Bobby Flay

Clever am I.  Clever I am. Okay, well maybe just this once. 

For the first time I can recall I actually “called” the final four on a realtiy show - right from the start.  On the Food Network’s delectable show, The Next Food Network Star, I picked what I thought would be the final four on the first episode.  As the season went along, I grew even more sure of my picks.  The thing was, until  last night, I couldn’t figure out who the top three would be after that.  

Lovely Lisa and Adam been my favorites since day 1.  They have a cool kind of chemistry. I could see them going head to head in some sort of a Food TV series. I wouldn’t miss an episode. Love them.

I like that Adam’s kind of in his own little world. As someone who, long ago, bought similar real estate, I know where he’s coming from. When the judges commented that he didn’t even look at the reporter during the Throwdown challenge, I thought it was all over but the crying. I told my cat, “He’s cooking!” But as she pointed out, to be a Food Network Star, you have to cook and socialize.

She’s always right.

I also sweated when Paula called out Lisa’s Mac and Cheese. If there’s something we southerners know, it’s Mac and Cheese - so if Paula didn’t like it, my girl Lisa must’ve made some crummy stuff. Sigh. Lisa rebounded nicely, though, and I’m sure the next time she meets Macaroni and Cheese in the kitchen, she’ll whip it into shape.

She’s just so fresh, unique, and fun to watch She also has a wealth of knowledge about food and cooking.  I honestly could never get tired of watching her.  The only thing is, right down to the Dora the Explorer haircut and mischievous eyebrows, she reminds me of a little girl I used to babysit years ago.  Unlike Lisa, though, I quickly got tired of watching her!  M-E-A-N.  Adorable, beautiful little girl - looked like an angel.  But… M-E-A-N. One time her grandmother (who I loved) brought her over and she had her in the cutest little yellow raincoat. She had on little orange duck boots and was carrying a little brown teddy bear. I thought, “She’s one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. Awwww.” Then when the grandmother left, down went the bear, off came the raincoat and out came the mean. The awwww gave way to auggghhh. M-E-A-N.

I think Bobby Flay is perfect for this type of show.  He’s better with the contestants and in front of the camera than most reality show hosts on network television.  Also, how great is Susie Fogelson?! She should spend a lot more time in front of cameras than behind them or off to the side. She’s brilliant and has a fantastic personality and camera presence. The same can be said for Bob Tuschman. The three of them are what make this series so addictive.

Anyway, this has been an especially great season.  It helps when you have a couple of favorites.  Like Season 2 with Guy - My pick went all the way and look at him now.  Mr. Big Shot on Food TV with two shows.  He’s proven to be as big a spark as we all knew he would be.  When you combine a great personality with a big ol’ dose of individuality and good old fashioned know how, you usually come up a winner.

Speaking of winners, there are other chefs I never tire of watching.  A few of them are serving up great shows, themselves, today.  Check your local listings for the times, of course… just don’t miss the episodes below.

Emeril Live (remember, he’s doing his thing, via reruns, in the afternoon now): On an episode titled Southern Comfort, Emeril will be making - Pan-Fried Catfish Fingers with Lemony Tartar Sauce and Hushpuppies, Sweet Potato Pie, Country Fried Steak with White Gravy, and Sylvia’s Red Velvet Cake. I’m dying a little, here.

Tyler’s Ultimate - On “Ultimate Meatloaf,” Tyler’s making Meatloaf with Tomato Relish, Velvety Mashed Potatoes, and Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Almonds. How extra incredible does Meatloaf with Tomato Relish sound?

Good Eats - Alton has two shows that can’t be missed tonight. Overachiever, much? The first one is all about meatballs and features Swedish Meatballs. The second one is all about dips (Guacamole, Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip, and an Onion Dip from Scratch). I only listed three of the dips he’ll make because the fourth one’s, brace yourself, Chicken Liver Mousse. I didn’t want to list it amongst the other three because, frankly, they didn’t do anything to deserve that.

Never. That’s when I’ll eat something with liver in the title. The fourth of Never. That’s when I’ll make something that would involve me looking at, smelling, or getting anywhere near liver.

We’ve got to end this on a good note, and since liver doesn’t know any good notes, I’d better tell you about one of the other “Can’t Miss” episodes today/tonight. I saved this one for last because of the whole “Joi’s obsessed with Buttermilk” thing.  On today’s Barefoot Contessa (the episode’s titled “Lunch for the Boys”) , she’ll make Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes. As if that wouldn’t justify a stand alone episode, she’s also making a Brownie Tart, Brussels Sprouts Lardons, and Individual Meatloaves. Make no mistake about it, though the star of the show’s the Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes.

Food Tv.com (a.k.a. Food Network.com) has a delicious section filled with the most amazing Memorial Day recipes you could hope for.  But don’t take my foodaholic word for it, see for yourself.   Be warned, though, if you’re on a tight grocery budget (Aren’t we all these days?), you’ll be extremely tempted to throw the budget out the door.  I honestly want to make about 20 different recipes right now!

My printer’s trying to catch its breath and my own budget’s scratching its head, wondering if it ever really had a chance.  To answer its question, “No.  Not really.”

Some of the recipes you’ll want to seek out first:

Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad

Coconut Lime Pudding Cake

Grilled Bread

Summer Pudding

Blackberry Lemonade

Blueberry Lemonade

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Grilled Mushroom Vinaigrette

Zesty Grilled Tilapia

Crab Cake Burgers

Mini Chipotle Burgers with Fire-Roasted Garlic Ketchup (!!!!!)

Mini Chipotle Burgers with Fire-Roasted Garlic Ketchup.  I just had to fixate on it a little longer.

There are a few episodes and recipes that can only be called CAN’T MISS on today’s Food Network. I won’t be able to be pried away from the set during the following shows for the following reasons!

A.M

Boy Meets Grill (Bobby Flay) - Green Rice (Ingredients include: chicken broth or water, roasted poblano peppers, stems, 1 roasted jalapeno pepper, cilantro, Kosher salt, vegetable oil, 1 Spanish onion, 4 garlic cloves, peeled and 1-1/4 cups long-grain rice.)

P.M.

Tyler’s Ultimate - Roast Turkey, Avocado and Bacon Sandwich (Ingredients include: thyme, tarragon, unsalted butter, turkey breast, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, bread, fontina cheese, avocado, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, maple bacon, lettuce, and butter.)

Good Eats - French Toast (Alton begins with a custard mixture of half-and-half, eggs, and honey - I’m already drooling!)

A Food Network show I’ve fallen hard for is Ultimate Recipe Showdown - great stuff. Tonight’s episode (after back to back Good Eats - always fun!) will focus on Cookie Recipes….also always fun! See the sidebar to the left for the cookies that’ll be made. I’ll be getting all kinds of familiar with the Pineapple Cheesecake Bar and Radical Rob’s Chocolate Chip Cookies recipes soon. I’ll let you know how great they are.

Today’s Food Network line-up makes my Kentuckian heart skip a couple thousand beats. Yeah, that good.

First of all, early this morning on Boy Meets Grill, Fried Chicken is the star of the show. Sign me up for any show where Fried Chicken’s center stage!

On Everyday Italian (the 4:30 pm episode), Giada will make pancakes with ricotta. I love pancakes almost as much as fried chicken, so I’m completely on board for that. Also, I love cooking with ricotta - whether it’s lasagna, manicotti, or stuffed pasta shells…it’s one of the most agreeable cheeses in the world. I can’t wait to see how she uses it with pancakes!

Immediately after this Everyday Italian, the Barefoot Contessa has an amazing sounding episode featuring Mac and Cheese, Peach Raspberry Shortcakes, and Radishes with Butter and Salt. Talk about beckoning to Spring.

As if that weren’t enough, Rachael Ray is even dedicating one of her 30 Minute Meals episodes to Bluegrass Burgers today. She’ll be making Kentucky Burgoo Burgers and Southern Succotash and Julip Sweet Tea. On the 30 Minute Meals right after the Kentucky one, she’ll feature Mac and Jack Salad and BBQ Chicken Burgers with Slaw - in her own words, “Yum-o!”

On Throwdown with Bobby Flay there’ll be more…. (wait for it, wait for it)…. Fried Chicken! The recipes will be Hattie’s Southern Fried Chicken, Fried Chicken with Ancho Honey, and Sauteed Swiss Chard with Red Onion and Serrano Chile Vinegar.

The 11:00 Good Eats ALSO features Fried Chicken! In between Bobby and Alton are my much-beloved and anticipated Ace of Cakes episodes. This is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable shows on the Food Network, I just wish there was a new episode every night. These lovable and talented people are the most entertaining people on television.

Great day on the Food Network - don’t miss a minute!

Jamie Oliver, Paula Deen, Sandra Lee, and Emeril were all featured in a recent issue of Life and Style magazine (July9, 2007 issue).

I really miss Jamie on Food TV - he was one of the more entertaining celeb chefs PLUS his food always looked amazing. If you ever get a chance to grab any of his cookbooks, they’re about as good as it gets. His recipe style reminds me a lot of Tyler Florence - another celeb chef I wish were on more.

I’d love to see the Food Network make room in their nightly line-up for more Tyler and Jamie….without cutting out any Alton, Ace, or Emeril, of course! I love Rachael, but how many reruns of $40 a Day can we watch without wanting to pull our hair out - 40 of them, one for each dollar. I’m also not totally in love with Unwrapped or the Road Show series.

Nothing at all against any of the hosts, I’d just rather see food being made than eaten.

Click each thumbnail to see the larger image.

Have you caught any of the great grilling shows on the Food Network? There have been some amazing recipes, techniques, and tips. From Bobby Flay to Paula Deen, from Tyler Florence to Emeril, and From Rachael Ray to Alton Brown - they’re masters of the grill as much as the kitchen.

One of the recipes on today’s shows (Paua’s Home Cooking) that caught my eye…or tongue, I guess…is for Lime Chicken and Shrimp Kabobs. How amazing does that sound? I see it in my near future. Rachael Ray, on one of her 30 Minute Meals is also making something that sounds like a winner: Roasted Asparagus Tips. YUM-O, indeed!

Robin Miller - a lesser-known Food TV personality, but as good as any of the super stars - is making several intriguing things on her afternoon show: One is a Quick Fix Avocado Salad and the other is Chai Tea Smoothies. I have an appointment with each.

Not to be out done by the ladies, Bobby Flay (on the Food Network BBQ special tonight) will feature delicious-sounding Green Chile Cheeseburgers. The Green Chile sauce on these guys sounds to die for. (Eat, THEN die for them.)

Here’s a reason for Bobby Flay fans to smile ear to ear and chin to forehead: There’ll be back to back “Throwdowns” tonight. The first one is called “Wedding Cake” and features a new Wedding Cake Designer from Brooklyn. The recipes sound like something out of one of my most delicious dreams: Cinnamon Vanilla Wedding Cake with Mexican Hot Chocolate Buttercream and Chocolate Blackout Wedding Cake with Coconut Buttercream. Are you kidding me?!

The second Throwdown is a favorite of mine (It’s a Kentucky thing, or rather thang). The episode’s titled “Breakfast” and takes place in a beautiful, off beat city we used to live in: Louisville, Kentucky. One of the recipes featured on the show is Kentucky Farmhouse Scramble. For some reason, we Kentuckians love to get all kick-y with our eggs - we’re liable to try just about anything in there!

One of my favorite ways to fix scrambled eggs is to include chopped green onions, a chopped Roma tomato, crumbled, cooked bacon, good shredded cheddar cheese, and pepper. It’s absolutely out of this world. In fact, I find myself wanting some pretty badly right about now.

Below is the Kentucky Farmouse Scramble Recipe featured on the show:

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
8 ounces diced boneless country ham
1/2 cup diced roasted red peppers
12 large eggs, whisked until well blended
4 ounces grated Jarlsberg cheese (recommended: Kenny’s Country)
Salt and pepper

Heat a nonstick 12-inch saute pan over medium heat. Add butter and oil and swirl around the pan until melted. Add the country ham and saute until it begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Turn heat to low. Stir in roasted red peppers and beaten eggs. After the eggs begin to set, stir slowly from edge to edge with a heat-resistant rubber spatula until large curds form. This will take 5 minutes or so. When eggs are still moist and slightly runny, fold in the grated cheese and season with salt and pepper.
Remove the pan from the heat and serve with fried green tomatoes and buttermilk biscuits with sorghum butter.

Click HERE for the rest of the recipes from this episode.

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 eggs
2/3 cup oatmeal
1 package dry onion soup mix
1/2 cup ketchup

Set aside 2 Tablespoons of the ketchup.

Combine beef, eggs, oats, soup mix, and remaining ketchup. Shape into a round loaf for crock pot or an oblong loaf for the oven.

Place inside your crock pot, top with remaining ketchup, cover and cook on low for 8 - 10 hours or on high for 6 - 8. If you’re baking it in the oven, place the loaf into a suitable loaf pan, top with the reamining ketchup and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. (If it appears to be browning too fast, cover it with foil.)

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I absolutely, positively love good meatloaf. I try out just about every recipe that I ever come across, but the best one I’ve ever had was the one on the back of a Heinz 57 Steak bottle. Then again, I love that stuff so much I dip fries in it, put it on burgers, dip hot dogs in it….everything short of drinking it from the bottle.

On Throwdown with Bobby Flay tonight, he’ll be making meatloaf. So, of course, I’ll be there watching every minute - wishing I had some. The main thing about meatloaf is that you have to make sure you leave some for the next day. Meatloaf sandwiches with Heinz 57….or ketchup for you non 57 addicts….is the stuff the gods feast on.

It’s what they have with their coffee.

If you’re a Bobby Flay fan (which I know we all are!), we just got handed a late Christmas present - all wrapped up by the Food Network.

Bobby Flay is basically taking over the Food Network today! First of all, he’ll have an 8 hour marathon with “Throwdown With Bobby Flay,” then there’ll be three episodes of “Iron Chef America” where his skills will reign supreme.

The Throwdown episodes, in order, will be:

Breakfast
Bourbon Ball French Toast
Scrambled Eggs Chiliquiles with Roasted Tomatillo Sauce
White Peach-Bourbon French Toast with White Peach-Pecan Maple Syrup
Kentucky Farmhouse Scramble

Doughnuts
Southern Buttermilk Bourbon Praline Doughnuts
Pacific Northwest Blackberry Filled Doughnuts with White Chocolate Ganache and Toasted Hazelnuts

Ice Cream
Maple Spice Ice Cream
Raspberry Stracciatelle Ice Cream

Wedding Cake
Cinnamon Vanilla Wedding Cake with Mexican Hot Chocolate Buttercream
Chocolate Blackout Wedding Cake with Coconut Buttercream

Cocktails
The Serengeti
Cactus Pear Fizz
Watermelon Martinis
Bobby’s Signature Mojito

BBQ
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter, Fresh Lime and Cotija Cheese
Lobster Claw and Potato Salad with Horseradish-Mustard Dressing
Crunchy 3-Cabbage Slaw
Spice-rubbed Chipotle-Molasses Ribs
Pulled Pork with Black Pepper Vinegar
Sixteen Spice Smoked Chicken
Pulled Pork
Beef Brisket
Butch’s Baked Beans
Banana Cream Pie
BBQ Chicken
The Secret to Cooking Great Ribs

Cheesesteak
Philly Cheese Steak

Pizza
Robiolo Pizza
Grilled Shrimp and Cilantro Pesto Pizza
Award Winning Pizza
Regina Margherita
Roasted Red Pepper-Tomato Pizza with Goat Cheese, Basil and Red Chili Oil
Lemon Pizza

Jerk Chicken
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Caribbean Stuffed Red Snapper
Spicy West Indies Fish
Honey-Grilled Vegetables
Calypso Corn
Rice Salad
Grilled Garlic Bread
Tanzanian Baked Bananas
Strawberry-Lemonade Punch
Grilled Jerk Chicken with Mango Cilantro Salsa
Grilled Jerk Rubbed Chicken with Habanero-Mint Glaze

Jambalaya
Bobby Flay’s Fra Diavolo Jambalaya
Cajun Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Chowder
Bar Americain Sweet Potato Chowder
Lobster and Green Chile Chowder with Roasted Corn-Green Chile Relish
Ben’s Bahamian Monkfish and Eel Chowder

Chili
Cin Chili
Cin Chili Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Cin Chili Puffs
Cin Chili Con Queso
Beef and Black Bean Chili with Toasted Cumin Crema and Avocado Relish
Red Beef Chili
Green Pork Chili

Burgers
Pressed Cuban-Style Burger
Hamburger with Double Cheddar Cheese, Grilled Vidalia Onion and Horseradish Mustard
Jicama Slaw
Mesa Grill’s Southwestern Potato Salad
My Big Fat Greco Inspired Burger
Portuguese Pineapple Picando Burger

Steak
Spanish Spice Rubbed Rib-eye with Sherry Vinegar Steak Sauce
Porterhouse Steak with Fra Diavolo BBQ Sauce and Cherry Peppers in Vinaigrette
Black Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon with Goat Cheese and Roasted Red Pepper-Ancho Salsa

For the Iron Chef America episodes, see the scroller to the right!—–>>>>>

Have a perfect New Year’s Day, and if you make any New Year’s Resolutions - make certain that “Eating right and taking care of myself” is at the top of the list.

I confess, I’ll still feature lots of sweets and goodies, but I plan on having a lot more health-concious recipes this year. I’m adding A LOT more vegetables and fruits into our own kitchen, so I thought I’d try to encourage you to do the same! For yet another reason to eat more fruits and veggies, click HERE.

I hope 2007 is the best year of your life.
Happy New Year!

Joi

While snooping around the Food Network site looking for the re-airing of a particular episode of “Throwdown,” I came across an amazingly delicious-sounding recipe: Cajun Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya. It’s from an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay.

If the picture above keeps looking at me like that, I’m going to have to make this for supper. Check the recipe out and see if you don’t agree that we have a winner here! Served with some fried cornbread…..man, that sounds good.

By the way, have you caught any of the Throwdown episodes? I’ve always watched the shows Bobby Flay has been on, but this seems (to me anyway) to be the first one to really accentuate his personality. I think he was meant to do this exact sort of show - it’s become one of the shows I look forward to the most.

Joi