Foolproof

The Barefoot Contessa is one of my favorite chefs, hands down. I love her recipes, her cookbooks, her teaching style, and what I love best of all is her signature line “how easy is that”. About a month ago I was in my favorite book store, The Next Page, in Frisco, Co. when I looked up and saw her cookbook, Foolproof. I asked my husband to pay for it and off I went with grandiose dreams of making all the recipes in the book. I thought to myself…how easy was that!

Well….I have to say that so far her recipes are foolproof. I need to back up here and let you know that I am not a cook. I toss a good salad, make a great tater tot casserole, and pour a mean glass of wine but that is where my kitchen skills end. My lack of cooking skills was one of the reasons I started this blog. I thought as time went by and I followed more recipes, did more cooking, that I might…eventually get better. I am also contemplating applying to Top Chef University (they don’t turn anyone down) this kind of on-line education might be exactly what I need. So I thought the Barefoot Contessa’s cookbook Foolproof, which by definition is: incapable of going wrong, was a good place to start.

Orange-Braised Carrots & Parsnips

This recipe was so easy. After you peel, cut and place your vegetables, herbs and freshly squeezed orange juice in your dutch oven, you bring the ingredients to a boil then place it in a 275 degree oven and cook for 1 1/2 hours. “How easy is that”!