I am currently browsing through Ina Garten’s cookbook “Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics”. It is amazing! As I’ve mentioned before, I buy a cookbook, I check it out from the library first, go through it and make a recipe or two, and will then usually end up buying it. Using this method, you can really pick and choose which books you buy and know that it won’t be sitting on your shelf collecting dust because there ends up being only one recipe that you like out of the entire book. What really caught my eye was the fun format for this book–she has multiple pages with lists and tips like “10 things NOT to serve at a dinner party, “10 no-cook desserts”, and “Set the dinner table like a pro” (she even tells you how to arrange flowers so it will look like you know what you are doing—awesome help for me!). She is very encouraging in helping you make the transition from being a rookie cook to really knowing your way around the kitchen or improving on skills you already have. One tip from Ina really stuck out to me, so I wanted to pass along to you.
Here’s an excerpt from her book:
“We’ve all planned dinner parties when we wanted to wow our friends and pulled out all the stops-the best dishes we know how to make, all together in one menu. It’s too many right things together and you’re guests go home holding their bellies…..It’s far better to create a menu of dishes that complement one another-three or four things that want to be together. Not every dish has to be the star; I choose one special dish and design the rest of the menu around it. And remember, the star doesn’t always have to be the entrée or a meat dish; it can be a vegetable or a starch that your guests will remember.”
This really stood out to me because I recently did this. A few Sundays ago, my better half thoughtfully took the family out to a nice lunch at Golden Corral (if you haven’t tried it, do—it’s good w/lots of variety). He assumed I would understand that this was his way of helping me enjoy my Sunday afternoon by not needing to make a big dinner. I didn’t catch on as quick as I should have. =) So, around 4pm, I popped 6, bone-in, 1 1/2” thick pork chops into the oven, made homemade macaroni and cheese (Ina Garten’s recipe from her book “Family Style”), and fried apples. He walks into the kitchen and asks “What are you doing? We just had a huge lunch, we’re not going to want a big meal. I took everyone out to lunch so you could make a light, simple dinner and enjoy your day.” He was right—the kids (who are usually ravenous 24/7) stated “We’re not really hungry yet”. Oh, man! I was doing just what Ina advises against…making “my best dishes-all at once”. And my family did indeed finish the meal holding their bellies. Wish I would have read this book BEFORE that meal. =)
So, there’s your elaborate Tip of the Day: choose ONE component of your meal (be it the entrée, meat, or side) to be the Superstar of the meal and build the menu around it. Enjoy!
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