by Furnishly | Oct 12, 2025 | Design Inspiration, Style
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I grew up during the heyday of cooking shows, and Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa was must-see TV. I was new to cooking, so I soaked up all the hosting tips and insider kitchen tricks she shared. Even a passing comment about using really good olive oil had me scanning the screen to see which brand Ina deemed the best. (I recently learned which ketchup she loves, and it’s already my go-to bottle.)
Even now that I’m an experienced cook, I’m still learning from Ina and dreaming of a day spent dining with her in the Hamptons. I’m still waiting on my invitation, but that doesn’t mean I can’t eat like I’m at Ina’s right now. Ina revealed the most popular dip she sold at The Barefoot Contessa in the cookbook she named after her specialty food shop, so obviously I had to try it.
Get the recipe: Ina Garten’s Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
How to Make Ina Garten’s Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
Ina Garten’s sun-dried tomato dip takes just a few minutes to make with the help of a food processor. Blend oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, hot sauce, kosher salt, and black pepper together in a food processor until smooth. Add green onions and pulse a few times to combine, then transfer to a serving dish. Serve with crackers or vegetables for dipping.
My Honest Review of Ina Garten’s Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
Cooking like Ina Garten is all about effortless elegance, and nothing says that more than a flavorful dip made in the food processor. The dip relies on a trio of ingredients — sour cream, mayonnaise, and cream cheese — as the base for the creamy dip. From there, you could add any flavor-packed ingredient, but Ina adds oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, hot sauce, and green onions. The sun-dried tomatoes add a lovely blush hue to the dip, plus a deep tomato and umami flavor. It’s an ingredient that was hot in the 1990s, but has made a major comeback, thanks to Marry Me Chicken (and I’m here for it).
I’ll be honest: The addition of hot sauce in the recipe gave me pause. I wasn’t sure how the flavor of hot sauce would taste with the tomatoes and green onion, but I shouldn’t have doubted Ina. In the book, she recommends using Tabasco. It’s a thin hot sauce that adds both spice and a vinegary kick to balance the richness of the creamy ingredients. I love serving this with round butter crackers, but you could also add crunchy vegetables or a sliced baguette on the side.
3 Tips for Making Ina Garten’s Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
by Furnishly | Oct 12, 2025 | Design Inspiration, Style
Sarah EverettHome Projects Editor
I organize the Before & After series and cover DIY and design. I joined AT in October 2020 as a production assistant. I have an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri and a BA in Journalism from Belmont University. Past editorial stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and local magazines in my hometown, Columbia, Missouri.
by Furnishly | Oct 12, 2025 | Design Inspiration, Style
Ciéra is a writer and regional laureate with particular passions for art, design, philosophy, and poetry. As well as contributing to Apartment Therapy, she’s an Editorial Assistant for Design Anthology UK and a Contributing Writer for Homes & Gardens and Living, etc. When not…read more
by Furnishly | Oct 10, 2025 | Design Inspiration, Style
Kenzie’s favorite thing about this specific project was adding a bin for the clients’ cat, Daisy, on the fourth row (left side). It’s a nice little touch for their furry family member.
For those looking to upgrade their pantry, Kenzie recommends that you take the time to plan accordingly. “Block more time than you need because it will inevitably take longer than you think,” she says.
by Furnishly | Oct 10, 2025 | Design Inspiration, DIY, Style
Sarah EverettHome Projects Editor
I organize the Before & After series and cover DIY and design. I joined AT in October 2020 as a production assistant. I have an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri and a BA in Journalism from Belmont University. Past editorial stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and local magazines in my hometown, Columbia, Missouri.
by Furnishly | Oct 10, 2025 | Design Inspiration, Style
We
independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Lighting can really make or break a room, and Jonathan Scott, one-half of HGTV’s Property Brothers, knows this better than anyone else. When Scott and wife Zooey Deschanel were reimagining their New York City apartment, they knew that one popular staple was most definitely not going to be included in their home.
“If you look up, you’ll notice that there are no recessed lights in this place,” Deschanel said during the couple’s Architectural Digest house tour. “That’s a swear word in our house,” Scott added. As someone who isn’t a fan of the “big light,” I was all ears.
Why Zooey and Jonathan Skip Recessed Lighting
For anyone following Zooey Deschanel’s career, you know she has always had a distinct style. Her aesthetic is expertly curated, so boring and basic lighting was never going to work. “We were able to just put beautiful lights everywhere,” Deschanel told AD. “Or we have a chandelier, a pendant, a sconce, or a lamp — the lighting feels magical, moody, and fun.”
But Scott thinks Deschanel’s love of lighting may actually be somewhat genetic. “This is the side effect of being engaged to someone whose father is a world-class cinematographer,” he joked. “Lighting is very important.”
As the couple takes viewers around their home, it’s clear just how vital great lighting is to them. In the living room (just off the kitchen), two sconces flank the sofa, and viewers are able to spot matching red ceramic lamps sitting on both side tables.
Just because there isn’t any recessed lighting doesn’t mean the space feels dark — Deschanel and Scott opted for flush-mounted decorative lighting above the kitchen island and the couch to flood the room with light, making it as much of a workable space as it can be a cozy space with those overheads turned off.
Take a page from Deschanel and Scott’s book if you’re looking to make your space a bit more stylish and warm — make recessed lighting a “dirty word” in your home, too! Banishing canned lighting could be the secret sauce your interior home’s vibes have been missing.