Friday, November 11, 2011

Food Network Friday: Giada De Laurentiis

Happy Friday!
Actually, I should say Happy 11-11-11!!! :D

I haven't done a Food Network Friday post since the first one I made (haha!)... and since I am in the mood for some delicious Italian food, our Food Network chef for today is Giada De Laurentiis!


Giada is a chef, writer, television personality, and the host of the current Food Network program Giada at Home. She also appears regularly as a contributor and guest co-host on NBC's Today. De Laurentiis is the founder of the catering business GDL Foods.

Giada graduated from Marymount High School, got a degree from the University of California Los Angeles, and studied at Le Cordon Bleu Paris -- quite an education there!


In 2005, she published her first cookbook, Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes, which was followed by Giada's Family Dinners, released April 4, 2006; Everyday Pasta, released April 3, 2007; Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites, released September 30, 2008; and Giada at Home: Family Recipes from Italy and California, released March 30, 2010.

She also has a range of products made only for Target. Her products consist of stainless steel pots and pans, a wide range of utensils and cooking tools and stainless steel counter-top appliances such as a Panini Press, Coffee Maker and Food Processor.

Giada is often called "a petite powerhouse".


She also recently made headlines when she catered an event at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club -- an event attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!


What was on the menu?
A "light and colorful" pea pesto crostini, featuring pureed peas on toast, topped with half a cherry tomato, California chopped salad with a mix of grilled lettuces, grilled corn, grilled shrimp, zucchini and crispy tortillas in a light lemon dressing, and Chicken Milanese, which features breaded chicken cutlets in a creamy tomato fennel sauce.

Yum!

--------------------------------

My sister has been a fan of Giada De Laurentiis ever since I can remember, and she would always try out her recipes. And man, they were good!

Here are three of Giada's recipes that my sister has made for us:


Picture of Salmon with Puff Pastry and Pesto Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
Level: Easy

Oh my gosh, this is just perfect!
Salmon paired with pesto and eaten with a puff pastry is just delicious!


Picture of Spaghetti with Arugula Pesto and Seared Jumbo Shrimp Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
Level: Easy

Jumbo shrimp? Sold!


Picture of Chocolate-Hazelnut Ravioli Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
Level: Intermediate

I don't think I have to explain how good these are! ;)

What do you think of these three recipes?

I wish all of you a wonderful weekend!!!

***images from Google, information from Wikipedia, and recipes and photos from www.foodnetwork.com***

Twitter? WhatMimiWrites :)
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41 comments:

  1. D.Sadie (D.G.S.Beauty)November 11, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    I love her! And she's so gorgeous too.

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  2. PeijiNovember 11, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    oh my goodness, I love the Food Network!
    unfortunately I don't have it on cable tv, so I tend
    to go to their website and drool at the recipes lol

    lovely post!
    I love Italian food and that chocolate-hazelnut ravioli is amazing!
    I LOVE squash ravioli with a bit of cheese! yum!

    ReplyDelete
  3. MimiNovember 11, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    D.Sadie-- i knoow, she's so beautiful!

    Peiji-- me too, i looove food network! oooh, squash ravioli sounds delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MilaNovember 11, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    I haven't even ever heard of this girl, but not only does she sound extremely talented, she's gorgeous! Those recipes and pictures sound/look delicious.

    xoxo,
    meme-stylenewbie.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. MimiNovember 11, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Mila-- she really is extremely talented, those recipes are amazingly delicious! :)

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  6. Femme VirtueNovember 11, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    omg, she's talented and gorgeous too!!! would love to taste those chocolate ravioli!

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  7. MimiNovember 11, 2011 at 10:08 PM

    Femme Virtue-- oh gosh, the chocolate ravioli is amazing!!! ;)

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  8. lucia mNovember 11, 2011 at 11:03 PM

    that looks super yummy!!

    www.aroundlucia.com
    www.aroundlucia.com
    www.aroundlucia.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. MimiNovember 11, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    lucia-- yup!!! :)

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  10. LeeloNovember 11, 2011 at 11:16 PM

    These recipes sound delicious :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. MimiNovember 11, 2011 at 11:24 PM

    Miss L-- they really are. :)

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  12. CarrieNovember 12, 2011 at 12:04 AM

    I love watching Everyday Italian and Giada at Home on Food Network! She cooks many delicious looking food. I want to eat that hazelnut ravioli!

    :)
    Carrie
    http://readmylifeascarrie.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  13. MimiNovember 12, 2011 at 12:11 AM

    Carrie-- i looove watching her cooking shows too! and the stuff she makes always look good! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. ChiChi81November 12, 2011 at 5:11 AM

    Ohh I recognize her through the Food Network as well haha. I've always been captivated by her talent in cooking and her stunning beauty.

    Cheers,

    Wi
    A Single Girl's Musings

    ReplyDelete
  15. a!k0November 12, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    Giada is so beautiful :D every time I watch her shows I can't help but stare :P I have never tried any of her recipes but they look so good. I am so glad we have Food network channel over here :D

    x0x0

    lifelittlesurprises.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Second Hand RoseNovember 12, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    Never heard of her because I'm in cold old England but she sounds great! It surprising she is so skinny what with all that italian food! That menu sounds good but what's pureed peas on toast all about!? It's a bit weird! Those recipes sound scrummy, I hope you enjoyed them! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  17. NiniNovember 12, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    Thanks for reading my blog! ;)

    Your blog is lovely!

    xoxo
    nini

    ReplyDelete
  18. NanaNovember 12, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    I love your blog! So glad you stopped by mine :)

    Nana

    ReplyDelete
  19. menina eleganteNovember 12, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    OMG I LOVE HER.

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  20. MimiNovember 12, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    Wi-- same here! :)

    a!k0-- you should try cooking some of her recipes one day, they are delicious! :)

    Second Hand Rose-- i definitely enjoyed these recipes! and you're right, now i wonder what pureed peas on toast are. they do sound weird, but maybe they're good, haha. ;)

    Nini-- you're welcome and thanks! :)

    Nana-- thank you, i'm glad you like my blog! :)

    menina elegante-- :D

    ReplyDelete
  21. devin leivaNovember 12, 2011 at 6:25 PM

    Shes gorgeous and the food looks soo yummy
    Xx

    DOLLMEUP

    ReplyDelete
  22. MimiNovember 12, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    devin-- i agree with you on both things you said! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. MeriNovember 12, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    I love Giada- she radiates happiness and her food is so tasty looking!

    ReplyDelete
  24. NikkiNovember 12, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    She is totally a petite powerhouse! Beautiful and a great cook, what more could you want?

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  25. MimiNovember 12, 2011 at 11:29 PM

    Meri-- she really does, huh? :)

    Nikki-- she really is, i bet her daughter always has the most delicious meals! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ellinor ForjeNovember 13, 2011 at 1:34 AM

    Okay, I sooooo need to try this recipe. Thanks for posting the photos and feel free to drop by me too, soon.

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  27. DreeNovember 13, 2011 at 5:08 AM

    I love Giada (and The Food Network)! I have to try out her recipes one day!

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  28. kNovember 13, 2011 at 7:37 AM

    those sound like really good recipes, i had never heard of her!

    ReplyDelete
  29. MimiNovember 13, 2011 at 1:37 PM

    Ellinor-- you're welcome! and of course, i'll visit your blog too! :)

    Dree-- let me know when you do! :)

    Krystal-- she's a really good chef. :)

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  30. JNovember 13, 2011 at 3:52 PM

    Thanks for the recipes! I love easy recipes. and I am a HUGE fan of Giada!

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  31. MimiNovember 13, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    J-- you're welcome!!! :D

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  32. Marie a la ModeNovember 13, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    I don't know who this lady is because I hate to cook but she's very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  33. MimiNovember 13, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    Marie-- aww, haha! ;) and yeah, i agree she's very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  34. stylenuggetsNovember 13, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    She makes everything look so easy and has the best smile ever!

    ReplyDelete
  35. MimiNovember 13, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    Kavery-- i knooow! i agree with you! :D

    ReplyDelete
  36. MarieNovember 13, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    Good post, Mimi! I love Giada's recipes, I'm glad you love them too.;D

    ***** Marie *****
    allthingsmarie.com
    Giveaway: Shabby Apple Da Vinci Dress

    ReplyDelete
  37. MimiNovember 13, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    Marie-- her recipes are really good! :D

    ReplyDelete
  38. UnknownNovember 14, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    I am a new blogger, and love getting inspirations from other bloggers. Love your blog! Great photos and well-written. :)

    Following, and will be back. :)
    Jas
    http://www.adamalexmommy.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. MimiNovember 14, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    Jas-- aww, thanks! i'm glad you love it! thanks for following! :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousNovember 15, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Wow, Giada De Laurentiis is amazing! I would love for her to cook for me lol. :)

    All of these dishes look so good. I love the pesto pasta with jumbo shrimps. <3

    Lots of love, B
    http://vivalabreee.blogspot.com/
    Tweet me: Viva_La_Breee

    ReplyDelete
  41. MimiNovember 15, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    Bree-- haha, i knoow! honestly, i would love that! :)

    ReplyDelete

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