Ep 8. Portable Picnic

In Barefoot Contessa Season 1 Episode 8, titled Portable Picnic, Ina Garten takes on a challenge of creating the perfect travel-friendly menu; a picnic basket that can be enjoyed at any outdoor spot.

The episode begins with Ina heading over to meet her friends, the owners of a local cheese shop where she plans to pick up some scrumptious ingredients for her portable picnic basket menu. Ina is excited to showcase her new recipes that will impress her guests.

Ina’s first recipe is for a homemade sun-dried tomato dip that she plans on using to bring a zing of flavor to her rustic bread. Her recipe is easy to follow; she blends sun-dried tomatoes with garlic, capers, and olive oil. She then tops it with parmesan cheese before placing the dip along with the bread in her portable picnic basket.

Next on the menu, Ina is making Tuscan Lemon Chicken, which is perfect for a picnic setting. She begins by marinating boneless chicken breasts in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and herbs for a couple of hours. Later, she bakes the chicken in the marinade and after it's cooked, she slices it into thin slices. Ina then prepares a salad with arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, and prosciutto, which she tops with sliced chicken before placing it in her basket.

Ina's next recipe is her signature Boston Cream Cupcakes, which are light, airy, and filled with delightful pastry cream. She shares her secret recipe to making perfect cupcakes with her guests, and together they whip up a batch and then proceed to fill the cupcakes with the vanilla-infused pastry cream. She then tops it off with a dark chocolate glaze. The cupcakes are the perfect sweet ending to a delicious picnic.

To finish off her picnic basket, Ina heads over to her favorite farm shop where she picks up fresh strawberries and cream, which she plans to use for her tasty strawberry tarts. She prepares a simple shortbread crust, fills it with whipped cream, and then tops it off with sweet and fragrant strawberries.

At the picnic location, Ina sets up a picnic blanket and her well-packed picnic basket that leaves her guests impressed. To complete the occasion, Ina pops open a bottle of sparkling Prosecco to share with her friends and they toast to a perfect day of good food and the great outdoors.

Overall, this episode of Barefoot Contessa is filled with great recipes that are perfect for a sunny picnic day. Ina's Portable Picnic menu is not only practical but also delicious, adding a touch of elegance to any picnic occasion.