When it comes to movie night entertaining, Emmy award-winning chef and cookbook author Giada De Laurentiis recommends serving sharable nibbles and setting the scene with inspired wine pairings.

Planning a get-together soon? Try one of these entertaining-ready recipes, complete with Bella Sera® wine pairings, for further inspiration. For more movie night recipe ideas from Giada, and wine pairing tips, visit www.bellaserawine.com.

Spaghetti with Pinot Grigio and Seafood

Ingredients

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 shallots, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups Bella Sera Pinot Grigio
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 pounds littleneck clams, scrummed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups arugula, tough stems removed

Preparation

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, until tender but not brown. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute. Add wine, shrimp and clams, and bring liquid to a boil. Reduce heat, cover pan, and simmer until shrimp are pink and clams have opened, about 7 minutes. Discard any clams that have not opened.
3. Add spaghetti to skillet with seafood mixture. Add salt and pepper and stir to combine, then gently fold in arugula. Mound pasta on a serving platter and serve immediately.

Serves
Yield 4 to 6 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
“Bella Sera Pinot Grigio is light-bodied, refreshing and has a hint of citrus – it’s the perfect complement to lighter recipes.” – Celebrity Chef Giada De Laurentiis

Reprinted from “Everyday Pasta” by Giada De Laurentiis. Copyright (c) 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter/Random House, Inc.

SOURCE:
Bella Sera

This trend is due, in part, to the uncertain economy. Recent research from the International Food Information Council found that 79 percent of consumers cite price as a key factor in deciding which drink items to purchase in a store. With equipment and recipes readily available today, consumers are embracing this DIY trend and cutting costs by making their own custom drinks at home.

Whatever your taste preference, it’s easy to create personalized beverages for yourself, your family and guests to enjoy all winter long.

Hot-coffee indulgence.

According to the National Coffee Association, gourmet coffee continues to be a significant portion (37 percent) of total coffee consumed. If hot coffee is your way to pamper yourself, endless varieties are available, from classic French roast to Hawaiian Kona and New Orleans chicory.

Choose to brew your way.

To make great coffee, start with the right coffeemaker. Look for one that fills easily and lets you create large or small batches and different brew strengths. For instance, Calphalon’s Quick Brew 12-cup Coffee Maker offers both regular or bold custom brew settings – plus the flexibility to brew up to 12 cups at a time when you have a crowd, or just one to four cups for smaller groups. Brewing up to 25 percent faster than comparable standard coffee makers, the Calphalon Quick Brew 12-cup Coffee Maker won’t keep your guests waiting either.

Add cream to your cup.

Once you’ve brewed your coffee, personalize it further with coffee creamers. They’re available in everything from traditional vanilla, almond or hazelnut to enticing new combinations like honey-vanilla cream and white chocolate caramel latte.

Make it special.

Many specialty coffee drinks are also easy to make at home, such as mocha coffee, gingerbread coffee, almond coffee and Irish coffee. They can often be made with just a few simple ingredients from recipes on websites such as allrecipes.com and others, providing a fun way to top off a dinner party or savor alone by the fireplace.  

Create a new blend.

Research shows more coffee lovers are buying whole beans and grinding them at home for a fresher, richer flavor. Take your coffee grinds one step further and become a true “Roastmaster” by creating a whole new blend of your own. Mix and match flavored beans or beans from different coffee-growing countries to develop new tastes and sensations you won’t find in your average cup of coffee. For peak flavor and the ultimate freshness, package your blend in an airtight container and store it in a dark, room-temperature location.

So go ahead and turn yourself loose in the kitchen. It’s easier than ever to customize your cup.

A 12-bottle set of 1988 DRC Romanee-Conti recently went for $117,000. But not everyone can afford a six-figure case of wine. Many wine connoisseurs own bottles that are far less expensive, but the way you should care for and protect your wine remains the same.

Whether your collection includes the six 2000 Chateau Lafite-Rothschilds that recently sold for $14,500 in the fall auction at Zachy’s, or bottles from your favorite wine club, your wine needs to be protected not only to retain your investment value but also to ensure quality.

If you have a wine collection, or are thinking of building one, here’s how to care for your bottles, according to Don Soss, the vice president of high-net-worth insurance at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, a high-net-worth insurer that specializes in insuring wine collections.

* Keep an eye on your climate control

A temperature of 55 degrees with relative humidity between 60 to 65 percent are ideal for long-term wine storage. The cool temperature slows the aging process, while the humidity prevents moisture inside the wine bottle from moving into the cork and eventually evaporating into the air. Keep in mind that ideal temperatures do vary somewhat depending on the type of wine you are storing. Attics and garages are not ideal places to store wine, as temperatures can fluctuate greatly in these locations.

* Limit your collection’s exposure to light — A dark room is best for storing wine. Fluorescent light can be harmful.

* Wines should be kept in a stable environment — Vibration is harmful to wine, as it disturbs the sediment. Keep the bottles in a horizontal position.

* Back up your power supply — Your wine collection could be at risk during a sustained power outage. A permanent back-up generator will help protect your investment.

* Consider renting a storage space — If you lack adequate space to store your collection, professional wine storage facilities are available in most major cities.

* Insure your collection separately if it is valuable — As wine collections increase in value, collectors should consider insuring their collection.

Depending on the wine’s value, your collection should probably be insured separately from your general homeowner’s insurance policy Soss says. If not, you may run the risk that it is under-insured. The average value of a bottle in a wine cellar is often $100 or more; individual bottles can easily reach $700 to $1,000 for top wines. A cellar that contains, say, 500 to 1,000 bottles, can be worth between $50,000 and $100,000. Values can easily climb into the millions for larger collections.

* Choose blanket coverage or itemized coverage, or a combination of the two

With blanket coverage, your entire collection is covered under one limit, with a single bottle limit of up to $50,000 (with a Fireman’s Fund policy). Itemized coverage is recommended for wines valued at $10,000 or more and can be combined with blanket coverage to provide the best protection for your collection. Under certain coverage options, no deductible applies.

* If you buy insurance, be sure it covers all risks

Buy coverage that spans a wide spectrum of causes of loss including fire and theft, breakage, flood, and a range of others. You will also need coverage for loss due to power outage or mechanical breakdown of heating, cooling and humidity control equipment, all of which are critical coverages for oenophiles.

* Don’t transport your wine without checking with your insurer first

Before you transport your wine, ask your agent or insurer if this is a covered risk by your insurance policy. Be certain your wine is protected worldwide and while in transit.

* Security is imperative

Include your wine collection in your security system plans. Do background checks on household staff to avoid “inside” burglaries.

Wine collections are a passionate investment and are important to protect. Unlike other collections, you get to enjoy consuming the contents and add to the collection more often.

Have a Berry Merry Cosmo – Blend the naughtiness of tart with the niceness of sweet for the ultimate pink drink – Cosmopolitans. With pomegranate, blueberry and cranberry juice, it’s a sassy, classic way to cheer the holiday season.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea with Pomegranate Blueberry
• 3 tablespoons 100% cranberry juice
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 tablespoon lime juice

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into chilled martini glasses.

Serves
3 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Tip: For an adult version, use 2 tablespoons vodka and 2 tablespoons orange liqueur instead of orange juice.

Preparation Time:
5 minutes

SOURCE:
Lipton

Ingredients

• 2 bottles 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea with Lemon
• 1 cup unsweetened grape juice
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 small orange, sliced
• 1 Gala apple, cored and sliced
• 1 lime, sliced

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in large pitcher.
2. Chill at least 2 hours or until ready to serve.

Serves
6 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Tip: For an adult version of this sangria, use dry red wine instead of grape juice.

SOURCE:
Lipton

Ingredients

• 2 bottles 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea with Lemon
• 1 cup apple cider or apple juice
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick

Preparation

1. Bring all ingredients to a boil over high heat in a 2-quart saucepan. Remove from heat and let stand 20 minutes.
2. Strain out spices and serve warm. If desired, garnish with sliced apples.

Serves
6 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Tip: For spiked grog, add 1/4 cup light rum or brandy.

Preparation Time:
5 minutes

Standing Time:
20 minutes

SOURCE:
Lipton

Ingredients

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup light cream or half-and-half*
• 1 bottle 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea with Pomegranate Blueberry
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preparation

1. Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and warm over medium heat, stirring constantly, until chips are completely melted, about 8 minutes (do not boil).
2. Serve immediately. If desired, garnish with whipped cream and an additional sprinkle of nutmeg.

Serves
4 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Tip: For an adult version, use 1/4 cup vodka or cherry brandy instead of 1/4 cup of light cream.

*Use fat-free half-and-half to make this dessert drink lower in saturated fat and calories.

Preparation Time:
5 minutes

Cook Time:
8 minutes

SOURCE:
Lipton

2011 Holiday Recipe Guide
6 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes
Stand time: 20 minutes
2 bottles 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea with Lemon
1 cup apple cider or apple juice
5 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
Bring all ingredients to a boil over high heat in a 2-quart saucepan. Remove from heat and let stand 20 minutes. Strain out spices and serve warm. If desired, garnish with sliced apples.
Tip: For spiked grog, add 1/4 cup light rum or brandy.

2011 Holiday Recipe Guide
3 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes
1 bottle 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea with Pomegranate Blueberry
3 tablespoons 100% cranberry juice
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into chilled martini glasses.
Tip: For an adult version, use 2 tablespoons vodka and 2 tablespoons orange liqueur instead of orange juice.

2011 Holiday Recipe Guide
5 cinnamon sticks
5 allspice berries
1-2 oranges
64 ounces boiling water
½ gallon apple cider
1-6 oz frozen cranberry apple juice concentrate
4 T Tealightful Treasures Sweet Cranberry Apple Tea (or your favorite tea)
6 cloves
¼ C brown sugar
1 pint rum (optional)
Tie the cloves, allspice and cranberry apple tea in a cheesecloth bag. Bring the water to boil in a large pot. Add the spice/tea bag and all remaining ingredients (except for oranges and rum) to the boiling water. Reduce heat and simmer for 7-10 minutes. Remove spice/tea bag, add rum if desired and serve warm with orange slices.