Rachael Ray Roundup

We are going to have some serious drama in the household this weekend, but I can't tell you how excited I am to start cooking in my new kitchen at our new house!  We got the keys today and will move in on Monday.  Finally!  Now I just have to take care of the whole "having a baby in October" thing and I'll have everything taken care of....

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 at everythingrachaelray at gmail dot com.

• Rachael Ray's iPhone App, Tasty Bytes, is in the Top 10 of paid apps downloaded.
• And here's a review of the iPhone app.
• What's for Dinner Tonite has a review of Rachael Ray's Charred Chili Relleno.
• Building Mum at Menu Madness reviewed Oven-Roasted Cod with Herbs.
• Michele of My Italian Grandmother tweaked Rachael Ray's recipe for Pasta Fagioli.
• Deborah of Taste and Tell celebrated her Saturdays with Rachael Ray by making Scrambled Egg Turnovers.
• Eating Video Games reviews Rachael's recipe for T Bone Tagliata and Steakhouse Salad.
• Kerri of Curly Girl is not a fan of Rachael Ray's Venetian Shrimp and Scallops.
• The AP's J.M. Hirsch shares a Rachael Ray recipe that sounds outstanding - Beer Chili Burgers.
• Sprigs of Rosemary features an adaptation of Rachael Ray's recipe for Sausage and Pumpkin Lasagna.
• Melani of What's for Dinner adapted Rach's recipe for Spanish Stuffed Bell Peppers.

Rachael Ray's New Show Debuting September 25

According to TV.com, Rachael Ray's new show on The Cooking Channel will debut on Saturday, September 25 at 3pm ET, The channel is already airing reruns of Tasty Travels, but Rach will also have a brand new show called Week in a Day. The Cooking Channel has a bio up for Rach, but no details about the show. I will keep my eye out for that!

In the meantime, we can look at what TV.com learned:

Week in a Day will be her first show to focus exclusively on food in nine years, and looks to highlight her cooking concept for busy families. Learn how to make all the meals for the week with one day of cooking; saving you time and energy.

Sounds like a good one to me! Unfortunately, I don't get The Cooking Channel because I have DirecTV. Booooooooo! At least I can still check out the show's website when it launches....  Thanks to my super smart readers, I now know that I actually do get the Cooking Channel.  Who knew?!  I'll definitely be tuning in, since I now only shop once a week (a two year old and a pregnancy will do that to you).  I can't wait.

Rachael Ray on Good Morning America

Rachael Ray appeared on Good Morning America this week to share some of her best burger recipes:




And for the life of me I couldn't figure out when this segment aired, but Rach also showed how to make kids' favorite meals:

Rachael Ray's Next Cookbook: Look and Cook

Rachael Ray has a new cookbook coming out on November 2, 2010.  The title is Look + Cook and it includes over 200 new recipes and 600 photographs.  Rachael doesn't usually include that many pictures of the food, so that will be a treat.  There are pictures from four steps of the recipe and then a picture of the main dish.  Sounds like a fun concept to me.

This book is organized in the traditional way: starters, sauces, sides, and main courses.  I have to say I prefer the set up used in 30 Minute Meals 2 (and other Rachael Ray cookbooks), where each recipe includes a side, starter, drink, or dessert.  You just open up to the recipe you want to make and there's two or three recipes that are intended to go together.  I might be lazy, but I like Rach to do the thinking for me regarding what goes with what.  Otherwise, I end up making the same sides over and over again.

I'm thinking all the recipes aren't 30 minute meals, which is fine with me.  Sometimes on the weekends I'm interested in cooking something that takes longer.  I'll keep an eye out for more details!

Rachael Ray Roundup

I didn't post a Menu Plan Monday this week, so I thought I would share it here.  I made Bowties with Smoked Almond Sauce, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomatoes, Orange-Balsamic Chicken with Asparagus, Green Beans and Polenta, and Millionaire Rotisserie Chicken Salad. The only one I hadn't made before, the Bowtie Pasta, far exceeded my expectations.

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 Weber Family blog has a review of Rachael Ray's Chicken Divan and Broccoli Casserole and Taco Pasta Toss.
• KimberleyC Baking and Blogging made Rachael's PB and J cookies and they were a disaster.  This made me feel so much better because I went outside my cooking only box to try baking this cookie and it was a miserable failure.
• Allergy Kids has a feature about a new cookbook from the Editor of Rachael Ray's magazine, Silvana Nardone.  It's called Cooking for Isaiah and features gluten free recipes.
• Real Food for Real Life made Spicy Sausage Shepherd’s Pie.
• Eater has a ton of video and some commentary on Rachael Ray's appearance on Shaq's new show.

It's a Keeper: Maple Ham with Spicy Creamed Spinach

Maple Ham with Spicy Creamed Spinach is yet another recipe that my photographic skills are just not up to par. Hey, I did my best, people. Don't let my crappy photography stop you from making this simple, easy, and a bit out of the ordinary (at least for us) recipe.  Although, the picture on Rach's website isn't that outstanding either, so maybe I shouldn't sell my self short....

In any case, the short list of ingredients in the recipe below is just one indication of how easy this recipe it s to make.  Plus, you'll get some oh-so-healthy for you spinach (mixed in with some not-so-healthy cream cheese, but whatever).  Here's the recipe with my comments in brackets:

1 pound spinach
4 ounces cream cheese [I went for the full fat stuff because it's going into spinach, which in my mind makes it okay.]
4 ounces pepper Jack cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons butter
One 24-ounce ham steak, cut into 4 portions
2 tablespoons maple syrup [Get the real stuff, it is worth every stinking dime.]

Fill a large skillet with enough water to reach a depth of 1 inch and bring to a boil. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain in a colander, pressing to remove any excess moisture. Return to the pan and stir in the cream cheese and pepper jack cheese. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until the cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper and cover to keep warm.

In a large nonstick skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the ham and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Drizzle with the maple syrup and turn to coat. Serve with the creamed spinach.

Rachael Ray in OK! Magazine

Make sure you check out OK! Magazine, which has an interview with Rachael Ray in their current issue. One little tidbit:


Last time you spoiled your pet?

Every single minute we’re with her. It’s ridiculous. We come in from the gym, and we’ve been gone 45 minutes to an hour, and we act like we haven’t seen her in a year. We climb back in bed with her. She’s a ridiculously spoiled animal.

Rachael Ray Finally Has an iPhone App!

I was beginning to wonder if Rachael Ray would ever have an iPhone app!  I mean, really!  I was about to learn how to create them so I could just make one myself.  Rach's app is called Tasty Bytes.  Here are a few screen shots:















And here's the description from the iTunes store:

Tasty Bytes brings together Rachael Ray's best recipes from her TV Show, books and magazine, plus some exclusively created by Rach for this app. Some cool reasons to download:

Planning a party or a special dinner? Mark the recipes you want added to your Shopping List. Your Shopping List will combine the recipes and give you one list to take to the market. You can mark off items on the phone as you add them to your cart and make notes on any additional goodies you want to pick up while you're out shopping. It will make entertaining a breeze!

Email recipes or your Shopping List to yourself so you can print it out for a printed backup copy.

Every recipe has a delicious drink pairing.

Recipes are categorized by meal type, holidays, cooking style and date for easy reference

Easy to use search tool.

Choose your favorite recipes and store them in a folder.

Sign me up!  It also gets great reviews from the few customers who have left them.  At only 1.99, this seems like a great bargain to me.

Rachael Ray Roundup

I have a new cooking challenge.  Because I am currently on modified bed rest because of pregnancy complications (but everything's fine!), I have to find recipes that are easier than easy.  Like, "Madeline can sit at the counter to chop and her husband can cook things" easy.

We had Garlic Roast Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon from this menu last night and it was crazy good.  Just some basic roasted cauliflower and cous cous and I finally felt like maybe I might be able to cook and be no bed rest at the same time.  So let me know if you have any other good RR recipes that are as easy as that one!

• Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals is still the most popular show on the Food Network according to a recent poll.
• Abandoned by Wolves tried Sweet Soy-Soaked Salmon over Noodles and Veggies from Express Lane Meals.
• Vegan Conversion Challenge worked some magic on Rachel Ray's Reuben Mac and Cheese.
• The Token Yankee observes the effects of Rachael Ray's talk show.

Rachael Ray Roundup

It's been a tough week around here, but I'm recovering.  Just in time to post the Roundup this week!

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.

• Food Snob made Chicken Caesar Burgers from Express Lane Meals.
• Tomatoes for Apples features a review of Turkey Bean Taco Burgers, adapted from Rachael Ray's recipe.
• Rach is participating in new ads for NY tourism.
• This week's Saturdays with Rachael Ray over at Taste and Tell features a review of Artichoke, Tomato and Spinach Pizza.
• Less Guts, More Glory tried out Rachael's Shepherd's Pie.

It's a Keeper: Pesto Chicken Grill Packets

It is scary to think that Summer is starting to wind down, but there's no denying it.  It's August already - how did that happen?  Well, make the most out of that grill with these amazingly easy and yummy Pesto Chicken Grill Packets.

This recipe is so easy that I even made it on vacation in San Diego.  You throw a whole bunch of stuff in some foil with a chicken breast, wrap it up, throw it on the grill, and call it a day.  I serve it with some couscous, rice, or bread on the side.

Fair warning though - you really have to like pesto to like this recipe because it is very pesto-y.  Here's the recipe with my comments in brackets:

4 Servings
Prep 10 min
Cook 25 min

Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 2-1/4 pounds)
Salt and pepper
1 cup pesto (see recipe finder) [or just buy it premade at the store!]
2 zucchini, thinly sliced
4 plum tomatoes, chopped
8 scallions, trimmed [I sort of think you can do with out these if you aren't a huge fan or are on a budget.]

Preheat a grill to medium. Cut four 12-inch-long sheets of heavy-duty foil. Drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil into the center of each sheet.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Lay 1 piece of chicken in the center of each sheet and spread 1 tablespoon pesto on top.

Mound one-quarter of the zucchini, tomatoes and scallions over each chicken breast. Dollop 3 tablespoons pesto over each mound. Fold the foil over the chicken and vegetables; pinch the edges to seal.

Cover and grill the packets over indirect heat for 25 minutes. Remove from the grill and open carefully.  [I was surprised, but 25 minutes really did cook it all the way through.]

Rachael Ray Roundup

The Roundup didn't make it up on Friday, but there are some interesting posts for you guys to check out this week that I had to post it today!

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.

• Someone made a portrait of Rachael Ray out of Cheetos.  Seriously.
• Uh-oh.  Rachael Ray's EVOO isn't so EV.
• This week's Saturdays with Rachael Ray from Taste and Tell features Chicken Salad with Yogurt-Ranch Dressing.
• Cassie Craves participated in Saturdays with Rachael Ray by making Summer Sweet Corn Fettucine.
• Chicken in Every Crock Pot features a review of BBQ Chicken Burgers with Honey Slaw.  I love that Rach has slaw recipes with no mayo!