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Spring into the kitchen! Giada’s favorite dishes


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Get into the 'spirit'! Prepare for Halloween with fun decorating and costume ideas:

Caramelized pancetta and fennel salad
Giada De Laurentiis

4 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 bulb fennel, halved and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
5 slices pancetta
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Red wine vinaigrette

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, toss together fennel, pancetta, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the ingredients on the baking sheet in a single layer. Cook until the pancetta is crisp and the fennel is caramelized, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, place the salad greens, crumbled pancetta, and caramelized fennel. Toss the salad with the red wine vinaigrette and serve immediately.

Red wine vinaigrette
Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually blend in the oil. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with more salt and pepper, if desired.

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Nectarine and blueberry crisp with amaretti cookie topping
Giada De Laurentiis

8 to 10 servings

INGREDIENTS

Topping

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup crushed amaretti cookies, coarsely crushed
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Filling

2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 pounds nectarines, pitted and sliced into thick wedges
8 ounces blueberries
3 tablespoons Amaretto liqueur
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese

DIRECTIONS

To make the topping: Stir the flour and sugars in a medium bowl to blend. Add the cookies and almonds and mix well. Add the butter and rub in until moist clumps form.

To make the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Stir the sugar and flour in a large bowl. Add the nectarines and blueberries, and toss to combine. Stir in the liqueur.

Spoon the fruit mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle the cookie topping over. Bake until the nectarines are tender and the topping is golden and crisp, about 45 minutes. Cool at least 10 minutes. Spoon the warm crisp into bowls. Top each with a dollop of mascarpone cheese and serve.

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