Rachael Ray Roundup

This week was filled with more working than cooking, but I did get a chance to try a great budget recipe from Every Day With Rachael Ray. I made Teriyaki Pork-and-Mango Stir-Fry. Darcy snarfed it up, too, so that is a testament to just how great it was.

Here are some Rachael Ray posts from around the blogosphere this week. If you see a post that you think would be good for the Roundup, or you write one yourself, e-mail me (everythingrachaelray at gmail dot com) so I can be sure to include it.

• Amanda at Fake Ginger made French Onion Mac and Cheese from Every Day with Rachael Ray.
• Tracy of The Sustainable Scribe made Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto (check out my review here).
• Looks like Rach went to Sundance this year.
• Scott of Eat with Me adapted Rachael's recipe for Steak & Pepper Hash to make his own Steak & Peppers with Cheddar Mashed Potatoes.
• The Prudent Patron spotlights a great deal on Rachael Ray's magazine.
• Katie of The Cutting Back Kitchen made Mexican Lasagna.
• Robyn at Made in Brooklyn made Raspberry Linzer Danishes.
• Lauren of Thread by Thread made Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli.

Rachael Ray's Top Ten Recipes of the Year

Rachael Ray's talk show revealed the top 10 recipes that were downloaded from its website. There are a couple here that I am going to have to try (and I wondered how they slipped past me in the first place!), including the Buffalo Chicken Dip and the Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese. Here they are!

1. Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese

2. David Garrard's Buffalo Chicken Dip

3. Neapolitan Baked Ziti

4. Chicken Parm Pasta Toss

5. Cheeseburger Chili Mac and Cheese

6. Mandi Forester's White Chicken Chili

7. Gordon Ramsay's Sticky Baked Chicken

8. Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot Pie

9. Cheesy Hash Brown Chili

10. Pesto Presto Italian Flag Chicken

You can check out the 2007 list here.

Cooking on a Budget with Jimmy Kimmel

How did I miss this? Oh, that's right, I don't watch late night tv. (Might have something to do with the small person running around my house all day). Although these days I guess it's been pretty interesting. Why won't someone pay me $30 million not to work? Anyways, check out this segment from Jimmy Kimmel Live where Rachael Ray does a fake segment about cooking on a budget. Pretty funny stuff!

Rachael Ray Roundup

Holy cow it has been crazy here in Northern California. Rain, rain, and more rain. Luckily, that just inspires me to search out some good comfort food recipes! On this week's menu was Fajita Chilaquiles Casserole, Chicken and Spinach Tortilla Bake, and
Braised Short Ribs With Roasted Beets and Creamy Polenta. Look for reviews on them at some point!

Here are some Rachael Ray posts from around the blogosphere this week. If you see a post that you think would be good for the Roundup, or you write one yourself, e-mail me (everythingrachaelray at gmail dot com) so I can be sure to include it.

• Colleen of Slice, Dice, and Dish made Sunny-Side Sausage Fried Rice and Potatoes with Dandelion Greens and Fried Eggs.
• Chandra of My Way Around the Kitchen made Uptown Sweet and Spicy Sausage Hoagies.
• Cooking with Court features a review of Rachael Ray's Grilled Cheese Sammies.
• Lindsey Mae's blog features a good sick day recipe suggestion - Harvest Creamy Corn Soup.
• The cast of Jersey Shore appeared on Rachael Ray's talk show this week and there are tons of articles about it! Here's one.
• Cake Mom is giving away a copy of Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book.
• Rachel of Parton Ponderings made a couple Rachael Ray recipes this week, including a Chicken Broccoli Bowl, Shepherd's Pie, and Mint Molten Lava Cake.

It's a Keeper: Crispy Chinese Lemony Chicken

Here is yet another "get out of your chicken rut" recipes: Crispy Chinese Lemony Chicken. My husband often laments the fact that I hardly ever make the same recipe twice, but I swear I was traumatized as a child by having the same recipes over and over and over and over. I can't walk past Stove Top Stuffing and Shake n Bake boxes in the grocery store without a little shudder. Seriously.

Darcy (who is 21 months now!!!) loves chicken. Or, as she refers to it, bock bock. She'll eat in in just about any form (she even ate Buffalo Chicken Chili last week, since that is one of the recipes I do repeat), so I knew this one would really float her boat. Luckily, all of us loved it. It's not the healthiest Rachael Ray chicken recipe out there but it might be one of the yummiest. With some brown rice and green salad on the side, you raise the health quotient at least a little bit. With so few ingredients, this one is easy on the budget, too. Here's the recipe with my comments in brackets:

1 1/2 cups rice [As noted above, I used brown rice.]
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup unflavored breadcrumbs
Zest and juice of 1 lemon, divided
1 tablespoon (about a 1-inch piece) fresh ginger, finely grated
1 tablespoon (a palmful) sesame seeds
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1/4 cup soy sauce (eyeball it)
2 tablespoons honey
2 scallions, thinly sliced

Place a medium saucepan over medium-high heat with the rice and 3 cups of water. Bring the liquid to a boil then cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until all the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and reserve.

While the rice is simmering, place a large skillet over medium-high heat with 4 turns of the pan of vegetable oil, about 4 tablespoons. In a large, re-sealable plastic bag, mix together the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, ginger, sesame seeds, some salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the bag and toss well to evenly coat the chicken (give each piece a good press with the crumbs to make sure the coating sticks). [This is important! Make sure that stuff is really stuck on there for maximum crispyness.]

Lay the chicken pieces in the hot skillet and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 7-8 minutes (you may have to cook them in batches if the pan isn’t large enough). As the chicken pieces finish, transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate.

When the chicken is almost ready, whisk together the soy sauce, lemon juice and honey with a little splash of water in a small bowl. [I think the dipping was Darcy's favorite part.] Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the scallions.

Serve the chicken with the dipping sauce and rice alongside.

Rachael Ray Roundup

Um, how did it happen that January is halfway over? What? I have lots of great plans for the blog this year, including a redesign. I love my template, but I think it's time for a little freshening up. Is there anything you love or hate about my current template? Any new feature you'd love to see? Do you like Menu Plan Monday? Leave a comment or email me at the address below to let me know.

Here are some Rachael Ray posts from around the blogosphere this week. If you see a post that you think would be good for the Roundup, or you write one yourself, e-mail me (everythingrachaelray at gmail dot com) so I can be sure to include it.

• Kendra at Domestic Princess in Training adapted Rachael's Stuffed Cabbage Stoup.
• Jenni at The Healing Plate adapted Rachael's recipe for Apricot Glazed Chicken with Butternut Squash Risotto and Roasted Broccoli to create Apricot Glazed Salmon with Butternut Squash Risotto and Roasted Asparagus.
• Heather of Kitchen Concoctions made her own version of Why-the-Chicken-Crossed-the-Road Santa Fe Tortilla Soup.
• Hoofer of More Than Just Soup made Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets.
• Rach's Burger Bash at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival is sold out again.
• Faye of Not a Chef But I Can Cook made Rach's Fruit Sponge Cake.
• Amy of the Tri County Record made Rach's Chicken Mug Pie (one of my personal favorites).
• Twin Tables features an adaptation of Rachael's recipe for Orange Balsamic Glazed Chicken.
• Katie of Smartypanties made Make-Your-Own Take Out: Spicy Peanut Chicken.
• Jenn of Rabbit Hill Primitives made Lime and Honey Glazed Salmon with Warm Black Bean and Corn Salad.
• Clean Plate recommends Rachael Ray’s Thai Chicken Pizza for a party.

It's a Keeper: Chicken Chickpea Curry Bowls

I am a sucker for a curry bowl. There, I said it. So, when I saw Rach's recipe for Chicken Chickpea Curry Bowls on her talk show, I knew I had to try it. Now, there is nothing too fancy schmancy about this recipe, but it is filling, hearty, and darn healthy. I also think it's another great option if you are in a rut with your chicken recipes!

Here's the recipe with my comments in brackets:

1 cup white rice [I used brown rice, because that's how I roll.]
2 cups water
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 pound ground chicken [Why do they sell ground chicken 1 lb packages and ground turkey in 1.25 lb packages? Just askin'.]
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 cup plain yogurt [I used whole milk yogurt, but I think lowfat would be fine, too.]
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
1 14.5-ounce can chick peas
A handful cilantro, chopped

Yields: 4 servings

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine rice, water and salt. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.

Once the rice is going, place a large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 turn of the pan EVOO and brown the chicken. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes.

Sprinkle with the curry powder and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the yogurt and simmer gently for 3 minutes, adding a splash of water if it needs to loosen up a little. Stir in some salt, pepper, the tomatoes and chickpeas then remove from heat.
Divide the rice and chicken mixture among individual bowls and garnish with the cilantro.

Rachael Ray Roundup

I feel like I have finally recovered from the holidays at home. However, there will still be no ham on my weekly menu for quite some time!

Here are some Rachael Ray posts from around the blogosphere this week. If you see a post that you think would be good for the Roundup, or you write one yourself, e-mail me (everythingrachaelray at gmail dot com) so I can be sure to include it.

• The Diva on a Diet of Beach Eats adapted Rachael's recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Soup.
• Columbus Foodie adapted Rach's recipe for Mighty Migas.
• Zeemaid of In the Mommy Trenches reviewed Rachael's Bubble and Brown casserole dish.
• Shelley of Shelley Bakes made Sausage, Potato and Cabbage Stew.
• Tracy Burnett of Cooking My Way to Happiness with Rachael Ray had an exciting experience this week!
• Mary Ann Kauchak of the Stafford County Sun adapted Rachael's recipe for Summer Corn and Chipotle Chowder.
• LG of iGriza was not impressed with Rachael's recipe for Pico de Gallo Pilaf and Margarita Fish Soft Tacos.
• Suz of Day by Day with Suz made a bunch of Rachael Ray recipes this week.

TV Alert: I Get That A Lot

Set your DVRs, people! Tomorrow night, Rachael Ray will appear on CBS' "I Get That a Lot” special. Rach pretends to be an employee at a dry cleaning shop and said in this article that she was recognized pretty often. Here are a few other quotes from Rach about her appearance on the show:

“I have been waiting on people, in one form or another, all my life. I was born into the service industry, so it was one of the hardest things I've ever done, to purposely be a bad employee. It was like breaking my brain.”

“I was excited to do this show, thinking it would be so great to play a prank ... but when I got there, it was really hard. I hope I didn't disappoint the producers, because I couldn't be as evil as I thought I would be.”

Here is a promo from Rachael's appearance on the show:

Rachael Ray Roundup

It's a New Year's edition of the Rachael Ray Roundup!  I hope you are enjoying a wonderful day plopped in front of the tv watching football (like my husband will be doing while I chase a small person around the house.....).  I'll be making brunch today: Green Eggs and Ham with Ital-Tots and Garlic-Cheesy Toast.  I plan on substituting sausage for the ham because after eating ham leftovers from Christmas, I am over it.  Happy New Year!

Here are some Rachael Ray posts from around the blogosphere this week. If you see a post that you think would be good for the Roundup, or you write one yourself, e-mail me (everythingrachaelray at gmail dot com) so I can be sure to include it.

• John Devore of Slashfood wrote a post titled: In Defense of Rachael Ray.
• Rachael's recipe for Spitfire Shrimp was listed as number nine of the Food Network's Top 50 Recipes of 2009.
• Lisa of Lime in the Coconut made a whole bunch of cookies from Every Day with Rachael Ray.
• Ana of Kitchen Space made pumpkin pasta.
• Michele of My Italian Grandmother made Sausage, Pepper and Potato Soup.
• Joanne of Eats Well with Others adapted a Rachael Ray recipe to make Pumpkin Polenta with Italian Sausage and Fennel.
• Make a Whisk features an adaptation of a recipe from Every Day with Rachael Ray to create Potato and Chorizo Taquitos.
• Rachael Ray is included in this USA Today article looking back at the last decade.
• Nichole of Vegan Niche made Lemon Orzo with Mushrooms and Pine Nuts.
• The Gypsy Chef adapted Rachael Ray's recipe for Coq au Vin.