Giada De Laurentiis's Menu for the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony

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Source: Giada De Laurentiis's Menu For the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony

If you're tuning into the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, then serve your family and friends a delicious (and effortless) menu, courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis. It's a win-win situation, because you can spend more time catching the amazing spectacles of the show and less time checking the status of whatever's on the stove. When we spoke to Giada, she revealed that she'll be in London for the Olympics, but she nonetheless shared with us what stylish fare she would make if she were to watch the opening ceremony at home. Giada's recommendation: start with these three crowd-pleasers, and you'll be guaranteed a short grocery list, minimal prep, and a fun time. Let the games begin!

  • For the Toast: Peach Beer Cooler: No party is complete without the perfect cocktail in hand. "The Brits love their beer, and I make a fabulous peachy beer, as I call it, with peach nectar and fresh or frozen peaches mixed with a light beer," Giada says. "I think that could be really fun to toast to the opening games." The Food Network star's ginger-peach beer cooler is a mildly effervescent, nectar-sweet drink that takes minutes to prepare. We love how the fiery colors of the peaches resemble the Olympic torch!

  • For the Main Event: Lemon Pollo Frito: Both the Brits and Americans love battered and deep-fried meats, but for a lighter (yet still indulgent) fare, "I think a lemon pollo frito [fried chicken] would be a really nice way to sort of mix the two traditions together," Giada says. Giada's recipe for pollo frito starts with a moist, bone-in chicken that's marinated in lemon juice and fried to a delicious crisp. Serve it with a simple side salad dressed in white wine vinegar and olive oil.

  • For Dessert: Chocolate Trifle: Don't retreat back to the oven. Instead, stay glued to the television by making Giada's easy, no-bake chocolate dessert. She says, "For dessert, I think a nice finish would be something chocolatey, which is my favorite. I would have a chocolate trifle with chocolate cake cubes and basically like a chocolate custard." Substitute the seasonal Italian cake in Giada's panettone trifle, for chocolate cake. Then soak the cake in coffee liqueur, and layer it with fluffy, rich mascarpone. "[The Olympians] are so inspiring, and I just want to kick back, relax, and enjoy my dessert," Giada explains. We couldn't agree more.



Related Content:
From Menus to Meals, a Glimpse of Food at the Olympics
Our Favorite Speedy Weeknight Recipes From Giada De Laurentiis
What We're Looking Forward to in the 2012 Olympics



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