Review of new Giada de Laurentiis for Target products

We recently reviewed a delicious Roasted Pepper and Eggplant Tomato Spread from Giada de Laurentiis for Target. We were thrilled when we were contacted about reviewing some of the newest items from Giada’s collection:

-Fusilli Col Buco pasta
-Casarecce pasta
-Pasta Fagioli soup starter mix
-Spicy Arrabbiata pasta sauce
-Piccata simmer sauce
-Marsala simmer sauce
-Artichoke Frittata starter sauce
-Peppers & Onions Frittata starter sauce
-Herb Focaccia bread mix

The packaging boasts that Giada’s exclusive Target line offers “a creative approach to everyday cuisine,” and “features all the right tools for everyone to make effortless meals affordably.” Let’s be honest, we’ve all read copy like that on food packages before—but in the case of Giada’s products, it’s really the only way to describe them. Each of these high-quality items sells for under $4.00, and almost any meal you can create with them take about a half hour or less of hands-on cooking time. With just a few additional ingredients, you’ll be able to make an easy, delicious Italian-inspired dinner for every night of the week. Recipes will be posted on Healthy Way to Cook throughout the next two weeks, so keep checking back!

Giada’s organic pastas pair perfectly with her flavorful new Spicy Arrabbiata sauce ($3.29). It’s a classic tomato sauce with a twist: fire-roasted tomatoes and red peppers blended with smoked chipotle peppers. Try it with spaghetti’s spiraled cousin, Fusilli Col Buco ($2.99) or Casarecce ($2.49) with a rough bronze cut that helps the sauce cling. These pastas also make amazing sides for chicken dishes. Toss cooked chicken breast in Giada’s Picatta or Marsala simmer sauces ($2.99 each) and serve over the noodles for an incredibly simple-to-make version of these Italian staples. These sauces taste so fresh that you could probably convince anyone you’d made them from scratch—but we won’t tell if you don’t.

RECIPE: Fusilli Col Buco with Spicy Bolognese Sauce

One of our favorite products is the Pasta Fagioli soup mix ($3.49). All you need is chicken broth to bring this hearty soup to life. Packed with 8 grams of protein, it makes a filling appetizer or main course. The box directions suggest adding diced onion and bacon or pancetta, but we prepared it without and it was still amazing! Bake up a loaf of Herb Focaccia bread ($1.99) to serve with the soup, or turn the bread into an amazing Panini. Baking your own bread might sound daunting, but with Giada’s mix, it couldn’t be simpler. All it takes is carbonated water and olive oil—and a little bit of patience for the dough to rise!
RECIPE: Chicken Asiago Panini 

If you’re not in the mood for typical dinner fare, try Giada’s Artichoke or Peppers & Onions Frittata starter sauce ($2.99 each). Whisk eggs and cheese into the sauce and bake for a perfect, fluffy frittata that’s great for any time of day.
RECIPE: Peppers & Onions Frittata 

Every finished product was absolutely delicious, but what we really love about Giada’s products is how easy they are to transform into complete meals. They take the stress out of preparing weeknight dinners and offer tons of mix-and-match options so you can always have something different. We loved these items and we’re sure you will too. Enter our giveaway for your chance to win the 9 items in this gift package valued at over $25. The giveaway ends at 12:00 AM on Monday, November 12, 2012 and a winner will be announced later that day. Good luck, everyone!

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Dan G!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: The products featured in this post and the giveaway package were provided by Hill + Knowlton Strategies on behalf of Giada de Laurentiis for Target. This review was written by Healthy Way to Cook’s Editor-in-Chief Nicole Fallon and all opinions above are hers.