cute. And sweet. And yet it turns out Jeffrey prefers meals that require a bit of oomph to them. That's not a criticism, it's just to sayCooking for Jeffreyis a weekend cookbook made for long meals for people you love. And for people who maybe don't love you back so much but could be swayed by the power of a gorgeous Bourbon Honey Cake.
12
For the Creature of Habit
Cook Like a Pro
If the first font change in 11 cookbooks wasn't jarring enough for you, maybe this will be:Cook Like a Prois nothing ground-breaking! It's filled with plenty of super-solid, super-easy recipes for people who know Ina and her love of mustard sauces and one-minute-toasted garlic, but that's about it. That said, it's got some great twists on those mustard-laden classics, so those who've gotten used to Ina's ways will be thrilled.
Tess Koman Digital Director Tess Koman covers breaking (food) news, opinion pieces, and features on larger happenings in the food world.
Felicia LaLomia Food & Culture Editor Felicia LaLomia is the Food & Culture Editor for Delish.
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Angels and Friends Cookbook Recipes of Cheese Croutons
Source: https://www.delish.com/kitchen-tools/cookbooks/g27272841/ina-garten-cookbook-guide/