Rachael Ray All Day

Rachael Ray at Women's Health Symposium

2010-11-08T06:19:00.000-06:00

Rachael Ray is the Keynote Speaker for the Virtua’s Women’s Health Symposium being held on November 13, 2010, in Philadelphia. Tickets are $50 and here's a little bit more detail about the event:

It’s the women’s health event of the year! TV talk show host and bestselling cookbook author Rachael Ray will be the keynote speaker for Virtua's Sixth Annual Womens Health Symposium. The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 13, 8 am, at the Pennsylvania Convention in Center City Philadelphia.

It’s a day to celebrate the health and wellness of women.

Registration is only $50 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, gift bag and other great giveaways throughout the day. Breakout sessions, health screenings, demonstrations, retail products from vir tύ and more will also be offered. Don’t miss the highlight of the day as Rachael Ray speaks about her life, career and healthy living.

Tickets are selling fast; seating is limited. Register online today!

For more information about the symposium, including schedule, directions, parking, public transportation and registration, visit www.virtua.org/women.

Rachael's Book Signing Tour

2010-10-21T06:21:00.000-05:00

You can get all the details of the book signing tour for Rachael Ray's new cookbook, Look and Cook, over at Book Signing Central. You are lucky if you live in any of these spots! Hopefully more dates will be announced soon. If they are, I will update this post.

11/5/10 Noon at Borders Books – Post Road. Fairfield, CT.

11/6/10 1:00 PM at Borders Books – Commons Way. Bridgewater, NJ.

11/15/10 6:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Union Square. New York, NY.

12/15/10 7:00 PM at Borders Books – Preston Road. Dallas, TX.

12/17/10 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Peachtree Road NE. Atlanta, GA.

Rachael's Food Truck?

2010-09-26T06:23:00.000-05:00

This goes into the - "really, could that be true?" file. According to The National Enquirer (hey, they get lots of political stories right, cough, John Edwards, cough), Rachael Ray is starting a gourmet food truck business in major cities like LA, Chicago, and New York.

What, no Sacramento, Rach? I'll keep an eye out for any more on this rumor, just like I do for stories about the burger joint that Rachael Ray talked about opening awhile ago.

I think Rachael's food would be a great success in the food truck format - she could easily come up with recipes that are quick to make (duh) and eat on the go.

Texas Turkey Chili

2010-06-28T06:24:00.000-05:00

Summer is a great time to bust out some chili recipes. I'd recommend Texas Turkey Chili by Ashley Moore in Every Day with Rachael Ray. I also have about 8 boxes of cornbread that I got for super cheap, so I'm looking for cornbread-friendly recipes like this one!

This recipe is a keeper because it was yummy, cheap, and easy peasy to make. Next time I think I'd add some cheese on top and eat it with corn chips or tortilla chips instead of the cornbread. I just like a little crunchy something with my chili.

Here's the recipe with my comments in brackets:

4 Servings
Prep 10 min
Cook 25 min

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 bell pepper, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon chili powder
3/4 pound ground turkey [I have to buy at least 1 pound of ground turkey at my store because of how it is packaged, so that's what I used.]
Salt and pepper
One 14.5-ounce can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
One 12-ounce bottle beer [Corona works well, but I think you can use whatever you have.]
One 15.5-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed

In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Set aside 2 tablespoons chopped bell pepper and add the remaining bell pepper and the onion to the Dutch oven; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and chili powder. Add the turkey, season with salt and cook, breaking it up and stirring to combine, 3 to 4 minutes.

Pour in the crushed tomatoes and beer, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add the kidney beans and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Serve in bowls, topped with the reserved bell pepper.

Rachael's Creole Meatloaves

2010-04-28T06:26:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to sneak in a few more recipes made in the hot oven before the Summer hits here in Northern California. (I live near Sacramento, where it gets unbelievably hot, so my oven gets its own little summer vacation.) It was cold and rainy this week, so Creole Meatloaves with Trinity Gravy hit the spot.

If you think you don't like meatloaf, you have to give it a second chance with this one. You not only get the flavorful meatloaf itself, but you get a crazy yummy sauce filled with veggie on top. The sweet potatoes are so simple, but perfect with the spicy meatoaf and veggies. Darcy absolutely loved this meal and thought it was fun to eat orange stuff, so there you go.

The list of ingredients looks long, but you probably have lots of it on hand already and even if you don't, there's nothing here that will break the bank. Just a warning - this is not a 30 minute meal. The meatloaves go in the oven for 35-40 minutes, so budget close to an hour for this one. Here's the recipe with my comments in brackets.

2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
Salt
1 cup buttermilk [I had no idea, but Rach says buttermilk is actually very low fat.]
EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 tablespoon plus more for drizzling
1 large red or yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 pounds ground pork [This is the only expensive part of the meal. I'm trying hard to buy meat on sale and store it in the freezer.]
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
Black pepper
1/4 cup grainy mustard
1 egg
1/2 cup breadcrumbs, a couple of handfuls [I've been making my own breadcrumbs, thanks to encouragement from Rachael Ray! Hey, any savings helps, right?]
2 tablespoons butter
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons flour
2 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce, depending on how spicy you like it
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
4 to 5 scallions, sliced on bias, for garnish

Yields: 4-6 servings

[I did this first step after I put the meatloaves in the oven. Otherwise, the potatoes will sit there for 40 minutes. So, the first step was preheating the oven to 375.] Cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil, season with salt and cook to tender, 12-15 minutes. When potatoes are ready, drain and return to hot pot, mash with buttermilk to the desired consistency. Then, preheat the oven to 375°F.

Heat 1 tablespoon EVOO in medium skillet over medium heat and add 1/4 of the onions and half the garlic to pan and cook to soften, 5-6 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and cool. To cool onions add pork, a palmful of paprika, thyme, salt and pepper, mustard, egg and breadcrumbs. Mix to combine and form 4 laves 2 inches thick, drizzle liberally with EVOO and arrange on parchment lined baking sheet and roast 35-40 minutes until firm and golden.

To the same skillet, add butter and melt, add remaining onions and garlic, celery, pepper, salt and pepper and cook to soften 5-6 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over the pan and stir a minute more. Stir in stock then hot sauce, thicken over medium low heat a couple of minutes then turn heat to lowest setting to keep warm.

Rachael's at Jackson, Mississippi

2010-02-24T06:27:00.000-06:00

You folks in Jackson, Mississippi are lucky! According to the local paper, Rachael Ray will make an appearance at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on April 10 at 1 and 6 p.m. The shows will "feature cooking, personal stories and healthy-living tips — focusing on helping parents and children develop a healthy relationship with food." Ticket prices start at $19.50 ($5 off if you mention "BankPlus").

Here's what Rach had to say about the appearance:

“I am thrilled to be visiting Mississippi to help get kids and parents excited about the food they eat while embracing a healthier lifestyle,” said Ray. “Growing up, my family had a very positive relationship with food and cooking and that relationship helped shape my lifestyle and businesses.

“I hope that I can pass on my experiences with food and that they will inspire others to make better choices about the food they eat."

Rachael's Christmas Menu

2009-12-20T06:31:00.000-06:00

I didn't get to cook Thanksgiving this year, but it will definitely be a Rachael Ray Christmas in our house! I did a fresh ham last year and I'm thinking I'll try it again, since it was such a hit. Plus, I just can't eat two big turkey dinners in the course of a month. I'm a little crazy for variety, what can I say?

So, Uncle Scott is bringing his famous potato gratin and since there will only be 4.5 of us, I'm thinking I probably only need a couple more side dishes? I'm tempted to make Apple and Onion Stuffin Muffins, but I really think that would be too much food (my fridge is only so big, people).

Roasted Fresh Ham with Cider Glaze
Cider Sweet Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Potato Gratin
Rolls

Grandma's bringing a relish dish and dessert, so we are golden! Have you included any Rachael Ray recipes on your menu this year?

September 2009 Issue

2009-09-20T06:33:00.000-05:00

You know, some magazines lose their novelty and just get boring year after year. I have to say that Rachael Ray's magazine, Everyday With Rachael Ray, is only getting better. My only problem with the September issue was the challenge of choosing which recipes to make first. Also, have you checked out their website lately? It's only becoming more interactive.

In the 30 minute meals section, you'll find: Bistecca alla Puttanesca, Cobb Clubs, Cordon Bleu Clubs, Crab-and-Corn Ribbon Pasta, Ginger BBQ Pork or Chicken Stir-Fry, Halibut Saltimbocca with Lemon Butter Orzo, Monte Cristo-Style Croque Monsieur, Pizza Crudo, Pulled Chicken Suiza Sammies, and Ratatouille Grilled Panini.

The $10 Spot has become a frequent source of recipes for me lately. This month's issue includes recipes for Kale and Mini Meatballs, Linguine with Salsa Verde, Wild Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms and Pecans, Curried Chicken-and-Cider Soup, and Pan-Fried Pork Salad with Pickled Carrots and Radishes. Those last two are definitely going on my list (see the left sidebar, where the list has, not surprisingly, grown out of control).

If you are in the mood for a sandwich, you're in luck. This issue gussies up some basic sandwich ideas to create Open-Faced Ricotta-and-Hazlenut Butter Sanwiches, Knife-and-Fork Steak-and-Radicchio Sandwiches, Skirt Steak Sandwiches, and Mexican Red Snapper Sandwiches.

New Publications

2009-06-10T06:33:00.000-05:00

An ERR reader was kind enough to point out to me that there are two new publications from Rachael Ray coming soon! The first is Make Your Own Take-Out Deck: More than 50 M.Y.O.T.O. Recipes. This one will be published on August 25, 2009, but there isn't a description yet. It looks like super cute recipe cards devoted entirely to MYOTO meals. The recipes show in the pictures on Amazon are recipes I've seen before. So, this looks like a collection of existing recipes to put a bunch of MYOTO options all in one place.

Maybe this will be part of a series of collections of recipe cards? Pretty good idea, but what do I do with the cards? Maybe you store them in the box they arrived in? I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Next up is Rachael Ray's Book of Ten. The only information on this book is that it is due to release in November, is 400 pages long, and has a foreward written by Rachael's husband. Could this be the mystery memoir that we heard about almost a year ago? Four hundred pages seem awfully long for a cookbook.... Even BOB is only 360 pages long and he's Rachael's largest cookbook to date. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

The SXSW Party

2009-03-24T06:34:00.000-05:00

Rachael Ray's SXSW party in Austin, Texas, took place on Saturday and a whole bunch of bloggers have weighed in on their thoughts about the event. The reviews of the food sound mixed, but I'm sure quite a few reviewers may have been a little biased!

I will definitely try the mac and cheese that tastes like a jalapeno popper, but I can't find the recipe anywhere. It seems like it should be here, but there's only the recipe for last year's mac and cheese. Hopefully it will show up somewhere in the future. In the meantime, I'll try the Smoky Chipotle and Black Bean Chilaquiles, since chilaquiles are one of my favorite foods on the planet.

Here are a few of the best posts I found out there about Rachael's party. Many of them have some fun video and photographs:

Addie Broyles of La Vie Dansante posted a video of her interview with Rachael.
Entertainment Weekly (has some great photographs, too)
An AP story, which reveals that Rachael's friends give her CDs to listen to without telling her what's on them, then she picks the bands from there.
A San Antonio newspaper offers the basics.
Rockdirt has some video of the performance by The Hold Steady.
Craig Hlavaty of Houston Press Blogs offers a short recap.
People magazine talks to Rachael about her party and how she lost her voice.

Rachael's New Food Network Show

2008-12-28T06:35:00.000-06:00

Weren't you just thinking that Rachael Ray needed more stuff to do? Yeah, me too. I was thinking she was getting a little lazy lately, what with her Food Network shows, daytime talk show, charity organization, and products. Well, luckily she found something to do - produce a new Food Network show with Daisy Martinez. You'll recognize Daisy from her Mucho Gusto column in Rach's magazine.

Well, to be precise, Broadcasting and Cable informs us that Rach and her husband John, throught their production company called Watch Entertainment, are producing the show. The show is called Viva Daisy! and is starting with a six-episode order. If it's a winner, they will order a full season. It premieres on January 10 at 9:30 a.m. as part of the "In the Kitchen” block of shows. Not surprisingly, "it will feature Martinez revealing tips and tricks for creating Latin-inspired dishes."

Here's what John had to say about the new venture: “Rachael is only one person and there are only so many episodes of TV she can make a year, so we thought a much more efficient way of doing things would be by producing other talent,” he says. And, of course, the Food Network brass had to weigh in. Bob Tuschman, senior VP of programming and production for Food Network said: “Any free seconds she has, she is jotting down ideas on napkins, menus, whatever is around her for editorial, content for style, for evolving the shows, new ideas for specials; her brain never stops working,” he says. “It was a quick and easy leap for her to make; she was already a producer in our mind.”

Finally, here's what Rachael had to say about the new show:

"I called [Food Network President] Brooke Johnson and we had a nice meeting with Bob Tuschman and some of the peeps over there, and we brought Daisy with us and she just lit up the room,” Ray says. “What I love about Daisy is her accessibility factor; if you don't have a Latin-American heritage, it can be very foreign to an American audience. I think she makes it fun and easy.”

I'm looking forward to checking it out. Will you watch?

Happy Birthday!

2008-08-24T06:36:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to Rachael Ray, who turns 40 today! 40 is the new 30, Rach!

This Week on Rachael Ray Show

2008-04-26T06:37:00.000-05:00

Here are the highlights and recipes from Rachael Ray's talk show this week according to her weekly newsletter, with my comments in brackets. For the recipes from this week's shows, check out the shopping list and the recipe archive.

Hey, Can You Cook?! Rachael's cooking competition is back, and this time the stakes are higher, the challenges are tougher, and the cooks will do anything to win! Out of thousands of hopefuls, five will be chosen to go head-to-head ... but only one will be left cooking by Rachael's side.

Mystery Taster. It's our final Mystery Taster of the season, and it's one of Rachael's favorite TV legends! Then, can you imagine raising two girls while your husband runs for president? Michelle Obama can! Rachael gets to know the Obama family, and then she's got a healthy take on mac and cheese that the kids will love.

Maria Shriver and Spectacular Proposals. California's first lady sits down for a candid interview about how she found a whole new life for herself after 50, and then heads to Rachael's kitchen to make Arnold's favorite treat! Plus, a look at the latest trend of producing wedding proposals to the tune of thousands of dollars, and we've got a huge in-studio surprise for an unsuspecting bride-to-be.

Dancing with the Stars' Carrie Ann Inaba. Carrie Ann Inaba is judging our very own "Dancing with the Staff" competition! Meet Rachael's staffers and see who will dance away with the trophy. Then, get ready for summer as Colby reveals his favorite must-have gadgets, and see if Man vs. Wild's Bear Grylls can survive our mom-made challenges.

Rosie O'Donnell. Rosie returns to daytime! For one hour, she steps back into the spotlight and nothing is off limits as she talks about Martha, The View, and even does a special song and dance number with Rach! Plus, don't miss her crash course in crafts and your chance to win a free copy of her new book.