In 2017 I made a little deal with myself, I wanted to make all of my family’s birthday cakes (thanks, Ina Garten and Barefoot Contessa for the inspiration). I enjoy baking with my kids and thought that letting them help with their own cakes would create some great memories and foster their love for cooking and baking. The birthday cakes weren’t perfect works of art, but they were prepared with love - so they tasted even better!
Does anything warm the soul quite like soup? With all of the crazy cold and snowy weather we’ve been having, I can’t think of another meal more comforting than tomato soup and grilled cheese. Simple and satisfying. Ina Garten’s Easy Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Croutons puts a special twist on the classic with a bit of cream in the soup and grilled Gruyère cheese for the croutons. I know I say this about a lot of Ina’s dishes but THIS could be my most favorite. I highly recommend committing this recipe to memory and making it often!
Sneaking in one more post with Trent from @StoreBoughtIsFine before the end of the year. He's got a lot of friends and a lot of great gift ideas. After reading this blog, you'll wish you were on his 'nice' list. Happy Holidays and Happy Gifting..
There are lots of things I love about summer in NYC: long days of sunlight, fresh peaches, playing "identify that smell" on the streets...but the thing I don't love is my inability to entertain in my apartment. I can't imagine torturing my friends by using the oven or stovetop, creating a sauna in our sixth-floor apartment. So when the weather cools, I immediately plan the meals I've been thinking about for months...
If you happen to follow us on Instagram, you know we love @StoreBoughtIsFine. Trent Pheifer, the man behind this beautiful and witty feed, has challenged himself to cook through all of Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa recipes. And he does it with style! Cassandra's Kitchen is proud to have this passionate Ina Garten fan as our brand ambassador, so we invited him to share a bit about his clever nick name and his cooking journey on the blog. Enjoy!
I love tomatoes. They are by far my favorite vegetable (or are they a fruit?). In the summer it’s a no brainer - the tomatoes are bursting with flavor and I can literally cut them up, drizzle some olive oil, sprinkle some salt and pepper and eat them right up. In the winter, it’s a different story. Thank you, Ina for your Roasted Tomato Basil Soup – the perfect way to enjoy tomatoes in February!
During this time of year we spend a lot of time entertaining or preparing food to take with us to parties or get-togethers. Our new Pillivuyt Round Tart Dish has been getting a lot of holiday love. Pillivuty pieces are known for their even heat conduction, versatility, and durability. In Cooking For Jeffrey, Ina Garten uses it to make Prune Armagnac Clafouti. Whether breakfast, brunch, dinner or just desserts, we think this dish will be an all-star in the kitchen.
Last summer, while on vacation in East Hampton, I was lucky enough to visit with Ina Garten in her home. I noticed a beautiful piece of pottery sitting out (everything in Ina’s home is beautiful!). I immediately grabbed it, turned it upside down, and saw the Farmhouse Pottery seal. I did some quick research on the company and knew right away that these pieces (and this company) were perfect for Cassandra’s Kitchen.
Lately at Cassandra’s Kitchen, we spend every spare moment pouring over the recipes in Cooking for Jeffrey. The response to the book has been tremendous and we’ve done our best to stock cookware, tableware, and products that Ina uses and features in the book. This week we wanted to highlight the Weck Canning Jar that Ina uses for her Herbed Goat Cheese.
We love all the buzz about the release of Cooking for Jeffrey! Have you seen People Magazine's exclusive peek into Ina and Jeffrey's 48-year marriage? It's such a lovely story (you can read it here). And, we're so excited to bring you French Wines Glasses similar to the ones Ina and Jeffrey are using in the exclusive photo (courtesy of People/Christopher Testani).
