Nov. 09--Giada De Laurentiis will be in the Chicago area Nov. 12 for two events related to her new cookbook, "Happy Cooking: Make Every Meal Count...Without Stressing Out" (Pam Krauss, $35). More on that in a minute but first let's talk turkey and more with the television cooking show star and successful author.
Best holiday tip: Delegate! "I always say it's a good idea not to do everything yourself," De Laurentiis says by telephone. "Find out what your family and friends are good at and ask them to do it." De Laurentiis, for example, will tackle the turkey and at least one dessert -- "so I know I've got something." Her sister will make brownies, an aunt will bring a salad and so forth. Family and friends who don't cook can bring a cheese plate or something else, she says. De Laurentiis will also ask one or two people to help her in the kitchen, sort of as volunteer sous chefs.
Fight stress: Stretch! De Laurentiis included a Holiday Stress Reliever stretch in the "Weekends Holidays" chapter of her new cookbook. It's a stretch called the heart opener, she writes, and "it's great to use when you've been stuck in one stressful posture for too long -- in front of the stove, at your computer, whatever." De Laurentiis reports some of the moderators at her book appearances are wondering why she included the exercise in a cookbook but she says readers love it. People are sending her Instagram and Twitter photos of them doing the stretch, says De Laurentiis, adding that what makes the book unique is that it's more than just recipes.
Talking turkey: Cut the bird up. De Laurentiis is not a fan of the whole bird at Thanksgiving. "It's a project and a real undertaking,'' she says. "People think of it and they are intimidated." Still, De Laurentiis admits people used to cooking a whole turkey at Thanksgiving will probably continue to do so. Her turkey recipes, which include a rolled, stuffed boneless turkey breast "porchetta" and turkey legs confit, are for those who don't have a recipe or want an option that's different than the expected. De Laurentiis thinks her method of using turkey parts will also encourage people to cook turkey year-round and not just at the holidays. "It's important to think outside the box. It's important to eat other stuff besides beef and chicken,'' she says.
Plan ahead, stress less: And that includes planning your diet for the holidays. "Eating Clean" is the heading for one of the chapters in De Laurentiis' book and she offers a recipe for a detox soup. Substitute it for one meal a day both before and after the holidays, she says, to balance out rich holiday fare.
Now, here's where to see De Laurentiis on Thursday. She is scheduled to do a 1 p.m. book signing at Williams-Sonoma Lincoln Park, 1550 N. Fremont St. You'll need a ticket for this event that will include the price of a book plus tax. Order here. For more information, contact the store: 312-255-0643.
Later that day, in Naperville, De Laurentiis will be in conversation with Catherine DeOrio, host of WTTW's "Check, Please!" television series, and take audience questions. This event begins ay 7:30 p.m. in Pfeiffer Hall at the Wentz Theater, 310 E. Benton Ave.. To order tickets, which start at $35, visit De Laurentiis' tour website and check on availability.
