I enjoy trying new recipes, especially for special events and the holidays. I’m lucky that my family is so receptive. I was fortunate enough to be selected to participate in the Giada blog tour through Mom Central where I was able to try out a few Giada recipes with some fantastic new Giada products and grocery items.
[slickr-flickr tag=giadaproducts]I was like a kid at Christmas with the mixing bowls (which for some reason I’ve never had in all my 13 years of “grown up” life), steel measuring cups, spoonula, whisk, ceramic baker and pie pan. I would totally recommend this sort of line up for gift giving, especially to people that have been married or on their own for more than 10 years – we tend to not replace things or keep onto things from our bridal showers that need replacing.
Giada De Laurentiis for Target
If you go to the Giada De Laurentiis for Target webpage, you will find Giada’s entire collection of cookware, bakeware, gadgets, and even groceries. The Giada cookware is designed to be professional quality to heat up quickly and cook evenly, while being affordable for everyone to enjoy.
I was provided with several recipes that I eagerly tried and tested out on my family.
Pea Pesto Crostini Recipe
The first recipe that I tried was the Pea Pesto Crostini Recipe. Follow link for full recipe. This recipe surprised me. How can a bag of frozen peas turn into anything delicious to top on bread?
[slickr-flickr tag=peapesto]Seriously, it was the best tasting peas I’ve ever had! LOL The recipe was easy to make with simple ingredients you probably already have at home including frozen peas, garlic, olive oil, cheese, and tomatoes. My husband and I really enjoyed this recipe a lot, the garlic and fresh Parmesan really makes the recipe pop! My 7 year old son liked it but my 5 year old daughter just picked off the tomatoes and cheese and only ate that. It is obviously not a food intended for kids but good for them to try it.
Tomato Basil Tartlets Recipe
The Tomato Basil Tartlets Recipe was a little more involved for me, although not difficult. I’ve never used frozen pastry puffs, so I wasn’t sure if it would be difficult. Nope, it is a cinch and I’ve found a new ingredient that I must play with for other recipes. 🙂
[slickr-flickr tag=tomatobasil]The recipe was actually easy with just the pastry puffs, Giada De Laurentiis for Target Black Olive Tapenade, and fontina cheese (another new item for me that we really liked). My whole family enjoyed this appetizer type of recipe. I used holiday cookie cutters to make it more Christmasy and my kids thought that was super fun. My 5 year old daughter especially enjoyed this recipe because of the Black Olive Tapenade, a strong flavor for a young kid but she loves olives! I plan to bring this recipe to Christmas Day at my in-laws.
Spiced Coffee with Cinnamon Whipped Cream Recipe
The Spiced Coffee with Cinnamon Whipped Cream Recipe was just for my husband. I do wish that I could get into all the specialty coffee drinks but I’ve still not “grown up” to like coffee.
[slickr-flickr tag=spicedcoffee]This was a beautiful drink that is on the sweet side, perfect for special evenings at home or for holiday parties to spoil your guest with the best. My husband enjoys the Giada De Laurentiis for Target Giada Blend Coffee every morning.
Giada De Laurentiis for Target Groceries
We were able to try several Giada De Laurentiis for Target Groceries. These items can dress up a pasta dish in no time or make incredibly easy appetizers. Below, we added the Eggplant & Pepper Pesto, Genovese Basil Pesto, and Black Olive Tapenade to toasted bread and crackers for an easy appetizer or snack. The flavors are so amazing, it tastes like you spent a lot of time and money on the dish. Most spreads cost around $2.99.
[slickr-flickr tag=targetspreads]I added the Genovese Basil Pesto to a Pasta with Italian Sausage and Peppers Recipe that I tried as a fresh basil substitute. It was delicious and easier to keep on hand than fresh basil all the time.
I plan to continue to experiment with the Giada groceries in more dishes to liven up my current recipes. Don’t we all need help now and then to get out of the recipe rut?
I plan to serve and bring Giada recipes this holiday season. It makes dishes a little more special without a lot of expense or time with the easy recipes.
My conclusion: Giada De Laurentiis for Target Makes Entertaining Easy
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.
