Weekend Cookbook Challenge #4: All it's croqued up to be

There may be no show on Food Network Canada Rachel and I enjoy more than Barefoot Contessa.  That's not to say we think Ina Garten is the best chef on the dial, or that she prepares the most inventive dishes, not by a long shot.  There's just something about her show we find endlessly entertaining.

I still remember the first time we watched an episode, after Rachel's mother had urged us to check it out.  What a strange universe it depicts.  There's Miguel, the stylist; that damn florist who looks like Stuart Smalley; the omnipresent but only sometimes seen husband, Jeffrey; and, of course, the larger-than-life presence of Ina herself.  As if that weren't enough, add the picture-perfect backdrops of the Hamptons and Ina's ridiculously well-equipped kitchen which, pardon my envy (and I'm not alone), happens to face a garden the size of a small park.

But wait, there's the food.

Ina and Jeffrey better pray that the French Paradox is true, because they consume enough high-fat dairy and booze to make even the most gluttonous gars blush.  Ina's use of butter in particular is so profligate that even she's taken to mocking herself: "Some people say I use a pound of butter in every recipe," she'll confess, a barely contained grin playing across her face, "but that's not true.  This recipe only contains a half pound of butter."

Am I complaining?  Hell, no, because we love dairy too: butter, milk, cheese, ice cream -- it's all good.  That's why we chose the Barefoot Contessa's Croque Monsieur sandwiches from Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home (get the recipe here) as our dish for the Easter brunch edition of the Weekend Cookbook Challenge. A croque monsieur is France's gift to the world of sandwiches: sweet thinly sliced ham and nutty Gruyère with some spicy Dijon mustard between a couple of pieces of toast, all topped with more Gruyère and a generous amount of rich Mornay sauce. Place it under the broiler for a few minutes to get bubbly and a little brown, serve it with a small green salad, then relax and enjoy.

If you're looking for a way to really relax, perhaps we could suggest the Barefoot Contessa drinking game we've developed.  Now, this game is still in its infancy, so any suggestions for improving it are welcome.  The rules are simple.  Everyone must drink whenever one of the following occurs:

1. Ina states that the taste of chocolate is accentuated by coffee;
2. Any mention is made of Jeffrey's love for roast chicken;
3. Ina goes into her garden to cut flowers or get herbs;
4. Ina uses alcohol in a recipe or anyone has a drink;
5. Butter or cream goes into the dish Ina's preparing.

Because it's a drinking game, there's a catch: if any recipe contains a full pound of butter, you must completely finish your current drink.

If you're not sure what you should drink while playing, Ina has some suggestions:

• Mai Tai
• Margaritas

To quote the inimitable Ina: "How good is that?"

Weekend Cookbook Challenge

Comments

[Vanessa]

I just found your blog and I nearly want to comment on everything. Fantastic is all I have to say.

But... specifically about Ina... I love her. She's probably one of the few cooking shows I enjoy because she's adorable. I'll need to try out this game.

[Bea at La Tartine Gourmande]

well done Rob and Rachel! Who of the 2 cooked it? ;-)

Nice Croque Monsieur. I also love th e Croque Madame a lot! Have you had one before?

I never used to eat Croque Monsieur with sauce Mornay though, so this is an interesting addition I was not familiar with.

[Jill]

The Barefoot Contessa is my favourite cooking show and I was amazed the day I watched Ina put butter into hamburgers before cooking them. I'm talking whole chunks of butter right into the middle of the patty. It was awesome!

[Tania]

I agree with Vanessa: Ina is adorable. Otherwise, she and that kitchen of hers would be completely insufferable.

Have you seen the goodies at The Cookbook Store endorsed by Ina? Perhaps these could be prizes for your drinking game!

[Michelle]

Ha ha ha! I love the drinking game - that's hilarious. Since LB and I are big fans of Ina we're going to have to try this (we have a love/hate relationship with her, both because of the garden/house/kitchen envy, but also because she and Jeffrey are so damn cute). The Barefoot Contessa cookbook was one of the first I picked up at the library - my new FAVORITE place to get cookbooks thanks to you!

[Sandra]

Croque...croque...croque!!!
Croque monsieur or madame!!!
In Italy said...BASTA CHE SIA!!!
:-)

[vanessa]

lol, the drinking has become a must for every Food Network show. But then again, there is Ms. Dean who's happy drinking WITH you.

Ina does good straightforward food. Who the hell wouldn't love a croque?

[Ivonne]

Bravi! Bravissimi!

Wonderful post. Like you I am endlessly fascinated by Ina Garten. And I agree she may not be the best cook out there, but damn the woman has flair! The way she can use all that butter and look right into the camera and make it all seem so perfectly normal. It's a gift I tell you!

I especially like your game. I'd buy the board game version if you're considering marketing it.

And as for the croque ... well ... what needs to be said other than it's too delicious!

[Ulla]

So funny I love her food because it is so welcoming and simple. The butter thing is so true, she even puts it into her hamburgers!

[Laura]

I know this is an old post, but just wanted to comment this is too funny. I did a search on "barefoot contessa drinking game" and this was the first hit -- my husband and I do the same thing with her show. We also do a shot for whenever she says GORGEOUS! and whenever she says she's adding X to the dish, so it looks like what is it (like when she adds vanilla bean, lemon slices, etc.). we love you, Ina!

[kathey]

I'd take a shot every time she asks a rhetorical question, "Who wouldn't love that?" I counted five questions in a recent episode.

[invertir forex]

hi,I just found your blog and is very interesting,