If you read this blog, you know that I am a huge fan of Ina Garten (a.k.a. “the barefoot contessa”).  All of my holiday and entertaining meals incorporate at least one of her recipes.  They are consistently delicious, easy to prepare, and crowd-pleasers.  I am happy to report that she has just published another cookbook titled “cooking for Jeffrey.”

I picked up a copy today and I can already tell that the recipes in this book are about to enter “go to” status at our house.  Somehow she managed to capture my Italian heritage (aperol spritzers, pasta e fagioli, roasted italian meatballs),  a bit of my Polish background (lentil & kielbasa salad), and my southern California youth (artichokes with lemon tarragon aioli, roasted salmon tacos, spaghetti squash with garlic and parmesan).  I can honestly say that I would make and enjoy 99% of the recipes in this cookbook.  Not only that, I think I could get my kids to eat about 50%.  And, they are easy.  While some require a bit of prep, they could all be adapted into weeknight meals.  All in all, a win-win.

With a drizzly few days ahead of us, I can’t think of anything better than exploring this cookbook and trying more than a few of the recipes.  If they are as good as they look, it is going to be a delicious fall.