Bobby Flay's Throwdown!: More Than 100 Recipes from Food Network's Ultimate Cooking Challenge

Are you ready?

Every week on Throwdown!, celebrity chef and restaurateur Bobby Flay goes head-to-head with cooks who have staked their claim as masters of an iconic dish—buffalo wings, chicken cacciatore, or sticky buns, for example—even though he may never have cooked these things before. The results are always entertaining—and delicious. In his first-ever cookbook collaboration with Food Network, Bobby shares the recipes and fun from his popular show.

For each episode, both Bobby’s recipe and his challenger’s are included, comprising a cross-country tour of regional specialties and good-hearted competitive spirit. Travel to San Antonio for puffy tacos, Philadelphia for cheesesteaks, Harlem for fried chicken and waffles, and Charleston for coconut cake. Try both dishes to pick your favorite, or challenge friends and family to a battle of your own. Either way, you’ll find tons of fantastic flavors in this best-of-the-best book from the first seven seasons of Throwdown!.

The ultimate companion cookbook to one of America’s favorite food shows, Bobby Flay’s Throwdown! lets home cooks and fans in on the action, featuring favorite Throwdown! moments and behind-the-scenes peeks alongside beautiful, all-new color food photography created just for this book. So if Bobby Flay ever strolls into your backyard asking “Are you ready for a Throwdown?” you definitely will be!


Fall into Cooking Featured Recipes from Bobby Flay's Throwdown!: Pumpkin Pie
Bobby Flay: Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Crunch and Bourbon-Maple Whipped Cream
Makes 1 10-inch pie
Cinnamon Crunch
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup light muscovado sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes, cold

Crust
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1?8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Filling
3 large eggs
3 large egg yolks
3/4 cup dark muscovado sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
11/2 cups canned pumpkin puree
11/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, plus more for the top
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped out and reserved, or 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Bourbon-Maple Whipped Cream (recipe follows) for serving

To make the cinnamon crunch, preheat the oven to 350?F.
Combine the flour, oats, muscovado sugar, and cinnamon in a food processor, and process a few times to combine. Add the butter and pulse until combined. Pat the mixture evenly into a 4-inch square on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove and let cool. Transfer to a cutting board and chop into small pieces. Keep the oven on.
To make the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, butter, and cinnamon in a bowl and mix until combined. Press evenly onto the bottom and sides of a 10-inch pie plate. Brush with the beaten egg. Bake until light golden brown and firm, about 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
Reduce the oven temperature to 300?F.
To make the filling, whisk the eggs, egg yolks, both sugars, and the molasses together in a medium bowl. Mix in the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Whisk in the heavy cream, milk, and vanilla seeds or extract. Strain the mixture through a coarse strainer into a bowl. Whisk in the butter.
Place the pie plate on a baking sheet, pour the pumpkin mixture into the shell, and sprinkle additional cinnamon over the top. Bake until the filling is set around edges but the center still jiggles slightly when shaken, 45 to 60 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours.
Cut the pie into slices and top each with a large dollop of whipped cream and some of the cinnamon crunch.
Bourbon-Maple Whipped Cream
1 1/4 cups heavy cream, very cold
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped out and reserved
2 tablespoons Grade B maple syrup
1 to 2 tablespoons bourbon, to taste

Combine the cream, vanilla seeds, maple syrup, and bourbon in a large chilled bowl, and whip until soft peaks form.
Challenger: Michele Albano's Maple Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Streusel
Makes 1 9-inch pie
Pie Crust
11/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening, very cold
1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream, for brushing

Pecan Streusel
3/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced, cold

Filling
2 cups pumpkin puree, preferably fresh
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 cup Grade B maple syrup
3 large eggs, beaten
Maple Whipped Cream (recipe follows), for serving

To make the crust, combine the flour and salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Break up the shortening and toss it with the flour mixture to coat. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, mix the ingredients together until the dough forms coarse crumbs. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons ice-cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough easily forms a ball that can hold itself together. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and as long as overnight.
While the dough is resting, make the streusel: Toss the pecans with the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the butter, and using a pastry blender or your fingertips, work in until you have small clumps. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 425?F.
Sprinkle flour generously over a hard surface and roll the dough out with a rolling pin until it forms an 11-inch round. Fold the round in half, place it in a 9-inch pie plate, and then unfold the dough to completely cover the pie plate with a bit of an overhang. Tuck the overhang under to make a double-thick rim, and then use your fingers to crimp the edges of the pie shell. Brush the heavy cream over the crimped edges, and refrigerate until the filling is complete.
To make the filling, mix the pumpkin, flour, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt together with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl well. Add the heavy cream and maple syrup, scraping the bowl several times while mixing. Mix in the beaten eggs.
Pour the filling mixture into the pie shell, and bake for 15 minutes. Then lower the oven temperature to 350?F and bake until the filling is almost firm, about 30 minutes. Remove the pie from the oven and sprinkle the pecan streusel over the top, covering the pie completely. Return the pie to the oven and bake until the filling is just a bit wobbly in the middle and the pecan streusel is golden, 10 to 15 minutes. The total baking time should be 55 to 60 minutes.
Cool the pie on a wire rack. The pie is best served at either at room temperature or cold. Before serving, garnish the pie with the Maple Whipped Cream.
Maple Whipped Cream
2 cups heavy cream
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup Grade B maple syrup, or to taste
Place the metal bowl of an electric mixer in the freezer to chill for at least 15 minutes.
Combine the cream, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla in the chilled bowl, and beat on high speed until the mixture thickens. Add the maple syrup and beat on high speed until the cream holds firm peaks.

Zoe Ball From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Zoe Louise Ball (born 23 November 1970 in Blackpool, Lancashire) is an English television and radio personality, most famous for becoming the first female host of the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show and for her earlier work presenting 1990s kids show Live & Kicking. Zoe Ball Born 23 November 1970 (1970-11-23) (age 39) Blackpool, Lancashire, England Occupation Presenter Spouse(s) Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) Children Woody Ball and Nelly May Lois Cook Parents Johnny Ball TV career The daughter of children's TV presenter Johnny Ball, Zoe Ball grew up in Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire and was educated at a convent school and a sixth form college. She joined the Young Theatre at Beaconsield where she trained as an actor. Her first TV appearance was as a child in the studio audience of Saturday morning children's show Saturday Superstore, on which her father was appearing as a guest. She began her television career as a runner at Granada Television and researcher on BSkyB. She worked as a researcher for quiz shows for two years. Her presenting jobs have included hosting The Big Breakfast and The Priory on Channel 4, BBC One's Saturday morning children's programme Live & Kicking and pre-school programme Playdays. Between 1996 and 1998 she was a regular presenter on Top of the Pops usually alternating with fellow presenters and DJs Jayne Middlemiss and Jo Whiley. The three only ever presented together once on Christmas Day 1997. Between 1999 and 2001, she was a co-host with Jamie Theakston on Friday night chat/music show The Priory, which was commissioned by Chris Evans then production company Ginger Productions. Despite initial strong ratings, the show failed to capitalise on this despite the demise of TFI Friday (also a Ginger production) and figures slowly dropped. A fourth series was never commissioned, while today the show is remembered by many as a failed attempt to emulate TFI Friday's success, including the time slot it once occupied. Despite the shows relative failure, fans of the former UK Play spoof interviews show Rock Profile, often recall creators (and future stars of Little Britain) Matt Lucas and David Walliams appearance on the show as Danny and Noel from Hear'Say, in which they constantly sung "Monday, Monday" after Jamie asked them a question. As Jamie was the interviewer on Rock Profile, he as a result reprised his role from that show. Ball then co-hosted the 2002 BRIT Awards with Frank Skinner, following which motherhood meant that she took less TV work. In 2005 after co-hosting the BBC reality show Strictly Dance Fever, Ball became a contestant on series 3 of its sister show Strictly Come Dancing, partnering with Ian Waite. Ball and Waite ranked third place. At the end of 2006, Ball co-hosted ITV1's Extinct, with Sir Trevor McDonald. In January 2007, she presented the second series of ITV1's Soapstar Superstar, taking over from Fern Britton and Ben Shephard, who hosted the first series. In March 2007, she hosted ITV talent search Grease Is the Word. Ball is set to feature alongside Jamie Theakston once again in Channel 5's upcoming TV quiz series, Britain's Best Brain, which is set to air in October 2009. Radio career Although known primarily for her TV work, Ball first became a major British celebrity in radio, after she was recruited to co-host the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show in October 1997 with Kevin Greening. She eventually graduated to become the sole host — the first female DJ to do so. At this time, her hard-drinking, hard-partying antics contributed to the identification of the so-called "ladette culture" of the late 1990s. She later notoriously re-created the naked pose on a backturned chair made famous by Christine Keeler when doing an interview and spread with SKY magazine. Ball left BBC Radio 1 in March 2000 to raise a family. Her final breakfast show was on 30 March 2000, and she was succeeded by Sara Cox. Though regarded as professional, Ball twice received a BBC warning for swearing on the radio — first when she used the word "bastard" while being interviewed by Chris Evans during his stint on the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show (she was publicising her appointment to The Big Breakfast at the time); then, as host of the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show, for using the expression "fucking brilliant" to describe a night out she had. She returned to radio in mid 2002 when she joined London rock station XFM, where she presented the Weekday Drivetime show until December 2003 and then in January 2004 took over a Friday evening music show for the station. She also stood in for Ricky Gervais while he filmed the second series of The Office. She eventually left XFM at the end of 2004. In September 2007, she celebrated 40 years of Radio 1 by hosting a show with Sara Cox. Since 2006 she has provided relief presenting duties for BBC Radio 2, fronting specialist documenta

ZOE BALL Date of Birth:23 November 1970, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK more Contact:View agent contact info on IMDbPro. Trivia:(December 2000) Expecting her first child with husband Fatboy Slim ('Norman Cook') more STARmeter: Down 39% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.NewsDesk: (13 articles) Fatboy Slim, Zoe Ball Welcome Daughter Nelly May Lois (From People - CelebrityBabies. 16 January 2010, 5:00 PM, PST) Slow start for Ball, Theakston series (From digitalspy. 29 October 2009, 3:14 AM, PDT) Alternate Names:Zoe Ball IMDb Resume:Do you represent Zoe Ball? Add a resume and photos to this page with IMDb Resume. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filmography Jump to filmography as: Producer, Actress, Thanks, Self, Archive Footage Producer: Always Crashing in the Same Car (2007) (producer) Four Brothers and a Funeral (2005) (producer) Actress: 2000s 1990s Nationwide Mercury Prize 2001 (2001) (TV) Still Crazy (1998) .... Zoe Thanks: Always Crashing in the Same Car (2007) (thanks) Self: 2000s 1990s 1980s "The Gadget Show" .... Herself (1 episode, 2009) - Episode #12.20 (2009) TV episode .... Herself "Live from Studio Five" .... Herself (1 episode, 2009) ... aka Studio Five (UK: informal short title) - Episode #1.32 (2009) TV episode .... Herself "The Paul O'Grady Show" .... Herself (1 episode, 2009) ... aka The New Paul O'Grady Show (UK: new title) - Episode dated 20 October 2009 (2009) TV episode .... Herself "Strictly Come Dancing" .... Herself / ... (5 episodes, 2005-2009) ... aka Strictly (UK: informal short title) ... aka Strictly Come Dancing: Champion of Champions (UK: promotional title) ... aka Strictly Come Dancing: Christmas Champion of Champions (UK: promotional title) ... aka Strictly Come Dancing: Christmas Special (UK: promotional title) ... aka Strictly Come Dancing: The Results (UK: second part title) - Round 4 (2009) TV episode .... Herself - Christmas Special (2006) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #4.5 (2006) TV episode .... Herself - Christmas Special (2005) TV episode .... Herself - Contestant - Episode #3.1 (2005) TV episode .... Herself "The ONE Show" .... Herself (1 episode, 2009) - Episode dated 4 June 2009 (2009) TV episode .... Herself "Let's Dance for Comic Relief" .... Herself (1 episode, 2009) - Episode #1.3 (2009) TV episode .... Herself Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour (2008) (V) (as Zoe Ball) .... Herself "Loose Women" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2007-2008) - Episode #12.131 (2008) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #11.104 (2007) TV episode .... Herself "Celebrity Ding Dong" .... Herself (1 episode, 2008) ... aka Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding Dong (UK: complete title) - Episode #1.1 (2008) TV episode .... Herself "Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two" .... Herself (13 episodes, 2005-2007) - Episode #4.55 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #4.26 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #3.54 (2006) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #3.22 (2006) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #3.9 (2006) TV episode .... Herself (8 more) "All Star Family Fortunes" .... Herself (1 episode, 2007) - Episode #2.4 (2007) TV episode .... Herself "Kitchen Nightmares" .... Herself (1 episode, 2007) ... aka Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (UK: complete title) - Ruby Tates (2007) TV episode .... Herself "Grease Is the Word" .... Herself - Presenter (7 episodes, 2007) - Episode #1.7 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Presenter - Episode #1.6 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Presenter - Episode #1.4 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Presenter - Episode #1.5 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Presenter - Episode #1.3 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Presenter (2 more) "Soapstar Superstar" .... Presenter / ... (10 episodes, 2007) - Episode #2.10 (2007) TV episode .... Presenter - Episode #2.9 (2007) TV episode .... Presenter - Episode #2.8 (2007) TV episode .... Presenter - Episode #2.7 (2007) TV episode .... Presenter - Episode #2.6 (2007) TV episode .... Presenter (5 more) "Soapstar Superstar: Bonus Tracks" .... Herself (9 episodes, 2007) - Episode #2.10 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #2.9 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #2.8 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #2.7 (2007) TV episode .... Herself - Episode #2.5 (2007) TV episode .... Herself (4 more) "Extinct" .... Presenter (3 episodes, 2006) - Leatherback Turtle (2006) TV episode .... Presenter - Orangutan (2006) TV episode .... Presenter - Episode #1.1 (2006) TV episode .... Presenter "8 Out of 10 Cats" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006) - Episode #2.1 (2006) TV episode .... Herself "Dirty Tricks" ..

Since her debut on Food Network in 2002 with the hit program Everyday Italian, Giada De Laurentiis has been enticing Americans with her updated twists on Italian favorites. Her dedication to ease, healthfulness, and—above all else—flavor have won her a permanent place in the hearts of home cooks. In Giada at Home, she shares a personal look into how she cooks for those dearest to her, with simple recipes inspired by her television show of the same name.

Born in Italy, Giada was raised in Los Angeles by a gregarious Italian family. While her grandmother, aunt, and mother brought her up on generations-old recipes, Giada also became enamored with the bright and clean flavors of California’s abundant seasonal fruits and vegetables. Giada at Home presents recipes from both traditions, all with Giada’s signature style. She shares classic Italian recipes passed down through the years, like cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in salty prosciutto, creamy risotto with the earthy and deep flavors of mushrooms and gorgonzola, and lamb chops basted with honey and balsamic vinegar. New family favorites include grilled asparagus and melon, game hens roasted with citrus and herbs, and a sorbet made with pomegranate and mint, all bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors.

No meal would be complete without the company of family and Giada particularly enjoys bringing her loved ones together over meals. For the first time, she incorporates her go-to brunch recipes—what she cooks when setting up a feast on her back patio for everyone on weekend mornings—from Jade-approved Panini, with gooey mozzarella, luscious raspberries, and a sprinkling of brown sugar, to Todd’s favorite pancetta-studded waffles scented with cinnamon.

No matter which recipe you choose—classic or contemporary—Giada at Home makes gathering the favorite people in your life for fabulous weeknight meals and family celebrations delicious and easy.


GIADA DE LAURENTIIS is the Emmy-winning star of Food Network’s Everyday Italian, Giada's Weekend Getaways, and Giada at Home; a contributing correspondent for NBC’s Today; and the author of four New York Times bestselling cookbooks. She attended the Cordon Bleu in Paris and worked at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago restaurant in Los Angeles before starting her own catering company, GDL Foods. Born in Rome, she grew up in Los Angeles, where she now lives with her husband, Todd, and their daughter, Jade.

Recipe from Giada at Home: Stuffed Baby Peppers
Makes 4 to 6 servings
My mother always loved to serve stuffed vegetables; she stuffed zucchini, potatoes, onions, and, of course, all kinds of peppers. It may have been her way of getting us to eat our vegetables, but we loved them so much we ate them right out of the fridge the next day. I’ve used pancetta in the filling, but this is an easy recipe to vary and you could certainly substitute ground beef, sausage--almost anything savory that you like. These taste better the longer they sit, so they make great leftovers.

Ingredients
Vegetable oil cooking spray
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, finely chopped
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup frozen petite peas, thawed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
24 (2- to 3-inch long) baby peppers
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring frequently, until brown and crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pancetta and drain on paper towels. Add the onion to the pan and cook until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine the onion, pancetta, cheeses, and peas. Season with salt and pepper.
Using a paring knife, cut 1/2 inch from the stem end of each pepper. Remove the seeds and veins. Using a small dessert spoon, fill each pepper with the cheese mixture. Place the filled peppers on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the peppers begin to soften and the cheese is warmed through. Cool for 10 minutes.
Arrange the peppers on a platter and serve.