Giada De Laurentiis

We've hit the ground running at the New York City Wine and Food Festival, and last night we kept busy (and full) stuffing our faces at Meatball Madness (our favorite: a brilliant duck and porcini creation).

While our mouths were pretty much full the entire time, we'd have been remiss not to catch a word with the evening's host, Giada De Laurentiis, who had the weighty task of evaluating all 25 meatball contenders at the event. She took a minute to tell us what makes a great meatball at home, as well as her Halloween plans and her latest big project.

More on meatballs, her favorite homemade Halloween candies, and food trends she's over when you keep reading.

Recently I was in need of a seasonal appetizer that would satiate both vegetarians and carnivores alike. After watching an episode of Giada at Home, I decided to try her grilled corn and cheese cakes. Instead of using frozen corn, I substituted fresh corn cut off the cob.

The recipe has mixed reviews, and I was a little worried that the resulting bite wouldn't be embraced by my all-female guests. However, these cakes blew my friends and I away! They were amazing.

The corn flavor is enhanced by spicy pepper Jack cheese, and the panko provides a perfectly crisp crust. Although they are rich, they're not heavy; they are satisfying and filling but still light. These cakes pair perfectly with a glass of sparkling wine! I highly recommend you make this hors d'oeuvre. Get the recipe here.

• Check out the cake Duff Goldman created for the Harry Potter premiere! — Eater
• What Giada de Laurentiis cooked for Prince William and Kate Middleton. — People
• Which brand of store-bought hummus is worth dipping into? — KitchenDaily
• A look at the top offerings from the Summer Fancy Foods show. — ABC news
• Canned goods that you should always keep on hand. — TLC
• Twenty-five celebrity-owned restaurants that are actually worth visiting. — The Daily Meal
• What really causes food coma. — Food Republic
• Ooh, la la: Chipotle's headed to Paris this Fall. — Grub Street NY

Although I wouldn't consider a classic lasagna to be a fast and easy weeknight meal option, this variation, with a simple asparagus-ricotta filling and no sauce, is ideal for a middle of the week pick-me-up. The ingredient list calls for pancetta, but I had bacon in my fridge, so that's what I used. If you're a vegetarian, leave it out. The best part of this lasagna is the sun-dried tomato paste that's layered between the noodles; it packs a flavorful punch and melts into the scrumptiously cheesy filling. Want to save even more time? Use no-boil lasagna noodles. To take a look at the preparation method, keep reading.

Having a successful show on the Food Network may not get you industry accolades like the recent James Beard Awards, but it can get you a nod from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This morning the daytime Emmy Award nominations were announced, and among the nominees are many culinary personalities.

Rachael Ray and Giada De Laurentiis received three nominations each, while Martha Stewart was nominated for two awards. America's Test Kitchen, Avec Eric, Cook's Country, Lidia's Italy, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, and Paula's Best Dishes will duke it out in the outstanding culinary program category. Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee is up for outstanding achievement in hairstyling.

Since I'm a huge fan of Anne Burrell, I'm rooting for her to win outstanding lifestyle/culinary host.

• The history of tequila. — Salon
• Speaking of tequila, is the margarita ready to reclaim its cool status? — Grub Street NY
• Five things you don't know about Daniel Boulud, Dan Barber, and Wolfgang Puck. — The Feast
• Dunkin' Donuts is going public. — Huffington Post Food
• Must make: roasted jalapeño tomato salsa baked goat cheese. — Chaos in the Kitchen
• If you love tea, here's an app for you. — Daily Dish
• Watch a preview of PBS' new show Kimchi Chronicles. — Eater
• Learn what foods Giada de Laurentiis makes for her daughter. — Today
• What exactly is coconut milk? — Baking Bites