Watching Rachael Ray

Not at the same time, of course.

March 25, 2009

Mario Lopez has been breaking hearts since his days on saved by the Bell, and dishes with Rachael a bit on what it takes to get a date with him now, and what he’s looking for in a girl. Mario says it’s simply - if she makes him laugh and has a good sense of humor when it comes to his own jokes, she’s a win. If she COOKS, it’s a definite bonus! Though, looking at the picture there - Mario himself could be the bonus!

Though he took a few spins around the floor on Dancing with the Stars, he is still waiting for his own dream partner. He tries to get Rach to think of doing DWTS - she, of course, declines, claiming that it would take more then two margaritas, for sure!

Mario has plenty of his own cooking suggestions too, in his new book called Knockout Fitness which contains eating plans and jump-starting tips for your workout routine. Mario says it’s all about having fun and keeping your muscles guessing, don’t get into a rut by always going to the gym. “Be open minded! Take classes, go outside!”

In the latest instant human lab segment, it’s time to take on some hair-fomercials with Gretta.

Julie tests the Instyler rotating iron, which claims to straighten and style without adding volume and body to your hair at the same time. Gilbert tries the Toppic Hair Building Fibers, which claims to quickly and undetectably fill out any balding or thinning areas, and Carolyn tries the Hairagami, a snap action design tool for creating beautiful hair fashions with ease.

But do they work?

Julie’s hair is definitely straighter without adding any more volume, and she says it was quicker then normal - it’s still a little frizzy, but she thinks with more product she could be even happier with it, but it certainly worked for what it was. Gilbert’s Toppic Hair Building Fibers - and it certainly seems to have worked, and made a significant difference in the appearance of his hair. Even G is impressed. Gilbert says that he has to get used to the product, it’ll be easier to use and work it in naturally. The product does what it says it will do, and he didn’t get it all over his hands or sweater or anything. Pleased customer. Carolyn says that the hairgami takes a lot of getting used too, and she felt it was a lot of work for the result. She only tried one of the 30 styles to do, and she did try to do the bun, but it does take a while to get used to it.

Gretta suggests if you want to try any product seen on an infomercial, only buy those with a money-back guarantee. If a company doesn’t believe in their product enough to offer one, you shouldn’t trust it either.

Today’s meal for a steal for four at $8.94 is Caprese Lasagna. What’s for dinner? Beer-Braised Bacon Bacon Cheeseburgers.

We start out on the couch today, where we start out with a favorite - Save vs. Splurge with Gretchen. But first - Rachael plugs her new cards from Yum-o! and Tiny Prints, which will help raise money for Yum-o!

And now it’s Save vs. Splurge, the holiday edition! It’s glamorous looks for little price. Casual looks are first - the designer version is $2040 and the other is $167. The differences are in fabric, and investment pieces, but I’m with Rachael - who would spend the 2 grand?! “It’s fashion, they’re gonna change it next year anyway!” Rachael does guess the splurge outfit, and is 1 for 1.

Next up is the cocktail look, all shiny and glittery. One is $1365, and the other is $165 - and that was including the shoes. They’re all wrong this time! They picked the cheaper one as the spludge, which makes Gretchen giddy. Rock the faux leather - people can’t tell!

Formal event gowns are next, both dresses are stunning. She reminds us to buy things that can be re-used - the dresses can be fantastic cut down to 3/4 length, with a jacket, etc. They have a lot of lives, though one was $1775, the other $497. They guess it correctly, and it’s time to move on to decorations. Christmas wreaths, Trees, table settings, and so much more. Check it out here!

We’re in the kitchen early today, to start the double duty dinner - Briased (chuck) Roast Beef, and Beef and Barley Stoup with Fontina Grilled Cheese. A taste tester gets to try out the braised Roast beef, an gets all bigeyed and thrilled and chows down. Heh.

Before we see how to make it all, though, it’s time for an iCarly Christmas! Miranda Cosgrove has two Christmas specials coming up in the next weeks. HEY! She was the bandmanager in Jack Black’s School of Rock! I didn’t know that! But first off, she has an iCarly Christmas, wishing her brother was normal, and it turns out she doesn’t like it so much. The other is Merry Christmas Drake and Josh, which airs this week, where they try to help some foster kids, and her job is to keep the parole officer off their back. Ha!

She says she’s a horrible cook, but her mom is awesome so maybe she’ll start taking some lessons. Her family isn’t one that puts up the Christmas tree weeks ahead of time - but maybe a week. She loves the Christmas carols, but sings them wrong.

Its hard to believe she’s only 15, she’s been on tv for so long. She says Drake and Josh are her psuedo brothers, as she’s an only child, and they ask her who she’s dating and grill the boys she locks and such. They talk again about School of Rock - and apparently there’s going to be a School of Rock 2, and she did start playing guitar because of her roll with Jack Black. Check out the giveaway button for your chance at the first season of iCarly.

After a Double-Duty holiday tips, and then it’s back into the kitchen to finish off what’s for dinner.

Holy cow, it looks like Rachael has CLEAVAGE today! Now that’s a style team miracle win!

We start off today with America Ferrera joining us at the kitchen table, and how cute does she look? They takl about the emmy’s, and how it was to present as well as win. America had an Ugly Betty moment a the show - she stood up and the ‘bustle’ slipped out from under he skirt! She grabbed it and had help from Julia Louis Dryfus pinned it all together. She was so embarrassed, but made it to the stage in time and no one was the wiser!

Talk turns to Ugly Betty, and did you know some of the clothing Betty wears is from America’s own closet? She jokes “Betty finds a way to use it.” America is excited to have moved the show to New York, it’s like coming home. The cast enjoys getting together to go to the theater, and they’ve all had those ‘bad’ New York moments, like walking in to have the ceiling cave in and water pour into her apartment. She called the fire department first - and they were standing there with giant picks “…it’s a leak, what do you want us to do about it?” But she figures it’s New York, and you have to just laugh about it.

Her favorite celebrity guests on the show was Patti Lupone, who they asked to sing to them, which she did. She’d love to have Bette Midler have a guest spot on the show as well. America admits she’s her idol, it’s about being herself, as Bette always was. Rachael called up Bette, and sent a gift to America, a tree planted in honor of America through the Million Trees NYC initiative, and a handwritten note that America is to embarassed to read out loud - Rach has no problem reading it for her, of course. America is overwhelmed, and loves it. Behind them, Patrick drops something on the stove behind them, and they continue to chat. America would love Brad Pitt to stop by the show too - I mean, who wouldn’t?

They talk about the ‘getting ugly’ and Betty isn’t very complicated, she takes the least amount of time of everyone, about 30 minutes. Even the guys take longer then her! Oh wow - I didn’t know this! Ugly Betty is actually a world wide phenomonon. The Ugly Lucky from Mexico actually had a guest spot on Ugly Betty, and there’s several different versions world wide. How cool! (I’m a recent Ugly Betty Convert. I know. Always late to the party, that’s me!)

America admits to liking to cook, but not for other people, as it’s a lot of pressure to make it yummy for everyone. She enjoys it, and finds it relaxing. Naturally, they talk about their puppies - America has a great dane, Lucy, who’s taller then she is, and Buddy, a golden retriever, who’s still crazy even though he’s two.

Rachael promised to cook for America during their recent set crash, and America says she fell in love with beets - and Rachael promises to make her a dish involving beets, so they move to the kitchen where Rachael shows her how to make Un-beet-Lievable pasta with Tomato and Arugula Salad. Don’t forget to hit up the giveaway button for Ugly Betty DVDs!

Next up it’s the somewhat odd Rachael Zoe, Hollywood Stylist, who’s dressed Demi Moore, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Garner, and many others. She’s on the show today, though, to show us we can get glam styles on limited budgets. To put the concept to the test, Rachel Zoe rescues Shay, who used to be trendy before she had kids, and now she wears boring mom clothes. Even her daughters have better clothes! She’d love to look more like Kate Hudson, without the huge price tags. Her husband is a musician, who’s just gotten a record deal, and she needs to look the part. Rachel finds a similar outfit to Kate for just $79, including accessories!

Rachel says start with the inspiration, then do what you feel comfortable with. Get a great black one-shoulder dress, and you can wear it 100 times with different accessories and shoes to get totally different looks. Whatever you wear, wear it with confidence, which is the key to any great look. They then give Shay $1000 gift card to Kohl’s to help her get started on a new wardrobe that gives her that Rocker Wife kick.

Hey - what’s for dinner? Mean Green Tortilla Soup.

Monday
Post-Baby Body Blues with Val

Valerie Bertinelli and three new moms are about to go where no woman has dared … they’re talking about pregnancy, the post-baby body blues, their sex lives and more!

Then, an American Idol winner surprises a huge fan with a back-to-school makeover, and Rachael has a new recipe for all-veggie soup!

Tuesday
Jamie Lee Curtis & Jerry O’Connell

Two-time Golden Globe winner Jamie Lee Curtis gets honest about life at 50, and then this mother of two weighs in on the explosion of teen sex in the media.

Plus, Jerry O’Connell is about to become the father of twins with Rebecca Romijn, and he’s hitting the streets of New York to find the perfect baby names for their kids!

Wednesday
America Ferrera’s Big Celeb Surprise

Did America Ferrera have an Ugly Betty moment at the Emmys? See what happened on TV’s big night, and don’t miss her huge surprise from a music legend.

Plus, Hollywood stylist Rachel Zoe has dressed Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz … and now you! She’s giving up their designer looks and her top secrets that’ll have you looking glam on a budget.

Thursday
3 No-Cook Suppers

In our “Human Lab: Hair Edition,” we’re testing out clip-on bangs, do-it-yourself extensions and faux eyebrows to find out if a fake hair fix could disaster-proof your ‘do!

Then, Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker’s wife Keisha is sharing the #1 beauty secret she learned on all those red carpets, and Rachael’s got three simple dinners you can make without even turning on the stove!

Friday
Dana Delany’s Mammogram Challenge

Desperate Housewives hottie Dana Delany is challenging Rachael to get a mammogram with the cameras rolling!

Then, the Rach to the Rescue RV is heading to the Midwest, and Rachael’s got a 30-minute instant hit that will make you the hero of your household!

It’s happening all over the nation. Everywhere, there’s the flurry of last minute shopping, gathering supplies, trying on shoes, adjusting backpack straps. There’s a sound that has the distinct air of ‘wailing and gnashing of teeth’ that mingles with the sighs of relief and excitement. The first is from the kids who are getting ready to return to school - the second? From mothers EVERYWHERE.

That’s right - it’s back to school time. Any mom - working or staying at home - who says they’re not looking forward to it? Must homeschool, be lying, or crazy. Us Veteran school mommies know that there three words that are the BEST words in the English language. Not “I love you.” Not even “You’re not fat!” but instead… these three glorious words…

BACK TO SCHOOL.

In celebration, in case you haven’t stocked your freezer with bonbons and champagne and are looking for something to ‘ease your sorrows’ with after those kids rush off to school, I thought I’d share some of the fun drink recipes in the latest newsletter. So grab some of your friends, have a Back To School brunch/lunch, and enjoy!

This one has my name written all over it!

Sparkling Margarita Floats.
One 12-oz can frozen limeade concentrate
1 1/2 cups tequila
1/2 cup triple sec
2 quarts tonic, chilled
1 pint tangerine, lemon or lime sherbet

1. Chill 8 glasses. In a pitcher, stir together the limeade, tequila and triple sec. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Stir the tonic into the limeade mixture. Place 1 scoop of sherbet into each of the glasses, and stir in the margarita mix.

If tequila isn’t you thing, how about a nice refreshing Pineapple Mojito?

1 bunch fresh mint, stems discarded
2 limes, each cut into 8 wedges
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup canned crushed pineapple
1 cup light rum
4 cups ice cubes
1 cup club soda

In each of 8 highball glasses, crush together one-eighth of the mint leaves, 2 lime wedges and 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir in 2 tablespoons pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons crushed pineapple and 2 tablespoons rum until the sugar is dissolved. Add 1/2 cup ice cubes and a splash of club soda to each glass. Serve immediately.

Want a little more high scale with fewer ingredients? Try the Prosecco Royale.

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries
One 750-ml bottle prosecco, chilled

1. Chill 6 champagne flutes. In a small saucepan, stir the sugar and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Add the cranberries and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Strain, then refrigerate the syrup and cranberries separately.
2. Place a few cranberries in each flute and top with 1 tablespoon cranberry syrup; fill each glass with prosecco.

However you decide to celebrate - do it in style, and responsibly.

We start off right away talking about face lifts without going under the knife, and all of the types that Rachael and her friends have been reading about - specifically the Lunchtime Liquid Facelift. Rand Rusher is on the show again, and describes the Liquid Facelift as filling the face back up - like a down comforter, when the stuffing falls to the bottom, and you fluff it back up. It’s done with hyloronic acid, a common molecule in the world. It hurts a little “Pretty hurts” and costs anywhere form $200-3000, depending on how much you want to fill up. Pretty cheap compared to an actual facelift. You get 6 months to a year. He does say that you shouldn’t be scared of Botox too.

Viewer Kelly, who’s 44, says she just looks tired, and has more lines on her face then she ever remembers having. She says she looks terrible and wants a lo-maintenance, non-invasive solution. She wants to look like herself, just better. She heads backstage with Rand and over the course of the show gets the liquid facelift done.

While they’re busy backstage, Weeds stare Mary Louise Parker joins Rachael at the kitchen table. They joke about the fact that it’s a nice family show… in it’s own way. She shows some pictures of Mary Louise naked with a large snake, (….EW!) and how it was kind of awkward, as it was a squeezer. Pictures of the cast as well, and how she brings the kids to the set with her.

Naturally, people stop her in the street, and ask to ‘buy a big fat one’ while she was holding a baby and a diaper bag. She simply replied “You want a graham cracker? I can’t help you otherwise.” She keeps all her awards in the closet, but it’s a big sexy closet, big enough to have a party in.

Mary Louise is also staring in The Spiderwick Chronicles. Check out the Giveaway button for the chance to win a copy of The Spiderwick Chronicles - Book One: The Field Guide. They talk a little about Brad Pitt and working with him in The Assassination of Jessie James, and the paparazzi that stalk him. Mary Louise says it’s inhumane and ruthless, and they need to protect the children. Her own instinct is to punch them, but she doesn’t want to teach her children that, so she tries to avoid them. They discuss paint guns or water pistols instead. Ha!

We get to see one of the Coolest Kitchens, which is round, built of wood and glass, in a house that resembles a treehouse. The whole house is based around a center spiral staircase and the fridge, microwaves, and a snack cupboard moves down to the pool on the ground floor, or up to the storeroom! Sure, it’s an updated dumbwaiter, but it’s pretty dang awesome!

It leads into the February Favorite of the day - The Indoor Outdoor George Forman Grill. Again, hit the giveaway button on the sidebar to get a chance to win one of your own!

Speaking of food (…what?) Sausage, Pepper & Onion Sloppy Joes is what’s for dinner, and we close out the show seeing the results of the facelift - and she looks fabulous, naturally.

Monday
Baking with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

The hilarious sitcom star is taking over Rachael’s kitchen and making dessert for the entire studio audience! Then, we’ve searched far and wide to find America’s Coolest Kitchens … and for the first time we’re taking you inside Rachael’s home kitchen. Plus, Rach’s February Favorites continues with your chance to win her garbage bowl, a moppine and more!

Tuesday
Meal or No Meal

It’s Rachael’s twist on the hit show Deal or No Deal and wait until you see our celebrity banker! Then, Kristan is transforming a minuscule home office into a beautiful workspace for two, and for dinner Rachael’s cooking up a toasty Italian feast.

Wednesday
Chefs’ Weight Loss Secrets

It’s a day that Law & Order fans can’t miss when one of Rach’s all-time favorites, Sam Waterston, makes his way from the courtroom to the kitchen table. Then, think you have trouble cutting calories? Find out how three chefs lost a combined total of more than 160 pounds, and get Rach’s decadent dinner that’s guilt-free.

Thursday
Bob Greene’s Best Life Diet

Oprah’s fitness guru Bob Greene brings us on the road with his “Best Life” diet and shares the slimming secrets that worked for two inspiring women! Plus, head inside Kristan’s Southern California home to see her favorite things … including one February Favorite that you can win online!

Friday
Ringo Starr

It’s a daytime exclusive with a living legend who put the beat behind the Beatles - Ringo Starr! Don’t miss his candid interview and the rare performance that brings the crowd to its feet. Plus, Rachael’s got a rock star meal for her huge rock star guest, and Jarod the animal guy looks at how zoos ensure both animal and human safety.

In other news, Tiffany contacted me a couple of days ago to be sure that you all knew of the Charity Auctions for Rachael Ray items! If you haven’t checked it out yet, and you feel getting tickets is going to be a total impossibility, AND you want to help out a good cause - then by all means, stop by CharityFolks.Com and bid on one of these three items:

– Dining at Rachael’s Kitchen Table and Enjoy 2 VIP Tickets to Her Show in New York City! Airfare and Two-Night Stay at Dream Hotel Included!

– You and a friend will attend The Rachael Ray Show and meet her afterwards!

– Throughout Rachael Ray’s second season, guests will sign this refrigerator as one giant piece of memorabilia from television history! This Big Chill Vintage Refrigerator sits on the show’s set and actually works! Stay tuned throughout this season to find out who’s signed this awesome piece.

Thanks for letting us know about the auction, Tiffany - and good luck to the bidders!

Cojo is back again today, this time to speak of things far more personal then the normal red carpet fluff. He’s there with his memoir, Glamour, Interrupted, to talk about his 2004 diagnosis with polycystic kidney disease. After a failed transplant and dialysis, his mother donated her kidney for a successful transplant. He talks about seeing the light “And it ain’t pretty!” and his drugged fantasy of planning his funeral - with Rachael there sitting next to Queen Elizabeth! That’s scary!

Cojo now looks back on the experience as one of empowerment that helped him learn a lot about himself and his inner strength. He’s discovered the kind of gratitude that feeds the soul. He now shares his story in order to raise awareness and give hope for others with kidney disease.

Then he shares the story of two couples whose husbands donated their kidneys to save each other’s wives through a unique program at John’s Hopkins University - if John wanted to donate his kidney to someone that was a match, they would find a similar person to match with his wife. It ended with them swapping, each husband giving up the kidney to the other mans wife. When they finally met face to face, it was instant family. They’ve just had their one year anniversary and both women are doing well!

Cojo says that his experience was foisted on him because he ha a “really big trap” and can spread the word about the miracle of Kidney transplants, how you can give someone a kidney while you’re still living and take them away from the hell they’re existing in.

Then - remember back in October when Trey Laird announced the Gap Casting call for the cutest kids? Well, after 800,000 entries the choices have been made! It was all about the eyes, and how the characters of the kids came alive in the picture. The four winners - chosen by 500,000 American votes, are here and couldn’t be cuter!

Today’s incredible person from Rachael’s new Community of Incredible People is Troy Lynn Lavigne who wants to see kids jumping around and eating healthy - plus educating their parents too! She’s works with the Head Start early learning centers by teaching them songs and dances about eating healthy, and gets to have the first taste at the kitchen table of what’s for dinner tonight - Spanish Chorizo and Chicken Chili. Be sure to check out Choosy Kids too!

Monday
Dr. Phil and Robin’s Family Christmas

What’s Christmas like at Dr. Phil’s house? Robin McGraw shares her family’s traditions - including the photos Dr. Phil doesn’t want you to see! Get a backstage sneak peak here. Then, our behind-the-scenes cooks are showing you their holiday favorites, and we’ve got ideas for turning your home into a four-star resort.

Tuesday
Anne Hathaway and Marlo Thomas

Find out why these two stars are teaming up and what it’s like to hang out with funnyman Steve Carrell. Then, a holiday favorite from one of our amazing backstage chefs, the best websites for holiday shopping, and ideas for turning leftovers into a hearty and healthy pasta dinner.

Wednesday
Kristin Davis

It’s the movie everyone is talking about, and now Kristin Davis is spilling the beans about Sex and the City! Then, Gretta shows you how to find hot holiday fashions for less, and if you haven’t gotten a Christmas tree yet, don’t miss the show and this giveaway!

Thursday
Josh Groban

Are your kids more naughty than nice over the holidays? Before you sit down for dinner this year, get Harriette Cole’s lesson in holiday manners! Then, what better way to get into the holiday spirit than to have Josh Groban performing Christmas classics?

Friday
Helen Mirren and Hillary Clinton

She could be our first female president, but first Hillary Clinton is doing some holiday shopping with Rachael! It’s a side of the former first lady that will definitely surprise you. Then, we go from a senator to a dame when Oscar winner Helen Mirren stops by, and Lara Spencer is dishing up a sexy surprise guest too!

….to be jealous of IPhone owners! As if it didn’t already to everything but babysit your kids, and do your dishes, now you can indulge your need for magazines in the palm of your hand, too! Texterity, Inc has launched a beta version of the first digital magazine interface portal designed for the Apple iPhone. This is the first time users will see complete magazines, including Everyday With Rachael Ray.

Texterity’s Digital Magazine iPhone Interface & Portal provides a collection of magazines that can be viewed through Texterity’s interface, which leverages the Safari browser built in to the Apple iPhone. No additional applications, downloads, or other software is required. Users can instantly view entire magazines as they were originally published, with all pages completely readable. As part of a beta test Texterity will provide free and open access to a great selection of consumer and business magazines to all iPhone users.

The iPhone Interface & Portal enables publishers to reach the increasingly mobile reader by providing iPhone users with immediate access to their magazine issues. The system leverages the iPhone’s ability to view a complete magazine in a portable format that can be viewed virtually everywhere. With one tap, an iPhone user can read their favorite magazine at any time.

As if I weren’t jealous enough. They provided a demo. Sigh!

On Friday’s Rachael Ray Show!
It doesn’t get much bigger then this! Big mouth Sexy Handyman Ty Pennington is back with video from his summer vacation, and important information about a disorder that affects the lives of many kids and adults, including himself — ADHD.

Lara Spenser’s got all the goods from the red carpet must-have products at the Emmys, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs drops by with a special gift for Rachael!

And if that’s not enough - style Guru Time Gunn will give a teacher a makeover using her own clothes! It’s a big day, folks - don’t miss it!

What’s for dinner? Creamy Tarragon Tuna over Egg Noodles and Spicy Tomato and Tuna Pasta.

Rachael, Ray, Rachael Ray, 30 minute meals, RR, TV, a day, Food Network, Everyday

A couple of readers sent messages asking if I’d seen this (I had!) and for more information (planned on it for today!) over the weekend, so I figured I’d best get this up here, already!

So you think you can cook? Here’s your chance to prove it! The Rachael Ray show is launching a nationwide search for the next enterprising foodie!

“We just want to give a person — a real person, not a chef or somebody specially trained to do this for a living — a shot at showing everybody their personality and how much fun you can have with food,” Ray, 39, said in a telephone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press.

Ray and her producers will narrow the field of candidates to five promising cooks, who will undergo two weeks of intense competitions and challenges before a winner is announced on the air in late November.

“I’m always telling people how my career was an accident,” Ray told the AP. “I just wanted to sort of marry up the idea for the show that anybody who likes to cook could literally be Rachael Ray, the ‘30 Minute Meal’ girl.”

The top five viewers will get to go to New York to compete in a showdown on the show! Rachael Ray promises the challenges will test skills and push the finalists to the limit! The overall winner will get their best recipe printed in Every Day with Rachael Ray, and get to spend a day on the set with Rachael in the kitchen for a cooking segment. After that - a week long boot camp at one of the world’s top culinary schools!

Ready to give it a try? Grab your video camera, and click here to find the official rules and regulations, as well as the official entry form! And hey - be sure to let us know how it goes!

Today on The Rachael Ray Show - Dr. Phil!

See what it’s like when Dr. Phil is the one on the hot seat! He’s answering audience questions, laughing it up with Rach… and why is he telling his wife Robin to leave their son alone? Then, two families with two completely different eating habits are trading kids, and Rach has the perfect recipe for picky eaters!

What’s for dinner?
Grilled Chicken, Potatoes and Broccoli with Cheese and Gravy Sauces (Barbeque Gravy, Apple Cider Gravy and Orange Maple Reduction)

Rachael, Ray, Rachael Ray, 30 minute meals, RR, TV, a day, Food Network, Everyday

Thanks to the eagle eyes of a fellow 451 Press blogger, Marilyn over at Parenting Sites 411, another Rachael Ray venture has come to light! It seems that the Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine is now involved with helping spread the word about Taste America, a celebration of food.

The James Beard Foundation started Taste America, calling it a national food festival, celebrating the bounty and diversity of American cuisine. The foundation is the premiere organization dedicated to preserving our culinary heritage, and uses Taste America to celebrate the smart and creative ways that food permeates our lives.

The site is interactive and a lot of fun - the kids section has games, and encourages us to Play with our food - what could be better? There’s a ton of information to help kids learn to eat right, and for parents to open conversation with the kids about the foods they eat and the jobs they do. The other side of the coin is the adult side, where there are smart tips, chefs of the week, and even a sweepstakes to enter. Check it out today!

While poking around the Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine website, I once again was drawn to the list of imaginative centerpieces! Some are way to fancy for my tastes, other’s are pure fun, and still others hold a serious “…huh?” factor.

I mean really - Asparagus planted in pistachio nuts? I don’t like asparagus anyway, and potted on my table in pistachio nuts that I don’t care for either just seems odd. But! To each their own.

The fun paper airplane one made me grin, and the flowers in Yellow Jello? Awesome! But by far, this one is my favorite:

I have a little artist in my family - my 8-year-old daughter, and she’s constantly coloring and creating and making something in vibrant messy fashion. This centerpiece has her name written ALL over it, and is a very clever idea for any happy table! We just might have to put something like this together next time we hold a family function.

What is your favorite type of centerpiece? Fun, fancy, upscale, easy? Do tell!

Rachael, Ray, Rachael Ray, 30 minute meals, RR, TV, a day, Food Network, Everyday

The haters would have you believe that Rachael Ray will disappear by virtue of their snide comments and will alone, but it’s clear that the boisterous Food Network and talk show star isn’t going anywhere but straight to the top.

The latest circulation numbers for Every Day with Rachael Ray, has the magazine - one of the youngest Reader’s Digest Association publications, turned in a 57.6% increase. That included a drop in newsstand sales, but an almost 200% increase in subscriptions.

In addition, there are over 110,000 people on the waiting list for tickets to the Rachael Ray Show according to a show spokesman for the new season that kicks off on September 10th.

Sorry guys - that smile simply isn’t going to fade anytime soon!

Rachael, Ray, Rachael Ray, 30 minute meals, RR, TV, a day, Food Network, Everyday