INA GARTEN MEMOIR: BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS

INA GARTEN A MEMOIR: BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS by Ina Garten

Those of you who know me know that I enjoy cooking when I don't have to rush! Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa cookbooks are some of my favorite go tos. I love the idea of hearty comfort food with just a bit of fancy. Following her cooking career for a little while now, I would pick up bits and pieces of Ina's life story. She worked in the White House (not in the kitchen). She left that life and bought the Barefoot Contessa in the Hamptons. She's married to the love of her life, Jeffrey. You get the drift. I have to admit I was curious to hear her story. How appropriate that I enjoyed reading her memoir while combing a couple of her turkey recipes together to cook my Thanksgiving turkey this year.

I'm not going to spill the beans on a lot of Ina's story. She was raised in a well-to-do family that looked perfect on the outside while being very verbally and emotionally abusive on the inside. There was only one level of acceptance - perfection - and Ina rarely measured up. After graduating college, she worked for two presidents. (You'll have to read the book to find out what she did!) She finally needed a change. With no formal cooking training at all, she bought The Barefoot Contessa in the Hamptons. It was sink or swim time, Baby! The rest you'll have to read on your own.

There is a lot I admire about Ina Garten. I am often asked what I'll do once I'm done homeschooling even though I've got a while to figure that out. It is inspiring to read about successful major changes in life like she has done!

There are definitely some areas that we wouldn't see eye to eye on, but I'd say that's probably true with most people. Overall though, I enjoyed the read.

HEADS UP- There is a small amount of language. However, that does include 2-3 f-bombs.