Holiday hosting can be a stressful thing, which is why we've always loved Ina Garten's recipes. The Barefoot Contessa's delicious and foolproof dishes are essential for planning a Thanksgiving menu that's stress-free and lets you spend more time with friends and family. We've made dozens of Garten's recipes over the years, exploring everything from her comforting pastas to her mouth-watering desserts. So you can trust us to pick Garten's best dishes for your Thanksgiving table.
In the video, Garten explains during an onstage interview that she never brings a host or hostess a gift that they may think they need to serve during their party or event, including wine or cheese. It blew my mind - I always thought that bringing wine to a dinner party, for example, would help the host out tremendously. But Garten disagrees.
In a 2017 interview with Bon Appétit, Garten said oatmeal was her regular breakfast. In fact, according to the Barefoot Contessa herself, she had been eating oatmeal for breakfast every single day for the past 10 years. Specifically, said Garten, it had to be "coffee and McCann's quick-cooking Irish oatmeal with lots of salt. I don't want it to taste like wallpaper paste."
Garten highlighted Balsam Farms in a post on Instagram in August 2024, where she shared a picture of a tart she made using tomatoes from the farm. "Balsam Farm in Amagansett has the best tomatoes and I'm obsessed with using them in everything!" she wrote in the caption. But, Garten isn't the only one who loves the stand. Located just outside of Amagansett - a sleepy hamlet known for its rich agricultural community -
The condiment is an emulsion, meaning it combines oil and water (which ordinarily do not mix). To successfully execute an emulsion, the ingredients must be added slowly while quickly mixing nonstop. If that sounds like a lot of work and finicky technique, it's because it is. Texturally, mayo is so persnickety that Costco's creative team actually pulled the plug on developing Kirkland mayo before the product ever hit shelves. Skip the extra steps, advises Garten, and leave laborious mayo-making to the retailers.
If the Barefoot Contessa does something herself, you can feel confident it makes life that much better, whether it's a refreshingly easy recipe for a dreamy dish, a genius organization hack, or a stress-free solution to throwing a memorable dinner party. We've rounded up 18 kitchen tools Ina Garten considers essential, as these are the secrets to her efficient and effortless culinary magic. But it's just as important and intriguing to know: Is there a kitchen tool she deems unnecessary?
"He actually served this cake to me once at dinner and I just begged him for the recipe," Garten said on an episode featuring the cake. "I didn't have to beg very hard."
Ina Garten believes comfort food equals love, and her perfect roast chicken and slow roasted spiced pork embody satisfying fare. Her company pot roast stands out as an exceptional dish.
Martha Stewart's BLT focuses on homemade ingredients, particularly her homemade mayonnaise, epitomizing her notion of perfection in a classic sandwich.
Ina Garten believes that oatmeal should have both sweet and savory elements, stating that without salt, it tastes too bland like 'wallpaper paste.'
