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Giada’s favorite Italian meals for kids

Celebrity chef and new mom shares dishes that the whole family will enjoy

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  Italian favorites for kids
Sept. 30: Chef and new mom Giada De Laurentiis shares her tasty shrimp recipe and shows off her new baby.

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TODAY recipes
updated 11:12 a.m. ET Oct. 1, 2008

Celebrity chef and new mom Giada De Laurentiis was inspired by her bundle of joy to make meals that the whole family will enjoy. Here she shares recipes from her newest book, “Giada’s Kitchen: New Italian Favorites.” On the menu: Polenta-crusted shrimp with honey mustard sauce and sweet and sticky chicken drumsticks.

Polenta-crusted shrimp with honey mustard sauce
"Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites" by Giada De Laurentiis

4 to 6 servings

The polenta coating on these fried shrimp makes a shell-like exterior that is just irresistible. I like this with honey mustard for dipping, but if you want to dip yours in marinara or even ketchup, you have my permission. Don’t worry about the paprika; it gives a bit of color but not any heat.

INGREDIENTS

Polenta-crusted shrimp

Vegetable cooking spray
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups fine polenta
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail on
Kosher salt, for sprinkling

Honey mustard sauce

1/2 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
5 tablespoons honey

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

To make the shrimp: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 475 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet liberally with vegetable cooking spray. Put the flour in a small bowl. Pour the beaten eggs into another small bowl. Mix together the polenta and paprika in a medium bowl. Working in batches, dredge the shrimp in the flour. Dip the flour-dredged shrimp into the eggs and then coat with the polenta mixture. Place the shrimp on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until crisp and golden. Sprinkle with the kosher salt.


To make the sauce: Combine the honey mustard ingredients in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Serve the shrimp with little dishes of sauce for dipping.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


Sweet and sticky chicken drumsticks
"Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites"

4 to 6 servings

The kids won’t be the only ones licking their fingers when you serve this. My mother made a dish similar to this when I was a kid and we just couldn’t get enough of it; the leftovers were my favorite after-school snack, eaten cold right out of the fridge. The rosemary and garlic are subtle but make the flavor a little more complex, and brushing the cooked drumettes with the reduced marinade intensifies the flavors even more.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup soy sauce
5 fresh rosemary sprigs
5 garlic cloves, halved
10 to 12 chicken drumsticks
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

DIRECTIONS

Combine the balsamic vinegar, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, rosemary sprigs and garlic cloves in a large, resealable plastic bag. Shake and squeeze the contents of the bag to dissolve the honey and the brown sugar. Add the chicken drumsticks to the bag and seal, squeezing out as much air from the bag as possible. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Remove the chicken drumsticks from the bag, reserving the marinade, and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the skin is caramelized and very dark in spots, 30 to 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the marinade in a small saucepan. Bring the marinade to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook over low heat until thick, about 15 minutes.

Use a pastry brush to brush some of the cooked marinade on the cooked chicken. Place the chicken on a serving platter. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and the chopped parsley.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


All recipes are from "Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites." To learn more you can also visit her website at: GiadaDeLaurentiis.com




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