Fire up the counter top grills for a night of poker and paninis. What could be simpler than having the guests make their own mouth watering grilled sandwiches, while the host stars with Caesar salad made right at the table. Double down!
Gameplan
Day Before Panini Poker Party:
Make Biscotti for dessert
Buy fresh dough from local pizza restaurant
Morning of Panini Poker Party:
Make Pizetta’s
One Hour Before Panini Poker Party:
Cut bread for panini sandwiches
Prepare trays for three different kinds of panini sandwiches
Assemble ingredients for Mozzarella & carrozza tray
Assemble ingredients for PLT tray
Cook pancetta for PLT tray
Assemble ingredients for Ham & Teleme tray
Assemble ingredients for Caesar’s salad tray
Set up stations with ingredients near electrical outlets for panini grills
Panini Poker Party:
Serve red zinfandel and pizetta’s
Everyone makes their own panini’s
After dinner make pain au chocolate panini
Heat up pistachio’s and pour port wine for guests
Wine Recommendation
Red Zinfandel
Our favorite comfort foods the low carb way—it can be done! Chef George Stella creates several sinfully satisfying low carb dishes: "beefed-up" meat loaf with a layer of prosciutto and provolone, onion rings, Southern fried chicken, "mock" garlic mashed potatoes, and a quick chocolate almond ice cream. Go ahead, indulge without the guilt!
Top 5 Tips
1. You can eat onions on a low carb diet. Avoid them the first few weeks, but in moderation, they're fine.
2. Use a mixture of parmesan cheese and eggs in place of breadcrumbs. They'll bind just as well as their carb-laden counterpart.
3. Soybeans are already toasted and have a tendency to burn when you deep-fry them. This is why we finish the chicken in the oven, rather than in the oil.
4. Cauliflower is low in carbs and absorbs the flavor of any ingredient you put with it.
5. Use a plastic baggie for the dessert if you don't own a pastry bag. Fill baggie with your mock ice cream, snip off a corner, and pour mixture into tall glasses.
Eating low carb isn’t tough, especially when it comes to snacks. Chef George Stella makes easy low carb options like turkey and Swiss BLT roll-ups, "Mock Raisinettes" with unsweetened chocolate and blueberries, and cinnamon pecans and almonds. George’s youngest son, Christian, also joins in to make his favorite, Philly Steak Salad with cheese. George finishes it off with a beverage everyone will love, a lemon lime slushee, perfect for after school or work.
Top 5 Tips
1. Use whole or real mayonnaise. Low-fat or lite is usually an indication that sugar has added to make up for the loss of body and flavor from fat.
2. Most nuts are low carb, but overeating them is a problem. Avoid this by portioning them out.
3. Frozen blueberries can be used as a substitute for raisins.
4. You can set a good example for your kids by eating the right foods. It's also fun to cook with your kids.
5. Keep your fridge full of good low carb foods such as cheese and sliced meats. When anybody in the house is hungry or having a craving, they can just go and find some great low carb selections.
Food Network searched for the Ultimate Cake recipe. After a nationwide recipe contest, nine finalists competed in three rounds: Chocolate Cake, Cupcakes and Birthday Cakes. A panel of food experts determined whose cake was the best. See who walks away the winner of $25,000!
COMPETITORS: Chocolate Cakes
Janice Kollar -- CAKE GRAND PRIZE WINNER!Recipe: "Really Good" Chocolate Layer Cake Hometown: Atlantic Highlands, N.J.
Erin Renouf MylroieRecipe: Anniversary Chocolate-Buttermilk Layer Cake with Toffee and Toasted Almonds Hometown: St. George, Utah
Jaclyn EspositoRecipe: Individual Molten Chocolate Coconut Cakes Hometown: Aventura, Fla.
Cupcakes
Kelly MadeyRecipe: Orange Chiffon Cupcakes with Meringue Buttercream Hometown: Quakertown, Pa.
Lorie Roach -- Winner!Recipe: Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream Hometown: Buckatunna, Miss.
Channon MondouxRecipe: Gingerbread Cake with Brandy Sauce and Whipped Orange Flower Cream Hometown: Portage, Mich.
Birthday CakesDoreen Howarth -- Winner!Recipe: Put the Lime in the Coconut Cake Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Marie BelfiglioRecipe: "Honey, I'm Peanuts About You!" Cake Hometown: Chandler, Ariz.
Debra ScruggsRecipe: Tropical Pound Cake Hometown: Toney, Ala.