Status Updates From Barefoot Contessa at Home: ...

Fresh Whiskey Sours 4.5/5 ⭐️- Batch cocktail that's very simple to make. My guests said it was very good. I enjoyed it despite not being a dark liquor kind of girl. Fresh citrus makes all the difference!

4.5/5 ⭐️ Herb-roasted onions – Who knew onion quarters could shine as a side? Lemony, herby, and so flavorful. Super cheap and quick to make, perfect alongside pork loin and mashed potatoes.

4/5 ⭐️ Buttermilk mashed potatoes – The perfect mashed potatoes: creamy, rich, and full of flavor. Definitely a treat with whole milk and a full stick of butter 😬 Next time, I’d salt to tast, they turned out a bit too salty for me.

4/5 ⭐️ Eli's Asian Salmon. I scaled this down to 1 lb of salmon, halved the marinade, and used about 1 cup total with ~3/4 cup panko. Even as someone who doesn’t love salmon, I thought this was verrrry good! Next time I’d use low-sodium soy sauce—one spot got a bit too salty where the panko soaked it up. Also, I’d skip wrapping it tightly in foil after baking since it softened that crispy top.

5/5 ⭐️ Broccoli Rabe with Garlic - Simple but incredibly flavorful. The garlic-infused oil coats every bite and really transforms the broccoli into something special. I used two heads of regular broccoli instead of broccoli rabe since I couldn’t find any, and it turned out perfect. I’ll try rabe next. I’ve heard it’s more bitter, but this version is absolutely going into my regular rotation.

4/5 ⭐️ Portobello Mushroom Lasagna is very rich; full of whole milk, cheese, and butter. It feels like a treat. I probably wouldn’t want it as leftovers because it’s so rich, but it would be great for serving a group. The distinct nutmeg flavor works well with the pepper and Parmesan. My only gripe: it uses 5 pans—lots of dishes! I’d also use 2–2.5 lbs mushrooms since they cook down so much.

Chocolate Cupcakes & Peanut Butter Icing - 3.5/5 ⭐️ My first Ina Garten recipe below 4 stars I’ve made. I brought to book club last night and the cake was very cocoa-powder forward. The icing leaned more peanut butter than sweet. Good, but not one I’d make again. I've had other chocolate "cakes" from her recipes that are 5/5 ⭐️ that could be why I was expecting more.

Mexican Chicken Soup 4.5/5 ⭐️ So easy and shockingly flavorful for just two spices! I only had cumin (no coriander) and was still blown away. Use all the toppings — they make it. I chunked my chicken for my husband, but next time I’ll shred it. Cozy, simple, and definitely on repeat. Very filling!

Mustard Potatoes - 4.5/5 ⭐️ The baked grainy mustard flavor is rich, savory, and deeply satisfying, with just enough tang to keep things interesting. The potatoes come out crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor in every bite. It does require 50min-1hr roasting time, so plan ahead for that. I would also recommend stirring occasionally as I did burn a few onions 😬 So simple, so good

Chicken Piccata – 4/5 ⭐️ Effortlessly flavorful without feeling heavy, this dish really lets the lemon shine. It’s light & elegant without overwhelming the chicken, making it ideal for a warm summer evening. The simplicity is part of its charm, and it would be perfect paired with a light lemon angel hair pasta to soak up that buttery, citrusy sauce. Easy enough for a weeknight but polished enough for guests.

Tomato, Mozzarella, & Pesto Panini 4/5 ⭐️ I've made this before and it's always very good. No need for a recipe really since it is very simple. For some reason I burnt the bread twice tonight 😅 My husband is a much better panini, grilled cheese, and pancake maker because he has more patience.

Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup 5/5 ⭐️ Flavor is absolutely insane. This soup takes about 1hr 15ish since you’re making your own mushroom stock, but it’s so worth it. I didn’t strain out the mushroom stems, carrots, or onions like recommended, and it was still incredibly delicious. Very filling, cozy, and comforting—perfect on a cold day.

Easy Cheese Danish (4/5) ⭐️ Made for book club inspired by Good Spirits—Harriet loves blueberry danishes, so I added blueberries and left one plain. Super easy with a 20-min bake. Great base recipe. Cheese filling is slightly lumpy due to the ricotta, but lemon zest adds bright flavor. I think I would prefer it with fruit incorporated and maybe a light frosting drizzle on top!

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls ⭐️4.5/5 — This dish is a bit time-consuming with blanching the cabbage and rolling, and it baked about 1 hr 15 min. The rice was slightly undercooked but added texture. I was unsure about the raisins and brown sugar, but they perfectly balanced the savory, acidic sauce. Even my cabbage-hating husband loved it. Definitely best made for a crowd—leftovers last for days!

In 2026 I will be cooking my way through this entire cookbook. So far I have made the omelette for 2 - 5/5 ⭐️