No need to palpate guilty about using these top - tier merchandise , including a Trader Joe ’s sweet , just - like - homemade marinara , and Ina ’s pick for the “ good ” vanilla .
Blaine moat
We ’re not too majestic to allow in that we reach for shortcuts in the Test Kitchen ( and peculiarly at home plate ) every now and again ! Why would you seek to reinvent the wheel when something likeRitz Crackersorcake mixis so wonderful and convenient as - is — and is quick to be have sex up any which fashion your heart palate desires ?
10 Store-Bought Products Ina Garten Loves
On the heels of the success of her memoir , Be Ready When the Luck come about , we thought it was the perfect time to round up a list of some of our favorite Ina - approved shop - bought fixings . If they ’re dependable enough for the Barefoot Contessa , they surely are worthy of space in our carts — and on our menu !
Tate’s Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Cookies
These crispy , tenuous , and buttery computer memory - bought cooky are made in Ina ’s neck of the woods , Southampton , New York , so it tracks that she restrain them on - hired hand to hit the “ loose ” clitoris on desserts like thisBHGeditor - approvedMocha Icebox Cake . Even if you ’re not a fan of crunchy cookies , you ’ll excavate what they do in that cake , as they ’re sturdy enough to stand up between layers of coffee - scented mousse , yet soften just enough to be scoopable . The consequence : a kickshaw that ’s “ so sound , it ’d make grown men cry , ” concord to Ina . ( We bet Tate ’s cookies would also be amazing in position of ladyfinger intiramisu ! )
Libby’s Pumpkin
When it comes time to whip up the most popularThanksgiving Proto-Indo European , sure , you could go to the crusade of press cutting , roasting , and blitzing up your ownsquash puréetomake pumpkin pie with impudent pumpkin . But Ina tellsWilliams Sonomathat “ pumpkin purée is not only fine , it ’s actually honorable . the great unwashed believe they should make the pumpkin but it never comes out right because the pumpkin purée is a sure kind of Cucurbita pepo that ’s different than what we buy , like for jack - o'-lanterns . ” try out it in herPumpkin Spice cupcake with Maple FrostingorUltimate Pumpkin Pie with Rum Whipped Creamor in our5 - Ingredient Pumpkin Pie Dipthat rooter deem “ the easiest potluck recipe ever . ”
Hellman’s or Duke’s Mayonnaise
One of our favorite features of the culinary luminary ’s website is the“Ask Ina ” feature , in which buff can score answers directly from Barefoot Contessa herself . Nancy from Massachusetts chimed in : “ For your onion dip recipe you say to use ‘ good mayo . ’ Does that mean homemade or a specific brand ? ” Ina replied : “ By ‘ good mayo ’ I intend a good - timber store - bought mark , such as Hellman ’s or Duke ’s . ” For ourTest Kitchen ’s trick for the best grill cheese ever , coalesce 1 tablespoonful each cushion butter and Hellman ’s or Duke ’s mayo , then slather that on the exterior of the bread before cookery . Or use either as the base for Ina ’s versatileButtermilk Herb Mayo . ( That would be incredible in ourClassic Creamy Coleslaw ! )
Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
During thekitchen tour she shared with NYT Cooking , Ina reveals that she ’s been tending to the same peck of herHomemade Vanilla Extractfor 35 ( now 39 ! ) years . “ The smell is just awesome , ” Ina excuse , and you’re able to use thevanilla dome seedsin bake goods or partake in the DIY vanilla extract as afood gift . Since Diane from Houston knows about her from - scratch “ safe vanilla , ” she write in toask Ina : “ You mention how to make vanilla extract selection and have partake in your formula with us , so why do you use commercially made vanilla extract extract on your show ? ” Ina hold that she does n’t want to get into that all of us have a similar shock going for decades at home , “ so I apply store - bought vanilla extract in my recipes ” for consistency , she say . “ I always seek to use ingredients that people can incur at the market store . ” The store - buy kind Ina curse by and recommend on theshopportion of her website ? Nielsen - Massey , which has been sell the extract since 1907 .
Rao’s Homemade Marinara Pasta Sauce
When Kathy from Florida write in toask Ina , “ What ’s your favorite jarred marinara sauce ? ” she had her last result immediately . “ That ’s easy ! Rao ’s Marinara Sauce . ” This , too , can be found featured on Ina ’s workshop page , and is what she pop open when in the climate forShrimp and Linguine Fra Diavoloand EasyEggs in Purgatory . Once you have a few jars William Christopher Handy , do n’t leave out our favorite1 - element hacks to make any marinara taste homemade .
Pepperidge Farms White Sandwich Bread
For theUltimate Tuna Meltor for Ina’sMVP PB&J , the best bread is Pepperidge Farms White Bread , crisp , she say . This way , the bread does n’t get soggy when you add the spread or toppings . Ideal for sandwiches , toast , and egg - in - a - hole when fresh , if a few slices get stale , put the rest of the loaf to great use in thisbudget - friendly Italian vegetarian meatball remixor believe these15 brilliant options for what to do with stale bread .
Skippy Peanut Butter
Another detail spotted during the aforementioned NYT Cooking kitchen go can also be find in Ina ’s “ perfect ” PB&J : Skippy Peanut Butter . She also uses the kid - friendly brand in herPeanut Butter and Jelly Barsthat rooter say “ are a smash ! ” Compared tonatural peanut butter , which often has an oily stratum that can sham the ruined product of baked trade good , Skippy ’s formula includes a couple constituent to prevent separation . When our friend atAllrecipesasked 7 chefs from across the commonwealth to name theirfavorite peanut butter , Skippy came out on top , too . So if you ’re uncertain of which brand to buy for your next batch ofPeanut Butter Cookiesor for this “ standout”No - Bake Peanut Butter Delight , you likely wo n’t be disappointed with the consequence if you stock up up on Skippy ( eitherno - stir naturalorregular creamy ) .
Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chunks
For Ina ’s Chocolate Chunk Cookies that are “ perfection ” and a “ most requested formula from home and friends , ” according to her fans , Ina tells a buff in theAsk Inapage of her site that she always uses “ Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chunks . They are available at most large grocery stores in the bake gangway ! ” ball be given to melt more readily and unevenly than chips , leaving pleasant little pockets of chocolate goodness in baked goods . We love to keep these on hand to use in ourPumpkin - Chocolate Chunk Cookiesor thisFudgy Chocolate Dump Cake , which was one of our most - clicked recipes of 2024 .
Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry
Laminated doughs likepuff pastryare even a pain for many pastry dough chef to make from slit . For herHot Dogs in Puff Pastry , Lamb Sausage in Puff Pastry , andEasy Sticky Buns , Ina deice a package of Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry . ( Find this in the deep freezer aisle . ) It bakes up into attractively lightsome , buttery , and flaky layers , and dress several hours of homework time off of your recipes . Beyond Ina ’s awe-inspiring ideas , we also care to use this various dough forPetite Beef Wellingtons , Figs in a Blanket , and bakehouse - styleLady whorl .
Trader Joe’s French Apple Tart
When you ’re in the mood to completely outsource dessert responsibility , Ina tellsTODAYthat you should head to Trader Joe ’s . In a 2022 consultation , she says , " the other daylight I had some champion over [ and ] I receive an apple tart from Trader Joe ’s … I put it in the oven , it was utterly luscious . I served it with vanilla extract glass cream and a mizzle of caramel sauce that I warmed up from a jar . " ( By the way , Ina ’s fond toHäagen - Dazs VanillaandFran ’s Caramel Sauceon top — we’ll call those two fillip recommendation ! ) When you are in the mood to DIY , though , we can confirm thatIna ’s French Apple Tartis well-situated and oh - so worth the cause .
