Spring Fever!

***A quick announcement before we talk about this week's theme...IT'S VOTING TIME!  That's right.  One more month of cooking with Giada...then we bring a guy into the kitchen.  Who do you want to spend the next 6 months with?  Rick Bayless...Bobby Flay...or Jamie Oliver.  Those are your choices.  I've got to say, I'm looking forward to spending time with whichever guy wins the vote...I enjoy them all!  Check out the sidebar and place your vote.  The poll will stay open for 2 weeks.  Then we'll have 2 more weeks to gather books, recipes, websites in preparation for the winner!***
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I've got it.  Oh yeah, I've got it bad!  What do I have?  A fever.  SPRING FEVER!  Please snow...please, Please, PLEASE go away!  I want tiny green buds and pastel flowers and refreshing rains.  I want asparagus spears poking their tips through the soil.  I want tiny red strawberries, packed with sweet juices.  I want baby lettuces and spring garlic and fleshy little apricots.  Not to mention tangy rhubarb and sweet little peas and peppery watercress.

How 'bout you?  Have you got the fever?  Well, head into the kitchen with Giada and make something that represents SPRING to you!  Be it the ingredients, the memories, the anticipation, Spring Break, you name it...what's your interpretation?

Make and post your Spring Fever! post by Sunday, February 6th. Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

If you missed the Potluck theme last week, be sure to head on over and see all of the delicious dishes everyone brought!  Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Giada De Laurentiis right now...so if you've linked up, be sure that you've used/adapted one of her recipes for your post!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Spring Fever* Participants

1. Mary w/Roasted Veggie Lasagna 2. Beth Anne - Strawberry Nutella Panini 3. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Strawberry Mango Spring Rolls 4. Kim - Pastina with Peas and Carrots

5. Deb in Hawaii--Salmon in Lemon Brodetto with Pea Purée. 6. Chicken Marsala 7. Natashya - Ice Caffe Latte 8. Tina Marie - Sundried Tomato Garlic Corn Muffins!

9. Roz - Baked Orzo with Fontina and Peas 10. Meredith-Linguine with Shrimp and Lemon Oil

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February Potluck with Giada!

Ready for another fabulous Potluck with Giada?!

Time to pick out one of those recipes that you have had your eye on. You know the ones; the recipes with the bright glossy photos that make you pause every time you see them. That make you go hmmmm, and your mouth starts to water just a bit... that's it. We have only one month left with the lovely Giada De Laurentiis, and now is the time to make sure you cook up those dishes that have been haunting your dreams.

Perhaps you have a few winter dishes that you want to cook up before spring finally arrives. One last blast of pure comfort food while the snow still flies.

Find and cook up that Giada dish that tempts you so; post it and link up with Mr. Linky by Sunday, February 27th. 

New to IHCC and not sure what a permalink is?  Check out our Welcome post.

Link your Giada posts that you cooked up this week here.

Don't forget to check out all the wonderful Noodle dishes from last week!

photos from google images
I Heart Cooking Clubs *February Potluck with Giada!* Participants

1. Michelle ~ Fried Mozzarella Sticks 2. Natashya - Roasted Pork Loin with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

3. Kim - Gorgonzola and Porcini Risotto 4. Deb In Hawaii--Lemon Chicken Soup w/ Fideos Noodles

5. Meredith-Marinara Sauce

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Using Your Noodle

This week at I Heart Cooking Clubs we're using our noodles!  

ALL NOODLES ARE INVITED TO THE PARTY!

With numerous pasta recipes ranging from soups and salads to appetizers, main courses, and even desserts, there is a Giada recipe for you!  You can even choose to use your noodle for breakfast in a frittata! The possibilities are endless.

Some of you might even be feeling adventurous enough to try your hand at some homemade pasta.  If so, Giada has a great instructional video on how to make fresh pasta HERE.

If you really want to have fun using your noodle, you could try your hand at something crispy and crunchy like these crave-worthy Fried Ravioli with Marinara.

Now that's a good way to use your noodle!

Need a quick pasta recipe that is ready in less than 20 minutes?  There is bound to be a "quickie" pasta dish to get you through the week.

HAVE FUN USING YOUR NOODLE!  

Please choose and post your Giada recipe by Sunday, February 20th.  Don't forget to link your post for this week's theme with Mr. Linky below, so everyone can see how you used your noodle!  Also remember to leave a comment after each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

New to IHCC and not sure what a permalink is?  Check out our Welcome post.

If you missed "That's Amore" last week, be sure to head on over and see how everyone expressed their love.

Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Giada De Laurentiis right now...so if you've linked up, be sure that you've used/adapted one of her many recipes for your post!

*photos courtesy Food Network

Using Your Noodle Participants

1. Beth Anne - Linguine with Olives and Breadcrumbs 2. The Country Cook- Fiery Angel Hair Pasta 3. Tina Marie- Angel Hair Pasta with creamy mushroom sauce

4. Rigatoni with Steak Sauce 5. Natashya - Rigatoni with Mushroom and Crab Sauce 6. Deb in Hawaii--Rigatoni with Red Pepper, Almonds & Bread Crumbs

7. meredith-pennewithspicytomatosause 8. Kim -Penne with Shrimp in Herbed Cream Sauce 9. Michelle ~Linguine w/ Shrimp & Lemon Oil

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That's Amore!

What is Amore you ask? Well... perhaps Dean Martin sums it up best...

"When the moon hits your eye

Like a big-a pizza pie

That's amore

When the world seems to shine

Like you've had too much wine

That's amore

Bells'll ring

Ting-a-ling-a-ling

Ting-a-ling-a-ling

And you'll sing "Vita bella"

Hearts'll play

Tippi-tippi-tay

Tippi-tippi-tay

Like a gay tarantella

When the stars make you drool

Joost-a like pasta fazool

That's amore

When you dance down the street

With a cloud at your feet, you're in love

When you walk in a dream

But you know you're not dreamin', signore

'Scusami, but you see

Back in old Napoli, that's amore!"

That's Amore! is our theme this week.

Which of Giada's recipes say amore or love to you?

• Is it a big pizza pie?
• Some pasta fazool?
• Something elegant?
• A bite of something sweet and decadent?
• A festive cocktail?
• Chocolate perhaps?

Whatever you choose, when it's made with love...then my friends...That's Amore!

Decide which Giada recipe best shows your love, post it by Sunday, February 13th and don't forget to link your post for this week's theme with Mr. Linky below, so we can all share the love. Also remember to leave a comment after each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

New to IHCC and not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

If you missed "You Are Such a Meatball!" last week, be sure to head on over and see all of the delicious meatball-filled dishes everyone brought.

Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Giada De Laurentiis right now...so if you've linked up, be sure that you've used/adapted one of her many recipes for your post!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *That's Amore!* Participants

1. Arlene-Braised Short Ribs with Tagliatelle 2. Giada's Strawberry Crumble 3. That's Amóre MEATBALL SUB ~girlichef 4. Natashya - Artichoke and Tuna Panini!

5. Beth Anne - Steak with Balsamic BBQ Sauce 6. Roz - Italian Sausage and Pepper Subs 7. Kim - Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies 8. Michelle Petite Filet w/ Gorgonzola & Mushroom Sauce

9. DebinHawaii--Foil Wrapped Salmon & Saffron Harvest Grains 10. Couscous & Consciousness - Amaretti Torta 11. Meredith-(fixed link!)Toasted Pound Cake with Mascarpone and Amaretto

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You are Such a Meatball!

On top of spaghetti,

All covered with cheese,

I lost my poor meatball,

When somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table,

And on to the floor,

And then my poor meatball,

Rolled out of the door.

It rolled in the garden,
And under a bush,
And then my poor meatball,
Was nothing but mush.

The mush was as tasty
As tasty could be,
And then the next summer,
It grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered,
All covered with moss,
And on it grew meatballs,
And tomato sauce.

So if you eat spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
Hold on to your meatball,
Whenever you sneeze.

Giada eating Meaballs at Meatball Madness-photo credit: Food Fashionista

We all know that Giada loves her meatballs.  And so do we!  Whether you decide to carefully place them on top of spaghetti...float them in a bowl of soup...pile them into a bun...or scatter them on a pizza...just bring on the meatballs!  That's right, head into the kitchen with Giada and start rolling.  It's all about the meatballs this week! 

Make and post your Meatball post by Sunday, February 6. Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

If you missed the Potluck theme last week, be sure to head on over and see all of the delicious dishes everyone brought!  Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Giada De Laurentiis right now...so if you've linked up, be sure that you've used/adapted one of her recipes for your post!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *You are Such a Meatball!* Participants

1. Michelle~ Baked Ziti w/ Meatballs 2. Mary w/Mini Chicken Meatballs 3. DebinHawaii--Turkey Meatballs & Couscous w/ Apples, Cranberries & Herbs

4. Natashya - Polpette and Spaghetti 5. Kim-Bucatini All'Amatriciana with Spicy Fontina Meatballs 6. Turkey Meatballs & Tomato Sauce

7. Meredith

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January Potluck with Giada!

This is it! Time to choose one of those fabulous Giada dishes you have had your eye on and cook it up, bake it up, blend it up - the sky is the limit! Do you realize that we are well on our way to the end of our six months with Giada? Time to start catching up on those dishes that keep calling to us, the ones that haunt our dreams. Yeah, for me that quite often means pasta - thankfully Giada is the master (mistress?) of pasta. No shortage of dishes to choose from.

But she also offers quite a lot of breakfast, brunch, appetizers, soups, salads and healthy fare. And of course her sweet tooth is legendary. So much to choose from!

Go through your Giada cookbooks, or her recipes online - prepare whatever of her recipes you desire and post it on or by Sunday, January 30th. Link up your post to Mr. Linky so we can all enjoy your creations!

Meanwhile, have you had a chance to check out what everyone made for California Dreaming last week?

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for this January Potluck with Giada!
(Recipes from Giada only, please)

Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.
I Heart Cooking Clubs *February Potluck with Giada!* Participants

1. Michelle ~ Fried Mozzarella Sticks 2. Natashya - Roasted Pork Loin with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

3. Kim - Gorgonzola and Porcini Risotto 4. Deb In Hawaii--Lemon Chicken Soup w/ Fideos Noodles

5. Meredith-Marinara Sauce

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California Dreamin'

A daydream is a meal at which images are eaten.  Some of us are gourmets, some gourmands, and a good many take their images precooked out of a can and swallow them down whole, absent-mindedly and with little relish.  ~W.H. Auden

This week at I Heart Cooking Clubs, we're all a bunch of daydreamers.  We're picturing gold sandy beaches, warm breezes, and palm trees. We're thinking about the surf, the sun, and The Golden Coast.  That's right, we're California Dreamin'. 

 

Which Giada recipe speaks California to you? There are so many recipes to choose from (grilled meats, fish and seafood, salads, sammies, sushi, and more). We can't wait to see how you're inspired! Just pick and choose your Giada recipe and post it by Sunday, January 23rd.

Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.


If you missed any of the dishes we Roasted last week, be sure to head on over and see all of the delicious recipes that were shared! 
 
Don't forget, IHCC is only cooking through the recipes of Giada De Laurentiis right now...so if you link a post up, please be sure that you've used/adapted one of her recipes. Otherwise we do have to remove the link and we really hate to do that. It makes us feel mean! 
I Heart Cooking Clubs *California Dreamin'* Participants

1. Michelle- Lemon Vinaigrette 2. Nico - Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cantaloupe Salad with Roasted Garbanzo Beans 3. Kim- Stuffed Baby Peppers 4. Deb In Hawaii--Fregola Salad w/ Fresh Citrus, Red Onion & Avocado

5. Couscous & Consciousness - Spaghetti with Shrimp & Lemon Oil 6. Lana - Lemon Risotto 7. Natashya - Raspberry-Vanilla Smoothie 8. Meredith- Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto

9. natalia - Orecchiette with Greens, Garbanzo Beans and Ricotta Salata 10. The Chef In My Head-Sweet & Spicy Almonds

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