Cookbook Book Club, Vol. VII - The Barefoot Contessa

Volume VII of the Cookbook Book Club

was one of my very favorite!

For it's theme was

The Barefoot Contessa

Ina Garten

And I wasn't the hostess

And it wasn't my choice

But I was elated when Hostess Sarah

chose my culinary hero!

I have, after all

 ALL of her cookbooks!

Including her latest . . . 

 Make It Ahead

The Menu:

Juice of Few Flowers Cocktail

If you haven't tried this cocktail yet, do

It is really good

In fact, all of Ina's cocktails are good!

Because they're all made from scratch

(and I simply adore her Cosmo!)

Appetizer:

Ina's Roasted Shrimp

I agree with Liz who brought this dish that that is the only way

to cook shrimp!

Once I started cooking my shrimp this way, any other way

is "wimpy"!

The Entree:

Spanikopetia

That wonderful dish of spinach and feta cheese in phyllo dough

Sarah the hostess prepared the main dish

(as is our custom --

the hostess decides the theme, makes the cocktail and does the main dish)

Sides included

Angela's watermelon and feta salad

She substituted spring mix for the arugula that Ina called for

argugula is hard to find on our part of the prairie

Jacki brought Ina's Greek Salad.    All of the vegetables came from her farm garden

which made the salad even better!

Rita contributed Tomatoes Provencal

A perfect vegetable dish and paired well with Sarah's spanikopeta

And to finish:

Donna brought Ina's lemon bars.    They are like lemon bars on steroids.   They are so good!

Our custom is to draw "lots" to see who brings what.

The hostess provides cocktail and entree

The rest of us fill out the menu.

And we never discuss what we're brining.

And we've never had duplicates in the case two of us are bringing salads or vegetables.

It's like a potluck -- it all works out!

And we have some amazing meals!

Of all the things I'm involved in, this is one of my favorite because it is just an evening of fun, eating good food and having lively conversation!