Ina… My Go-To Gal

I have had more people over to the new place for dinner in the past four weeks than in all of the past four years! It’s because I actually now have a functional kitchen, with a huge stove, lots of storage space and counters longer than 14 inches. It’s also because I have space to entertain, either in the back yard or at the dinner table. For simplicity’s sake, I’ve started using several of the same recipes, so that I can tweak them each time, and so prep work for each dinner will be easier.

One of the recipes that I am really having a lot of luck with, and which the Chefs liked, is Ina Garten’s Roasted Vegetable Torte. It’s a simple dish, and since you prepare it ahead of time and chill it, there’s no last minute rush. It’s vegetarian, and vegan, and even pretty low-fat. Here’s the recipe. You can tinker with it pretty easily, and the image above has goat cheese between the layers. I added a little basil and may use a balsamic vinaigrette drizzle for the top of it.

I have a couple of Ina’s cookbooks, and just received her “Barefoot in Paris” book as a housewarming present. It’s on my bedside table now, and I am reading a little bit at a time each night. Soon enough, it will migrate down to the kitchen, and I will start using it!

Tomorrow’s dinner guests are two long-time blog friends whom I will finally meet IRL. I am so excited for this and will be on pins and needles all day until they arrive. The dapper Mr. Toad of To The Manner Born, arrives from Mayberry, somewhere in the Mid-West, and the easiest and most elegant Chris, arrives from Richmond, family in tow. I just hope I am able to keep pace with these quick-witted, bright and charming gentlemen.

{For those of you who have known me for a long time, I swear the aliens have not taken over my body! I think I am finally getting back to being me.}