Watching Rachael Ray

Monday’s show got off to a rollicking start with various tuna salad recipes in the kitchen. First Rachael showed us her favorite, French tuna melt, with brie cheese melted over the top. It looked pretty darn good, actually, though I’ve never had brie myself. Must try this! Afterwards, Rachael’s friend stopped by to trade recipes – Jenna Bush! Her tuna salad includes humus and avocado on a tortilla for a tuna wrap. Eh. Whatever floats her boat, I suppose.

Talk went all over the place, from Tuna, Secret Service, if Jenna or her twin were the first first daughter, to her recent engagement. To the story of making a pumpkin pie from scratch and being beat out by a libby pie.

Jenna also talks about her book, Ana’s Story the story of a girl she met while living in Latin America and working for Unicef, and how they inspired her to tell their stories of lives lived with AIDS and in poverty, yet how they still have such a zest for life. It is not a sickness, one child told her, it is her life. Included in the book are ways for everyone to help, especially children, and Jenna urges us to let the kids trick or treat for Unicef this year.

Then, some of the cutest kids ever joined Rachael on stage, where Trey Laird from GAP announced the nation wide search for the cutest baby and kid in America for their next ad campaign. The kids totally upstaged Rachael – it was too cute! The winners will be announced on the show in January, and they are looking for entrants now! I’m so glad I don’t have to judge – those kids were SERIOUSLY cute, and I know it’d get only harder with every entrant!

And the cuteness just didn’t stop! Two year old Lily showed her geography skills and earned her family a trip to Hawaii for being the cutest smart little girl on the stage!

Then the giveaway! Oreck will donate $50 for every pink vacuum bought to fight breast cancer, and every one in the audience got one! I’ve never seen so many women excited about vacuuming – cept maybe on Oprah. Her protégée is doing well.

What’s for dinner? French Dip Soup. This one is a must try for the Lessa Household!