A few years ago, my stove was dying and my family had made other plans for Thanksgiving. Not one to ever slight a holiday, I was throwing myself a major pity party when I got a call from my neighbor Stacy. It is she who chides me for buying cheap supermarket food, a heated discussion we carry on to this day. I mean, it’s hamburger, not Sacred Cow, right?

Would my husband and I like to come to her house for Thanksgiving dinner? Great cooking, with gourmet ingredients from an upscale market; a chance to spend time with her charming and entertaining family; no clean-up afterward. Mother, make my bed; your baby’s coming home.

I needed to find a house gift that Stacy, who is staunchly non-materialist, would actually want. Light bulb! “Who’s your favorite celebrity chef?” I inquired. Without hesitation she replied, “The Barefoot Contessa.” I knew the old Ava Gardner/Humphrey Bogart movie, but I’d never heard of the chef. So I set out on a quest to locate a cookbook to bring to the celebration.

I searched the shelves at my local bookstore, but found nothing by that author. Finally, I asked the lady at the information desk if I could order a cookbook by The Barefoot Contessa. “Why not just buy one? You’ll find them under ‘g,’ for Ina Garten,” she informed me. And sure enough, there they were. I had no clue which one Stacy might prefer, so I gave her all of them.

In due coarse, I became a fan, too. I’ve given many Barefoot Contessa books as gifts, and I now have the complete set myself. I couldn’t choose a favorite.

The first book, THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA COOKBOOK, begins the series with a huge error, namely not having Ina on the cover. The name comes from Ina’s famous specialty shop in The Hamptons. I think the gorgeous bakery that Meryl Streep owns in “It’s Complicated” was inspired by Ina and her chic clientele. I know that Nancy Meyers used the store for the Jack Nicholson/Diane Keaton movie “Something’s Gotta Give.” And, the foreword is by Ina’s mentor, Martha Stewart. Need I say more?

A suspiciously thin Ina graces the cover of BAREFOOT CONTESSA PARTIES! As a caterer, she learned many tricks of the trade, which she graciously passes along to us. Her key word for gatherings is fun, and not just for the guests.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA FAMILY STYLE represents Ina’s philosophy that good eating isn’t just for company, but rather, for those we love the most. She recommends serving the scrumptious dishes on big platters, with everyone passing them around the table.

In BAREFOOT CONTESSA AT HOME, Ina tells us that “home is wherever Jeffrey is.” He is, of course, her husband. But honestly, the photos of Ina’s Easthampton house are pretty spectacular. Women love to discuss Ina; a sweetheart of a lady named Sue heard me mention this article, and immediately chimed in, “It’s so obvious that Ina loves her husband. It’s inspirational, and it comes through in her cooking.”

Ina and Jeffrey actually spent four months on a camping trip in France, so BAREFOOT IN PARIS was a natural for her to write. French cuisine is intimidating to many of us, but Ina has taken the skill she acquired by reading Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” and made it possible for us to actually make a really good Croque Monsieur ourselves.

I have a theory that luscious photographs of food are equivalent to pornography for women. Check out the pictures in all Ina’s books, and you’ll see what I mean. BAREFOOT CONTESSA BACK TO BASICS shows a baked potato slathered in sour cream and chives; a honey vanilla pound cake snuggly nestled in its loaf pan; and an old-fashioned carrot salad that looks more decadent than crème brulee. I swear, I almost want to lick the pages.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA HOW EASY IS THAT? features the former Budget Analyst for Nuclear Energy cum Food Network star at her best. Ina really concentrates on easy recipes that require one-stop shopping, and stress free cooking. My young friend Venus, a terrific cook and baker herself, sums it up so well. “Ina Garten is a great cook because she always makes things from scratch, never taking shortcuts. She uses traditional recipes, but changes them up just enough, so that the dishes are both elegant and simple. Ina is a fantastic entertainer; in addition to recipes, her cookbooks contain advice on how to prepare balanced meals complimented by the perfect table settings.” In short, if you want your teenager to get interested in helping out in the kitchen, consider watching Ina’s TV shows together.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA RECIPE JOURNAL is a must for all Ina fans. It includes an index for Ina’s cookbooks, and after each recipe, pages for our own notes. There are also Ina Garten note cards, and mixes from the Barefoot Contessa Pantry.

I went back to Stacy, who originally introduced me to Barefoot Contessa, to ask what she feels makes Ina Garten so beloved by so many home cooks. She explained, “I would say I love her recipes because they are not fussy, and it’s so easy to find the ingredients. The dishes always come out looking like the photos! She’s just a great cook and a great cookbook author.”

Thanks, Neighbor!

To purchase the featured books on Amazon just click on the title.

All Photos courtesy of Food Network

Michall Jeffers is an accomplished Cultural Journalist, and an unrepentant Foodie. She writes extensively about restaurants and food, both in print and online. Her eponymous cable TV show is syndicated throughout the tri-state area, and features celebrity interviews, reviews, and commentary. www.michalljeffers.com