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!

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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 :)

41 comments:

  1. 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!

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

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

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  3. 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

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

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

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

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  7. that looks super yummy!!

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

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  8. These recipes sound delicious :)

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  9. 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/

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

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  11. 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

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  12. 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

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  13. 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/

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  14. Thanks for reading my blog! ;)

    Your blog is lovely!

    xoxo
    nini

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

    Nana

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  16. 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

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  17. Shes gorgeous and the food looks soo yummy
    Xx

    DOLLMEUP

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

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

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

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  21. Meri-- she really does, huh? :)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  31. 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

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  32. Marie-- her recipes are really good! :D

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  33. 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

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

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  35. 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

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

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