Watching Rachael Ray

We started with a recap of last weeks competition, as we all know any reality competition thrives on the recaps. From start to Chrissey’s leaving, and a reminder of the prizes at stake - its finally time for this weeks Competition to begin!

The first challenge is Meatball Makin! Everyone has the same ingredients, and they have 90 seconds to mix and make golf ball sized meatballs. The most at the end gets the advantage. The ladies take of their rings, one puts it in Pete’s pocket and they admit his nickname is “Sweet Pete.” Awww. Hey, can they cook? Prove it! The stopwatch goes off, and they start mixing and rolling - the meatballs are flyin! (Ok, not really, but how exciting can a recap of meatball making be? I know, right?)

The winner is Pete with 15 meatballs! Whoo! (… oh hush.)

Next up is part two of the challenge. Rachael mentions her express meal concept. Each of the sacks of groceries has 6 ingredients, and they can use 4 from the pantry. They’ll have a time limit of 30 minutes. Rachael names off all the ingredients that are in the bags, and Pete, as the winner, gets to dole them out as he sees fit.

Angie: smoked ham, bell peppers, frozen corn, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, low fat sour cream
Pat: turkey bacon, ground turkey, asparagus, artichoke hearts, instant polenta, hearts of romaine
Pete: fresh pork sausage, vine-ripe tomatoes, snow peas, couscous, spinach, Parmesan Reggiano
Suzanne: spicy smoked sausage, mushrooms, green beans, yellow squash, whole wheat penne, radiccio.

The celebrity chef for this week is Ming Tsai. Ming tells the contestants that he’s looking for originality, presentation, and balance of flavor and nutrition. Rachael asks them if they can cook - hits the stop watch and they’re off to the kitchen to start the challenge.

While they are busy, Ty Pennington is on hand at the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show conference in Chicago where he checks out the latest and greatest in new appliances, showers and baths. From refrigerators that dole out shaved ice, to naked people in showers “Wow, this is awkward!” There’s baths that turn into steam saunas, tubs that automatically cut off before overflowing, whole chickens that cook in 10 minutes in a new oven, a shower that tans you and fights wrinkles while you get clean and colors everywhere.

Ty joins Rachael in the studio next, and shows off some new gadgets in person. He admits that he tried to smuggle the fridge, but it wouldn’t fit in his bag. Heh. He does show off some cool stuff though: a set of drawers that opens by itself, just using a knee, foot, fingertip, whatever, and it closes just as easily. He has new recyclable counter tops that he loves to use, and bamboo sinks that are beautiful. There’s also a pizza oven that sits on a counter top, that mimics those used in the big kitchens. Nice! I want one of them!

They talk then about Extreme Home Makeover, and how it’s changed Ty as a person - he jokes he was a terrible child, so that worked out. He also talks about his magazine, and how he is something of a control freak, but loves to bring his friends and family in - even if it means pretending it’s Christmas in August.

He shows off some of his new furniture line - including pieces that include docs for all those things we carry in our pockets - cell phones, ipods, and such. He’s all about the little details to add function while still looking pretty. A lot of them come in mix and match forms, so you can design your own take on the piece as a whole and create your own look. Nice!

Time to check in with our kids in the kitchen! Pete is making Spinach Salad with shallot and orange dressing, with snow peas and cous-cous cake with sausage. Pat made a turkey burger with a sauce - a fork and knife burger. Hers is already done! Angie makes a quick Sunday Supper, and Suzanne did a ragout over penne, and a tri-colored salad. No one is even breaking a sweat and Rachael teases them about the judge being fantastic chef and they all admit they’re worried. Everyone finishes with time to spare - now it’s time for the judging.

While Mink is making his decision, we’re off to the kitchen where Rachael makes dinner - Ham and Cheese Mac.

Then - it is judgment time for the Hey Can You Cook contestants. Cue Spooky Lighting! Chef Ming told Angie that the Sunday Supper idea was nice, the texture differences were great, but the sweet potatoes were crunchy and needed some seasoning. She’s in the bottom two. Suzanne is told there was a lot of positives - it was hot, well seasoned, the pasta was al dente, the only one to do two dishes, but the portions were huge and he says it is an American problem. People are just eating too much, but Rachael points out that aside from that she made healthy choices and Ming agrees and declares her today’s winner.

Sweet Pete is up next, and Ming says it was the healthiest dish by far, and the presentation was the best - he might be working at Blue Gingers soon. However, the Couscous was dry and needed seasoning. He’s still in the competition and takes his seat at the table.

Which means Pat is also in the bottom two. Ming loved the sauce, says it was well seasoned and beautiful, as was the salad that had great balance. But the Turkey burger - she didn’t try it, which is mistake number one. It was cooked through.. and through and through and through. The problem was the polenta, and it absorbed all the moisture from the turkey so it was very dry. And because of it, Pat is the one to be eliminated this week, as Angie takes her seat at the table.

That’s it for today - we’ll see ya when we see ya!

Monday
Hey, Can You Cook?!

It’s week two of Rachael’s competition, and the battle to survive is heating up! See who the celebrity chef deciding their fate will be, and which aspiring cook will have to head home. Then, are you desperate for a kitchen facelift? Extreme Home Makeover’s Ty Pennington shows you the latest gadgets and appliances in futuristic kitchens that you won’t believe!

Tuesday
Elisabeth Hasselbeck

The View co-host and mother of two is sharing her top three “mommy must-haves” and her secrets for staying slim. Plus, do you think your shoe addiction is out of control? A woman with 358 pairs needs major help kicking the habit … so why is Gretta enticing her with her latest creation? Then, the Deen brothers fulfill the dreams of their number one fan, and Rachael has a new spin on mini-burgers.

Wednesday
President Bill Clinton

You’re invited to a star-studded gala for Yum-o! See what happens when five aspiring teenage chefs get the experience of a lifetime as they prepare dinner for celebrities including President Bill Clinton, Larry King and Mariska Hargitay! Then, get a rare musical performance from Carly Simon during this incredible one-night only event.

Thursday
Valerie’s Mother’s Day Surprise

Rachael pulls off the ultimate Mother’s Day surprise to an unsuspecting Valerie Bertinelli! See what leaves her in tears, and get her tips for planning the perfect celebration on the special day. Then, you know him as Ugly Betty’s loveable playboy, but you won’t believe Eric Mabius’ real-life love story! And for dinner, it’s Rach’s Drunken Spaghetti - a simple Italian dinner with a huge wow factor.

Friday
Patrick Dempsey

It’s the moment we’ve been McDreaming about all season … Grey’s Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey is coming to the studio! He’s a hot doc, a new dad … but see if he can he handle a round of a new game called “Ray’s Anatomy.” Then, the Jonas Brothers are tearing up the music charts, and now they’re sharing a special Mother’s Day message for the woman they love.

Today’s the day - Rosie Day! Rosie O’Donnell is taking over the Rachael Ray show for a full hour of fun and confetti! Yay! They even start off the show like Rosie used to do on her daytime show, with an Audience introduction, and they even have John McD on hand to play the piano, and a curtain on stage - she loves the curtain, and Rachael was uber excited to be introduced on the show. Rachael looks lovely today - I like the shirt she’s wearing and think she looks fabulous.

She chats with John McD, and he says he’s been doing a lot of musicals and is a new daddy - and shows the picture of his baby - Beaureguard, a 5 month old Boston Terrier. CUTE! They joke about him being a deduction on his taxes. Beau can come over and play with Boo anytime! John plays her over as they spin their way to the kitchen. Cue the sizzle reel!

The Queen of Nice is in the house! She joins Rachael at the Kitchen table for a sit down, and the crowd goes wild! Rosie misses the ‘hug’ of an excited audience and jokes that after the show she made her kids do the standing applause every time she entered the room for 6 months. She says if you need a celebrity fix, hit the mall - you’re loved there! Rachael asks about some of her guests on her show - who were some of her not so faves? Apparently Robert DeNiro doesn’t like to speak, and Keanu Reeves was the same way. She had to lean over and said “Hate to tell you this, it IS a talk show - you have to talk!”

The one guest she wishes she could have gotten was Johnny Carson, though she appreciated his ability to step out of the limelight and live his life privately after fame. Rosie Jokes “It’s hard for most people - it’s like a drug. I’m going to go home and life with my kids and… is Rachael Ray free, because I’m available!” She loved the familiarity that she had with her fans with the talk show, and how she’d have so many conversations about things in the store.

They talk about her kids not watching TV - apparently the school they send them too has a no media policy. The system believes that the amount of media and images we’re pummeled with deadens the ability to learn. They have a movie night every week, and it’s part of why she wrote the book Crafty U - people kept asking what she did with her kids, and that book is the answer. Rachael says she’s crafting challenge, and Rosie admits to being cooking challenged. She made a grilled cheese for Vivi (5) and she exclaimed “I didn’t know you could COOK mama!”

The point of the book is that you don’t HAVE to be good at it - it doesn’t matter. You’re building memories, nothing else, so it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t look like what is in the book - go to her website and see what they REALLY look like. All that it is, is going to the craft store, spending 10 bucks and making what you can from it.

They talk about the View, and Rosie said she loved the experience right up until the last three weeks. What she learned, though, was it is always better when she’s the boss. She didn’t get to choose topics, and “then there was that little republican and whatever…” She has nothing but respect for Barbara Walters, and considers her a feminist hero. They did a little mother/daughter dance, where she’d get her feelings hurt and Barbara would be “why is she crying?!”

She talks about visiting Martha Stewart in prison, and how she’s really just one of us - What did she miss most in prison, Martha? “the flavor of lemon” - it’s not an act! Funny stuff!

There was SO MUCH that went on in this show - if you love Rosie even a bit you should hit up the official site and see all of the behind the scenes clips, and show clips! They even did some crafting, with a project from the book, and finished off with a song and dance number! CONFETTI!!

All of that and DINNER TOO! Go Greek Fried Fish with Roasted Veggie Greek Salad.

We’re back to Rachael’s obsession with Dancing with the Stars with today’s first guest - Carrie Ann Inaba! How cute is Carrie Ann? They talk about how great this season is, but Carrie Ann refuses to say who she thinks will win. She only admits that Kristi Yamaguchi has set the bar so high that it’s hard for everyone else. Because of that, though, the growth of the teams is increasing so fast that it’s very exciting! Of course - it’s always exciting, but yeah!

Since DWTS is all about the dancing couples, they showed some pictures that we don’t get to see very often of Carrie Ann’s former life (does anyone else hear the judging announcers voice say her name every time I type it? Just me? ok then…). She, back in the day, danced with Madonna’s crew - and was even bald! “Everyone thinks Brittney shaved her head first - but I did! And? They all think she was the first to kiss Madonna on stage? I got to kiss her every night!” Rachael asked how it was, and Carrie Ann gives Madonna Kisses a TEN! Like there was any doubt…

Carrie Ann doesn’t actually practice her reactions, but in her little black book that she takes notes in, she has a list of 100 adjectives that she says before every show so that she has them available for her reactions since it moves so quickly. She says that when she’s shopping for shoes she gets that tap on the shoulder where people are demanding to know why she gave someone a bad score. She says even if they tell her off, she gets giggly about it, and likes it. It keeps her in check too, because it’s just opinions and they can help her see things in a different way.

Next up - some fun, Dancing with the Staff! They videotaped the staff dancing at a recent staff party, and Carrie Ann gets to judge their moves. Jason’s up first, and gets a 7 with his bouncy style, shoulder wipe and pulling the rope. Carrie Ann called him spunky and cute and reminded her of back in the day as a Fly Girl.

Hallie and Steff net themselves a 9 for having actual chorography - that they busted out in just 15 minutes. Carrie Ann is giggly and impressed with what they did in that time.

Doan is up next with a very white boy routine that made me laugh out loud - he busted out some pushups and a floor spin and for pure entertainment, Carrie Ann gave him a 10 and the trophy, calling him a bad mamajamma like she never seen.

Next up, it’s Bear Grylls, of Man vs. Wild. My kids LOVE that show - I can’t watch it, too many creepy crawlies. He’s actually a very shy guy, seeing out of place as he joines Rachael on the couch to talk. She says no one could pay her enough - and I agree! He says it’s kind of what he’s done all his life - he started doing such stunts when he was a kid and was “quite difficult” for his parents. He loves it - says part of him spends a lot of time cold, wet, scared, but he gets home and he loves it all - he says it’s a priveledge. Rachael isn’t sold on the deal and wonders how his wife kisses him after he drank his own urine. He admits that he doesn’t tell his wife the details - else he wouldn’t be let back in the home, let alone the bed!

He says his kids are somewhat adventurous as well, and he tried to repress it a little bit, but it’s irrepressible. He tells them no, you have to have a proper job! Bear admits that he’s quite scared of something - big cities, and interviews. Rachael laughs “You eat bugs, and I’m scary?!”

Rachael puts him to the test with some ‘floor of the minivan’ findings. He even gets her to much on an old French fry - though she isn’t the most willing. He also jokes that the melted chocolate in the jean pocket isn’t really chocolate…

He ends the segment by giving some tips for women surviving with some things that we have on hand in our purses. The edge of a credit card can double as a knife to cut food, use a tampon as kindling to start a fire, and your bra can be used to filter drinking water - better then a dirty sock, right? He demonstrates the bra technique, and admits that it tastes a lot better then using his sock!

My man Colby’s in the house next with some super nifty summer products:

Blue Lizard Sunscreen - stronger then US sunblock, and the bottle changes colors to let you know when you’ve been out in the sun too long!

Top Tag Pet ID - it’s a little usb tag that has all your information stored, so can be plugged into the computer to get all the instructions for your dog for dog sitters, or boarders, kennels, vets or even if you lose your pet - they can find all the info right in the tag.

Oakley Split Thump MP3 Sunglasses - cool shades with your tunes and headphones built right in. My son wants these REALLY BAD…

Davis Key Buoy - a little key fob that has a buoy built in, and if you drop your keys in the lake as your wake boarding, it triggers the buoy and they float to the top of the water so you can find them again - perfect for people who love water sports, and hate losing their keys!

Hey, what’s for dinner? Sausage and Onion Kabobs on Roasted Pepper Salad.

We are starting today’s show in the kitchen, because the Wedding Season is upon us, so Rachael is showing us three easy party bites to serve with Champagne! Fancy Puffy Party Poppers: Wild Mushroom Smear, Asparagus and Ham Poppers, and Smoky Bacon Bites. Yum! Too bad I can’t say the same for that dress - ugh. Flattering shape, but I never will get used to her love of weird patterns. Anyway, moving on!

Time for the first guest, Jennifour, is a proposal planner with Go Get It Events and Proposals. After seven years, David is ready to propose to his girlfriend Minta. They are going to send her on a romantic scavenger hunt. He says it’s great to have someone to tell him what to do, because otherwise he’d be lost. The first clue is on the ipod, then she’s loaded into a limo, as David and Jennifer race off to place and guard the next clue - hidden in a book in the travel section, a picture that will tell her wear to go next. When Minta gets lost, Jennifer steps in and pretends to be an employee, helps her find the clue then races off to the next location. The photo booth now holds a love letter, that will lead her to the top of the ferris wheel, which will distract her long enough to help David set up the beach finale.

Minta follows a trail of roses, and finds Daviid on the beach where he’s got a ring and says he’d like to play the role of her husband, and gets down on one knee and asks to play that role for the rest of their lives. With an excited Yes, it’s time to break out the champagne for the happy couple.

Jennifour joins Rachael at the table and talks about setting up romantic occasions as the theme for her clients, which lead into the proposal experience. It can cost anywhere from 500 - to thousands, depending on the add-ons. The biggest tip for a perfect proposal is to make it the woman’s perfect proposal - not the mans! If he loves Hockey and she loves horseback riding, the latter is the key to his woman’s heart.

Jenifour also advises that you should start with your own love story -which is what Matt does as he plans the surprise for Danielle, who is in the audience. After getting over the shock of seeing their relationship on screen, Danielle is stunned to see the studio transformed into a romantic Italian garden, with musicians and lemon trees! Surrounded by their family, Matt appears with ring in hand and pops the question. After she says yes (who wouldn’t say yes?!) Rachael presents them with a surprise trip to Italy. Awwww!

Next up, Maria Shriver joins Rachael at the kitchen table. Maria, from an early age, wanted to prove herself as a journalist, instead of resting on the fame of the Kennedy fan. As the first lady of California, she’s shifted gears to raising their family, as well as being an author. She’s there with her new book, a very personal book. Maria had a big of an identity crisis as she was constantly trying to figure out who people wanted her to be and realized she should stop that and be who she wanted to be. If it was her moment of truth, what is her truth?

As she wrote the speech for a high school graduation, she was in transition and realized that others would benefit from the words of wisdom she uncovered, so she turned it into the latest book “Just who will you be?” (click here to read an excerpt) Don’t ask what the world needs, but what brings you joy. Do what brings you joy - what the world needs is more people doing what brings them joy!

Maria admits that she’s still figuring out how to be a First Lady for California - she asked for a book, but there isn’t one! She looked at what others had done, and is learning on the go. The job is a title, and the best thing to do is what she wants to do - giving service to the country. She’s gone out to see what is needed, and what will fit her. Once she threw out her own ideas of what a First Lady does, she was able to move into the job successfully, and put her own spin on the office. She helps build playgrounds all over California, and has her kids and friends help, despite how much they roll their eyes at her. Her best advice for all the starlets is “be of service!”

The audience asks some questions, Ashley asks her who is the tougher parent - Maria or Arnold. Maria says they’re strict about different things - he insists on laundry being done and clean rooms, and Maria is very big on Manners. The Jury is still out on that - she thinks she probably is though. Lisa asks if the children are involved in politics or student council - and they’re not. Maria is ok with that because she was raised believing if they’re not president what are you DOING with your life?

She brings her own philosophy to her kids, who they haven’t pushed into the political arena. She wants them to know that she loves them for who they are, not for what they will achieve.

And the Shriver exclusive - she makes ice cream! They’re launching a new company, Lovin Scoopful Ice Cream - and part of the profits go to support Special Olympics. Maria just gives up on the scoop and eats it with her fingers, and everyone laughs. Go to your store and ask for Lovin Scoopful today - eat ice cream and be of service at the same time.

What’s for dinner - shared with Rosie, of course? California Pasta with Artichokes and Almond-Citrus Pesto.

As with all Mystery Taster days, we start off in the kitchen, and I LOVE the top that Rachael is wearing today - very flattering. Today it’s a comfort food turned into a snack - Individual Chicken Pot Pie Pockets!

It’s time for the first questions for the Mystery Taster! This time the questions have a reality tv twist…

1. If your on dancing with the stars - partner with Darrell or Cheryl? Darrell.
2. Project runway - scarf for winter, or California beach days bikinis. Wants to design bikinis, but would do scarves - so is from New York
3. Teenage song for American Idol? The Mystery Taster sings in reply - the Beatles.

So we have a female who thinks she can’t dance, but can sing the Beatles, and is from New York. That’s it for now - we’ll get back to the Mystery Taster in a bit.

Next up - a lot of us feel guilty for being a working mom, but what if your man was running for president? Rachael meets the Obama’s out on the campaign trail. Who isn’t impressed with Barack’s bid to lead the country? His two young daughters. When he tells them of his day, speaking to 35k people, they act like it’s boring, and not at all interesting! They do like to see daddy on campaign posters and t-shirts, and probably see more of them that way then in person as they remain in school. Michelle says they try to sneak in family time when Barack can take a short break with family night, or game night or occasional even a date. He prefers the movie, she prefers the dinner because then they can talk - but they’re both too tired to fit in both.

Michelle talks a bit about the way she feeds her kids, and how she reads labels, and how they always make their kids eat their vegetables, as well as learning to stop eating when they’re full, but that means no desert! The youngest started saying “Mommy, I’m full of DINNER…” which is something my own youngest tried to pull!

Time to discover who our Mystery Taster is! Rachael sets up a plate of the chicken pot pie minis, and gets back into her corner for more questions!

4. In the Amazing Race, does your passport have a lot of stamps in it? Do you travel a lot for work? The reply is “Which passport? Which version?” And when asked where she’s been “Afganistan, North Korea”

5. Are you some sort of Journalist? “Some sort…”

And Rachael totally knows who it is - Diane Sawyer of Good Morning America! And - by the way, it was the best Oliva Newton John, not the Beatles! Diane admits to not liking the cold in New York, but is thrilled with comfort food, and digs right into the Chicken Pot Pie. Diane says anytime you’re at a party - no matter how dressed up you are, doing something with your hands makes everyone happier.

Diane Sawyer was Rachael’s first guest on the show, and she ditches the questions just to chat. The same day Diane was on, they showed the jumping from the plane segment and they agree to do it together. She says she’s never slept completely through a show, even though her alarm goes off at 3:45 am. She has a back up system of people that call to make sure she gets to work on time, making it difficult to oversleep - no matter how she wants too.

They dish a bit about fashion, as well as watching the Democratic Primary season as Clinton and Obama duke it out. Diane declares it the most physically hardest thing to watch people do. In May, GMA is repeating a popular series from the show - doing the 7 wonders again, but only in the United States.

In the middle of all this, Diane is celebrating her 20th anniversary with her hubby Mike Nichols. Rachael decides to give her a special gift, who - after her husband teased her about her sweats at home - is presented glitzy black sweats that have “Mrs. Nichols” in silver across her bum. Diane loves that they’re lowkey - as she laughs - and says Mrs. Nichols is a very happy girl. She says the sweats will be perfect for a cozy celebration where they’ll likely end up doing nothing at all, together.

And what’s for dinner? A recipe from the brand new Yum-O cookbook! Que Pasta Mexican Mac-n-Cheese.

And on the count down to Rosie - she’ll be on Friday! - they’ve been sending dinner - and the above meal was there and little Blake says thank you Rachael Ray! Awwww…

The competition starts now! Whoo! It’s day one of the competition, and they’ve promised to crank up the pressure. The challenges will be every Monday for the next 4 weeks. So let’s meet our contestants!

Angie, from New Jersey, impressed with her fish and orange sauce, but it was the cooking class for kids that had Rachael feeling the love.

Pete, from Washington DC is the only man to make it to the finalist round, and his son even got to talk to Rachael on the phone. They loved his crabcakes, and his son Bruno who was his helper in the video.

From Missouri, we have Pat, who was speechless and teary like the rest of them as she received her phone call. Her submission video included smoked corn beef! Yum!

From Ohio, we have Chrissy, who appealed to Rachael’s love of all things Italian with Italian Meatloaf!

And from New Jersey, we have Suzanne who made a rissoto with everything in a stuffed artichoke! And her 6 month old puppy, gorgonzola, couldn’t be cuter hanging with mom in the kitchen.

They all size up each other on the limo ride to the hotel, where at least one of them - Angie - totally has her game face on. (In fact, she looked a bit.. well, bitchy.) Colby is there at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel to great them, and tell them they’re in the presidential suite. After a champagne toast, where Angie loosened up a bit, Rachael shows up on screen to welcome them all to the competition - ending with “turn around, I do better in person!” Everyone is excited to meet her, and looking forward to the night of relaxation before they have to hit the challenge trail! Click here to see Scott Owen prepare their welcome meal, and here to learn more about the contestants!

The first challenge is the Amazing Taste - which Rachael finds completely hysterical. It’s a two-part challenge, and it’s time to see who rose to the occasion and who crashed and burned. Colby meets them all in Time Square, where they’re told there is a secret location of their first challenge. First task - find it. They’ll get messages from Rachael, leading them to three restaurants that are known for representing part of the city’s culinary culture. At each restaurant, they’ll have to complete a task to get their new clue. They get their clue and 70 bucks to cover transportation, and they’re off!

The Tavern on the Green restaurant is the first stop, and Brian Young has them shuck and plate 6 oysters. Suzzanne is first and manages to cut herself pretty bad because she’s trying to go too fast, Pete is next, Angie pulls up third but is showed to the kitchen instead of the challenge spot but finds the right place as the Pat and Chrissy arrive as well. Pete finishes first, hires a pedicab and heads off to Dean’s Pizzeria. Angie is lost trying to find the cab, as other’s get to their cabs and head off. Pete is there first, and starts making his pizza dough, which he’s pretty confident for. Pat joins him, and starts on her own - Pete has to ask for another dough, as Suzzanne arrives as well. Angie shows up in last place.

Pat is first done, and heads over for the third spot on the list in Chinatown. Pete is still having problems - Suzzanne finishes, Pete goes from first to last, and follows the rest to Chinatown -a bit confused on how it all happened like that. Flour and water should be easy, right? Ha!

Ricky Tsoi, of Congee Bowery Restaurant and bar greets the contestants with some traditional Chinese dishes. They have to taste them and identify the delicacies: cold jellyfish, clam sashimi, goose intestine, duck tongue and chicken feet. After identifying all of them, they open a giant fortune cookie which directs them to Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport! Pat finishes first and is off to the final stop - after she manages to stop a taxi. The rest of the ladies are there, working on identifying the dishes as Pete gets there and starts as well. The women finish first, but Pete isn’t far behind as he races through the challenge and heads off to Pier 17.

Pat gets there, and can’t figure out where’s she’s going for sure, as others are racing all along looking for the correct place of the challenge. Everyone is lost - there’s no telling where they’re supposed to be going, but they find Colby finally - Pete gets there FIRST beating Pat to the punch. Pete gets the advantage for the challenge. Suzanne is third, Chrissy is fourth, with means Angie comes up last - and worries that she’s going home, but says she won’t give up.

It’s time for the main challenge! They’re aboard the Atlantica, which will be filled with die-hard Rachael Ray fans. The challenge is to create sample platters of hor d’oeuvres in 45 minutes, using three main ingredients. Pete gets to choose the ingredients for himself, and assign the rest to the competition. He chooses Ground Turkey, whole grain white bread and roasted red peppers, and assigns Pat the chicken breast, whole wheat English muffins, and frozen peas, Chrissy gets shrimp, scallions and pound cake, Angie gets phyllo dough, smoked turkey sausage and green olives and Suzanne is left with the sliced hard salomi, chick peas and tortillas. They also have full use of the pantry in the galley, but only 45 minutes and MUST use all their three main ingredients.

And they’re off. Chrissy Cinnimon Apple Poundcake Squares, Sweet and savory shrimp, and fresh yogurt dip. And she’s off to get her Apples in the oven right away. Pat makes English muffins with chicken and pepper peas, with chicken and bbq sauce, with chicken and cranberries. Suzanne makes chunky hummus, salami strips on tortilla, stuffed mushrooms and salami and cheese quesidillas. Pete makes Mediterranean meatballs, no press panini with mozzerella and roasted red pepper. Angie is making jambalyla salad boats and two-faced pizza.

Suzanne preheated the oven, and someone turned it off - Angie says there may have been a rumor that she did it, but she didn’t have time to do such a thing. Colby lets them know they’re halfway there - everyone is running around trying to get things together in the small space, and Suzzanne almost burns Angie, who gets snippy. Poor Chrissy is nervous and seasick on top of it all. Time is running out, and everyone tries to put things together and Chrissy cut herself as well!

Times up! Time to get the food upstairs and see what the fans have to say. Pat says she thought her plate looked the worst, Angie agrees in secret. Pete seems to be getting a good feedback from the fans, but people seems to think that Chrissy whimped out by just cutting up some veges to fill the plate. Suzzanne is confident, as Pat says it all looked overdone, while singing the praises of her own plate - naturally.

Rachael says she’s kinda scared of some of the contestants - they’re a bit more competitive this year! All the fans from the ship are in the audience to see who was the winner.

Next up - we’re in the kitchen, before we get to the big finish - Mario Batali joins to help Rachael with two big announcements. Mario laughs and says “I’m pregnant! and Rachael’s the daddy!” Then admits that he’s there to announce a new contest, Mario’s Ultimate Grilling Challenge. Submit a 3 minutes demonstration of the favorite grilling recipe - and the winner gets to work with Mario and Rachael tailgating at Nascar! Then, from his new book, Italian Grilling, he shows everyone how to make Grilled Portobellos with Rucola and Prmigiano. Also - for every entry - a dollar will be donated to Food Bank New York.

Dun dun dun.. cue the creepy lighting - it’s time for Elimination! Who will walk the plank and leave the competition? Four will be invited to sit at the table - one will be handed a doggy bag and told to go. Pete - his fans loved the flavor combo, but thought the meatball was too greasy. He didn’t win, but was declared safe and sent to the table. Susanne - the fans said the quesidillas were good, but everything else was bland and/or too salty overall. She didn’t win, but was declared safe and sent to the table. Angie - fans loved the jambalia, but the salad boats were too simple - but she’s the winner of the first elimination challenge! She takes her seat at the table with a grin and is declared a spitfire from Rachael.

Angie - fans liked the poundcake squares but thought the shrimp lacked flavor. Pat is also in the bottom two, and the fans thought all of her offerings were too dry. Who is the first person eliminated? Chrissy is the first to go. Click here to hear Chrissy’s final thoughts as she heads back home.

Monday
Hey, Can You Cook?!

Rachael’s cooking competition is back, and this time the stakes are higher, the challenges are tougher, and the cooks will do anything to win! Out of thousands of hopefuls, five will be chosen to go head-to-head … but only one will be left cooking by Rachael’s side.

Tuesday
Mystery Taster

It’s our final Mystery Taster of the season, and it’s one of Rachael’s favorite TV legends! Then, can you imagine raising two girls while your husband runs for president? Michelle Obama can! Rachael gets to know the Obama family, and then she’s got a healthy take on mac and cheese that the kids will love.

Wednesday
Maria Shriver and Spectacular Proposals

California’s first lady sits down for a candid interview about how she found a whole new life for herself after 50, and then heads to Rachael’s kitchen to make Arnold’s favorite treat! Plus, a look at the latest trend of producing wedding proposals to the tune of thousands of dollars, and we’ve got a huge in-studio surprise for an unsuspecting bride-to-be.

Thursday
Dancing with the Stars’ Carrie Ann Inaba

Carrie Ann Inaba is judging our very own “Dancing with the Staff” competition! Meet Rachael’s staffers and see who will dance away with the trophy. Then, get ready for summer as Colby reveals his favorite must-have gadgets, and see if Man vs. Wild’s Bear Grylls can survive our mom-made challenges.

Friday
Rosie O’Donnell

Rosie returns to daytime! For one hour, she steps back into the spotlight and nothing is off limits as she talks about Martha, The View, and even does a special song and dance number with Rach! Plus, don’t miss her crash course in crafts and your chance to win a free copy of her new book.

We start off with Rachael talking about going to play celebrity Password and how much easier it is to play the game at home instead of on stage. Meanwhile, Regis comes down the elevator and joins Rachael at the kitchen table. Regis gives her a hard time for not cooking for the guests, and she says she cooks for the audience, the people - certified chefs cook for the likes of Regis!

They talk some more about playing Celebrity Password - and how hard it was for Rachael to give clues and talk without using her hands, she enunciates everything with her hands! Regis admits that he’s never actually played Password, and they will be having a showdown with Regis and his wife against Rachael and John.

Did you know Regis is in the guiness book of world records? He’s done 16,000 plus hours of television, and the record gets bigger every day. He loves the game shows, and saved ABC with Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and now is working on Million Dollar Password for CBS. They talk about who they’d want to guest star, and then about Regis’s favorite impressions of himself. He says Ben Afflack does a great Regis impression.

Regis and Joy have been married for 38 years now, and his secret is one word - patience. Rachael says that in her house its “food”, and Regis is surprised that she cooks at home every single night. She prefers to stay home, and cooks herself. Regis doesn’t believe her, until she says John does the dishes for her. She says again that it is just something that gets her going to see a man doing the dishes, and Regis gives her a hard time “Some women prefer they’re men in the BEDROOM…”

After a break, we see a clip of Rachael’s stint on Million Dollar Password on CBS, then they decide to add a wager to their little game of password, Team Regis vs Team Rachael - the losers cook dinner for the winners at their house - also at stake a framed letter from Notre Dame. The audience gets to get gift cards.

Lots of laughter as they pick on each other and play the game, but Rachael and John are excellent at it, while Regis complains their words are easier. They’re tied up, so they switch the clue givers and receivers. Regis tries to cheat, and Joy sets him straight, and John and Regis switch cards to make it fair all the way around - Regis and Joy come out on top by one point, though, and take home the prize - the letter and dinner at Rachael’s.

Next up, G’s on hand with Summer Steal vs. Splurge. Gretta has side by side comparisons of the top trends that we can get for less. Go here and click through the images to see if you can tell the difference in the cut-out swimsuit, clear beach tote, gladiator sandals, then some kid stuff - a plaid shirt, denim mini skirts, and summer dresses.

And hey, what’s for dinner? Broken Florentine Lasagna Bake.

Today’s show takes us inside Leah Remini’s home, where she struggles with raising her daughter in some ways. She was tough as nails on The King of Queens, but admits to being a complete pushover when it comes to her daughter. She is very consistent, she says - she gives in. She let Rachael and the crew in the house for help - of course “We don’t know what the hell we are doing!” She declares that she was shocked when they just let her go home with the baby without a test, just some diapers and a crappy diaper bag. She also wanted to help humanize actresses, because they’re real people, just like us. She laughs at the way she used to be - how she was always annoyed by other peoples kids, now gets mad at others for not wanting their makeup done by her three year old, I mean really, would it KILL you? hahahah!

Leah describes her daughter, Sophia, as a very smart, witty, pain in the ass, love muffin. The biggest problem is that Sophia is still on the bottle. They hear it’s not good for her, but haven’t really tried to wean her, and knows they should. Angelo, her husband, says she’s a fantastic loving mother, but that’s also why they’re in their predicament, because he does it over love. Leah says Sophia gets away with a lot, because she’s everything to her.

She shows us the set up for the night - six aqua babas (water bottles) three for each side of the bed, and pull-ups because drinking so much water causes her to wet the bed. Sophia sleeps with them, and they hand her a bottle every couple hours, then she wets the bed, so it’s diaper changes too, and they never get a good nights sleep. Leah and Angelo’s bickering is pretty funny and cute to watch, actually.

After seeing the tape, Leah says it is like torture, but she feels bad if she’s doing something wrong too, but the bottle brings joy and why would she take it away, so it’s hard. Dr. Ari Brown is on hand to help Leah out. The bottle weaning is common problem, though usually between the ages of 1 and 2. Also on hand is a viewer who has three kids of her own. Stacey says straight up that Leah isn’t going to like what she is going to say - Sophia needs consistency, and a bit of tough love. Let the weaning begin!

The first night of tough love, they gave Sophia bottles with no lids, but ended up giving in after a tantrum after a few hours. Stacey consoles her and reminds her you can’t break a habit in one night, but it will work. Sophia is smart and knows what is going on, but you have to know that it’s not killing her, and you have to endure. You can see Leah in the web series “In the Motherhood” as well as at her site Leah Remini.com. And check out the behind the scenes minutes with Leah and Angelo too!

What’s for dinner? Thai Burgers.

We start in the kitchen for the first part of the Fast, Faster, Fastest meal trio. First up, the Fast - Spicy Roast Pork Tenderloin with 3-cheese Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus, Green Beans and Lemon.

The reason for the fast, faster, fastest is because Danica Patrick knows a lot about going fast - she’s just won her first IndyCar race, where she keeps up and surpasses thes best of the best! Danica joins Rachael at the kitchen table, where she says she’s hungry now because it smells so good in the kitchen. Rachael can’t get over how tiny she is, and how it worries about her because of it. Of course, Danica says the TV makes her look taller, but all of them are on the smallish size. She won’t be taking Helio’s lead though - Dancing with the Stars is not for her. Danica declares that she’s too serious. Playing cards is her game - she has the serious look for it.

Danica shows a picture of her hubby, who is a physical therapist. She declares him her best friend. There’s also pictures of her sexy photo shoot for Sports Illustrated. She admits to being nervous, but says she ate anyway - but she totally rebelled the next week and ditched the diet. Hubby loves the pictures, and why wouldn’t he? Rawr! When they ask about nerves - Danica says she gets nervous before the engines start, then she’s fine. Her hubby and family have the worst part - as it’s more nerve-wracking to watch then to do it.

Now for the biggest challenge of all - Danica tried to teach her how to drive a stick shift - on the NYC streets! Rachael declares herself ashamed of what we were about to see, while Danica says “A little bit of throttle” And Rachael says “…that’s the gas, right?” This has disaster written all over it! She did well in first, but the honking started after a stall when she tried to shift to second. She didn’t too to bad for the first time - I remember my days of learning to drive a standard myself. Danica took over and took her for a ride - then it’s time to head inside once more. If you want more of Danica - click here where she answers some viewer questions!

Today’s human lab is all about the aches and pains. These mom’s have a few more aches and pains then normal, as they’re the Hipchix, an all mom Hockey team. They saw how much fun their kids were having and decided to get into the thick of things with their own team. Kari has problems with her neck, and Julie declares it the hardest workout she’s ever had, an has problems with her lower back. Stacey has bee around hockey her whole life - they even have a rink in her back yard. Her problem area is in her arches that kill her after just a few minutes.

Kari uses the Magnetic Pearl necklace, Julie tries LumbarWear back support underwear, and Stacey tries the Elgin Archxerciser - that is said to strengthen the muscles in her feet to help ease the pain. Dr. Manny is in the house to talk about the products as well - but the real question is if it works?

Kari said that she noticed a huge difference with the magnetic pearl necklace - she’s thrilled. She wears them during hockey and it alleviates the tension, and she’s not had any headaches either. The oh-so-sexy (not) Back support underwear says they’re comfortable to wear, and she gets much needed support for her lower back. She is happy with the result as well. Stacey, however, says she hasn’t seen any real results with the Archzerciser. She says it may work with other foot ailments - weak ankles or strengthening up the toes, but not for her high arches. She’ll have to keep looking for the solution that offers her better support.

Dr. Manny says the back girdle is the best in his opinion - even jokes he wears it himself sometimes. There’s no data to support the magnets working, but it’s temporary. The Arch exericser is good for some problems, but not the high arches.

Then it’s back to the kitchen for the rest of our pork meal trio! Italian Stuffed Pork Cutlets with bacon and Onion-Tomato Sauce, and Pork Saltimbocca with White Wine Sauce.

We jump right into the thick of it today with the Human Lab - Soap star edition! Rebecca Buddig from All My Children says her character was born in heels - and she loves to wear them as well, though it makes her feet hurt. The price one pays for beauty! She tries Insolia High Heel inserts. After a day with the inserts, Rebecca said she does feel a difference, though she couldn’t explain it exactly. “If deels like my weight is distributed differently,” she said - though her weight is all of two pounds soaking wet, but whatever. She said she didn’t feel the pressure in her toes like usual, and the only drawback was that her feet sweat a little bit more, but it was a trade-off she could totally live with.

Nadial Bjorlin from Days of Our Lives loves the pampering she gets on set, and misses it while she’s on the road. She tries Dissolving Paper Soap - it’s supposed to transform from paper to sudsy lather and leave you clean and pleasantly fragrant. She says it smells like rose water, and it’s great for traveling and camping, and possibly put it in a lingerie drawer for that extra sweet scent. It’s a great alternative for liquid soap that can spill in your luggage.

John-Paul Lavoisier from One Life to Live says his characters has a way with women and kisses a lot of women on the show. With all that kissing going on, fresh breath is a must, so he tries SmartMouth Mouthwash which claims to freshen breath for 24 full hours. Will it help him avoid a bad rap for bad breath? John-Paul said it did keep his mouth fresh, and it’s also sanitary as a pump, so he could share. They put it to the test, and John-paul’s co-star joins for a kiss test, that was so good she lost an earring! She declared his breath pretty flawless, so thumbs up for the Smart Mouth.

Next up, it’s tips for picking the perfect swimsuit - something we all hate to shop for. Viewer Christie Kostantas says she tells everyone she’s scared of the water, just to avoid going in the water and exposing the suit she bought 7 years ago. With an upcoming cruise, she wants and needs a new swimsuit that she feels comfortable in. Emme is on hand to help all us curvier women with helpful tips to find the right suit.

Check yourself out in the mirror (NAKED!) before you go shopping - take a good look at your figure, and pick out your best features. That’s what you’ll want to accentuate, while considering styles to hide problem areas. Pick out suits one size larger then your lingerie size - it has to fit everywhere. Don’t feel bad for the larger size, that’s the way it SHOULD be. Ruching can slim your mid-section, and a higher cut on the hip makes your legs look longer. Use a halter to lengthen your torso too. The best tip - bring a girlfriend. You have to have a support system! Emme points out that every woman is self-conscious about getting into a swim suit - so get over it, build your own self-esteem, get into the suit and have fun!

From the pool to the kitchen, what’s for dinner? Chicken Fra Diavolo with Fennel, onions and Potatoes and Warm Tomato and Roasted Garlic Sauce.

Rachael comes down the elevator and pretends to be scared to find Robin McGraw in the kitchen. Rachael says she loves when she stops by because it always has something to do with food products, though we never know if we’re wearing them or eating them. Today it’s a healthy after school snack that she makes for her family. Robin whips up the snack bars, while Rachael licks the peanut butter bowl, and cuts up the ones already done - eating the broken one, of course.

They move to the table to talk about the family for a while. Robin admits they still don’t agree on the children sometimes because well, Phil’s a man. She gives evidence of the difference between a man and a woman parenting. Jay wanted to quit the basketball team and Robin said ok - but Phil said absolutely not, you don’t let a child quit a team, it’s a commitment. Then he made her tell the kiddo he had to go back to the team. She got back at him by telling him it was all his daddy’s fault. Hahaha. been there done that!

Robin also brought in the family scrapbook, showing off pictures of the family and even some pets - including a snake. IN order for any new pets, they required the kids to read three books on the animal, write a report for them, and give an oral report for their class. That’s how she ended up owning a snake. Then there’s a short of Phil teaching the boy to ride the bike - in 70s shorts. Oh my. Dad didn’t have very say with the boy, of course - prom night, Robin did some coaching to make sure that her son treated his date like a lady - including the all important pre-date phone call.

Next up, Rachael asks if Robin ever lied to their children. She admits - like all parents - she certainly did. The old switch the hamster that died for the new one. Her four year old caught her though, and re-named Hammy, Hammy Jr. It’s then some questions from the audience. One has four boys, and asks how Robin remains so feminine and beautiful. Robin says it was natural, and she wanted to show the boys how to respect women and how to treat a woman. Another has teenage daughters, and asks for advice on how to protect her girls without smothering or “stalking” them. She says she knows it has to be scary, but figures you have to trust your own parenting job and taught them to protect themselves and right from wrong. They need a sense of self-worth, so trust yourself to walk that fine line.

Men love women in lingerie - but why can’t they buy it? My Man Colby Donaldson is on hand to find out and help Clay figure out how to buy something slinky and pretty for his wife. Clay says he always thought it was like a bowling ball - it was a gift for him instead of her. Colby understands, and the boys feel like they’re a pervert even thinking about it. Kate says she’d like to receive some lingerie from her husband. She’s been in mom mode, and it’d be nice to see he likes her sexy still.

The boys head off to the store - and Gretta is there to help them. Colby is just the wingman - Gretta is the professional. Colby admits to having bought some lingerie before, but never solo. He always took the girl with him. Gretta adds that for some guys its cool, but most men feel weird going in solo, it’s way out of their comfort zone. Kate says she’s fallen into the mommy rut and it meant a lot to her to be reminded that he thinks of he still in that sexy way.

Gretta takes the boys to Victoria’s Secret, and they feel intimated, that everyone is staring at them. G points out that the girls that work there are trained to help the guys for sure. They talk about types, and sizes, and G gives these tips: Don’t be afraid to ask for help, do your research (sizes for fitted things) and when in doubt - if something looks like a dress, choose a piece tht comes in small, medium or large. Go down a size from your best guess, and pick something with some stress.

Gretta says her cardinal rule is that there is a BIG line for women between sleazy and sexy - Colby adds that men have no idea about that line and need help. If your lady loves to wear shorts and t-shirts, then get something like that and start in the comfort zone, but do it with lace. Also - talk to your lady and see exactly what they like… you might be surprised! The end result is the perfect little seductive number that Clay picked out for his wife - that Rachael is embarrassed a little by the model who shows it off - and a $1000 gift card to VS so they can continue shopping.

After all that - what’s for dinner? Hula Chicken.

Monday
Robin McGraw’s Family Snack

Dr. Phil’s gorgeous wife heads into the kitchen to whip up the healthy snack that her family can’t live without, and then she’s in the hot seat answering your tough questions. Plus, Gretta and Colby give a helpless hubby a lesson in lingerie and Rachael gives barbecued chicken a Hawaiian kick!

Tuesday
Human Lab: Soap Star Edition

Three of your favorite daytime stars tackle three touchy problems - bad breath, sore feet and body odor - in our first-ever “Human Lab: Soap Star Edition.” Then, a plus-size supermodel will change the way you feel about swimsuit season with her tips for finding the perfect fit and her warnings about the biggest mistakes curvy women make.

Wednesday
Danica Patrick Teaches Rach to Drive!

Racecar driver Danica Patrick is riding shotgun … because she’s teaching Rach to drive a stick shift on the streets of New York! Then, three hockey-playing moms test out pain-relief products in our latest “Human Lab,” and for dinner it’s a “fast, faster and fastest” pork tenderloin you’ll love.

Thursday
Is Leah Remini a Pushover Mom?

She was tough on The King of Queens, but is Leah Remini a pushover mom in real life? She gives our cameras unprecedented access inside her home all day and night as she tries to wean her daughter off the bottle once and for all! The tantrums … the tears … it’s an unflinching look at one mother’s private struggle and expert tips you don’t want to miss.

Friday
Regis’ Password Showdown

It’s Regis and Joy vs. John and Rachael in a Password showdown … and wait until you see what’s at stake. Then, Gretta’s got you covered with this summer’s must-have fashions at a fraction of the price, and Rachael has a new way to make lasagna - in the skillet!

It’s Friday, so of course that means Lara is on hand with the Dish. First up is the website Ideal Bite, that sends little messages every day, about eco-beauty products, eco-resorts, healthy and organic food products and more - its all about living a little greener. Need help remembering to send birthday cards? Head to Jack Cards, where they do all the hard stuff for you! All you need to do is add you’re personal message, stuff it back in the envelope and send it off. Prices range from 1.99 to 6.99.

Next up is the Tweezerman Tweezers - patterned tweezers that help you find them at the bottom of your purse, it’s a great tweezer, according to Lara. St. Ives protective cleansers help those who tend to forget sunscreen - it’s a start to protection in one cleansing step. Kristin Bell then joins the ladies at the table to talk about her favorite beauty products - the Jergens natural glow moisturizers. Not only does it help you keep moisturized, and save us from botched self-tanner experiences, but you can go to Jergens.com and take the Glow in the Dark pledge to stop bad tanning habits - and the company will donate one dollar to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Don’t forget to look for Kristen Bell on Forgetting Sara Marshell, and possibly back on Heroes this fall!

Next up - it’s an instant Human Lab - Beauty style. Need help getting rid of that under arm flab? Want whiter teeth? Your behind need a little lift? While the ladies head off to attach their instant help products, Gretta shares one of her own favorites for instant gratification: Freeze 24-7 and Go Instant Smoother and Brightener. It smoothes the little lines and brightening up tired eyes during the day. Also check here for three more Gretta Favorites!

How’d the products work out? The Instant Arm Lift - Jen says she feels like the tape is pulling the arm up to her chin, but the product does seem to work. Jen says she could wear it a couple hours and still be comfortable - just make sure you’re wearing sleeves because it’s not completely invisible. Maria decided to try the Whiten-10 an instant teeth whitening product. They are white - but it almost looks too white, too perfect - Gretta says maybe it was her fault, she may have applied it too heavy handedly in the interest of time. But you can drink and eat without it rubbing off. Last is Tess, who a 18 wanted her butt lifted - talk to us when you’re forty! - and she tested the Biniki Butt Bra. She said it was simple, and not uncomfortable at all, and it did seem to give her a little more bedonkadonk behind.

We meet Louis Yuhasz of Louie’s Kids, who helps teach kids to lose weight and live healthier and happier lives. Check out more on the Community of Incredible People.

And what’s for dinner? Smoky Chipotle and Black Bean Chilaquiles.