My Way (i.e. I reserve the right to make the rules)

#1 I'm not cooking the recipes in order. Though BCP (Barefoot Contessa Parties!) is set up as a series of "menus" for entertaining, I am going to take some liberties to play around. Let's take caviar for example. There are two recipes (in different sections) calling for caviar. Instead of buying two containers of caviar at different times, I'll probably make these recipes within a couple days of each other. Really a money-saving technique.

#2 I reserve the right to adjust serving sizes. I'll probably make 1/3 to 1/2 of certain recipes. Most of BCP's recipes are meant for gatherings of 8-10 people. My family of four doesn't need a chicken soup calling for three 5-pound chickens. I can easily scale the recipes down so we aren't saddled with a month of leftovers.

#3 I'm going to shoot for making at least three recipes each week. Some weeks I may be able to knock out a few extras.

Julia Child, French Laundry, Alinea, Gourmet....Barefoot Contessa?!

No, I don't think I'm in the same league with people cooking Thomas Keller's inspired creations but there are several reasons I selected Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa Parties! as my initial cookbook.

1) I don't want to waste food. I'm married with two young children. While I feel that my husband and kids are very supportive of whatever I'm doing, I'm pretty sure they'd draw the line at pig snout and calf hooves. Unfortunately, my husband is super picky with vegetables: no mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini or squash (to name a few). Do you understand what I'm working with here?!?! So I selected a book that could feed my family--not my trash can. I just don't live in a world where fois gras is coveted.

2) I love Ina's easy, breezy style. Whether reading her many cookbooks or watching her show on Food Network, she is welcoming and warm. She never seems stressed or pretentious. I know people have a love/hate thing for her but I hope you'll learn to embrace your inner-Ina.

3) The food is awesome! It's not snooty nor does it try too hard. Barefoot Contessa aims to comfort. And who couldn't use some of that as we approach the colder months (well those of you who don't live in Florida with me!). Not to mention Barefoot Contessa Parties is a mere 81 recipes--I think I can knock this out in a few months.

4) This book allows me to dip my toe in the water--before I dive in head first.

Let's get started!

Um, why?

A couple years ago, I read the intriguing Julie & Julia project--a married, no kids New Yorker chronicled her attempt (and success!)cooking all 524 recipes of Julia Child's infamous Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I in the span of 365 days.

I don't know what exactly appealed to me about cooking my way through an entire cookbook. I've had the idea several times but never quite got around to diving into the project. After stalking several blogs of people doing the same, I've decided to go for it.

Plus, I need a new blog to spout my thoughts.

Hope you'll join me for the adventure....