Jennifer Garner Cooks

 Jennifer Garner is the type of star or celeb (whichever you want to call her) seems like she'd be the perfect friend. She;s wholesome, fresh and sweet. She's also the friend you'd like to bake and cook with as well. You can even if you're not a friend. Her show "Pretend Cooking Show" on her You tube channel Garnerish isa great way to learn how to cook and pick up tips.

I disocvered Garnerish by accident.It really is a delightful program and it's like watching your bestie cook and bake. Of course there is  anod to Garner's idol, Ina Gartner, (shes' even mentioned in a  video or two). she makes simple and complex recipes.What's great about these videos is that they show fails. This happened with her bagel recipes which she quickly dumped in the garbage. ( I would have just torn them up and let the birds or wildlife eat them).It's as if she's saying it's all right to make mistakes . No one is a perfect cook or baker. - something other chefs fail to mention. No home chef then feels bad and quits cooking or is afraid to try anything. Ms. Garner is one of us. If she feels its OK to sometimes produce clunkers then it's OK for us too. This is very important for thosejust starting out in the kitchen. Cooking is not a perfect art. There will be underbaked cakes or scorched meats and burned soups. It diesn't mean you should just walk away. Come back and try again.

What about her recipes? She has a really good one on zoodles, zucchini pasta with an easy sauce. Keep in mind Ms. Garner does have state of the art equipment. She can bascially create restuarant quality dishes. You can easily buy a cheaper spiralizer. The zoodles are sauteed in olive oil with garlic and herbs. The sauce is an easy one of canned tomatoes with onions . She adds a blog of frehs whipped ricotta for more flavor. An even easier recipe is her leftover chicken soup which is like any body's mom's.A really sweet one is her making chffon pie with her mom,West Virgnia born Pat (Ms. Garner was born and raised there). Her mother helps and imparts really good wisdom on making whipped cream(always use metal bowls to whip cream in and always store th e bowls in fridge before using) . This is an easy tasty dessert that's reminscent of Eton Mess, a glorious mix of whipped cream, fresh fruit and homemade meringue.There's also adisasterous chocolate chip cookie video that everyone can relate to.

If you like cooking with your besties, then watch the 109 episodes of Pretend Cooking. These are fun and easy to watch how tos. They'll make you feel good about cooking and baking.

Barbie Party Time

 The girl of the summer is definitely Barbie. Thanks to the Margot Robbie -Ryan Goslin movie , the original girl power is everywhere. There are Barbie Crocs, dresses , jackets and even pillows. Now Barbiephiles can celebrate the doll and the movie with a Barbie core do,

Most fans will probably have a pink themed party with Cosmos and trays of little girl pink Double Bubble gum. However Barbie herself may have more sophisticated that. yes , you could have Cosmos to celebrate the Nineties version (and yes, there are Sex and the City inspired barbies) along with putting the gum with ahost of other pink candy as favors. However Barbie has always been a California girl, right down to her Malibu Beachhouse. HAve a California themed party featuring burgers to symbolize the In and Out ones along with a host of food truck food to symbolize Los Angeles food truck culture. Think about fish and bulgoki tacos where guests can put all sorts of toppings from traditional pico di gallo to kim chee. Tater tots with a cheddar topping is another big food truck iitem and they're easy to make in an air fryer.Avocados are a big  Southern California product so think about a refreshing salad made with them and a tangy lemon vinaigrette. what to serve afterwards? LA's own chiffon pie fist made in 1929 by Los Angeleno baker Monroe Boston Strause, It's a kind of  a vanilla mousse fillling in a graham cracker crust. Serve with strawberries if you want a bit of pink.

Barbie has been around since 1959 so another party idea is picking a decade themed party. The Fifties and Sixties brought an era of both  hominess and sophistication. You could feature a baked ham with pineapple alogn with an ambrosia salad fullof marshmallows and citrus fruit like pimeapple and oranges. You could also end with a pineapple upside down cake, very popular in the era. The Sixties also brought us Camelot and Jackie Kennedy's love of anything French. Think croissants filled with tarragon chicken salad, or steak Diane with a creamy Bearnaise sauce.Dessert could be Barbie pink  strawberry macarons (although you can throw in some chocolate and pistacchio ones along with lemon ones) The Seventies brought us fondue but it's too hot for that. Try cheese balls dipped in chopped nuts along with a platter of  devilled eggs. You could also serve party franks with a tangy sauce and mini crabcakes. Barbie embraced the glam Eighties and you can too. Serve lobster canapes and champagne along with caviar topped crostini. What about the NIneties and the early Aughts? Try comfort food, like pizza bagels and beer that got us through the Y2K anxiety. You could also make comfort sweets like cupcakes which had a revival twenty years ago. Think Funfetti ones with mounds of homemade strawberry icing.

It's the summer of Barbie! Get wild with a LA - So Cal themed do or pick a decade and celebate. All are perfect for toasting this doll  of a woman. Enjoy the movie and the food of her life.