Food

6 Miraculously Simple Recipes from Ina Garten's New Cookbook

Ina Garten, TV's beloved Barefoot Contessa, shares recipes from her new cookbook, Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust.

Recipes Created By Ina Garten

Photo: William Abranowicz

Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta

I can't tell you how may times I've made this! The crisp toasts with lemony sharp feta and sweet ripe tomatoes are an unbeatable combination. I prep all parts in advance and then just assemble them before dinner for a wonderful first course.

Get the recipe for Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta

Photo: William Abranowicz

Green Beans Gremolata

I blanch the green beans and make the gremolata in advance, storing them separately in the refrigerator. Then, just before dinner, I'll reheat the beans and toss on the gremolata.

Get the recipe for Green Beans Gremolata

Photo: William Abranowicz

Rossini Cocktail

To make sugar syrup, boil 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water until sugar dissolves completely, and chill. The syrup will last a few weeks in the refrigerator.

Get the recipe for the Rossini Cocktail

Photo: William Abranowicz

Seared Scallops and Potato-Celery Root Puree

Scallops are packed either wet or dry. Wet ones last longer and are good for soups and chowder, but they won't sear; find dry ones for this recipe. Grapeseed oil has a higher burning temperature than most oils, so I use it to avoid scorching the scallops.

Get the recipe for Seared Scallops and Potato-Celery Root Puree

Photo: William Abranowicz

Green Salad Vinaigrette

This would be delicious with steamed vegetables. And I love a potato salad with vinaigrette, rather than the mayo-based version.

Get the recipe for Green Salad Vinaigrette

Photo: William Abranowicz

Grate the carrots by hand on a box grater; if you grate them in a food processor, the carrots will be too wet and the cake might fall.

Get the recipe for Carrot Cake with Ginger Mascarpone Frosting

Next: What I Learned from Cooking with Ina Garten for a Day

Recipes adapted from Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust. Copyright 2012 by Ina Garten. To be published by Clarkson Potter on October 30.

From the September 2012 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine