Hey There, It's Christa!

Barefoot Contessa Wouldn't Have Approved But...

On Saturday night, I had a dinner party that Ina Garten (a.k.a. The Barefoot Contessa) definitely wouldn't have approved of.

In fact, I violated several of her back to basics rules of entertaining...and no, that doesn't mean that I skipped the good vanilla.

But these were doozies in her book nonetheless..

Not only did I not make anything in advance (I did everything only mere hours before), but I actually served dishes that I (gasp!) never made before (but always wanted to).

And everything actually turned out great.

I debuted lasagna rolls (a recipe by Giada with a few new touches of my own), homemade garlic bread and mini orange ricotta chocolate cheesecakes for dessert.

Now I'll admit, I was a little nervous about the cheesecakes since a water bath was required so they wouldn't crack in the middle. Not only have I never cooked anything that required a water bath, but I'd never used a silicon muffin tin before. Fortunately, the silicon made everything easy breezy, so count me a new fan. The cheesecakes came out of the pan perfectly and looked really cute arranged on my cupcake pedestal.

Other than wasting a lot of money on ricotta cheese, prosciutto and a special muffin tin, really, what was the worst that could happen? If dinner turned out bad, I still could've ordered pizza, which I'm guessing with wine, still would've been a crowd pleaser.

But I do have to say, making this dinner was a lot more fun and maybe, just maybe, I'll break Barefoot's rules again sometime soon, who knows? Hmmm, what to try next?

Thank You For the Music...

Long before all the plastic surgery, the crazy marriage to Lisa Marie Presley and the allegations of child molestation, I was majorly crushin' on Michael Jackson (see pic on the left...wasn't he cute?).

I was in 5th grade and fell in love with Thriller like everyone else in the planet and decided to profess my true affection for Michael and his music in the form of a fan letter.

Not wanting me to get my hopes up (Michael was quite the busy guy in the height of his fame, after all), my Mom told me there was a pretty good chance I'd never actually hear back from Michael—not because he didn't appreciate my letter, of course, but because he probably wouldn't have an opportunity to read it.

Undetered, I wrote him anyway...

And while I'm pretty sure he never actually read it, someone from his fan club did and sent me a bunch of M.J. goodies including stickers, a letter with a cheesy, copy machine autograph and a list of all the places he'd be performing in the next few months. Lame or not, it was enough to satisfy my interest in all things M.J., and I was absolutely delighted. I even remember showing my goodies to my neighbor, who was thoroughly unimpressed and called him a word I've never heard before...a word I had to look up in the dictionary and was mortified after finding out what it meant.

But like all pop culture phenomena, my loyalty only lasted so long. When I discovered Duran Duran (a little late, mind you) and traded in "Thriller" and "Billie Jean" for repeat listens of "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Rio," my crush was over. It was all about Simon LeBon, and there was nothing Michael could do about it.

Over the years, I haven't followed Jackson's career much since those 5th grade days. Sure, I've heard a new song here and there on the radio, but nothing had quite the effect that anything from Thriller ever did. Instead, it was all his personal travails that were always center stage. I remember watching that infamous Martin Bashir documentary with an uneasy mix of curiosity and disbelief. I couldn't believe that someone could be so out of touch with reality—and I felt sorry for him as Bashir kept pressing him with questions he had no intention of answering honestly because he was, well, so incredibly delusional. And if he wasn't delusional, Jackson should've won a "Best Actor" Oscar because he never seemed to break character, no matter what he was talking about.

Even though my admiration for Jackson as a pop star diminished long ago, I still couldn't help but feel sad when learning of his passing this past week. The news came via a text message from my sister since I'd been away from my computer that day. Sure, I think the oversaturation of information and tributes about him in the media is a tad ridiculous (and makes me feel sorry for Farrah Fawcett, who also died on the same day). But hearing the stories of the last days of his life is just heart-wrenching. I mean if that's not a cautionary tale about the bad things that come with fame, I don't know what is. It makes me wonder if things could've been different with a few less "yes men" in his life. And don't even get me going on his family...especially his dad.

But if anything good could come out of such a horrible situation, it was this: At least MTV started playing videos again...an art that Michael Jackson actually understood. Whether you liked his music or not, his videos were always intriguing. You never knew what he going to do next, something that was both a plus and a minus in the life of Michael Jackson.

My New Favorite Discovery: Williams-Sonoma's Chili-Lime Rub

Part of the fun of cooking is experimenting with different spices and flavors—a pinch of this, a teaspoon of that and seeing what works and what doesn't.

And when you're trying to be a little more health-conscious about eating (not always an easy thing for food lovers like Will and I), you're constantly trying to find ways to add as much flavor as possible without packing on the calories. Lately, I've really been loving how citrus juice and zest brightens up the flavor of dishes. Just a squeeze of a lemon or lime or a little of their zest really does so much for boring ol' chicken or vegetables, lemme tell ya. It's an entirely new dining experience that really opens up the ol' taste buds.

But I have my dear friend Krista Bergstrom, who has recently discovered a serious passion for grilling, to thank for my favorite new discovery: Williams-Sonoma's Chili-Lime Rub. While we were perusing all the lovely cooking supplies at the Williams-Sonoma at Mall of America, (seriously, I wanted everything in sight) she told me about this particular rub and how it tranforms anything you put it on—veggies, chicken, etc. In fact, I'm pretty sure she even bought two containers of it.

So on her recommendation (and because I love limes sooo much, so really how could it be bad?), I gave it a try and have absolutely loved it. I've put in on new potatoes, fresh string beans, red peppers, chicken, corn on the cob, pretty much everything but my morning breakfast cereal. With a perfect hint of lime and a not-too-strong, not-too-weak chili presence, it's simply divine and will make your summer grilling taste all the better, trust me.

Hangin' With Barbara Wa Wa

It's really no secret that I'm always reading something, but lately, I've been ingesting books like there's no tomorrow. So after a couple of decent women's lit titles, I finally decided to read Barbara Walter's autobiography, Audition, which has been on my to-read list for a while now.

Given her very colorful life inside—and outside— of journalism, (just the dish on "The View" alone would be worth the price of admission) I thought it would be a great read, even if I was a bit skeptical that I'd enjoy 672 pages of all things Barbara Wa Wa.

Considerably longer than my usual novel read or not, Barbara's story was so intriguing that it didn't take long to breeze right through it. Written in a conversational tone, it's definitely not sanitized like many celebrity autobiographies. In what must be a huge testament to how much people like and respect her, she really leaves no stone unturned, whether she's discussing her romantic failures (and there are many of them), the co-workers who didn't always like her (there were considerably less of those) or the celebrities she's interviewed that she didn't quite connect with. Of course, there are a lot of positive elements in her story, too. But the inclusion of the negative ones as well make "Audition" feel more like an authentic slice of her life.

And for every woman who's wanted to succeed in journalism, she did it when it was only a man's newsroom, which is not only admirable, but has you rooting for her every step of the way as you read about her journey in Audition.

Rating: **** out 4 stars.

Just in Time for Beach Reading...

Ah, it's finally summer. And you know what that means...yes, it's definitely beach reading season. There's just something about this time of year that makes you want to read something a little lighter, a little funnier, while you're sunning and sipping your favorite icy drink.

Just in time for this most wonderful time of the year, I'm going to be signing copies of my two romantic comedies that are tailor-made for summer reading, Around the World in 80 Dates and Blessed Are the Meddlers. Filled with jet-setting adventures, fun pop culture references and plenty of bad (and good) dates to boot, both novels will serve as your perfect, laugh-filled companion this summer.

So feel free to stop by, say hello and pick them up at my book signing on Saturday, July 18 @ Borders in Woodbury, Minnesota. I'll be hangin' around from 2:00-4:00 p.m., so be sure and drop by whenever you'd like.

Book Comment: Comfort Food

File Under: No sophomore slump for Kate Jacobs

Maybe it's because I can't even sew a button on something that's missing one, (sad isn't it?) let alone knit an entire sweater, but I just couldn't get into Kate Jacob's much-loved debut novel, The Friday Night Knitting Club. In fact, I'm pretty sure I read and re-read the first chapter like six times and finally called it a day.

Much like Karen Joy Fowler's The Jane Austen Book Club, which I thought was an okay book but a pretty decent movie (mostly because of Hugh Dancy's hilarious turn as Grigg), I'm thinking I might actually prefer seeing the story play out on the big screen instead.

I'm providing this rather lengthy set-up because I decided to give Kate Jacobs' writing another chance when I discovered Comfort Food, the follow-up to Knitting Club which centers around a subject I actually know something about and love—cooking.

As a huge fan of watching the Food Network, I was intrigued by the story of Gus Simpson, the popular host of "Cooking With Gusto!", a show that sounds a lot like "Barefoot Contessa," which I absolutely adore. On the brink of turning 50, something Gud is not looking forward to, she is also forced to reevaluate her culinary career. With her ratings beginning a rather speedy decline in favor of the flavor-of-the-moment, model/chefs, Gus is forced to share the stage with someone who epitomizes everything she hates in hopes of saving her show. And it's quite a wild ride.

Integrated into the mix are her two daughters who have a set of issues all their own, a wacky, reclusive best friend and later, a love interest for Gus (she's a long-time widow) who you can't help rooting for. With such a diverse mix of great characters to keep you entertained, Comfort Food is quite the page-turner.

An easy, entertaining read that's the literary equivalent of noshing on a big bowl of pasta, the examination of multi-generational relationships is ultimately what gives Comfort Food its soul. And without a knitting needle in sight, I savored every delicious moment.

Rating: *** out of 4 stars

Yeah, The Realities of Fame Aren't Pretty

I've never watched an episode of "Jon and Kate + 8," but like most of America, I've seen the nasty secrets of their crumbling marriage unfolding, well, everywhere.

No matter how much I wish I could escape, I can't because any new development, no matter how minor, is prominently displayed on each and every tabloid. Even the drive-time chat on my favorite radio station is dedicated to the latest developments and CNN.com isn't immune from the Jon and Kate train-wreck, and that's where I'm supposed to be reading the actual news.

It's all a little disheartening to say the least, especially when I heard the show's ratings have quadrupled since the scandal. Seems that viewers have a taste for controversy (no surprise there), so I'm sure the Jon and Kate media onslaught is only going to continue.

Of course, I'll admit that I don't know the true ins and outs of the situation. And with so much spin and speculation out there, I'm sure no one, aside from the Gosselins themselves, really does. But as Jon and Kate's dirty laundry is aired in public like this rather than behind closed doors, I can't help but wonder if they're thinking about those eight kids that made them famous in the first place. After all, without the "+8," these two were unlikely to score a show, let alone the celebrity perks, on their own.

While the kids are still young, they're definitely old enough to understand what's going on. And how strange it must feel to see their parents feuding on those aforementioned magazine covers. I mean, how is it possible to have even a quasi-normal life when everyone on the planet is aware of your parents' very-public spat?

All I can say is this makes me very, very sad. Yes, with fame, there are certain realities. Your private business inevitably becomes everyone else's, especially when your family's every move is carefully chronicled for the camera. But maybe this is the sort of reality TV we shouldn't be watching—because ultimately, until we stop, the Jon and Kate +8 craziness isn't coming to a screeching halt any time soon.

I'm Back From the Big D...

I was on a bit of a blogging hiatus last week. In fact, I'm pretty sure I forgot I even have a blog because the days leading up to our trip to Dallas were a little nuts.

No matter how prepared I think I am, there's always all sorts of unexpected loose ends to take care of before I go on a trip. It's never just an easy-peasy process. And this little jaunt, with a wedding involved (Will's sister Bess got married), was definitely no exception. I was running around, shopping for my dress and wrapping up deadlines with only seconds left on the proverbial clock.

But like it always does, everything ended falling neatly into place, and Will and I had a great time in his hometown. Bess and Andy's wedding was absolutely beautiful, and it was fun being somewhere where it actually felt like summer. And noshing on some really great Tex-Mex, something that's severely lacking in Minnesota, was definitely a bonus.

I must also say that it's great to have such fantastic in-laws. I've heard many a horror story about the scary ones out there, so I'm very thankful to always feel so welcome. It always so much fun hangin' at the Banister house, and I wish we got to do that a little more often.

But until that day arrives, we'll always have Bess' wedding.