Watching Rachael Ray

We’re starting off in the kitchen again today, because Rachael is trying to embrace new things, she says. She is attempting to embrace baking skills, and says it’s easy to make scones - since her friend showed her how. It’s easy with a little help from the store, and she shows us scones three ways - Sour Cream and Dill Scones with Smoked Salmon, Fruit and Nut Scones, and Ham, Cheese and Chive Scones.

She of course says, afterwards, she wishes she had an authentic English lad or lady to test them and see if they’re good or not! Enter Dame Julie Andrews, to do just that, and join Rachael at the kitchen table. Rachael calls her new book Home: A Memoir of My Early Years a jaw dropper. Julie says people think they know a fair amount about her after Mary Poppins, but they don’t know how it all began. The boy includes talks of how she learned to sing, he struggles to make it on Broadway, and many humorous moments.

It took so long to write because her day job kept getting in the way, and she didn’t want to hurt or offend anyone. Now that her family has passed away - aside from brothers and sisters, of course - they talked about it and she decided to do it with the help of her daughter Emma. “It was a thrill for me that she cared to know and wanted to learn about” her early years, said Julie. She thinks the family is pleased with the end result. The talk about a couple of the stories in the book - from a couple that was surprised by being given tickets to a show she was in - only to come home and find their house cleaned out by a burglary, and a note that said “hope you enjoyed the show!” That, and advances by a handsome co-star, Richard Burton, are just some of the hidden jewels in the book. When Burton finally came to her after playing a joke then not speaking to her for a week, he was all lovey dovey, and “Mary Poppins let fly with a four letter anglo-saxon word, told him where to go and how to get there!” They of course made up afterwards.

Hit up the giveaway button down there along the side to enter for the chance to win a copy of the book yourself.

Next up, KC is on hand to help a viewer organize her office - which also doubles as her family’s minivan. She’s a Tupperware consultant, and works every day out of her car - losing things along the way. With the help of Staples, KC transformed her car into the best office on the block. Click here to see the transformation and to enter a giveaway bonanza where you can enter for the chance to win Staples products every day until April 29th!

KC also has some cool storage tips from the Container Store, including Pylones Way Cool Way Hot Fridge.

What’s for dinner? Elsa’s Favorite Fish, of course.

We start off in the kitchen where Rachael says we’re going to learn how to bake - oh my! We all know that she can’t bake, so she has a superstar guest join to teach the method. 3 time Grammy Winner, Trisha Yearwood surprises the crowd after giving a hint by singing “She’s in love with the boy…” - and the crowd goes wild!

Rachael jokes and says it’s not fair she’s tall, beautiful, sing, AND bakes! Trisha says she just loves to do it all, and has a new cookbook out - Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen. She wrote it with he mom and her sister. She learned how to cook when she moved away from home and would call her mom to ask how to make something - sometimes it takes more then once, but when it comes out tasting just like mama’s, you know you did right. Trisha says not to worry about mistakes - it could look like a lump and still taste great, it doesn’t have to look perfect if you’re not taking it to a bake sale, after all!

They get down to business, and Trisha shows us how to make German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Frosting. Don’t forget to hit up the giveaway button for a chance to win Trisha’s cookbook.

Just an aside - I love the outfit Rachael is wearing today! Very nice, and much better then the atrocity she wore to a recent event in New York that everyone is screaming EW about. It’s hit or miss with her stylists, hm?

Next up - it’s Human Lab time! This time, it’s all about improving the smile. Allison wishes for plumper lips - she says they look feminine and beautiful. Sarah wants to get rid of her laugh lines. She laughs a lot, and stops because she’s embarrassed about them. Carissa hates her crooked teeth, they’re crowded and she doesn’t find it attractive at all. Each of them got a product that said it would help their individual problems.

Allison tries the Luscious Lips Lip Plumper which claims to increase your lip size naturally by using a vacuum process to coax fluid into your lips and increase circulation. It looks hysterical! Allison says it’s nuts and looks crazy. But its supposed to increase lip size by 50% in two weeks. She says it pulls the lips out and there might be more circulation, it’s crazy but if it works?

Sarah uses the Angellift OTC derma strips, which claims to ease laugh lines, which she calls “the triplets”.

Carrissa trys the Snap-On Smile. She went to the inventor to be fitted for her own set, 10 days after making the mold, she’s fitted with her own snap on smile. She says it feels awkward, and will have to get used to it, but she’s smiling and excited about it.

Dr. Levine is on hand to talk about the products that they were test-driving. He recommends checking with a professional before diving into the mass of products out there, then test some and search for the one that’s right for you. And be sure to read the directions and comply with them so as not to do more harm then good.

The question is, of course - do they work? After two weeks, they checked in with everyone. Allison says the Lip Plumper works right away, and stays for about two hours, then deflate and go back to the normal state - but for those two hours, you’re FABULOUS. Rachael gives her the prize for most embarrassing tape for being brave enough to use it on tape. She says she’s addicted, and you keep wanting to do it a little more. Dr. Levine says that it is good to test it, before doing something more invasive - but don’t abuse it, because you could cause harm to the lips. So be careful to avoid bruising, or worse. Every once in a while isn’t a problem.

Sarah says that about four days after starting the Angellift OTC, she started to see a bit of improvement, and maybe after 6 months it’ll be perfect. Dr. Levine says that because it gets under the lip, it’s supporting the soft tissue, and tenses the muscles to strengthen them, which helps diminish the lines. It’s basically a mini-workout for the face.

Carissa loves her snap on smile, she can eat, speak, kiss and even bit into an apple without problems and people are seeing her smile, not her teeth. She is extremely happy, her confidence level is over the top. Dr. Lavine says that it’s not a permanent solution, but it’s a dress rehersal for more permanent work.

Next up we meet another Incredible Person, Alli Bradley who started Taste It Tuesday, where the kids get an opportunity to try things not usually offered in the school cafeterias. She met with some opposition, but the kids love it, because they get to taste different things.

And it’s breakfast for dinner tonight - Savory French Toast and Sausage Bake.

Starting in the kitchen again today, where we get three more versions of deviled eggs - Far-East Deviled Eggs, Go Green (olive) Deviled Eggs, and Deviled Ham & Eggs.

She washes up at the sink and complains that it’s not working and what do you have to do to get a plumber in here? Enter James Denton, sexy plumber extraordinaire from Desperate Housewives, complete with Tool Belt. Niiiiiiice. He is handy around the house, and recently he completed a kitchen remodel during the writer’s strike “because I’m cheap.”

Rachael asks if its fun or challenging to work with a whole bunch of women? He says it’s fantastic and the reason he has a job because it has such a great women’s voice - heightened, but relatable. He’s happy to let them deal with the pressure and paparazzi, and he just keeps his head down and tries not to get killed off on the show which is what all the guys do. He declares all the women as hot, hot, hot. Eva just opened up a restaurant, Baso. “You’re welcome, Eva” he says after the plug.

It ends with a picture of him and his wife and he goes HOT! She’s a personal trainer and helps keep him in shape. James says he’s in a band as well, and talks a bit about it - they’re called Band From TV.

James talks about being proud of being part of the comeback of ABC and bringing back the drama. His big spluge since the success of the show is that he bought a baseball team, the Orange County Flyers- they’re not getting rich, but it’s a lot of fun. He goes and works out with him just because he can.

He’s part of a campaign for Out and About with Allergies - it gives you a list of places where you can enjoy the outdoors even with allergies. The product is Veramyst - it’s a godsend for him, though it’s not for everyone. The day everything was blooming on Wisteria Lane (The name alone is a nightmare for allergy sufferers, he jokes) and nothing is sexier then allergies, allergies are SO HOT - everyone was very excited to say goodbye to his runny nose.

Then there was the story about killing the snake that he killed because it was going to hurt someone - but! He then took it home and ate it, just like his daddy taught him. He does say it doesn’t taste like chicken, and Rachael says it tastes a little bit like alligator - she points out the audience is so quite, they’re creeping them out, and James counters with he thinks he has a little bit of a crush on her now. That’s a-ok with Rachael!

Next up, a segment on trusting your intuition. Annette Oriscello has problems making decisions, and often regrets the ones she does make, from the wrong wedding dress, choosing a home or even something like a paint color. With a closet full of clothes she felt pressured to buy that she never wears, and a home that she doesn’t really love, she asks for help to learn to trust her instincts.

Char Margolis, the author of Discover Your Inner Wisdom, has some tips to help Annette:

Learn the four Cs - courage and confidence, commit and conquer.
Choose a quiet place to make decisions.
Trust your first gut feeling.

Hit up the giveaway button down there to enter for a copy of Char’s book.

Next up it’s time to meet Deborah Freeman, a practicing ob/gyn for 27 years who didn’t realize she was obsess until she visited her own doctor for a checkup. She simply hadn’t thought about it and was embarrassed because her patients wouldn’t listen to her if she didn’t follow her own advice. She turned her life around through diet and exercise over the past 5 years and has gone from a size 18 to a size 4 and lost 75 pounds. She entered a body building contest as well, and won at the age of 54. Learn more at the Community of Incredible People.

And what’s for dinner? An express meal - Dinner Strata!

Monday
Desperate Housewives’ James Denton

TV’s sexiest plumber is making a house call and he’s bringing some Desperate Housewives scoop with him … including his secret weapon for keeping the sizzle alive in those steamy love scenes! Then, could the key to happiness be right in front of your eyes? Find out how to stop making decisions you’ll regret and how to start trusting your intuition. And for dinner you’ll be headed to the express lane for Rachael’s new time-saving meal.

Tuesday
Baking with Trisha Yearwood

The multiple Grammy-winning country superstar is attempting to teach Rachael how to bake! Then, do you want luscious lips like Angelina Jolie or a smile like Julia Roberts? Our “Human Lab” is testing three products that promise pucker power! And meet the Incredible Person who is getting her son’s whole school to eat new foods.

Wednesday
Julie Andrews

You won’t believe the words that come out of Mary Poppins’ mouth! Get to know an unexpected side of Julie Andrews, and then see how Kristan pulls off an incredible makeover for a busy mom who works out of her car. For dinner, it’s Rach’s mom’s all-time favorite dish!

Thursday
Julianne Hough’s Dance School

Two-time Dancing with the Stars champ Julianne Hough doles out the dance lessons! Then, did you know someone could be using the Internet to ruin your life? See how one teenager bounced back in a huge way when her classmates attacked her online. Plus, see what’s in Food Network chef Guy Fieri’s home kitchen!

Friday
Instant Beauty Cures

Are your problem areas making you feel self-conscious in public? Don’t miss our “Human Lab” when three women test products that promise instant results for flabby arms, dingy teeth or a saggy butt. Plus, Lara’s got the latest Dish, including a surprise visit from Hollywood’s newest “It” girl, and see how our community of Incredible People helping kids eat healthier keeps growing.

It’s the return of the Dish with Lara Spencer! This time she has some gifts for Rachael - and if you hit the giveaway button you have the chance to win four of the items found on today’s Dish! Today’s dish included DNA 11 - it’s artwork from your own DNA chart! You get a kit, swab and place it in an envelope, and you get instant artwork. Since it doesn’t hurt to swab - you can even do it with a baby, and use it to decorate the nursery - though it’s not cheap at all.

Also - Bobbi Brown’s custom Makeup Pallette, the Zuca Pro suitcase - the carryon to carry all - and it’s even a seat for those inevitable delays. Last but not least, Passion on the Vine by Sergio Esposito, and the t-shirt that’s from OmniPeace Fashion, worn by celebs everywhere - and 25% of the profits go to help the hungry in Africa.

Next up, Brittany Snow joins Rachael to promote her new horror movie, Prom Night. Brittany says that her career and choices often change, and she’s really looking for characters that are deeper and loves doing so many characters. She loves the intensity of the horror genre, something she’s always loved. They talk a bit about Prom Night, of course, and her Prom Night special picture on the cover of Cosmo Girl - despite the fact that she never went to her own prom. She went to her homecoming though, designed her dress and the seamstress on American Dreams made it for her.

They bring this up, because there’s a viewer in the front row who talks about the cost of going to promi - she has two of them, her boyfriends and her own since they got o different schools. Samantha says she can’t afford her dream dress, so is at a loss over what to wear. Brittany is involved with Donate My Dress. org, and as such donates her dress from her homecoming to Samantha to wear to her prom. Samantha is thrilled, of course, and promises to send pictures from her big night.

Next up - the biggest diet mistakes we tend to make. Dina can’t seem to lose her last 15 pounds, and thinks she eats healthy enough. She doesn’t understand why the weight doesn’t come off. Evita is having the same problem. Rachael has them keep a food diary of everything they eat in a week, and celeb nutritionist Christine Avanti analyzed their menus and gave them the truth about their choices.

Christine points out that it’s deceiving sometimes because you think something is low in calories if you eat less, but they may have too much fat in them, so are actually more then you’d expect. She helps Dina and Evita by weighing in on the dos and don’t’s.

Eat 4 meals a day, and train your metabolism to work at a higher rate.
Keep daily caloric intake at an even level - if you don’t it will slow down the metabolism
Be aware of the fat content in the food - the daily intake should only be 40 grams, or 10 per meal.
Eat balanced meals - 1 part protein, 2 part carbs - and be wary of dairy products with twice as much fat as protein per ounce.

Right after the diet talk, of course, it’s time to eat! Greek Beef Tenderloin in Togas with Mediterranean Orzo and Greek Salad.

Starting off in the kitchen again today with a new BLD - breakfast, lunch or dinner - meal: Ham and cheese waffles with honey mustard dipping sauce.

Snackable suppers are the theme of the day since the Writer’s strike is obviously over and our favorite shows are coming back - among them, one of Rachael’s favorites, The Office. Back to dish about the show AND his new movie, Leatherheads, is John Krasinski. He laughs about being seen as ‘hot’ in some circles and said he insisted it was part of his “Strategic” contract negotiation. He said he’d do the movie if they made him People’s Sexiest Man, and joked that it worked for Matt Damon!

He said he was scared because Clooney is a renowned prankster and thought he would hit him with a big zinger during the shoot. He looked under his bed and in his closed every night - he made it through the shoot safely, but he was unprepared for the prank Rachael’s crew pulled on him - silverware in the jello mold - you can watch it here.

No pranks - but he did bet George Clooney $1000 he could beat him in basketball. They talked smack, and he told his friends and they were like “do YOU read vanity fair man?!” And he’s very good, very quick… John bought him a basketball hoop for his Italian Villa. Hardest part was getting it past customs. “It’s a basketball hoop for Clooney!” “They all say that.”

John is very funny, and the interview itself was cute and full of laughter. There was even a little dish about the ’spin-off’ of the office. John jokes that it’ll be called “The Stapler” and then says “I’m leaving the show” and then laughed because Rachael believed him a minute. They know nothing about it, it’s more from the creators of the show, instead of an actual spin-off.

All of us remember the story of Elizabeth Glaser, wife of Paul Michale glaser of Starskey & Hutch who got HIV from a blood transfusion and passed it on to their two children, Ariel and Jake. Without childhood treatments, Ariel lost her life four years after contracting the virus. Elizabeth was determined not to have her son suffer the same fate and co-founded the Pediactric AIDS Foundation, championing the prevention of HIV infections until her death in 1994.

Jake is now 23, and is carrying on his mother’s legacy, focusing his message on high school and college students, kids 25 and under who are going to lead this generation into the future. As important as the donations are, the message needs to get to the younger kids so that they will keep on in the fight. He admires his mother, and her ability to work so hard, accomplish so much, yet come home and live life - do a shot of tequila, jump in the pool with her clothes on. He says it helps him remember the passion and hard work are great and important and he’ll contiue on - but he needs to enjoy life at the same time.

Jake reminds us that despite the advantages that help people like him live with the HIV virus, there’s always more to be done. It’s too easy to get comfortable, and be happy with the treatments - but it’s not just the virus. Social issues, dealing with big questions like having a family, dating, etc. He admits it’s difficult to date having HIV, but he’s learned to get comfortable with letting others know about his condition. “If you’re going to walk away, then it’s your loss.”

If that’s not enough -want to know what’s for dinner? Mozzarella in Carozza with Warm Zucchini Salad.

We start off in the kitchen today, with a great food gift - a starter course to bring to your next get together - Bacon and Deviled Eggs. Everything’s better with bacon!

It’s time for Ty Pennington to join in because he says he’s good at gift giving - so it’s time for an Extreme Gift makeover. Ty is in New York City, as he tries to help other people give decent gifts instead of the oddities some folks come up with. One New Yorker isn’t shy about the worst gift he’s ever gotten: “Nothin’!” Hahah!

Ty to the rescue to help a woman give something cool for her man. He’s a techy, so it’s a Jacket with speakers in the hoodie and pockets for the mp3 player. A son - 25 years old - made a macaroni necklace for his mother last year, so Ty urges him to something a little higher end. Check out some of his ideas here. He even picked up an orange doggy kitchen timer for Rachael, that she puts up on her shelf in the kitchen.

Next up, Kristan is on the way to help a family with a DIY 911! They started a project then got in way over their heads and have been living with a huge hole in the wall for five months. “Here’s our hole, isn’t it lovely?” Kristan laughs, but is on hand with some guidance to fix it all up. She also has some tips for things best left to the professionals - electrical wires, plumbing, gas, or unknown pipes always suggest call the guys who know what they’re doing. As long as your safety is not involved - if it could involve your premature death don’t do it! - otherwise, try it!

Rachael is working on a new cookbook - The Big Orange Book - and says it’s her 14th cookbook, she thinks. She talks a bit about loving cookbooks, and how her collection and her mom’s together don’t come close to Betty’s collection. She has over 4000 cookbooks! She still has her first cookbook given to her by her home ec teacher. They had to get a separate building for her collection - she gets a number of them from garage sales and the like, her most expensive one is probably $6. She loves to cook, and loves the cookbooks too. She finds her favorite recipes by copying them off into a binder and keeping those on hand in her kitchen with 150 of her favorites. Rachael helps add to her collection with on of her favorites, The Essentials of Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan, and fills out her own books that Betty didn’t have yet.

Last but not least, we meet Shawn DeMartino, an Incredible Person and part of the Community of Incredible People, who struggled with his weight. At 11, he passed out when he was running, and decided to change his life. He’s 15 and fit, and helps teach other teens about healthy eating. He credits Rachael’s 30-minute meals with opening his eyes to making healthy food quickly. He runs track now, and feels that eating healthier and being active helps him feel better all around, his grades are even better.

All of that and what’s for dinner? Elsa’s Egg Cake.

We start with the mailbag today, to talk to one fan who’s beyond loyal - she wouldn’t even miss the show while giving birth to her baby! She asked what she missed on that day, and the guests from the show gave Kimberlie a rundown of all that happened while her attention was elsewhere. Kimberlie is in the front row with her son - who cried whenever Rachael got close. Haha!They even gave her a portion of the meal that day, a DVD of the show, the recipe and a Nancy Drew DVD - hit the give away button on the sidebar for the chance to win your own.

Next up is a quick I-chat with Robin in New Jersey who wants advise on how to wow her food demonstration customers. Rachael lets her know that going for the kids is a sure fire way to make Mom and Dad smile too. Wear bright colors and just be friendly is all there really is to it.

Last but not least, Daniel wants to know how to fire someone - he doesn’t want to be ruthless or overbearing. Rachael says to do it like her mama - look at them straight in the eye and let them know why - after you’ve given them a few chances. She’s not an authority though, so she brings in Ivanka Trump, someone very familiar with the phrase “You’re fired!” as she heard it on The Apprentice every week with her father. She agrees that the advise was useful, and the way to go.

OF course they dish about The Donald, and Celebrity Apprentice. Ivanka says she doesn’t always agree with her father - but since he’s not there, she’ll admit she’s usually right. Ivanka laughs and says Donald can come on the show and refute it if he wants too. They’re almost done choosing contestants for season two, and Ivanka loves the whole process. She admits that it’s a collaboration and sometimes it boils down to who she wants to meet - if there’s good looking men, it’s safe to assume that she choose them, not her dad!

Ivanka is the spokeswoman for Callaway, who did a line of clubs exclusively for women. She does a demo - but doesn’t sink the put, but you can enter with that handy dandy button below for your chance to win an Odyssey Divine 2-Ball Putter from Callaway.

Next up, Jared is on hand with some more animals to make Rachael uneasy as usually. She even gets her to try and kiss the camel, before giving her a pet - then bringing on the cleaning crew for the Camel Poopy Break. Jarod does a segment of Kissing cousins, and you can view the animals in the segment here.

After some chicken tips with Rachael, it’s time for dinner - Chipoltle Chicken Enchiladas.

OK - so that shirt is the kind of shirt that starts “belly bump” talks, if it wasn’t Rachael and the fact that she insists she won’t have kids. Valerie joins Rachael at the kitchen table right at the top of the show today, to dish about her new book. She’s also bearing gifts from her trip to Canada - a purse, tomato growers, some wine from a favorite restaurant, and even some things for Isaboo, and who join them on stage, with hubby John Cusimano too.

They talk about the book signing that Valerie’s been on with her new tell all book, Losing it. She shares a bit of her video diary that they did during the tour, including the moment when she found out her book went number one. She loves the people who come up and say they’ve been inspired and can see themselves - it’s all she could hope for in writing the book. It’s what she has always wanted to do - inspire and help people.

The book covers everything - drugs, infidelity, weight loss, divorce - Valerie says it was a way of creating a clean slate. She’s purging all the shame that she’s felt now that she’s purged the weight. She is who she is because of all the choices she’s made and proud to be who she is. It’s even lead to apologies with her ex, Eddie Van Halen and a new connection that’s very good.

The big news - there’s the possibility of a talk show, something inspirational. She doesn’t know just yet, but does plan to write a follow-up book because there are so many stories inside of her. Valerie wants to write more about the divorce and how to treat the kids right - don’t forget they come first.

They talk about how the parents feel about Valerie’s book, and how proud they are of them. Valerie can’t quite bring herself to ask them if they’ve read it. Of course, Rachael has to go a step farther and get dad on the line to ask if they liked the book. Dad says there’s a little too much information, but they’re extremely proud of her, she’s a beautiful person. Valerie is a bit teary and says dad looks at the positive ending, he’s the happy guy.

Wolfie, Valerie’s son, hasn’t read it yet. Val jokes “He can’t even get through the books he’s supposed to read for school! He’s not going to read his mom’s book.” Rachael asks how it is to raise a rock and roll son, talking about not doing drugs and such when mom and dad did. She says it’s just do as I say, not as I do. It’s working so good so far, but she did all of her stuff in her 20s, so she’s trying to hold on for him to be good through those upcoming decade too.

After some audience questions, Rachael headed to the kitchen in order to make dinner - Fish Tacos with Quick Slaw, Avocado Sauce and Green Rice.

Monday
Valerie Bertinelli

Her bombshell book hit #1 and now for the first time Valerie opens up about life after the tell-all. See her personal video diary from the road, and find out what her parents really think about the racy revelations from her past. Plus, we’re breaking big Bertinelli news on the next chapter in her life!

Tuesday
Ivanka Trump

She holds her own on The Apprentice, but how does the Donald’s daughter hold up in a disagreement with dad? Ivanka Trump talks about the new season of Celebrity Apprentice and then hits the putting green with Rach! Plus, Jarod’s back with new animals and a new game called “Kissing Cousins” before Rachael shares her latest express-lane meal.

Wednesday
Ty Pennington’s Extreme Gift Makeover

We’re giving Ty Pennington an all-new challenge in the first-ever Extreme Gift Makeover. Watch him hit the streets and get the 4-1-1 on buying the perfect gift. The makeovers continue when Kristan Cunningham rescues a couple who are in over their heads with do-it-yourself home improvement. Get KC’s secrets for making almost any DIY project a success.

Thursday
The Office’s John Krasinski

Find out what everyone warned John Krasinski about when he started working with George Clooney on Leatherheads - and don’t miss Rachael’s backstage prank of her own on The Office star. Plus, Jake Glaser opens up about losing his famous mom, his sister, and living with HIV. What’s for dinner? Rachael’s grilled cheese with an Italian twist.

Friday
Biggest Diet Mistakes

Can’t figure out why your diet isn’t working? We’ve got two frustrated moms, their food diaries, and the shocking truth about the food you’re eating. Then, Hairspray cutie Brittany Snow makes a prom night dream come true, and Lara’s latest Dish shows you how to turn your DNA into a work of art!

They pulled a fast one on me with the newsletter - it said Friday would be a rerun, but oh no - It’s new! Not only is it new, but on the show is the one and only Jodie Foster! Love her!

After an introductory reel of her past works and a glimpse at the new movie, Jodie joins Rachael at the kitchen table for a chat. They talk about all the intense rolls she’s done, and if she enjoys that. Jodie says she does, she loves the intensity, then being able to do something completely different. She says it’s easy for her to shake off the intensity after the day is done and relax with her kids. Jodie is looking forward to having some time off after doing two movies recently (The Brave one and Nim’s Island) then getting back into the directors chair.

Where does she keep her Oscars? She kept them in the Bathroom for a long time because they matched her fixtures, until they started to corrode on the bottom, so now they’re on a book shelf - they don’t replace them, after all!

Nim’s Island are the first movie she’s been able to take her kids too - ages 9 and 6, and they enjoyed watching her be so lame. Jodie enjoyed shooting the underwater scenes, and the zip lines are super fun. She dishes on costar Abigail Breslin, who is a true city girl, but by the end of the movie she was a regular wild child, with her hair all ratted and stuff. The movie sounds like a great time! She considers the movie a great lesson too, about finding heroism without laser beams and figuring things out for yourself.

Jodie recently took her kids to Iceland, a vacation with a catch - no electronics allowed. Everyone can benefit from a weekend of gadget-free adventures. Jodie also works to get her kids to try new foods as they both can be picky eaters. They do a “new food day” and make something that they all have to try and if they hate it, they can spit it out. Rachael loves both ideas of course, and has issued two challenges - Unplug For A Day, and New Food Crew.

Her oldest has inherited her sense of humor too - very try and it tends to be R rated, which she has to tone down around the kids, of course. The little one is all about focus and pretending. Jodie’s real obsession is guitar hero, and they hooked it up in the ‘driveway’ on the big screen where Jodi will play them out to commercial. - while squealing that it’s on HARD! not supposed to put it on hard! She’s a rock star, of course!

Next up, Evette is on hand to show off some of the best Dining By Design tabletops for DIFFA, and to set up one of her own, too. They raise money for AIDS education. The only requirement is it has to seat 10 people - other then that is everything goes. One of them even projects images all over - the screens behind, the table, and even the diners would be wearing white to have the images on them too. Evette’s entire floor is coffee beans - I bet it smelt fantastic! From green environment to dining on a sweater to surrounding an acrobat suspended upside down over the table, it’s all a great setting for a great cause - and LuAnn from the Real Housewives Of New York was there!

One entire setting was knit! (hear that mom?) 15 people in the office knit for months to make it! Evette even had some at home tips for setting a hot table for your guests. Her three main trends for now- Pick a theme and center your table around it - how to pick a theme? Center it around something you love, and use what you’ve got. Another trend is mixing and matching - all your dinnerware doesn’t need to match! Shop the discount stores and get what you like - set the table, and pull it together with matching placemats and napkins. And the third big trend is to use nature - leaves and flowers and twigs and use those to dress your table.

With all these fantastic tables, you have to know what’s for dinner, right? Chicken Noodle - hold the soup!

We start off today with a bit of fun as it looks like Rachael enters three times from different directions - of course it’s just her, with two look-a-likes - one that doesn’t looks so much alike, and one that might look like her if you squint a little and turn your head just right. Rachael jokes that it could work out for her, one to go to 30-minute meals, another to Tasty Travels but without Rachael’s husband, and hey honey, I’ll be home soon! The girls got their hair cut for the occasion, and then promised to keep in touch for later bits.

Jarod Miller is on the scene next with some more of his wild animals, and his idea of an April Fools’ joke - a rattlesnake in a box. I had to fast forward through it, sorry. Heh. A Koatamundi, Ocelat, and a Loris round out the segment, before they decide to play a guess the Celeb/Animal mix. The first is Tony Hawke, mixed with a Hawk of course, and one flys in to join the fun briefly. The next is a mystery guest - and Jeff Foxworthy (mixed with a Fox, of course) is on hand to dish a bit with Rachael at the Kitchen Table.

Jeff has yet another talent, it turns out - he’s got a children’s book out called Dirt on My Shirt, and it’s different then everything else he’s done. He says it’s his favorite, and also the scariest thing he’s accomplished. He sat down to right and figured it’d be easy - after three days, he realized it was the hardest thing ever! He explains the meaning behind the title - when he was a kid, if you finished the day so dirty that your mom insisted on stripping you before you were allowed in the house, you had a GREAT day! He figured every kid likes pretend, loves to play, and has weird relatives and that’s what his book is about.

Always a fan of playing games, Jeff stuck around for a round of Stump the Rach with a Backnobber, Electric Marshmellow Toaster, Fruit Combo Rack, and a Nubrella.

What’s for dinner? A Spring Supper -Broiled Lamb Rib Chops with Salsa Verde.

Everyone knows what a DWTS junky Rachael is, and today she’s got none other then Samantha Harris, one of the hosts, to give us the inside scoop on this season. Rachael says she’s a fan of so many of the stars this season she doesn’t know who to root for. Samantha says that Pricilla Presley looks and dances amazingly, especially for her age. Adam is the ‘every man’, the guys’ guy. Samantha has something nice to say about all of the contestants, of course. There’s talk about Marlee Matlin too, as the season’s first hearing impaired contestant, and Rachael says she might have to go with her for the win.

Something you might not know, but Samantha is a floss freak - flossing while watching TV, all part of the prep that goes into looking fantastic on the red carpet at the Oscars - where she had to sew up the slit in the dress to make it a little less riske.

What would be a segment with a new mom with some dishing about the itty bitty? Samantha’s daughter is now 5 months old, and in discovering her daughter, Jocelyn’s smile she realized she wanted to help those less fortunate kids to enjoy their smiles too. She’s now involved in Operation Smile, an organization that repairs facial disfigurements for children around the world.

Want the look of Rachael’s kitchen? Fun and spunky and great for the kids too? Evette Rios is on the job to help a family achieve just that. Todd and Laura want a place for the whole family - she hated her boring kitchen, and Evette helps them “Rachael-ize” on a budget! Black and white checkered tile from Home Depot liven up the floor, a magnetic primer with chalkboard paint on top turns one wall into a multi-purpose delight, then small touches liven it up even farther, with purchases from HomeGoods. Don’t forget the countertops - with a secret weapon, the DVD called Countertop Transfauxmations, which teaches ways to make your countertop look brand new. Fridge magnets of the ULTIMATE style change the look and color of the boring white fridge, some graphics on the dishwasher to add color splashes, and Laura loves it - she’s ready to spread the EVOO around with abandon. Click here for some more tips from Evette.

Don’t forget to hit the giveaway button for a chance to win a set of Rachael’s pots and pans for your own kitchen!

Next up, Rachael calls on a pet therapist, Sonya Fitzpatrick who talks to animals and “hears what they’re saying back. Not verbally, but with feelings, emotions, senses, pictures and telepathically.” Okay. She tries to help three pet owners, one with a shy dog, who Sonya says is missing a friend, saw a lot of dogs coming and going as they worked with their rescue dogs, and fears she will have to leave too. Potatoes the cat is very mischievous, knocking things over, stealing jewelry and not using the litter box. Sonya says its because they use a disinfectant to clean the littler box. Last but not least, Mickey the jealous parrot doesn’t like the woman of the house much. Sonya says that parrots are like that and will often see their human as their mate and she considers Candy a rival - she suggests that she talk to her sternly, like a parent, and don’t take it personally.

(…as for me, I think this is probably the most ridiculous segment ever…)

And we end the show with a slower cooked Coq au Vin - shocking, I know!

Only two new shows this week - Monday and Tuesday. The original recaps of W/T/F are linked as available!

Monday
Dancing with the Stars Scoop - New

Want to know who’s got the edge this season on Dancing with the Stars? Host Samantha Harris is breaking it all down! Then, meet a woman who says she can communicate with animals, and see what happens when we put her to the test. Plus, Evette’s incredible (and budget-friendly!) makeover for a family that wants their kitchen to look just like Rachael’s.

Tuesday
April Fool’s Surprises - New

It’s April Fool’s Day so get ready for an hour of the unexpected! First up, Jarod Miller is back with jaw-dropping animals … and wait until you see his idea of a practical joke! Next, a hilarious star drops in for a round of celebrity “Stump the Rach,” and for dinner there’s no foolin’ that it’s the perfect spring meal.

Wednesday
The Rock

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is showing his softer side when he sits down to talk about becoming a father. Then, do you love designer jeans but don’t want to spend the money? Gretta is showing you how to get the season’s hottest looks for less. Plus, a takeout style dinner that’ll be done quicker than the delivery guy could make it over!

Thursday
30 Rock’s Back!

The hit show returns next week, but we have Tina Fey right now! She’s sharing stories from the show, reminiscing about her SNL days, and bragging about her 2-year-old’s artistic masterpieces! Then, is your struggle to look young getting old? Our beauty pro has five easy makeup tricks that can take years off your face.

Friday
Nicollette Sheridan

The sexy Desperate Housewives star has the scoop on her co-stars and her life at home with fiancé Michael Bolton. Plus, Lara Spencer has the latest celebrity Dish, and Rachael has a classic German meal with a smokey new twist!

Today we start with Rachael crawling in the back window of her set after a wave, and bumping her head. She laughs and says she didn’t think she had that much flexibility left, and then moves into talking about how easily someone can break into your house - even if you think you’ve taken enough precautions.

Former Jewel thief Walter Shaw is on the show to talk about home safety which he now teaches after 20 years of being on the wrong side of the efforts. A reader, Erica, allowed them to come in and set up cameras, and she swore there was no way someone could break into the master bedroom while she was downstairs with her family for dinner - 15 people were right under the room in question. The video, of course, shows that Shaw used Erica’s ladder to climb through a window and raid her bedroom, making off with jewelry, passports and social security cards. He made it inside and out in just 8 minutes, and called it “a piece of cake” and that there was “nothing to it”.

Erica was shocked, though relieved it wasn’t a real robbery, and glad she could help teach her family the lesson about safety. Through a very long segment where Rachael kept things light, there were some good tips to help protecting your family:

* Keep the window alarms on at all times - even when you are home.
* Choose clever hiding places for valuables. Five key areas are usually targeted - between the mattresses, the night stand, the bathroom, the vanity, the closet - so pick other places.
* Wire the floor of your bedroom closet with silent alarms
* Place heat sensors outside of the house to trigger lights.
* Consider smaller dogs as watch dogs - they’re yappers and hard to catch. They’re the most annoying.
* Lock the shed and the garage, and make sure your ladder is chained to stop a burgler from using it.
*The most important tip is to keep your mouth shut - don’t tell people of your new, expensive, possessions. There’s no reason to tell your stylist that your husband just bought you a diamond necklace. Don’t advertise.

You can hit the giveaway button down there, and win Walter’s book, where he talks about all this and more about his experiences. Even as light as the conversation was kept, remember that being burglarized is no joke, and very invasive as well as potentially dangerous.

Next up, Skeet Uprich is in the house, talking about being the town sheriff in Jericho (which we all know has recently been cancelled, though hadn’t been at time of taping, apparently.). They talk about the cultlike following of the show, and Skeet says it’s pretty humbling and great to be a part of something like that. It’s the first time in 26 years that a show has been brought back from the dead.

Skeet talks about being a dad to twins, and says it’s the best of life. He calls them an old married couple, very alike in ways, different in others. They have each other’s backs, but are the first to turn each other in. He loves the experience of being a dad, and he’s started taking cooking classes with his kids. They end the segment by doing some skeet shooting on a WII where they both did pretty awful, but Rachael came out on top by a score of 17-2.

To be honest, this is one of the shortest, and disappointing, TV star interviews ever - what’s with that?!

Next up, two moms who document their crusade to improve school lunches in a film called Two Angry Moms. Independent filmmaker Amy Kalafa teamed up with Susan Rubin to document how schools need to improve their lunches and how some have taken steps to offer healthier choices for kids. They’re even offering free teleclass, School Food 101. For more tips on what to be aware of and some tips - check out the Better School Food website.

So, what’s for dinner? Pork Chops in Tangy Fire-Roasted Tomato Sauce with Bacon-Pea Polenta.

PS - sorry it’s been so long and slow in the recaps lately - between show repeats, and the business that comes with hamster watching over at Big Brother Craze, I’ve been swamped! I’m doing my best though!