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Giada's favorite, Italian family dinner recipes


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Pollo fritto
Giada De Laurentiis

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (3 1/2- pound) frying chicken, cut into 8 serving pieces
Approximately 2 cups olive oil, for frying
1 cup all-purpose flour
Lemon wedges

DIRECTIONS

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Add the chicken pieces and seal the bag. Gently shake the bag to ensure the chicken is coated with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 1 day, turning the bag occasionally.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. In a large cast-iron frying pan or other heavy frying pan, add enough oil to come 1/3 inch up the sides of the pan. Heat the oil over medium heat. Meanwhile, drain the marinade from the chicken and pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Dredge half of the chicken pieces in the flour to coat completely; shake off the excess flour. Add the coated chicken to the hot oil and fry until it is golden brown and just cooked through, turning occasionally, about 25 minutes.

Using tongs, transfer the chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess oil. Then place the fried chicken on a baking sheet and keep it warm in the oven while frying the remaining chicken. Repeat coating and frying the remaining chicken.

Arrange the fried chicken on a warm platter and serve with the lemon wedges.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


Raspberry tiramisu
Giada De Laurentiis

There’s nothing wrong with the classic tiramisu of ladyfingers soaked in espresso topped with marsala and mascarpone cream, but my version is a lot lighter and more beautiful. The great thing about this dessert is that you actually have to prepare it ahead of time. The longer it sits, the better it tastes.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup seedless raspberry jam
6 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1 pound mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
48 soft ladyfingers (2 3-ounce packages) or 40 dry Italian ladyfingers (2 packages)
3 baskets fresh raspberries ( 1/2 dry pint, about 3 3/4 cups total)
confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

DIRECTIONS

Stir together the jam and 4 tablespoons of the Grand Marnier in a small bowl to blend.

Stir together the mascarpone and remaining 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier in a large bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Using a large rubber spatula, stir a fourth of the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture to lighten. Fold the remaining whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture.

Line the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish or other decorative serving dish with a third of the ladyfingers. Spread a third of the jam mixture over the ladyfingers. Spread a third of the mascarpone mixture over the jam mixture, then cover with a third of the fresh raspberries. Repeat layering with the remaining ladyfingers, jam mixture, mascarpone mixture, and raspberries. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.

Dust the confectioners’ sugar over the top and serve.   

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


About Giada De Laurentiis
Giada De Laurentiis is the author of the cookbook “Giada’s Family Dinners” and the host of the Food Network’s “Everyday Italian."

© 2009 MSNBC Interactive.  Reprints


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