Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Ina Garten Dinner

Ina_garten_salmon_2
We had an Ina Garten dinner at our house last weekend.  Actually, two Ina Garten dinners!  All the recipes came from Ina’s latest cookbook, Barefoot Contessa at Home.  I am not wildly proud of my food photography skills, but since Andrea posted about our dinner on her blog today, I thought you might like to see a picture of the meal.  The panko crusted Asian salmon is in the center of the fish platter, and is surrounded by mustardy roasted red potatoes, and some cauliflower topped with Gruyere.  Neither Andrea or I would touch the cauliflower, but the rest of the diners seemed to like it.  The fish platter was a Christmas gift from a wonderful friend, who finds the most intriquing and unusual objects.  What you can’t see, because it is covered with food, is that the fish design on the surface of the platter is extremely detailed, and the fish actually has a big green jade eye!
Cherry_tomatoes

These cherry tomatoes were so simple and really wonderful.  They were sauteed very quickly in olive oil and seasoned with chopped fresh basil, salt and pepper.  Truly a flash in the pan.  My husband was flipping these little guys three feet up in the air while he was cooking them, the show off.  I won’t show you a picture of the basil and Montrachet stuffed chicken breasts we served with the tomatoes, because the picture I took makes the dish look really awful, even though it tasted terrific.  I highly recommend Ina’s cookbooks.  Her recipes are simple, tasty, use fresh ingredients, and are well tested.

18 responses to “Ina Garten Dinner”

  1. Ug. I missed it too. I wish I coul dhave been there. But I am glad Grandpa, Ahren, Andrea and Dad all had a lovely time. Soon it will be Spring and we will be having Processco and Biscotti out on the patio again!

  2. Ug. I missed it too. I wish I coul dhave been there. But I am glad Grandpa, Ahren, Andrea and Dad all had a lovely time. Soon it will be Spring and we will be having Processco and Biscotti out on the patio again!

  3. That looks and sounds DELICIOUS, Nicole! I love the fish platter! Yum – I enjoyed reading your sister’s account of the meals as well.

  4. That looks and sounds DELICIOUS, Nicole! I love the fish platter! Yum – I enjoyed reading your sister’s account of the meals as well.

  5. After reading Andrea’s blog I had to come see the pictures. It all looks wonderful! I love tomatoes made like that. I usually use butter but I’m going to try olive oil next time.

  6. After reading Andrea’s blog I had to come see the pictures. It all looks wonderful! I love tomatoes made like that. I usually use butter but I’m going to try olive oil next time.

  9. Wow, wish I was invited. Althought I don’t think I would have been able to make it on such short notice living on the other side of the continent ;o). lol I miss dinners like that. Since I’ve moved to the US, it’s harder for my friends and I to get together. When my friend Jenny gets back from Malaysia, I will plan a wonderful dinner. She makes amazing sushi amongst other wonderful dishes. Thanks for the inspiration. My husband loves to cook and comes up with delicious dishes. I bake and make fresh pasta and he cooks, what more could you ask for? lol Keep well! Off to grab a snack, I’m suddenly hungry! I wonder why? lol

  10. Wow, wish I was invited. Althought I don’t think I would have been able to make it on such short notice living on the other side of the continent ;o). lol I miss dinners like that. Since I’ve moved to the US, it’s harder for my friends and I to get together. When my friend Jenny gets back from Malaysia, I will plan a wonderful dinner. She makes amazing sushi amongst other wonderful dishes. Thanks for the inspiration. My husband loves to cook and comes up with delicious dishes. I bake and make fresh pasta and he cooks, what more could you ask for? lol Keep well! Off to grab a snack, I’m suddenly hungry! I wonder why? lol

  15. Those cherry tomatoes look DIVINE! Hubby and I run a gourmet food shop, and your post here is just so inspiring! (That is one VERY popular cookbook you’ve chosen your recipes from!)

  16. Those cherry tomatoes look DIVINE! Hubby and I run a gourmet food shop, and your post here is just so inspiring! (That is one VERY popular cookbook you’ve chosen your recipes from!)

  17. You won’t believe this but we cooked that exact same salmon dish of hers about 2 weeks ago. We saw her cook it on TV – my husband is a salmon biologist so we have a freezer full of great salmon are are always looking for new recipes. That was sooooo good! Definitely a keeper. Oh but we didn’t have califlower topped with Gruyere, that sounds really good. We also made her asian noodle salad just recently. She does have really great, easy and tasty recipes.

  18. You won’t believe this but we cooked that exact same salmon dish of hers about 2 weeks ago. We saw her cook it on TV – my husband is a salmon biologist so we have a freezer full of great salmon are are always looking for new recipes. That was sooooo good! Definitely a keeper. Oh but we didn’t have califlower topped with Gruyere, that sounds really good. We also made her asian noodle salad just recently. She does have really great, easy and tasty recipes.