Giada DeLaurentiis for Target Blog Tour

Food is my life!! Okay, well maybe not so much anymore, but I do love to eat! I am a huge "recipe junkie" and watch the Food Network every chance I get. One of my favorite celebrity chef's is Giada De Laurentiis. She prepares the tastiest looking dishes (gotta love Italian food), and makes it simple enough to do yourself at home.

I was very excited to be given the chance to review products from the Giada De Laurentiis line at Target! I received this awesome package for my review, which included all of the following:

Cookware/Bakeware:

* 2-Quart Ceramic Oval Baker

* 9” Ceramic Pie Pan

* Silicone Spoonula with Stainless Steel Handle

* 3-Piece Plastic Bowl Set with Pour

* Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk

* Stainless Steel Measuring Cups

Food Products:

* Giada Blend Coffee

* Marinated Sun Dried Tomatoes

* Black Olive Tapenade

* Marinated Roasted Red Peppers

* Marinated Mushrooms

* Genovese Basil Pesto

* Eggplant & Pepper Pesto

The best part is that you can purchase these same products for yourself from Target at low, affordable prices! I found the Giada De Laurentiis products to be of very high-quality! I absolutely love the ceramic bakeware I received… it can go directly from the oven to your table. They are gorgeous, so there's no worry about transferring your delicious dishes to a "nicer" serving dish. Makes for easy clean up too!

The food products are a perfect "staple" item to keep on hand for unexpected guests. Each priced at under $4, not only are they economically smart, but they also make for a quick and tasty snack for family and friends. You can easily whip up some delicious bruschetta or simply use as a spread on your favorite crackers.

Feeling stressed with the upcoming holidays? Here are some helpful entertaining tips from Giada De Laurentiis!  

·         Plan ahead!  Prepare most of your dishes ahead of time, rather than trying to cook everything at once.  You’ll feel less stressed and will be able to enjoy the party.  Giada recommends leaving only one item for last minute prep – this brings everyone into the kitchen and sets the tone for a cozy, comfortable evening.

·        Don't overdo your menu – keep it simple! As a general rule, Giada suggests offering four to five appetizers. During the holidays, choose foods that have vibrant colors for an added festive touch. Also select foods that are beautiful to serve and easy for guests to eat.

I decided to make a Deep Dish Pizza using the Ceramic Pie Pan and most of the ingredients shown above. It came out AWESOME!! Everything tasted so fresh and had just the right amount of seasoning and spice! I enjoy making a good, healthy pizza every now and then, and Giada's products fit the bill to make the perfect pizza!

I started with a simple, homemade pizza crust recipe provided by Jessie Grearson — Grand Prize Winner of the Lindsay Olives Pizza Recipe Challenge. It incorporates the sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, and garlic nicely into the crust.. AMAZING flavor!

PREPARING THE DOUGH

READY FOR THE OVEN

I tweaked the recipe by adding my own favorite toppings; grilled chicken breast, artichoke hearts, crumbled feta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. I also included Giada's Genovese Basil Pesto as the "sauce" and added the Black Olive Tapenade, Marinated Roasted Red Peppers and Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Marinated Mushrooms too! Divine!!

BUBBLY AND HOT FROM THE OVEN

BON APPETIT!!

I am very pleased with all of the Giada De Laurentiis products I received! The mixing bowls are a beautiful, bold red, and I like that it has a "lip" to hold onto when mixing. The stainless steel measuring cups are perfect for this household.. I can't tell you how many times my kids have accidently dropped my plastic measuring cups and broken them. These are good and heavy.. and sturdy!

I can't wait to use the ceramic bakeware for our Christmas dinner!! I cooked up some chicken breasts and butternut squash in the oval baker the other night, and the dish came out perfect! Beautiful and practical all in one!

I think I'll prepare this fab recipe from Giada to have with our dessert after dinner on Sunday! I love coffee any time, and this one sounds amazing!

Spiced Coffee with Cinnamon Whipped Cream

Recipe Courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

 

·         1 cup granulated sugar

·         ¼ tsp ground allspice

·         ¼ tsp of ground cinnamon, plus more for dusting

·         ¼ tsp ground ginger

·         1 cup boiling water

·         1 cup brewed Giada De Laurentiis for Target Giada Blend Coffee

·         1 cup heavy cream

·         2 tbsp confectioners’ sugar

 

1.      In a small sauce pan combine the granulated sugar and ½ cup of water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and reduce heat to low.

2.      Add allspice, cinnamon and ginger. Simmer for 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.

3.      Take the pan off the heat and set aside.

4.      In a heat proof pitcher or measuring cup add the boiling water to the coffee /espresso. Divide it among four 6 to 8 oz cups.

5.      Add 2 tablespoons of the spiced syrup to each cup and stir to combine.

6.      Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add confectioners’ sugar and continue to beat until stiff.

7.      Top each with a dollop of whipped cream – dust with cinnamon and add cinnamon stick.

Yield: 4 servings/ 4 (6-8 oz) cups

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Giada De Laurentiis for Target and received product samples to facilitate my review.