Thursday, January 25, 2007

Ina, you're forgiven



Orange-Honey Glazed Carrots
Barefoot Contessa At Home Copyright 2006

2 pounds carrots, peeled
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons honey
kosher salt
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger I used jarred grated ginger
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cut the carrots diagonally in 1-inch-thick slices. You should have about 5 cups of carrots. Place ½ cup water, the butter, honey, 2 teaspoons of salt and the ginger in a large sauté pan and bring to a boil. Add the carrots, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until all the water has evaporated.

Add the orange zest and orange juice to the pan, tossing with the carrots. Simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes, until the carrots are al dente and the sauce glazes the carrots. Add the pepper and another teaspoon of salt, to taste. I forgot the pepper and last bit of salt and I didn't miss it.
_________________________

I had an awful experience with a rice salad recipe from Barefoot Contessa Family Style, so bad it wasn't even bloggable. I love Ina Garten and I still enjoyed watching her show after that disaster but I wasn't anxious to reach for that cookbook again, even though I'm sure that disaster was a fluke. I picked this cookbook, Barefoot Contessa At Home, up at the library. I think the theme is awfully similar to the Family Style cookbook and like all of the other Food TV celebrities, I believe she is cranking out books as fast as she can to reap the profits but who can blame her? Strike while the iron is hot.

Ina's recipes aren't anything you haven't seen before but she's got great style. I've said it before and I'll say it again - she's the sexiest woman on the Food Network. Forget Rachael, Giada or Sandra - they can flash all the cleavage they want to but something about Jeffrey's grin tells me that Ina's not just pleasing him in the kitchen.

Anyway, these may have been the best carrots I've ever had. I LOVED them. So much so that I couldn't go to bed with the leftovers in the fridge - I had to finish them off as a late night snack. I scaled the recipe down to about half but next time I'll make all 2 pounds of carrots.

Blast From The Past: Porcupines from August 2006. I'm thinking about making these again soon. I have a buildup of brown rice in the freezer (I always make too much).

Question of the Day: Are there any former food 'celebrities' that you miss (that don't currently have a show in production)? Extra credit if you name someone besides Julia Child - she's a given.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Brillat-Savarin... I wish I had of known the guy.

Anonymous said...

Jamie Oliver. He's not on any of the channels we have. Sniff...

I can think of many 'celeb chefs' whose shows I think should completely disappear. ;) LOL

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to hear Ina is back in your good graces. I love all her recipes, which reminds me...I should cook from her cookbooks more often. *makes mental note*

I also miss Jamie Oliver. And that guy who drove around in the giant toaster.

I've been watching the Food Network since the early days and there was a guy who had a produce stand on his set. He was fun.

Anonymous said...

Old PBS cooking show watcher. I loved Jeff Smith (he started me on my cooking and cookbook fascination), Madeleine Kamman and Paul Prudhomme. I have all of Ina's books but have yet to cook from them :-(

Anonymous said...

Marcel Desaulniers - the king of chocolate! I always enjoyed watching him cook.

Charl

Anonymous said...

I love Ina, watch her every week, but I don't think I've ever made one of her recipes. Hosts I miss? Frugal Gourmet and Martha. Can I count her? I miss her on the Food Channel.

Anonymous said...

Someone I would like to see is Sara Moulton. I think she's probably still on, but not at a time when I would be watching. I wish her show were on at a more convenient time for me (if it's still on.)

Jan

ThursdayNext said...

I miss Gail Gand...I hate baking, but she made it seem easy!

Anonymous said...

Does anyone remember Pasquale? He used to be on one of the major networks. Did Italian, sang opera while he cooked. I got a to-die-for Chocolate Bread Pudding recipe from his show. And of course I have to agree about Jamie Oliver. I miss him!

Anonymous said...

"but something about Jeffrey's grin tells me that Ina's not just pleasing him in the kitchen".

You're a funny one!! This made me laugh

Randi said...

That last comment was mine, I signed in, I dont know what happened

Anonymous said...

Great question. I loved the Two Hot Tamales.. Mary Sue Millikin and Susan Feniger.. back from the early days of Food Network. I also liked the guy who was the other half of "Grillin & CHillin" with Bobby Flay.., there was a country guy as a foil to Bobby's city guy. He was adorable. Not a Bobby Flay fan.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to see Jeff Smith back on TV. Or even his son.

Anonymous said...

Two fat ladies! I know this is not possible, but tgey were entertaining even when i could not imagine eating what they were cooking

Anonymous said...

I loved Dolce Vita with David Rocco, the scenery and food on the Amalfi coast
Even when he was cooking in their apartment

Anonymous said...

Two Fat Ladies were a hoot! For outdoor cooking there were Cee-Dub and Johnnie Nix. Of course, there was also Justin Wilson, I gawr-on-tee!