Be Ready When the Luck Happens

 

Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten

Nonfiction - Memoir

2024

Read by Ina Garten

Finished on December 8, 2024

Rating: 4.5/5 (Excellent)

Publisher's Blurb:

In her long-awaited memoir, Ina Garten—aka the Barefoot Contessa, author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon—shares her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table.

Here, for the first time, Ina Garten presents an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey. Ina’s gift is to make everything look easy, yet all her accomplishments have been the result of hard work, audacious choices, and exquisite attention to detail. In her unmistakable voice (no one tells a story like Ina), she brings her past and her process to life in a high-spirited and no-holds-barred memoir that chronicles decades of personal challenges, adventures (and misadventures) and unexpected career twists, all delivered with her signature combination of playfulness and purpose.

From a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, D.C., to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Now, she invites them to come closer to experience her story in vivid detail and to share the important life lessons she learned along the way: do what you love because if you love it you’ll be really good at it, swing for the fences, and always Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

From the opening track of the audiobook, I was immediately hooked on Be Ready When the Luck Happens. Ina Garten narrates her memoir with ease and enthusiasm, drawing me in as though we were sitting on her porch, enjoying a cup of coffee and a homemade treat warm from her oven. Her conversational tone is as inviting as her beautiful cookbooks (of which I own several) and I enjoyed my daily walks, learning more about her early career and relationship with her husband, Jeffrey. As one would expect, Ina's circle of friends and acquaintances are also well-known celebrities and yet I never felt she was dropping names while sharing anecdotes about their interactions. Her memoir is honest and genuine, and has inspired me to dig out her cookbooks for my weekly meal planning. Maybe I'll start with a sweet treat since it is the holiday season!

Highly recommend!

Easy Parmesan "Risotto"

I love risotto. If it's on the menu, I order it. If it's not included as a side, I ask for a substitution. For instance, one of our local restaurants serves a delicious halibut dish with capellini pasta. I love capellini, but I love risotto even more. Especially with seafood. Most restaurants are perfectly willing to make the substitution, so why not ask?

I first discovered my love for risotto at a friend's home many years ago. He stood over the pot, stirring and adding wine, while sipping on a glass himself. We all stood around chatting as the risotto cooked and once it was al dente, he added some beautiful mushrooms, another splash of wine and some Parmesan. It was love at first bite and I knew I had to make it for our next dinner party. 

Unfortunately, no matter how many times I've made it, it's never quite as good as Scott's or that which I can order in a restaurant. I follow the recipe and am patient, even cooking past the recommended amount of time, stirring, stirring, stirring. Somehow, the rice never feels quite done, at least not to my liking. So I was beyond thrilled to discover this recipe from Ina Garten's cookbook How Easy Is That? She says she found the process for the recipe from Donna Hay, a cookbook writer from Australia. Not only is it quick and easy, but now I can make one of my favorite appetizers (risotto cakes) without spending the entire day in the kitchen. Hallelujah!

Easy Parmesan "Risotto"

Ina Garten - How Easy Is That?

1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
5 cups simmering chicken stock, preferably homemade, divided
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup frozen peas (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place the rice and 4 cups of the chicken stock in a Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente. Remove from the oven, add the remaining cup of chicken stock, the Parmesan, wine, butter, salt, and pepper, and stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Add the peas and stir until heated through. Serve hot.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Hooray for easy recipes! Thanks, Ina and Donna!

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