Listening to Ina Garten's book
how easy is that?!
On the food side of the internet, Ina Garten is blowing up in the best way possible.
Ina Garten has been an icon in the food industry for the last thirty years. But with the release of her memoir last fall, a podcast, and becoming a social media icon, she’s gotten a lot of traction!
As she should.
I’m currently listening to her memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, and have been eating it up. Listening all about her childhood in Brookyln, finding her first food store, and being proof that you’re never “too old” or “too late” to pursue your passions.
I’m encouraged by her work ethic and aspiration, especially in the cooking realm. She learned everything she knew through her store; no “classical” training, no prior restuarant experience, just straight into the fire of the business.
Listening to her iconic Food Network intro music, I’m transported back to my Siti and Gido’s house on a summer afternoon, probably scoffing or rolling my eyes.
I will admit, I was not a fan of Ina as a kid….
I found her unrelatable, and horrifically boring (my apologies to the court).
Now in my more or less adult years, I find her much more relatable, calming, and incredibly fabulous.
As a child, her show was NOT made for me, and rightfully so!
Her content can be found all over Youtube now, and it’s some of my favorite ambience (right now she’s making cured salmon with dill and pernod, very charming).
She cooks for people, which is what I love about her most. Obviously, most people cook for other people, but her intentionality with how she celebrates and loves other well thorugh her cooking is inspiring and a gesture I strive to excel in.
Here are some sweet moments from the last month of meals I’ve gotten to share that make me think of Ina.
Homemade BLT’s
This is the part where Ina would say, “you can make your own artisanal bread, but storebought is fine.”
Wildly, I did make this artisanal bread!
I had a hankering to bake one Saturday as I worked around the house, and made my first “artisanal” style loaf in a dutch oven.
David and I were about to go see our friend, Emily, in her show, and turned it into a little dinner date with one of our favorite meals.
In all transparency, the bread was a bit underbaked (not raw, just dense and doughy) and didn’t have a lot of flavor, BUT, the BLT’s were bomb.
Mujudara
I had a girlfriend over for dinner one on one for the first time a few weeks ago and I made Mujudara with Syrian Salad.
It was a simple dinner and a humble family meal growing up, so it felt a little vulnerable serving this.
In true Ina fashion, instead of focusing on a complex meal, I wanted to focus more on the company. My sweet friend loved I made a meal close to home that was simple and very delicious.
Pasta, Carrot Salad, and Jamaica
Last night, I had another friend over for dinner to catch up on life.
I made a tomato sauce similar to my mom’s spaghetti I had growing up with carmelized onions and ground turkey, along with a carrot cucumber salad with EVOO, feta, leomon, and parsley.
My friend, German, and I became friends during college. On multiple occasions, we’d make time to go to Lindo’s (a local Mexican shop) and get agua frescas.
The last time I had made it was for German’s birthday.
I made some last minute in a pyrex pitcher and forgot how easy and delicious it is homemade! 10/10 will be making Jamaica at home.
All this to say, I’ve really enjoyed hosting people for dinner, and am excited for future dinners!
With Love,
Cara
S