by Joi on January 18, 2010
My family and I are huge Guye Fieri fans. We all love the Food Network and have for years and years. Remember Gordon Elliott’s Door-Knock Dinners, the original Iron Chef, East Meets West With Ming Tsai, The Galloping Gourmet (great fun!), From My Garden with Curtis Aikens (Great food, great recipes, great personality – where oh where did Curtis and his garden go?!), Grillin’ and Chillin, Molto Mario, Nigella Bites, Too Hot Tamales, Ready-Set-Cook!, The Naked Chef, Pick of the Day, Food 911, and Emeril Live…. Live (one of the best shows ever – cooking or non-cooking)? Remember when $40 a Day and 30 Minute Meals were fresh off the stove? Remember when you first laid eyes on Alton Brown?!
Remember the first time Paula Deen charmed us all?! She still charms the paintings off the wall and Rachael Ray is still a breath of fresh air. And Alton Brown? What can you say about him? He could read a Physics book out loud and make it fascinating. He’d also make it understandable!
Uh, yeah… I’ve been a major fan of the Food Network for some time now. Over the past 5 or 6 years, unfortunately, some favorites have disappeared. Some chefs have wanted to ditch this or that show and move in a different direction, some have just fallen off the face of the earth – that sort of inevitable thing. Many have taken on new responsibilities and new shows and their original ones kind of fell by the roadside. However, the Food Network is extremely clever and darned good at what they do. They brought along Ace of Cakes and Guy Fieri and… in the opinion of this Food Network fanatic… saved the network. Most of the episodes on the Food Network are still can’t-miss television, even if we do miss a lot of the greatness from the past.
Guy Fieri is greatness in the present. He has a certain charisma, likability, and over-the-top charm that the Food Network needed JUST when it needed it the most. I’ll just be honest, some of the shows were beginning to put me to sleep! And I can’t say that the competitions are my favorite things to watch…. although I did love The Next Food Network Star.
Guy’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives is one of the funnest shows on The Food Network. Guy has a way of bringing out the character in everyone he meets – making them almost as entertaining as he is.
If you’re also a Guy Fieri and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives fan, you’re going to love this: There is a new application dedicated to Diners, Drive-ins and Dives called Triple D App. It’s available on both iPhone and Android platforms. Miss an episode or two? Now you can see them right from your phone. Planning a Diners, Drive-ins and Dives trip of your own? Get a head start and see the menu (if available). Need directions? No problem, there’s a map to guide you on your way!
Come on, could this be any cooler? Click HERE for more information.
Food Network Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Season 1-3
by Joi on December 31, 2009
Are you a cablevision customer? Do you love Food Network? Would you greatly miss Alton, Paula, Rachael, Ace and Guy if they suddenly stopped coming into your living room?
If you’ve answered yes, yes, and you bet I would – it’s time to act before it’s too late.
Food Network may be dropped from your TV lineup. That would mean no more Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, no more Paula Deen, no more Bobby Flay, no Alton Brown, no Rachael Ray and no more Ace or his cakes. Good Lord! I can’t even imagine.
What can you do? Demand that Cablevision keep Food Network on the air by sending an eCard or calling 866-695-BEST. Due to the high volume of calls you may receive a busy signal, just keep trying. You can also send an eCard.
Spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, to your e-mail buddies, and around your neighborhood.
If you rely on Cablevision for your television viewing (at this moment I’m EXTREMELY thankful that I do not), rally the troops and save this wonderful channel. How ridiculous for cablevision to even THINK about ditching The Food Network. I’ll bet a lot of the other ridiculously stupid channels aren’t even being considered.
Speak up and speak out!
For more information and to stay up to date on the situation, check out I Love Food Network.
Wow, a few of my favorite things in the world are colliding: Good Morning America, Recipes, Wolfgang Puck, Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse, Rachael Ray… I’m so there.
ABC News.com is launching a new GMA recipe site. In addition to recipes from the names above, you’ll find quick, affordable meal ideas and recipes, the anchor’s favorite recipes, and how to demos.
See the video below for details.
As you know, I’m a huge, huge fan of the Food Network. Paula Deen, Ace of Cakes, Rachael Ray, Guy, Tyler Florence, Nigella Lawson, Giada, Alton Brown, and on and on. Love them all. I’ve also seen and loved every Search for the Next Food Network Star episode – fascinating!
This is simply a network that is frequently on in our household. I got hooked when they first started rolling and I’ve been delightfully hooked since.
I often get e-mails from people asking what cookbooks and/or advice I’d recommend to cooking newbies – I give the standard advice you’d expect from me:
- Use buttermilk in as many recipes as possible
- Use butter instead of margarine as often as you can.
- Read the recipe through ENTIRELY before beginning.
- Season like you mean it, BUT go easy at first. You can always add more but you can never add less.
- Keep your cleaning tools clean.
- Get creative, don’t fix the same thing over and over again!
- NEVER use instant mashed potatoes, not even as a joke.
- Fall in love with Olive Oil.
- Learn to make homemade bread – especially sourdough.
- Leave the biscuits in the can and the cans on the shelves. Make your own biscuits.
- Take pride in everything you make.
- Experiment with different herbs and spices.
- Rosemary loves chicken.
- Basil loves tomatoes.
- Use fresh ingredients.
- Make meals more special with bright, colorful napkins and beautiful dishes (even if they’re disposable!).
- You don’t have to spend a fortune to fill a belly. Buy in bulk and freeze what you don’t need… until you do need it!
These are the tips I dish out the most often. Sometimes there are extra ones – I guess it depends upon where my brain is at the time. I also list my personal “Must Have” cookbooks (which of course includes the Food Network Favorites
, pictured above) However, I always stress that one of the most important things a new cook can do (and should do) is watch the Food Network religiously.
There are several reasons. For one, the cooks on this network are the best of the best. Bottom line: They know what they’re talking about! Some of my favorite recipes, and the ones I use again and again, are recipes I first saw on the Food Network.
Another reason is this: You’ll pick up on the excitement, fun, and passion for cooking that these cooks have. It’s contagious and you’ll fall in love with cooking again and again and again.
When I first started this recipe blog (as well as the website), I kept a Food Network daily schedule to the side. It became so much work that I stopped doing it. However, it appears that I’m far from the only Food Network addict out there! I’ve gotten so many e-mails from people wanting to have the updates again, that I’m going to start a daily “Today on Food Network” category. Each day, I’ll post what you can watch for on that particular day. They’ll be what I consider the BEST of the day – the episodes and recipes you won’t want to miss.
Today on the Food Network!
Tyler’s Ultimate – Ultimate Sloppy Joes
* Butternut Squash Coleslaw with Honey Goat Cheese Dressing
* Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles
* The Ultimate Sloppy Joes
* Crispy Parmesan Butternut Squash Chips
3:30, 2:30 C
Good Eats – Coconut Cake Revival
* Coconut Cake with 7-Minute Frosting
* Coconut Milk and Cream
* Coconut Extract
8:00 pm, 7:00 C
Good Eats – American Classics: Creole in a Bowl
* Red Beans and Rice
* Pickled Pork
8:30 pm, 7:30 C
Ace of Cakes – Cake-tastrophe
9:30 pm, 8:30 C
by Joi on February 23, 2009
One of my favorite magazines is Everyday With Rachael Ray
. I haven’t missed an issue since I first say Rachael’s beautiful face smiling at me from the magazine rack. I go back and find her each month.
Not only are there wonderful recipes in each issue, there are also articles, reviews, and big beautiful pictures to inspire and motivate you to wax all kinds of brilliant in your own kitchen. I never throw an issue away, either. As a matter of fact, just yesterday I dug out my November 2006 issue for a Green Beans recipe I’m going to make this week. It has bacon, Worcestershire Sauce, dry mustard, jarred roasted red peppers, and Tobasco in it. Can you say Yum-O?! There’s also a Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes recipe in the same issue that I’ll use for the same meal.
I’m not sure why I’ve never gone on and subscribed to the magazine instead of grabbing it in the store each month. I guess its’ a tradition, I dunno. (Everyday With Rachael Ray – click the link and subscribe through Amazon if you want to outsmart me on this one!)
Check out what’s in the March Issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray:
Slow Cookers Making a Come Back – With a flick of the switch you can have easy & delicious family meals
- Turkey Meatballs in Paprika Tomato Sauce
- Chianti-Braised Short Ribs
- Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder
Munch Madness- March madness is the most hyped event of the year for the NCAA, get in the spirit with ultimate game-day dishes
- Cheese-Stuffed Hot Dogs with Spicy Onions
- Black Bean-and-Cheese Chicken Fingers
- Jumbo Shrimp Corn Dogs
$10 Dinners– Inexpensive dinners for a family of 4
- Sweet Potato-and-Ham Fritters ($1.50 per person)
- Cheesy Hash Brown Chili ($2.22 per person)
- Chipotle Pork Quesadillas ($2.19 per person)
- Roasted Garlic-and-Spinach White Pizza ($2.48 per person)
Burger of the Month – This burger exposes the best part of a Southwestern standard
- Beef ‘n’ Bean Burrito Burgers
Snack Attack – Dig into these bite-sized treats that are easy to make and even easier to love
- Spicy-Sweet Asian Nut Mix
- Chocolate-Dipped Kettle Chips
- Buffalo Potato Wedges with Warm Blue Cheese Dip
- Pan-Fried Queso Dundido Dumplings
- Parmesan Icebox Crackers
Lighten-Up– Classic recipes lightened up so they won’t weigh you down, plus send in your recipe and Every Day with Rachael Ray might help slash the calories
*Before: Cal 385, Fat 32g, Sat. Fat 20g, Cholesterol 106mg
*After: Cal 237, Fat 6g, Sat. Fat 3g, Cholesterol 23mg
Tips
- Swap cauliflower puree or zucchini for potatoes.
- Swap whole wheat bread crumbs and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for pastry crust
Sweet Spot – A meal isn’t complete without something sweet!
- Frosted Animal Cookies
- Raspberry-Lemon Meringue Cake
- Crispy Rocky Road Bites
- Root Beer Float Ice Pops
It all sounds delicious. Like everyone else, I’m actively looking for ways to trim the amount of money I spend on groceries, so I really love the $10 Dinners– Inexpensive dinners for a family of 4 - it’s a brilliant and well-timed idea.
Below are two wonderful Everyday with Rachael Ray recipes:
Prep time: 6 minutes Cook time: 6 minutes Makes: 2 to 3 servings
THAI SHRIMP CURRY
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 lb. large shrimp, shelled and deveined
2 cups frozen stir-fry vegetables, thawed
4 tsp. cornstarch
1-1/2 cups COLLEGE INN® Culinary Broth, Thai Coconut Curry
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
Optional garnishes: cilantro and/or fresh basil
Directions:
- Heat oil in large skillet. Add shrimp; stir-fry 2 minutes.
- Add vegetables; stir-fry 2 minutes.
- Dissolve cornstarch in broth; add red pepper flakes. Add to skillet. Cook, stirring, until thickened.
- Serve over noodles or rice and garnish with fresh basil and cilantro, if desired.
GARLIC PESTO PEA HUMMUS
(Packed with protein and a snap to fix.)
1 can (15 oz.) DEL MONTE® 50% Less Salt Sweet Peas, drained
1/4 cup chopped sweet white onion
1 clove garlic
3 Tbsp. pesto
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Combine ingredients in food processor. Process until smooth.
Serve with pita wedges or pita chips.
8 servings
Per serving (8): Calories 25; Protein 1 gm; Carbohydrate 4 gm;
Total fat 0.3 gm (Sat. fat .10 gm); Cholesterol 0.2 mg; Sodium 83 mg;
Fiber 1 gm.
Recipes Courtesy of Everyday With Rachael Ray.
Check it out, the Rachael Ray 2-pc. Berry Paisley Platter and Dip Bowl, Red/ Orange
(above) is as colorful and perky as Rachael Ray, herself, is.
Fresh veggies, fruit slices and even plain old chips would look twice as nice on Rachael’s nine inch paisley-shaped platter! The platter and coordinating bowl hold enough munchies and dip (or salsa) for the whole family. Sturdy melamine is dishwasher-safe.
A sneaky little tip that you didn’t hear from me: Stop by your favorite Authentic Mexican Restaurant (here in Owensboro, Kentucky, mine are Real Hacienda or El Toribio’s on the river) and get an order of chips and salsa AND cheese dip to go. Bring it home, dispose of the evidence a.k.a. the bag/containers. Serve the chips, cheese sauce, and salsa alongside some killer tacos or a taco salad. Served up on gorgeous dishes like the Rachael Ray 2-pc. Berry Paisley Platter and Dip Bowl, Red/ Orange, you’d be the talk of the town…or at least the table.
Okay, changing the pace here for a minute – going from Authentic Mexican food to Mexican-ish food. The next time you go to Taco Bell…don’t deny it, I’ve seen you there….order a hard shell FRESCO taco. They’re, honestly, better than the regular tacos. They seem fresher and, dare I say, more authentic. They’re also healthier. Trust me on this one – I’m addicted to them.
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!
by Joi on February 9, 2008
Rachael Ray 10 PC Gusto-Grip Birch Wood Block Set
If you’re serious about your kitchen and mean business when you’re cooking, you’ll want to add more Rachael Ray products to your collection. Mark my word, if this lady’s name is on it, it’ll be perfectly amazing and amazingly perfect.
Not only are her products of the highest quality, they’re designed by someone who actually cooks (a great deal) and, therefore, understands what products will best serve a cook. She knows what we need to be more efficient, neater, and even speedier. After all, she’s all about the speed, right?!
Furi Gusto-Grip Clean Cut System
I also love the bright, beautiful orange that her products come in. They’re like her personality – cheerful, colorful, and impossible to ignore.
Click through any of the link products in this post to learn more.
The following is a description from the web site about the 10 Piece Rachael Ray Hard Anodized Set
, above.
This cookware set is an exceptional value including all of the pans needed to equip your kitchen with the most used cooking pieces. As the set contains only basic pieces you’ll really use each and every pan! It includes saucepans for whisking a homemade sauce or cooking your morning oatmeal, a big stockpot for soups stews or boiling pasta, and skillets – probably the most used pan in any kitchen that will help you turn out perfect pancakes or a tasty tuna melt.
by Joi on January 31, 2008
Yesterday afternoon, my husband called me while I was in the grocery store getting the ingredients for the Japanese-Style meal I had planned. He asked me what I was making for supper and when I told him, I could tell he was a little disappointed. Nothing against Japanese food, he loves that – but I could tell he had something else on his mind!
He said he thought the Buffalo Chicken Salad we’d seen Rachael make on 30 Minute Meals sounded really good. So….I pulled a rewind – I backtracked and put the other ingredients back in their proper place, then fast forwarded to the ingredients I needed for plan B.
I’m so glad I did! The Buffalo Chicken Salad was beyond amazing – even better than it sounds like it’d be. I plan on making this Yum-O meal regularly. The recipe calls for using ranch dressing and blue cheese crumbles, but my husband just put quality Blue Cheese dressing on his salad. I used only the ranch, because Blue Cheese just isn’t my favorite thing in the world. Our daughters used the crumbles and ranch…so we were all over the map on the toppings.
We all agreed, though, that this was one of the best Food Network recipes we’d tried in a while. It’s amazing!
For our vegetarian daughter, Brittany, I seasoned and cooked up some Morning Star Chik’N Strips in Canola Oil, then added hot sauce to the pan. They tasted really, really, really good. She loved her Vegetarian buffalo chicken salad!
The very next chance you get, you HAVE to try this recipe. It’s very fast and easy, and the taste will blow you away. Just be sure to use Romaine Lettuce, though. Iceberg just wouldn’t be the same.
You WILL NOT be disappointed. Then again, Lady Rachael never disappoints.
Today’s Food Network Line-up is Summerlicious. All the girls are cooking foods that go as well with summertime as a glass of iced lemonade. Paula’s Lime Shrimp Lettuce Wraps, The Barefoot Contessa’s Guacamole Salad, and Rachael’s Devilish Chili-Cheese Dogs will all get a turn in our kitchen and/or grill.
As a Coconut fanatic, I’m also excited about Alton’s Good Eats Tonight: “Coconut Cake Revival.” He’s set to make a Coconut Cake with 7-Minute Frosting , Coconut Milk and Cream, and Coconut Extract.
Paula’s Home Cooking: “Summertime Favorites” – Lime Shrimp Lettuce Wraps,
Strawberry Shortcake,
Almond Broccoli Salad,
Watermelon Punch
Everyday Italian: “Giada’s Summer Entertaining” – Focaccia Lobster Rolls,
Ice Caffe Latte,
Pecorino Crackers,
Avocado and Papaya Salad
Barefoot Contessa: “Girls That Grill” – Blue Cheese Burgers,
Chocolate and Vanilla Sundaes,
East Hampton Clam Chowder,
Guacamole Salad
Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee: “Summer Show” – Sweet and Spicy Slaw,
21 Burger,
Tapioca Cake,
Blu-tini
30 Minute Meals: “Grilled to Perfection” – Flank Steak Pinwheels,
Toasted Hazelnut and Shredded Carrot Salad
30 Minute Meals: “Endless Summer” – Oil and Vinegar Slaw,
Devilish Chili-Cheese Dogs,
Summer-ish Succotash Salad
