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
Last night I made a big stew for supper and knew exactly what I wanted to go with it: Buttermilk Cornbread.
