PrintBarefoot Contessa Products?
A new little gourmet shop opened in my town, and they stock a little selection of Barefoot Contessa mixes. Has anyone tried these? Are they good?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
11 Comments:
For mixes, they're not bad tasting. I especially liked the peanut butter cookie mix and some of the cupcake mixes. However, I've not actually made any of the mixes. I find it just as easy to make cookies and cupcakes from scratch. Still, I think these are worth trying if you prefer a mix.
elizabethw at 6:02PM on 02/19/08
Can't speak to their quality but from what I have seen, they are seriously overpriced. I looked at the marshmallow mix when I saw it at Christmastime -- $10.95 for some gelatin and sugar. $10.95!!!! I can make 4 times the quantity for fraction of the price ... The cocoa mix is $11.95 for 16 oz on Sur La Table's website ... again, it's cocoa, sugar and dried milk. I can make better for less.
kjgibson at 6:03PM on 02/19/08
@kgibson - thank you. We have several gourmet markets that carry the products. I picked one up to just check the price and thought I was going to have an embolism. I have no problem spending good money on fine quality food products, but people, they're just mixes for God's sake!
frederika at 6:48PM on 02/19/08
Not to mention that the recipes -- by Ina Garten herself -- are probably on FoodTV.com. I know her brownie recipe is. Muffins, scones, cookies & cakes ... she's made 'em all on Barefoot Contessa.
I guess the older I get the less inclined I am to waste money on convenience foods I can do better and cheaper at home. And often in about the same amount of time. So what does the "convenience" really buy me? Geez, I am morphing into my own grandmother :-)
kjgibson at 7:41PM on 02/19/08
@kgibson - if we're lucky, we do! My Gram was the best cook ever.
frederika at 9:15PM on 02/19/08
My local bakery/deli offers various celebrity products, often without much success. I wait until they show up in the 2 for $5 bargain barrel to try them out.
When I find a product that's pretty good at that price, (like the jams by Stonewall Kitchen, who produce the Ina Garten line), I go back and offer to buy all the rest for something like $1/each, and usually get them.
srhcb at 10:06PM on 02/19/08
I'm almost always disappointed with mixes. Now and then I'll see a mix and read the ingredients, and I'll think that for the five minutes it's going to take me to measure out the ingredients in the box, it's not worth the extra cost.
I saw a few Contessa products at a discount store and considered them, but still didn't buy them. Now I'm wondering if anyone else thinks they're worth trying.
dbcurrie at 1:20AM on 02/20/08
I do enjoy Stonewall Kitchen products sometimes, although they're pretty expensive. I don't do a whole lot of baking unless it's "hell weekend" in December when I get my Christmas baking done (living in the Rockies also makes it a little tough). I just thought I might make these for a quick treat to take to the office. I didn't check the prices though...if it's as high as some of you say, then no way. I am capable of mixing some sugar, butter and flour and making them from scratch for MUCH less than 10 / box!
lo82070 at 1:26AM on 02/20/08
I'm a diehard Stonewall Kitchen fan, so I'm all for them. I've tried the coconut cupcakes. They were delicious. Wicked pricy, but I'd say it was worth it.
happybites at 9:50AM on 02/20/08
All of the Barefoot recipes are easy enough to make and taste great homemade. Why mess with success? I would just get the recipes off Food network is you don't have her cookbooks and make them myself.
eatmyfood at 8:16PM on 02/20/08
I think the BC mixes are geared toward people who a) don't bake and b) don't need to go inexpensive when they do a food purchase. We know how easy it is to throw together a batch of brownies but there are people out there who are really daunted by baking.
I've never tried her mixes but have prepared many BC recipes. Her tiramisu is one of my standards. I imagine they're better tasting mixes with better than average ingredients.
The only other mix I think I'd ever consider (and I'd have to be really hard pressed for time) are the Ghirardelli chocolate mixes. I sampled a brownie made with this mix and was utterly shocked at how good it tasted. (Still prefer to make my own...)
chiff0nade at 5:15AM on 02/22/08