Watching Rachael Ray

I know, that’s an awful title, but I couldn’t resist! I also didn’t try very hard TO resist. (grin)

It’s straight to the kitchen again today, where Rachael has her hands all mucked up from a breading station, which she describes as a dirty job with a tasty reward - though there are some without rewards at all. That’s right - it’s time for a clip of Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs (a family favorite around here!). From recycling left over food in Vegas to feed the pigs, to making cheese - Mike Rowe has done it all.

Rowe joined Rachael at the head of the table, for a little chat. He admits that he can’t blame Dirty Jobs on anyone but himself. He was looking for a way to pay tribute to the men in his family who always had dirty jobs and made fun of him for being in entertainment. It was intended to be a 1-hour special, evolved into a series, and now he just can’t stop. The muck just keeps pulling him back in!

He finds it gratifying though, because it’s a simple show with big things - it’s helping people appreciate the little people that do these jobs day in and day out. In NYC recently, a garbage man actually stopped him to say thanks for the boost in his romance life, as since the show on garbage men he’s been getting some far more often!

As for the too hot for daytime shot? Naked Chef - cooking a meal wearing only an apron from back in the day when the show was smaller, and just getting started. A lady would come to his house and teach him to cook a meal while wearing only an apron. Well then! Mike says he’s game for anything legal, he won’t balk at anything even crime scene cleanup or a body farm tech. As long as the show is fun - that’s all that matters.

Of course, they went from all of that to snack of the day - nice!

Next we get into the story of Hallie, who had gastric bypass surgery, and along with losing 200 pounds, she lost all her friends. Life Coach Harriette Cole is back once more to help Hallie confront the truth of what really happened. During a session, she admits that she sent out constant updates as she lost weight, and others started to grow resentful of the constant bombardment. Harriette shows her a video from her mom, where she watched her mom admit that it was difficult, and sometimes painful because Hallie could be hurtful with her comments and her attitude. In the end, she admits that “if she talked to her friends the way she talked to her family, her friends would decide not to talk to her either.”

The revelation shocked Hallie, who didn’t consider it that way, just wanted everyone to be happy for her, and didn’t realize she was bragging and coming off as better then the others and she wished to apologize to her mom for hurting her. Rachael surprised her by having Mom join them on set for a tearful reunion to get the dialog started.

After commercial break, it’s into the kitchen for What’s For Dinner - Tango Joes**, a new twist on Sloppy Joes. Then, as the show comes to a close, Hallie’s boyfriend Shannon had a surprise of his own - he proposes right there on set, where a shocked and tearful Hallie said yes.

~~

** For the record - my sister made the Tango Joes for dinner, and declared it FANTASTIC, an instant hit with her whole family. She said they were super good, and in running it through the calorie counter she uses, as written it received a grade of B- nutrition wise. Not bad! But for an even healthier version, try making it with ground turkey or chicken instead of the sirloin, and choose a whole grain bread. Also, try scooping out the middle of your roll, and using just a bit of the crust and softness, giving you all the protein plus the taste of the bread while helping cut the carbs.

Remember folks - Rachael gives you the place to START - you can always adjust!

…and they feel FINE! No clogged arteries, no heart attacks, no 800 pound weight gain, and a healthy new addition to the family…

I’m talking, of course, about the One Year Project blog, where they spent the past 365 days, one year, literally every day with Rachael Ray.

H and L, a British lass and Denmark bloke transplanted to the US of A due to work, both stayed here, where both their daughters have been born, because they could. Fascinated by the Food Network cult, and Rachael Ray, they decided to make one meal a day, every day, from her cookbook 365: No Repeats, a Year of Deliciously Different Dinners. They went from page one, all the way through the end, start to finish. They didn’t deviate, they didn’t once decide they wanted something else, and they faithfully blogged the entire experiment for us to follow along, through moving, house construction, and oh yeah - giving birth to Baby N! Which certainly makes the fact that they were able to meet Rachael Ray at a book-signing and get her autograph pale in comparison!

They documented every recipe with photos and comments, and let us know what they REALLY thought of each meal, rating them from 1-5 stars. While there were only 21 Five-Star meals, there was a significant amount of Four-Stars (180) and Three-Stars (131) and in the end, only 27 were Two-Star, and a paltry 6 were diagnosed as One-Star. You know, that seems a pretty overwhelmingly successful cookbook to me!

Says H and L:

People often ask us how we found the food, how we would rate Rachael Ray’s recipes. Overall, I would say that we ate very well this year. There were a few humdingers, but generally we ate better than we expected, and undoubtedly better than we normally would have done.

I did have to ask the one important question they didn’t address in the end of the year report - and as soon as I have that answer, I’ll edit and add it here.

And hey! They’re not done! Having enjoyed the experience over all, they’ve decided to move on to Food Network’s Nigella Lawson, and spend 2008 working through her cookbooks. The rules are a bit different, but the idea is the same - Celebrity Foodie, Cookbooks, and Good Eating. Who could ask for anything more?

Anyone who’s anyone knows Rachael Ray has spent what little downtime she’s had this past month rushing about the country for book signings. The newly released “Just In Time” cookbook is doing well, and the fans are stampeding to get her signature on them. Of course, some folks get creative in order to get a few seconds with the Cooking Show Diva - and decide to compete directly with Mr. Rachael Ray - John Cusimano. They rewrote lyrics to the song You Are, and waited for Rachael to leave out the back door so they could serenade her.

Rewarded with a hug and kiss, she also signed his guitar. How cool was that?

In other news, for Christmas my darling daughter took it upon herself to help with the preparations, since Nana’s surgery had us all attempting to make sure Nana didn’t overdo it. She made a killer potato salad, and then with the help of Papa and Nana who sprung for a fondue set, she set her sights on Rachael’s German and Beer Fondue.

She served it with a variety of cut up veggies, breadsticks, and chunks of browned reindeer sausage (which we told the youngest was Rudolf… hahah!) and German bratwurst. It had the men of the house (well, the Papa and Boy) declaring it horrible, nasty, please let us eat all of it for you so you don’t have too… which of course meant they loved it and didn’t want to share. It boiled over a bit at one point, and brought out the beer taste a little too strong for us non-beer drinking girls, so we decided that we’d try a different recipe next time, but all in all it was a definite hit. How lucky am I to have a daughter who loves to cook so much?! I KNOW!

Did Rachael Ray grace your holiday table too? Hit that comment button and tell us about it!

Today was Rachael’s first Oktoberfest show, and she went all out to transition her loud Italian ways into loud German ways with a variety of successes - and an astonishing FOUR dinners! Things get off to a rollicking start as two audience members compete in a beer stein holding contest - where one guy gave up WAY too easy. Wuss. Not even five minutes!

Heidi Klum popped in via video clip to say she will NOT yodel, but does a little anyway, and she’s never experienced Oktoberfest. Still, Heidi is always beautiful and perfect and fun to have around however briefly!

Taylor Ware, America’s Got Talent finalist, gives Rachael and the audience a yodeling lesson, and then John joins her so that Matt and Elaine from Staten Island can ATTEMPT to teach them to polka. We also checked in with Rachael’s favorite places to get German fare - including a shot of the world’s largest cuckoo clock - and Michel Nischan shows us how to make Grilled Italian Heirloom Broad Beans with Baby Leeks & Garden Salsa. What does that has to do with Oktoberfest? I have NO idea…

Rachael explained the differences between the wursts! Silly me - I thought a wurst was a wurst, but Rachael knows best - and put four different kinds into four different meals for dinner!

Knockwurst is a combination of beef and pork, and tastes most like a large juicy hot dog, and Rachael used it in a Knockwurst Stoup.

Bratwusrt is a spicier version of the knockwurst - beef, pork with more spices and used in Bratwurst Reubens.

Bauerwurst is beef and pork as well, but with a totally different flavor, very mild and surprising.

And Bockwurst is white in color, and is a combination of pork and veal. Rachael cooked that up in Veal Bockwurst in a Creamy Mustard Sauce with Smashed Potatoes and Broccolini.

Also made? German Cheese and Beer Fondue, with two types of wurst added to veges and bread for the dipping!

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

Another jam-packed show today, folks! We got started right away in the kitchen, where Rachael got started on our first Double Duty Dinner for season two! Two ground turkey stuffing meatloaves, the first with potatoes and gravy, the second rolled over into an enchil-lazagna! While the meatloaves were cooking, we moved right on into our first guest, Emily Procter from CSI: Miami!

Among her talents, six seasons of CSI has made Emily into an action hero! She can shoot a compound bow, a spear gun, any firearm - and? She can do the 50 yard dash in high heels! All of that, and Emily is an active supporter of Purina’s ProPlan Rally to Rescue, a program aimed at promoting animal rescue and adoption across the country.

To go along with the Double Duty theme, Deanna joined Rachael to show how her family makes their waffle maker do Double Duty! Omlets, Burgers, quesadillas - nothing’s sacred! George Forman has got NOTHING on Deanna and her waffle maker!

Then, our favorite Doctor Brantley gives up some food fixes, with five wonder foods that will help (but not COMPLETELY cancel out!) us feel better about falling off the food wagon.

1. Potassium-rich foods like avocado can counteract the effects of salty foods - tomatoes are good too, as they have a done of fiber and potassium and are great for the skin. Chips and guacamole anyone?

2. Before eating high sugar foods, eat good fats and proteins - almonds and salmon. It slows down the release of sugars, and you don’t have the rollercoaster effect. Salmon oil is also excellent for your heart - almonds build brains and bones.

3. High fiber foods like black beans help the body digest greasy foods. 1 cup of Black beans gives 15 grams of fiber, and we need at least 35 grams a day to keep the intestinal track healthy. It’ll help what went in, go right on back out.

And an Alcohol tip - if you want to slow down the absorption and reduce the cravings, eat more protein before you drink.

Don’t forget to check THIS out!

Though it’s a couple days after it was promised, the new design at RachaelRay.com is up and live! It’s clean and fresh without losing any of the easy access goodies! Be sure to wander over, and sign up for the newsletters, get travel and restaurant suggestions, learn to cook with kids, submit your own recipes and talk with Rach’s friends!

All that AND at long last - the message boards are finally open! Join the RRClub today and chat with fans from all over the US!

So, all alone Saturday night, with the kids off at Auntie’s, I decided I’d give one of those recipe’s listed last week’s Bare Pantry Recipe’s a try. They’re supposed to be easy, fast, and stress free, AND I had most everything, or could fake it, so why not - right? Right.

I considered the Aglio Olio, but then my friend, Jamie, told me that she learned the meaning of the word Puttanesca in her Italian class this week. A pasta dish is named Puttanesca because it is easy - as apparently the word “puttana” is Italian for, um, let’s just say, a “Woman of the Night.” Now how could I POSSIBLY resist making Tuna Puttanesca Sauce after learning THAT? Exactly. I couldn’t.

The recipe is rediculously easy. All told putting it together, from ingredients to plate, took a whole 15-20 minutes or so. I didn’t have (or like) olives, or capers, so I just ignored those. I topped it off with some grated cheese, with some toast on the side.

My first comment to my above friend was “Holy cow - anchovies DO melt away!” though I never got the ’salted nuts’ smell/taste that she promises. The end product was EXTREMELY tasty, though I think the tuna + anchovies gave it an overwhemling fishy taste. Not bad, just fishy. Of course, being Alaskan, I’m kinda used to the whole fishy thing, so it wasn’t offputting. It’s extremely filling, and yummy, and it put me into a delightful food coma where I sat around, belched loudly (because I’m all class, you know) and declared myself full to the gills. (HA! See? More fish humor!)

And I didn’t have to share a single bite with the kids. Aaaaaaaah, now THAT is awesome!

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

You decide! It’s 60-second meals with Michael May and his friends. Join them as they teach us the ins and outs of cereal, as well as how teenage boys spend their boring summer days when they’re given a kitchen and video camera!

Color me amused!

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

Nothing goes better with the dog days of summer then ice cold ice cream! The current issue of Everyday With Rachael Ray thinks so too, and has followed up last issues discussion of the best Popsicles with the same type of contest with ice cream. Using the most basic of basic flavors - Chocolate and Vanilla, testers rigorously and laboriously tasted spoonful after spoonful of creamy treats. (WHERE can I sign up for that job?!) They risked additional pounds and brain freeze to give you the following consensus:

The best Chocolate award goes to Berkshire Ice Cream.

We were searching for an ice cream with a smooth texture and a flavor worthy of being called “chocolate.” But many contenders fell short: Some were sugary; one tasted strangely like marshmallows. Berkshire was exactly what we were looking for. One panelist admired its fudginess and density, while another tasted a hint of coffee that rounded out the rich chocolate flavor.

The Best Vanilla award goes to Haagen-Dazs.

The simple things are always the toughest to perfect. Our vanilla taste test yielded some duds. Some were sickeningly sweet, others synthetic tasting. But Häagen-Dazs got it right. We love the vanilla-bean taste; experienced tasters picked up subtle caramel and maple notes. The creamy texture convinced all of us that pain old vanilla can be anything but.

What are you favorites Ice Cream flavors to wile away the summer heat? Do you eat it slow and risk melting, or fast and risk brain freeze?

If it’s the latter (caused by cold touching the roof of your mouth, dilating the blood vessels in your head - betcha didn’t know THAT did ya? [Me either - I read it in EDRR]) and you give yourself a case of Brain Freeze, just press your tongue against the roof of your mouth as soon as you feel the freeze coming on. It’ll lick the problem lickety split (…ha!) and you can resume your frosty enjoyment that much faster!

Now, where’s my Haagan-Dazs?

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

KM commented on the weekly post and asked about the recipes seen on the show on Thursday - especially for the Classic Cheese Fondue. Well, KM, you’re wish is my command! Here ya go!

Classic Cheese Fondue
Guacamole and BLT Dip
Mediterranean Feta Dip

Enjoy, and be sure to let us know how they come out!

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

Well, here’s a video just for you! Kirsten, a novice cook, picks a stoup and makes it - including making some of her own substitutions as needed for what she has on hand. The video is 7 minutes long, and with the sped up in parts, but it makes it pretty clear she didn’t have a problem completing the meal - and that it tasted good too, even with her substitutions!

If Kirsten can do it - so can you! Yum-o!

Ok, seriously, this is getting ridiculous. Floating about is a scan of the new National Enquirer cover, which has gone the way of all the suxxors and decided to bag on Rachael Ray’s weight.

Now, I hated on that outfit the night of the Daytime Emmy awards because it does absolutely NOTHING for her figure - it was a horrible choice, and her hair wasn’t it’s best, and she was shiny and well. It was generally not a good night for our EVOO Diva.

And, for the record - if she’d gained weight like they suggest? Why didn’t they Photoshop her in some cleavage? She’d have some with extra poundage. I’m just sayin’. And yes, it’s clear that the picture WAS manipulated if you know where to look. And poorly done, too. (Check the facial features, the lift of the brows, the height of the hair - it’s the exact same picture, just badly Photoshopped) At the very core, it is quite simply a dress that’s awful for her figure on a bad day. No more, no less.

Now perhaps you’re wondering (and who isn’t) if Rachael Ray is really isn’t as fat as everyone says, where’s the proof? Here you go. She is no size 0 like the anorexic models out there, but she is certainly not fat in any way, shape or form. These pictures are from yesterday in New York where Rachael Ray helped kick off the Dunkin Donuts Serving Heroes Program:

Now - her horrible posture aside (My mama is wanting to poke her between the shoulder-blades AS WE SPEAK…) it is CLEAR that Rachael Ray is NOT fat, she is a NORMAL and HEALTHY woman, and all of ya’ll suxxors should just give it a rest. Talk about hating her food. Talk about hating her voice, her gestures, whatever - but for crissakes, LAY OFF her weight!

As a larger than normal woman - I demand it ya’ll eat a freakin’ donut, already, and chill.

Rachael, Ray, Rachael Ray, 30 minute meals, RR, TV, a day, Food Network, Everyday, Dunkin Donuts, weight, fat, National Enquirer.

Doing some traveling this summer? Looking for the hottest hot spots, and ready to take a Bite Outta America? Well check out the Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine website for her new Mapped Out feature!

There, you can pick a destination, or see them all at a glance, and discover some of Rachael Ray and her crew’s favorite spots to stay, eat, shop and play! They’ve a demo to show you how it all works though it’s all pretty self-explanatory. Not only that, but you can submit your favorite destinations and spots as well and get yourself on the map!

Take Chicago, for instance! Are you headed there in a couple weeks with all of the BlogHers for their 2008 conference? Check out some of the hotspots and must sees - as well as find great places to eat!

What a fun and interactive tool to help plan your vacation! Oh yeah - while there, don’t forget to enter to win the Wild Week at Pikes Peak prize package, too!

Rachael, Ray, Rachael Ray, 30 minute meals, RR, TV, a day, Food Network, Everyday, Mapped Out, Travel, Chicago, BlogHer

In the June/July Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine, they held another taste testing review - this time to find the best cool Summer Treat, the best brand of Popsicles! The overall winner?

Dreyer’s/Edy’s Fruit Bars!

The competition was stiff, but our panel put these bars (known as Dreyer’s in the western U.S. and Edy’s in the East) on top for their natural taste and real bits of fruit. “It tastes like frozen fruit puree,” said one judge. Unlike many brands, this one flavors its bars with real fruit and fruit juice — and sweetens with sugar, not corn syrup. Out of 14 flavors, the cherry proved most popular: “It’s almost sorbetlike.”

Other finalists include:
Best Creamy: Creamsicle
Best No Sugar Added: Breyers Pure Fruit Bars No Sugar Added
Best Fudge: The Skinny Cow No Sugar Added Fudge Bar
Sentimental Favorite” Blue Bunny Original Bomb Pop

Honorable Mention
Most Innovative: Popsicle Slow Melt Pops

What’s your favorite summer cool down treat?

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

Tonight, we decided to make the Meatza Pizza burgers that we found in Rachael Ray Top 30 30-Minute Meals, Kid Food. I included the recipe after the ‘more’ tag for those who want it.

Prep for this was ridiculously easy, and I don’t think it qualifies as a 30 minute meal, as the burgers can be pulled together in about 20 or so. I did use ground chorizo sausage mixed up with the ground beef, and dried spices (all but the minced garlic I had on hand. Jarred.) - but fresh wouldn’t have taken much longer at all.

We did discover a problem, however. Our burgers fell apart before we could flip them. Not sure if it’s because of the moistness of the sausage, or what, but they started to crumble. So! Being the industrious mom that I am, we just let them crumble, and tossed the mixture into the pot with our Rice a Roni cheesy rice we were having with the burgers. All mixed up together it was like a psuedo hamburger helper with a TON of taste.

In fact, I’ve never seen my 8 year old clean her plate so fast! It also got my nephews and niece’s seal of approval!

So - Meatza Pizza burgers (turned crumble with Cheesy Rice a Roni)? A total win all the way around! And now that they’re back outside playing, I can plop the rest of the crumbled burger/chorizo mixture onto a bun and munch away happily. Ha!

(Sorry no picture - the kids wanted to go watch a ball game, so we were in a hurry and I forgot.)

(more…)

I’ve spent the past several days (and will spend tomorrow morning as well) out of town at a Writers’ Conference a couple of hours away from my tiny city home. While I’ve been refreshing my mind and body with some sleep (not much, granted) and a lot of inspirational thoughts and readings and workshops, I’ve also taken the time to discover Blue Moon Margaritas at the Hotel Bar.

OOOOOHHH boy are they Yum-O! And PRETTY too!

So, as I have not even turned on the tv since we arrived here in beautiful Homer, Alaska, and have mainly used the comptuter to check email and check in with you all, I thought what better way to commemorate my freedom from kids and responsibilities for these five days then to lead you to Rachael Ray’s Cool Cocktail Archive!

There are some yummy looking drinks there, for sure! There is even a “bottom of the bottle” type recipe! I most certainly will be trying out some of these through the summer months when I feel the need for something new, and deliciously cool. Check them out - and let me know which are your favorites!