Barefoot Contessa

It's festive fun with the Barefoot Contessa who is throwing a dazzling holiday dinner party for friends. A luxurious seafood gratin of lobster, halibut and plump pink shrimp in a golden saffron sauce is served. To follow, there's a creamy pumpkin mousse then spicy mulled wine and festive s'mores stuffed with French chocolate bark round a burning brazier in the garden.

One weekend, two easy elegant light lunches. On the menu, lunch number one, warm duck salad followed by blueberry crumb cake. Then the following day, saffron butternut squash and chocolate sorbet.

In exchange for pots and garden plans, Ina cooks for a friend. For lunch. pea soup and roasted red pepper and goats cheese sandwiches and for an afternoon treat, carrot and pineapple cake. 

Jeffery is back in town after a long haul trip so here's Ina's plan -- a mix of great, fast, comfort food with lemon curd tart, grown up mac and cheese served with a salad dressed with a creamy vinaigrette, and for his homecoming dinner, mussels in white wine.

Ina holds a party for the team that helped create her dream barn. The menu includes recipes for smoked salmon with herbed butter; a huge steaming pot of ribolitta; open mozzarella, pesto and basil sandwiches; and pear, apple and cranberry crisps.

Ina a makes an anniversary dinner for Jeffrey with all his favourite foods. Coq au vin, garlic mashed potatoes and chocolate buttercream wedding cake.

A lunch menu features creamy chicken salad, cheddar-dill scones and chocolate-espresso cheesecake.

Nothing beats a surprise party except a surprise baby shower - everyone's in the mood to celebrate. So here's the story: the expectant mom thinks she's coming for a quiet supper, her friends are bringing the decorations and Ina's cooking. Greek gazpacho, baked salmon nicoise and pecan shortbread for dessert and favours.

Ina is holding a joint party with a friends . She is doing most of the cooking, crab strudel, maple baked beans and poached fruit. Her friend is providing the setting, doing the table and buying a spiral baked ham to serve with the beans. This is entertaining shared made fun and easy.

Ina's friend Michael has proposed a get together with a gang of his girl friends who are crazy about food. He is doing the table and Ina is making the food: striped bass, cous cous with pinenuts and meringues Chantilly with stewed berries and orange liquor flavored cream.