Giada at Home Season 2, Episode 36: Elegant and Easy

1

Football Weekend

Giada and Todd invites some friends over to watch the big football game. Instead of the usual chips and dip, Giada takes traditional "game food" and gives it the gourmet treatment. The food is filling, but doesn't skimp on creativity and taste with Deep-Fried Bocconcini With Spicy Tomato and Garlic Chutney, Twice-Baked Potatoes With Mushrooms and Proscuitto and Fudge with a cinnamon touch.

30 min

2

Sugar Rush

It's Halloween, so 'tis the season for a major sugar fix. Giada prepares decadent dessert with the kids in mind. She spins the chocolate turtle to perfection, turns truffles into lollipops and creates the ultimate marshmallows for trick or treaters to enjoy in a little sugar rush before heading out into the neighborhood for an evening of Halloween fun.

30 min

3

Todd's Midwestern Favorites

Giada makes a special meal for Todd, Trevor, Tommy and Kelly that reflects some of Todd and Trevor's favorite childhood dishes. Giada gives the Midwestern classics her own special Italian/California twist.

30 min

4

Thanksgiving

Giada makes Thanksgiving dinner for the family. This time, forget the turkey...Giada's making Pork Chops!

30 min

5

Housewarming

Giada has a friend who just redesigned their kitchen. The friend is having a potluck party to unveil the kitchen to friends. Giada shares her favorite potluck recipes to take to the party.

30 min

6

Christmas

It's a California Christmas. Giada and family celebrate!

30 min

7

Body and Soul

Giada invites her yoga instructor, and some other friends, over to the house for a day of rejuvenation. Giada's instructor leads a poolside yoga class, showing guests some simple poses that they can do anytime...anywhere...to relieve stress and tension. Giada prepares a healthy menu to be enjoyed after the class.

30 min

8

Light and Delicious

Giada prepares a menu that will help viewers stick to their New Year's Resolution to follow a healthy diet.

30 min

9

Smoke in the House

It's the annual Firefighter's Pancake Breakfast and, this year, the local department is asking for Giada's help. Instead of serving the usual boring pancakes, scrambled eggs and greasy bacon, firefighters want to impress neighbors with an upgraded menu. So, Giada helps them create the best pancake breakfast of all time. Then, Giada, Todd and Jade join their fellow neighbors to enjoy the community feast.

30 min

10

Bowling Night

Giada and friends go to Lucky Strike for a night of fun and bowling. Giada prepares dinner at the house first, then the group enjoys dessert at the bowling alley.

30 min

11

Giada's Sunset Brunch

Giada and Todd host a backyard party that's timed for sunset. The party is all about hanging out and being comfortable. Friends wear sweats or lounge wear and the food is gourmet comfort food. The setting is very "white world" with big poofs and mattresses in the backyard...very relaxed.

30 min

12

Basic Italian

Giada prepares an Italian themed meal for her friends Sandra and Diana, who are taking Italian language classes. Giada makes Bruschetta With Shrimp, Tarragon and Arugula, Pasta alla Formiana and Stracciatella Semifreddo.

30 min

13

Jade's First Birthday

It's Jade's first birthday, so Giada is hosting a kids' party in her backyard. The party has a fun animal theme complete with games and costumes.

30 min

14

Aloha L.A.

Giada creates a tiki-style party, complete with Hawaiian music, in her own backyard. Even the menu has an island flare: Tilapia Fish Tacos With Arugula, Sweet and Spicy Chicken Drumettes and an Aloha L.A. Cocktail.

30 min

15

When Life Gives You Lemons

Giada loves lemons. In fact, a few months ago she hosted a lunch at her house and one of her guests, Julie, brought Giada a lemon tree as a gift. Well...Giada planted that tree in her backyard. It's grown considerably since then and now bares big, healthy, beautiful lemons. So...Giada decides to use the lemons from her tree to create a lemon themed meal. See Tune-In Times

30 min

16

Todd Loves Thai

Todd loves Thai food and is always asking Giada to whip up some Thai inspired recipes. So, tonight, Giada decides to be a little adventurous and surprises Todd with a Thai themed meal.

30 min

17

Northern Italian

Giada hosts a dinner party at her house with a menu that focuses on Northern Italian cuisine. She makes Trenette With Eggplant and Basil Pesto, Ligurian Fish Stew and Crostata With Dried Apricots and Taleggio. The dinner includes a sampling of full-bodied red wines from the northern region of Italy.

30 min

18

Play Date

Eloisa comes over to the house to hang with Giada, while the kids, Julian and Jade, enjoy a play date.

30 min

19

Comfort Food

Giada shares some of her favorite comfort food recipes. These recipes are made for making you feel better.

30 min

20

Pizza Party

Giada invites friends over for a pizza party. She makes the dough by scratch and comes up with three delicious pizzas recipes. Friends munch on the homemade pizzas while they make their own individual pies. Giada supplies custom "To Go" boxes so each guest can take home his pizza creation to cook and enjoy later.

30 min

21

Tex Mex BBQ

Giada has some friends who travel to Mexico on vacation and bring home a very fun pinata for Jade. The whimsical gift inspires Giada to throw a backyard barbecue with a Tex-Mex/Southwestern theme. Giada's festive menu includes Fajitas, a Black Bean, Tomato and Corn Salad and yummy Churros.

30 min

22

Walk for Life

Giada and some of her girlfriends walk a 5K race in Los Angeles to benefit cancer research. The night before the race, Giada prepares a nutritious and energizing meal of Beef and Cannellini Bean Minestrone and Farro With Cheese and Herbs for her team to enjoy. She also makes Apricot Oat Bars, a delicious snack for the group to munch on during the walk.

30 min

23

Cucina Capri

The island cuisine of Capri is one of Giada's favorites, and includes fresh fish, tomatoes, garlic, basil, capers and olive oil. Giada prepares a mouth-watering menu influenced by the flavors she's grown to love during her many visits to Capri.

30 min

24

Let Them Eat Cake

Giada hosts a backyard party for her friends and their kids. The menu appeals to grown-ups but offers a kid friendly twist with Grilled Cheese With Spinach and Pancetta, Fish Sticks With Marinara Sauce and Berry Lemonade. The party culminates with a cake decorating contest that gives each kid the chance to transform an ordinary pound cake into a spectacular, sweet, multi-tiered, out of this world dessert.

30 min

25

Lunch with the Girls

Giada invites over a few of her girlfriends for afternoon of laid back fun. The colorful lunch menu is the perfect way to celebrate friendship.

30 min

26

De Laurentiis Family Dinner

The De Laurentiis family gathers for an epic family feast. Only, this time, instead of the expected Italian cuisine, Giada serves up another family favorite...Chinese.

30 min

27

Giada’s Restaurant Favorites

Giada takes us on a global adventure with dishes from New Mexico, Jackson Hole and a recipe inspired by a favorite restaurant in Los Angeles.

30 min

28

Picnic At The Getty

Giada takes Jade and a friend to the famous Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The group enjoys the spectacular art, followed by a homemade picnic lunch of Penne With Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese, Salmon Cakes With Lemon-Caper Yogurt Sauce and Apple and Mint Punch, in the Getty's majestic gardens.

30 min

29

College Rivalry

Giada graduated from UCLA, and her Aunt Dina is a student at USC. The two California colleges are archrivals when it comes to football. Today, Giada invites Dina and some friends over to the house to watch the big game, and snack on some delicious football inspired food.

30 min

30

Grill It Your Way

Giada visits LA's Original Farmer's Market, an historic hotspot with every kind of food purveyor under the California sun. She picks up a selection of meat and fish, along with seasonal veggies. Then, Giada returns to her kitchen, where she comes up with a variety of marinades and sauces. Then, friends gather around a backyard BBQ pit to grill the meat and fish to their own personal specifications.

30 min

31

Paint And Party

Giada invites some friends over for a signature cocktail, fun appetizers AND a blank canvas. Each guest gets their own easel and blank canvas to create a masterpiece while they enjoy Giada's deliciously creative menu. An artist friend is on hand to offer tips, encouragement and creative inspiration.

30 min

32

Giada On Ice

Ice-skating in California? Giada, Jade and Todd to meet up with her friend, Brian Boitano at an outdoor rink in downtown LA for an afternoon of skating in the sun. She packs a portable picnic lunch for the group to enjoy; a menu designed to warm the heart after a day on ice.

30 min

33

Progressive Dinner Party

Giada plans a good old-fashioned neighborhood progressive dinner party. The evening kicks off with drinks and appetizers at one home, followed by the main course at Giada and Todd's house. Then, the group moves up the street for dessert.

30 min

34

Totally Fried

All fried, all the time! Giada prepares four dishes that are all fried, including a fried dessert. She also demonstrates a variety of easy frying techniques.

30 min

35

Lunch With Raffy

Giada has referred to her Aunty Raffy as her cooking soul mate. In "Lunch with Raffy,” Giada invites her aunt over for an afternoon of fun in the kitchen. Together they create a tasty lunch that is just as fun to make as it is to eat!

30 min

36

Elegant and Easy

Giada hosts an outdoor luncheon that is both elegant and easy. The menu is inspired by fresh flavors and ingredients pulled from Giada’s own herb garden and gathered at the local farmer’s market.

30 min

37

All Dressed Up

The California style is usually laid back and casual...anything goes. But tonight, Giada invites friends over for an elegant dinner party. Guests dress to impress and the menu is gourmet and sophisticated.

30 min

38

No Stress Party

Giada makes a stress-free menu for her cocktail party.

30 min

39

Cooking School Made Easy

Giada makes three of her favorite recipes that she learned as a student at Cordon Bleu in Paris. While at Cordon Bleu, Giada and her fellow students had to do everything by hand...no mixing tools or short-cuts. In this episode, Giada simplifies the recipes for the home chef, whipping up three French inspired desserts.

30 min