It appears from other reviews that Modern Comfort Food appeals to regular viewers of Garten’s Barefoot Contessa on Food Network. Still, I found the book to be a disappointment for several reasons. Almost every recipe calls for an esoteric ingredient typical cooks are unlikely to have on hand. Readers are left to research substitutions on their own. Garten specifies brand names for many ingredients. I understand product placement is a lucrative source of income, but the emphasis here exceeds anything I have seen in other cookbooks. Frankly, it detracted from my enjoyment. However, the bottom line for any cookbook is whether I found recipes I would like to prepare. Here too, the book falls short. Several dishes I love are included, but I would never use the recipes provided. ( )

Ina Garten, one of my favorite TV cooks, offers this new recipe collection. Grouped into cocktails, lunch, dinner, vegetables & sides, dessert, and breakfast, featured menu items include cider and alcoholic beverages, appetizers, soups, salads, pasta dishes, seafood, vegetable "casseroles" such as ones you'd find at a church potluck, cookies, cakes, Boston cream pie, cereals, muffins, hash browns, and even iced coffee. Everyone will find something of interest. I've made dishes similar to some of these, but I'm certain to try a few of these in the new year. I may deviate from her recipes when they call for something like mustard or mushrooms, ingredients I can eat but don't really like well enough to want to add in a dish. (Besides I'm allergic to funguses, so avoiding mushrooms is something I should do.) Those things are easy enough to leave out, and sometimes an ingredient substitution can be made. I love Ina's cookbooks, and this one combines great photography with usable recipes. ( )