Watching Rachael Ray

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.