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What to Expect on the Next Season of Giada at Home

YumSugar — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:58:37 PDT

Giada fans, get excited: there's plenty cooking for the next season of Food Network's Giada at Home. We caught up with Giada De Laurentiis at the LA Food & Wine Festival, where she shared what special guests she'll be hanging out with in her kitchen this coming season, the importance of offering a stiff drink, and why cooking doesn't have to mean sweating. Watch the video to learn more!

Giada De Laurentiis Offers Meatball Tips and Food Predictions

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:15:13 PDT

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.

Food Network Chefs Name Their Top Fall Food Trends

YumSugar — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:43:32 PDT

What culinary fad has jumped the shark - and what's here to stay? At The Taste in Los Angeles, we interviewed a star-studded lineup of Food Network chefs, from Giada De Laurentiis to Duff Goldman, to see what they think will be the next food trend. From doughnuts to drinking vinegar and food trucks to farm-to-table cuisine, we heard it all, but there's one sizzling hot food trend that everyone seems to be gunning for. Watch the video to find out what it is!

Giada De Laurentiis Goes Alternative . . . With Agave

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:05:40 PDT

It is true that Giada De Laurentiis eats all day, but the gorgeous celebrity chef manages to stay trim. We caught up with her recently at The Taste in Los Angeles to learn how she does it. Her staple exercise: yoga! But when it comes to sweeteners, Giada is mixing it up, moving away from sugar and using agave. Learn more when you watch the video.

Giada De Laurentiis Gives Us a Taste of Her Favorite Fall Recipe

YumSugar — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:20:59 PDT

At this past weekend's The Taste in Los Angeles, we took some time in between cooking demos and wine tastings to chat with Food Network favorite Giada De Laurentiis. The cookbook author, Emmy winner, and star of Giada at Home caught us up on cooking for Will and Kate, her latest ingredient obsession, and her go-to recipe for Fall.

Giada: From Pretty Cook to Full-Blown Celebrity Chef

YumSugar — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:42:11 PDT

Regardless of whether you think she hosts the best Italian cooking show, Giada De Laurentiis has made a tremendous mark on home cooking in America. Over the years, Giada's evolved from fresh-faced home caterer to full-blown celebrity TV personality - and today, the Food Network star turns 41 years young. To pay tribute to her influence, I thought I'd show you a glimpse of her best moments over the years. Check it out when you keep reading.

Perfectly Seasonal: Corn and Cheese Cakes

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 05:11:38 PDT

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.

Yummy Links: From Harry Potter Cakes to Parisian Chipotle

YumSugar — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:25:16 PDT

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

Fast & Easy Dinner: Asparagus Lasagna

Katie Sweeney — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:23:42 PDT

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.

Food Network's Leading Ladies Nominated For Daytime Emmys

Katie Sweeney — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:37:59 PDT

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.