Giada at Home Season 1, Episode 40: Busy Day Menu

1

Rock the Block

In the series opener, Giada De Laurentiis creates fresh, simple dishes for a neighborhood block party. On the menu: chicken and shrimp with pancetta chimichurri; orecchiette with greens; garbanzo beans and ricotta salata; blueberry-and-mascarpone turnovers.

30 min

2

Tricks or Treats

Homemade Halloween treats are made, including spice cake and chocolate-dipped nougat with dried apricots.

30 min

3

Remembering Rome

An Italian meal features vegetable fritto misto with lemon mayonnaise and bucatini all'amatriciana with spicy mozzarella meatballs.

30 min

19

Food and Fashion

Giada creates a stylish, eclectic menu for a trunk show she's hosting at her home. Included: shrimp spring rolls with cucumber-yogurt dip; beef pops with pineapple-parsley sauce; blended cherry mojitos.

30 min

5

A Family Thanksgiving

Los Angeles-inspired Thanksgiving dishes. Included: spiced turkey breast; poached pears in honey, ginger and cinnamon syrup; sweet-and-savory bread pudding.

30 min

8

Lobster Bake

Giada De Laurentiis plans a traditional lobster bake on the beach. The menu includes lobster tails with clarified butter, corn-and-black-bean salad with basil-lime vinaigrette, and spiked watermelon pops.

30 min

6

Art House

Giada prepares a colorful menu for an art show she's hosting at her house.

30 min

9

Secret Santa

Italian dishes are made for a holiday get-together. Included: penne with shrimp and herbed cream sauce; Gorgonzola-stuffed portobello mushrooms; cranberry-cornmeal cake topped with caramel-walnut sauce.

30 min

10

Breakfast for Dinner

The host serves eggs for dinner. Also: Lamill Coffee in Los Angeles is visited.

30 min

11

Recipe Sharing

Giada hosts a recipe swap. Included: a fig-and-almond tart.

30 min

12

Day of Indulgence

The host puts a healthful spin on indulgent foods for a relaxing spa party.

30 min

13

California Light & Healthy

A healthful menu featuring grilled chicken and avocado Napoleons, citrus salad and angel-food cake with lemon-honey-yogurt sauce.

30 min

14

Moroccan Magic

A Moroccan-themed gathering, featuring honey-balsamic lamb chops, couscous cakes, and hibiscus tea with vodka and citrus.

30 min

16

Polo Brunch

Giada prepares a picnic brunch to take to a polo match. The menu includes "Champagne Sangria", "Crispy Parmesan Biscuits" and "Espresso Chip Meringues".

30 min

15

California Sushi

The host throws a sushi-making party. Included: vegetable rolls with chili mayonnaise; salmon hand rolls.

30 min

18

We'll Always Have Paris

The host plans a meal inspired by Paris. On the menu: steak-and-cheese croissant sandwiches; mushroom-and-parsley salad; raspberry-rose pots de crème.

30 min

22

Picnic in the Park

Giada De Laurentiis puts her spin on typical picnic fare. Included: deviled eggs with crab; caponata paninis; a chocolate-honey-almond tart.

30 min

17

Table for Two

Giada and her husband Todd share a romantic evening while daughter Jade stays with a sitter. The recipes shared are "Roasted Citrus-Herb Game Hen", "Crouton Salad" and "Olive and Sun-Dried Tomato Vegetables".

30 min

4

Garden Party

On the menu: red snapper with fava-bean puree; fried cheese-stuffed zucchini blossoms; mini pineapple cakes.

30 min

20

Bridal Shower

Giada prepares a menu for a bridal shower. Included: open-faced tuna sandwiches; hummus; coffee-glazed Italian donuts.

30 min

21

Happy Trails

The host packs an eco-friendly picnic to take along on a hike. Included: cranberry-nut granola; grilled vegetable, herb and goat cheese sandwiches; chocolate-raspberry bars.

30 min

7

California BBQ

Mini Italian pub burgers, beer-battered apple and onion rings, and spicy chocolate milkshakes are made.

30 min

32

Around the World

Trinidadian chicken stew, citrus-rice salad and mango-and-lime lassi complete an internationally inspired meal.

30 min

41

Sweet Treats

Desserts, including pomegranate-mint sorbet; strawberry-rosemary scones; and chocolate-hazelnut-dipped fruit.

30 min

29

Food and Fun

Zucchini-olive flatbread, cauliflower-and-bacon gratin, and mascarpone-chocolate toffee bars are made.

30 min

25

Cocktails With Couples

Appetizers are made, including spiced cocktail nuts; crispy zucchini-and-potato pancakes; cheese-stuffed dates and prosciutto; and blueberry-limoncello coolers.

30 min

36

Beach Volleyball

A portable menu, featuring thyme-pasta frittatas, crunchy slaw and cupcakes with chocolate chips and walnuts.

30 min

28

Mother's Day Brunch

A Mother's Day brunch menu, featuring baked French toast with blueberries, steak involtini (meat parcels) and frozen banana-ice-cream sandwiches.

30 min

33

Father's Day Party

A Father's Day menu, featuring paninis with mozzarella, raspberries and brown sugar; egg salad with Gorgonzola and pancetta; and sweet-apple iced tea.

30 min

30

Many Thanks

The host serves brown-butter risotto with lobster, salmon-and-apple carpaccio, and cinnamon twists with cardamom-honey dipping sauce at a luncheon.

30 min

39

Welcome Home

Turkey Milanese with bacon-and-pancetta potatoes and roasted-apple pie are made.

30 min

38

Surfs Up

White-bean-and-chicken chili, paired with cheddar-scallion bread and limoncello granitas.

30 min

27

Small Bites

Finger foods are featured, including stuffed baby peppers; tomato-basil tartlets; apricot-and-walnut phyllo cups; and whole-wheat pita chips with mascarpone-chive dipping sauce.

30 min

24

Lazy Day Lunch

A simple lunch menu is featured.

30 min

26

Pasta Party

A pasta buffet is featured.

30 min

34

Record Release

On the menu: penne with braised short ribs; bibb salad with Parmesan-butter crostini; apple-cider shandy.

30 min

42

Dig in for a Cause

Giada makes a picnic lunch to take with on her day volunteering in a community garden for OXFAM, a charity to combat world hunger. The portable foods prepared are "Smoked Salmon BLT", "Pecorino and Bean Salad" and "Ginger-Tea Lemonade".

30 min

40

Busy Day Menu

On the menu: Asian chicken salad; ricotta parfaits; ravioli with arugula, tomatoes and pancetta.

30 min

44

Makeover

Giada whips up a family-style meal for a makeover party with her girlfriends. On the menu: artichoke-and-bean crostinis; vegetable Parmesan; melon-and-mint slush.

30 min

23

Spring Fling

Light springtime dishes are featured.

30 min

43

Special Delivery

Healthful freezable meals are made. Included: an egg-white frittata with lox and arugula; chicken Milanese with tomato-and-fennel sauce; mini pancakes with raspberry sorbet and chocolate sauce.

30 min

37

Road Trip Picnic

Penne with Treviso and goat cheese, chicken-and-arugula pita pockets, and raspberry-vanilla smoothies are packed for a picnic.

30 min

31

Last Minute Menu

Israeli coucous with apples, cranberries and herbs; chicken burgers with garlic-rosemary mayo; and toasted pound cake with citrus cream.

30 min

35

More Cheese Please

The host visits the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills before preparing turkey meat loaf with feta and sun-dried tomatoes; cheesy baked farro; and crostata with apples, walnuts and Gorgonzola.

30 min

46

Giada's Kidz Kitchen

Giada spends an afternoon teaching kids how to cook a simple meal at a local cooking school.

30 min

45

More for Less

Money-saving meals are featured. Included: lemon chicken soup with spaghetti; pea-pesto crostini; lemon-mint cake with lemon syrup.

30 min