My daughter and I were lucky enough to meet Giada De Laurentiis last week. Williams Sonoma was having a book signing and I was fortunate to get a ticket in advance. All I had to do was purchase Giada’s new book , Giada’s Kitchen and wait on line. The line was really long, however the kind Williams Sonoma people were giving out all kinds of goodies. In their store, they had cappuccino, muffins and appetizers. The line stretched for about a quarter of a mile through the mall but a nice lady would come by with a cart full of desserts. We decided to go walk around the mall and wait until the line got shorter. The signing started at 1pm and we hopped back on line at 3pm. We finally had our book signed at 4pm. Here is a picture of Giada. Sorry, the picture is not great but we were not allowed to use a flash.
Giada is one nice lady! She is kind, friendly and absolutely gorgeous. One of the reasons the line went somewhat slow was because Giada took the time to talk to everyone. You were not rushed through the line like a herd of cattle. Instead we could stop and have a conversation with her. There were even fans dropping off presents. I really like her new book. Some of the recipes look fancy, however they are simple to make and I have the majority of the ingredients in my fridge and pantry. To celebrate getting my book signed, I made one of her recipes tonight. It was delicious and I will be making many more recipes out of the book.
Orecchiette with Mini Chicken Meatballs
1 pound orecchiette pasta
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon whole milk
1 tablespoon ketchup
3/4 cup grated Romano
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground chicken
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock, hot
4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
8 ounces bocconcini mozzarella, halved
1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, eggs, milk, ketchup, Romano cheese, and the salt and pepper. Add the chicken and gently stir to combine. Using a melon baller (or a teaspoon measure), form the chicken mixture into 3/4-inch pieces. With damp hands, roll the chicken pieces into mini meatballs.
In a large (14-inch) skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook without moving until brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Turn the meatballs over and brown the other side, about 2 minutes longer. Add the chicken stock and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tomatoes are soft and meatballs are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. Transfer pasta to a large serving bowl and add the Parmesan. Toss to lightly coat orecchiette, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Add the meatball mixture, mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of the basil. Gently toss to combine. Garnish with the remaining chopped basil.
{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
How fun! Sounds like she was a pleasure to meet!! That recipe sounds wonderful, can’t wait to see what else you try from the cookbook.
Oh yum!!!!
She is soooo darn pretty..she makes me sick!!!
I doubt that I could have waited in line that long. I have absolutely no patience. 🙂 Looks and sounds like you had a wonderful time. Giada has fantastic recipes I’m sure that you’ll enjoy everything that you make out of her new book.
How fun for you and your daughter, who is adorable by the way. I always tell everyone…treasure this time, it ends too soon. Love the dinner! This will be great to see what you make from the book. And yes the party was very nice, I am so blessed, Harriet is my step mom and one of my closest friends too.
Sounds like you had a great time!
So nice you and your daughter got to meet Giada. I am glad to hear that the line was not rushed.
We found the same thing with Alton Brown. The line took forever to get our books signed but he was so wonderful to each person as they got to him
I’m going to have to check out this book – the recipe looks great!
What a fun thing to do with your daughter, who is darling by the way! This pasta recipe sounds so yummy. I was surprised to see ketchup in the ingredient list! Love that pasta shape, too!
How fun Lisa!! You and your daughter must have had so much fun meeting Giada. Your daughter is such a cutie! I get so star struck and nervous around celebrities, but would have loved to meet her! The pasta looks really yummy too! Glad to hear it was a good experience.
Geez that dish looks really good.
Your daughter is a cutie – what a fun time you had. I recently checked out a few of Giada’s cookbooks from the library and I am loving them. The recipe looks and sounds delicious.
The pasta recipe sounds great. Don’t think Id have the patience to wait in line
Glad you had fun Lisa! She does look like a nice lady! I love the idea of mini chicken meatballs, it’s a really cool idea! You did great with it!
Not sure I could have endured that wait, lucky you!! To a wonderful experience, meeting Giada, a great cookbook, and superb meal!!
I love Giada and her recipes. Sounds like a really fun time. You’re daughter’s so cute in her glasses. I have the worst eye sight and have to wear glasses or contacs full time. My daughter always wanted glasses growing up. When I’d take her in for exams she’d always be disappointed that she didn’t need any.
I watched her on foodtv yesterday make the chicken meatballs.
She is so pretty and a great cook.
That’s nice that your daughter got the chance to chat with her too!
Sounds like a fun day!
I’m so glad you had a good time. Her recipe sounds wonderful. Do let us know about any other recipes you try from that book.
I’m so jealous!! She was in Houston this past Saturday and I missed it because we were out of town. So glad ya’ll had a wonderful time.
What a great recipe to end a fun day. Lucky you!
Sweet! I’m happy you both had a great time, and you weren’t rushed through. Giada does have some really nice recipes, and I like how she uses common ingredients.
Giada is too cute! I love her and would loved to be at this signing! I’m star struck just looking at your pictures!
Your pasta looks delish! Yum. I’ve never made chicken meatballs but am going to try some soon!
Lisa sounds like you had a great time! This pasta recipe looks absolutely delicious and I’m drooling!
Maria
x
You lucky girl! What a fun day and to share it with your daughter is twice as nice!
looks like your daughter had fun… great recipe, btw…
I have 1 of her books, and can’t wait to get this one! What a fun time!
That looks so good! I’ll have to pick that book up!
How fun you got to meet Giada! I can’t wait to get my hands on her new book. The recipe you tried looks fantastic!
What a fun thing to get to do with your daughter! Its nice to know that Giada is not only beautiful but interested in the people interested in her! It only makes her that much more lovable!
Giada is very good looking and so small. What are the desserts like in the book?
What a neat thing to go to with your daughter. Giada really can’t take a bad picture. The dish looks wonderful.
I would love to meet Giada..I love her show and cooking. Lucky you! The pasta dish looks delicious…
What a cool experience! I love the dish too. I’m going to have to keep an eye out for orecchiette.
OMG! I love her too. I would have stood in line for hours to meet her. I am definatley making this recipe and I will be watching for the rest! 😀
She sounds like a sweetie. What a fun experience for you and your daughter. The pasta looks fantastic!
What a fun time and how great to hear that Giada is so kind! This looks like the type of meal I would absolutely love!
Lisa, that’s so cool! The pasta looks fabulous!
I am SO incredibly jealous!
She had that baby just a few months ago and she’s already back to her old figure?! I’m SO jealous.
Those meatballs look great, thanks for sharing!
I love watching her on the Food Network. She has great recipes. What a fun inspiring event to attend. Like the pasta dish. I’ve never even heard of orecchiette pasta, will have to seek it out.
What a great way to spend an afternoon. And that pasta dish looks great! Yum!
Sounds like such a fun day and a great pasta dish to end the day.
Rosie x
Beautiful pasta dish. I don’t think I would have minded waiting in Williams Sonoma at all for a signature – actually you can drop me at WS in the morning and pick me up at closing and I’d still be okay. Giada would be a bonus.
that is so awesome you got to meet giada! how fun!
this pasta dish looks great! i just bought this cookbook over the weekend! i can’t wait to try some recipes from it!
So jealous! How great to feel like she apprciated the time it took for everyone to come out and see her and gave everyone some personal attention.
The recipe sounds fantastic!
That’s awesome. I love Giada. I’ve never been disappointed with one of her recipes.
This recipe DOES sound really good. I still don’t have any of her books but I have liked a few of her recipes, glad to hear she was so nice in person.
I had to go back and read this – somehow I missed it!
That is so cool that you met Giada. I love watching her show.
Super fun! I went and wrote about it too!!!
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