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Video: Throw a celebrity-style, Italian-themed bash

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    >>> treats make things easier.

    >> peter callahan is here with an italian-themed sawyery.

    >> he makes little food. he is one of our favorite guys. what do you have for us?

    >> we will start with drink, ladies.

    >> that's unusual.

    >> called a scorpino. we make it in a bowl. this is lemon sorbet. i like to make it in front of the guests. we have a station here and we get our whisk out and we have it already soft to begin with.

    >> is there alcohol in there?

    >> alcohol goes in next.

    >> hoda doesn't like to wait for alcohol. a little vodka. what kind do you like?

    >> i'm happy with anything.

    >> okay. this is on top.

    >> we have a minute. anyway, we will drink one. look how cute these are. thank you.

    >> they're gave us an extra one. look at this caprese salad .

    >> can we live here for one second. this lemon thing is beautiful. delicious.

    >> deenglish.

    >> look at that.

    >> mini everything. you can serve these at parties how? they are so little. a lot of smacking of lips over here.

    >> for a cocktail party and have a bunch for dinner.

    >> this is spaghetti and meatballs. can you get a close up on that? spaghetti and meatballs.

    >> is it crazy?

    >> it's a beef meatball with angel hair pasta swirled on top.

    >> look at the caesar salad .

    >> a fun wooden fork to go with it. and then garlic bread.

    >> bring us to the dessert portion please.

    >> this is a rice crispy treat and yogurt, blue berries and a healthy dessert.

    >> she already had a drink.

    >> talk about what we have here at the end. this is crazy.

    >> the last one is mini blue berry pancakes. breakfast for dinner and a cocktail party .

    >> so beautiful and labor intensive , but worth it.

    >> a tiny bit.

    >> worth it. you have a beautiful catering company and your cookbooks.

    >> i have a cookbook.

    >> thank you. so much. tomorrow, what are we doing?

    >> remembering what it's like to go to college.

    >> with jessica alba and how you mandell will be here

TODAY recipes
updated 9/11/2012 10:37:27 AM ET 2012-09-11T14:37:27

Recipe: Sgroppinos cocktail

Ingredients
  • 4 pints lemon sorbet
  • 1 1/2 cups chilled vodka
  • 2 1/2 cups chilled Prosecco
  • Simple syrup, if needed
  • 3/4 cups limoncello liqueur
Preparation

Take the sorbet out of the freezer and let it sit at room temperature until it is soft but not melting, about 15 minutes. Scoop it into a large bowl and pour in the vodka. Whisk together until the mixture is smooth, and then whisk in the Prosecco. Taste, and adjust the sweetness with simple syrup if needed.

Divide among 12 frosted martini glasses, finish each with a drizzle of limoncello, and serve.

To serve in lemon cups: Cut a slight tip off one end so it stands flat. From the other end cut ½ inch off. Scoop out the inside with teaspoon leaving the side walls intact so it doesn't leak. Scoop down leaving ¼ inch on bottom to avoid leaking. Diving the sgroppinos among the lemon cups, finish each with a drizzle of limoncello, and serve.

Serving Size

Makes 12 drinks

Recipe: Spaghetti and meatballs with Caesar salad and garlic bread

Ingredients
  • For meatballs
  • 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 small shallot, finely minced
  • 8 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 4 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • 8 teaspoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 pounds 90% lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup canned or homemade beef broth
  • For spaghetti
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 8 ounces angel hair pasta
  • 1 cup store-bought Alredo sauce (or homemade pasta sauce)
  • For salad
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 cup store bough Cesar salad dressing
  • 1 2-ounce wedge Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler
  • 1/2 cup small seasoned croutons (preferably seasoned with just salt and pepper)
  • For garlic bread
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 baguette
Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the meatballs on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour ¼ cup of beef broth into the pan and cover with aluminum foil. Bake until the meatballs are cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, remove and discard the foil, and let the meatballs cool to room temperature. Slice a small bit off the top and the bottom of each meatball to create a flat surface. Transfer the meatballs to a clean rimmed baking sheet and set aside.

For spaghetti:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the salt and the pasta, and cook, following the package instructions, until the pasta is al dente. Drain.

In small saucepan, heat the Alfredo sauce just until warm; remove from the heat.

Stick a fondue fork into the pile of pasta and twirl it to make a 6- or 8- strand nest. Dip the nest into the warm Alfredo sauce, and then carefully slide the pasta off the fork onto the top of a meatball. Repeat for the remaining meatballs. Reserve the remaining Alfredo sauce.

For garlic bread:
In a small bowl, stir the butter, olive oil, garlic, and salt together. Slice the ends off the baguette, and then cut the baguette into 6 pieces. Make two vertical slits just shy of all the way through in each baguette segment. Use a butter knife to spread the garlic mixture between the slices and on the cut ends of the bread.

Wrap the baguette pieces in aluminum foil and place them on a baking sheet.

For salad
Place the lettuce in a large bowl and toss with the dressing.

To serve:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the garlic bread in the oven and heat until its toasted, 7 to 10 minutes. Pour the remaining ¼ cup of beef broth into the baking sheet holding the meatballs. Cover with aluminum foil and cook until the meatballs and pasta are warmed though, 5 to 6 minutes.

Meanwhile, divide the salad among six small bowls. Garnish with the shaved Parmesan and the croutons, and place on a plate. Unwrap the baguettes and place on the plate.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and finish each pasta-topped meatball with a dollop of Alfredo sauce. Transfer 2 to each plate, and serve.

Serving Size

Makes 6 servings

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