Rachael Ray

Top 5 Cooking Shows to Watch in 2013

The New Year brings new series and the return of some of the best cooking shows on television. With today being the first day of 2013, we ranked our top five cooking shows for this year. Some are new and some are veterans, but all of them are enjoyable (or at least predicted to be) to watch. Here a ... More >>

Mayor Annise Parker Gives In, Adopts BARC's Dog Of The Week

Mayor Annise Parker has been busy posing with the bold, the beautiful and the sad animals of BARC in an effort to win a $100,000 challenge by TV's Rachael Ray. Today cuteness, or a sense of duty, or just wanting to help took control. "I confess. I couldn't resist temptation. Took the BARC Dog of t ... More >>

Five Things (Besides Muffins) To Make In A Muffin Pan

The Muffin Pan: It's not just for muffins anymore. It took making this week's Pepperoni Pizza Puffs for me to realize that I'd been completely underutilizing this splendor of a kitchen tool. In both mini and regular-size versions, these pans are nonstick, portioned perfectly, and make for some rea ... More >>

Annise Parker Tries to Get You to Adopt World's Saddest Cat

Meet Callie!!! This wee ball o' fire is just about to bound out of Mayor Annise Parker's arms and straight into your heart with all the exuberance of a fun-lovin' furball!! Or, on the other hand, maybe she's the single most depressed cat ever seen. Her eyes: Either a sullen realization that the a ... More >>

Adoption Time: Are You On Team Annise Puppy Or Team Annise Kitty?

The city and BARC are continuing their hard sell to win the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, and if that means getting the mayor to pose with cute widdle animals, she's up for the task. Not looking to limit potential adoptee's options, Mayor Annise Parker sat with a puppy and a kitty in a valiant ... More >>

Look Out, Rachael Ray: Annise Parker Is Coming After Your $100,000 in ASPCA Cash

Mayor Annise Parker announced today the kickoff to a plan to get 2,100 dogs and cats adopted out of Houston facilities in order to win a $100,000 grant sponsored by TV food guru Rachael Ray. Houston's BARC is one of 50 operations across the country to qualify as a finalist in the ASPCA Rachael Ray ... More >>

Five Years Later: Food Trends That Fizzled Out

I'm still waiting for Mupcakes to catch on.​It's that time of year again: No, not the time when society's ever-emphasized consumerism is rammed even more forcefully down our gullets, disguised in festive Christmas trimmings and manipulative Coca-Cola commercials. It's the time of year when eve ... More >>

Ingredient of the Week: Broccolini

Photo by John SuhLovely broccolini​What is it? Often mistaken as young broccoli since it's sometimes called baby broccoli, broccolini is actually more closely related to Chinese broccoli (or gai lan) than American broccoli. It has smaller florets and longer stalks than American broccoli and ... More >>

Top 5 Celebrity Chefs I Wish Would Relocate to Mars

Yum-o???​It does not surprise me that people who cook well become popular. What shocks me is that many of these people remain famous even after revealing their less savory personalities and sometimes substandard skills. Here are five celebrity chefs I hope take their "talents" to another plan ... More >>

Racing Rachael: Steppin' Out

Carrie Applegate Jaeger​After complaining last week about the number of chicken recipes that Rachael Ray seemed to whip up, I thought I'd do a little research to see if it was, in fact, her or if I was just gravitating to the poultry. After a little search on foodnetwork.com, my suspicions we ... More >>

Racing Rachael: Hot Topic

Carrie Applegate Jaeger​I'm not really a fan of chicken pieces with nuts. *Insert inappropriate comment here, kids.* However, since my husband dog-eared this 30-minute recipe, I thought I'd give it a go. Is it a keeper? The food: Chipotle Cashew Chicken with Brown Rice and Glazed Spinach ... More >>

Why Tow Truck Drivers Can Break Into Your Car

Racing Rachael: Taqueria in 30

Carrie Applegate Jaeger​I'm starting off this week's post with a complaint. Although delicious, I don't think that taquitos and burritos alone constitute a complete meal. I think this "meal" is a bit of a cop-out on my dear friend Rachael Ray's part. So, I'm automatically deducting a couple ... More >>

Racing Rachael: Tool Shop

Carrie Applegate Jaeger​According to the Food Network website, Rachael Ray created this meal using her favorite kitchen tools. Looking through the recipes, I assume that she is referring to the food processor and box grater used to make these two dishes. Really? Of all the gadgets out there ... More >>

Comment of the Day

​The whole wheat pasta Carrie Applegate Jaeger used in this week's race with Rachael Ray got Bruce R curious about where to find the good stuff: Carrie, I think I tried Hodgson Mill wheat spaghetti and maybe one or two others, but I gave up. I did find that wheat spaghetti works well when m ... More >>

Racing Rachael: South of the Border

Carrie Applegate Jaeger​First, my confession...I did it again. I relied on the trusty old cookbook and didn't look at the web versions of these recipes. My apologies for the inconsistencies between the cited recipes and my creations. Regardless of where these recipes are found, they are sti ... More >>

Racing Rachael: Endless Summer

Carrie Applegate Jaeger​Nothing says summer better than some hundred degree weather, a nice cold beer, and a hot dog, right? Now, generally, I'm not a hot dog eater, but every year I smell a wiener on the grill and I chow down a dog or two. I don't usually love it, but it's such a quintessen ... More >>

Racing Rachael: Turbo Classics Meal

Carrie Applegate Jaeger​Rachael Ray makes whipping up a meal in 30 minutes look like a breeze, but we all know that there's a lot of behind-the-scenes work going on. Last week it took me, sans television magic, 47 minutes to make one of her meals. How will I do this week? The food: Garli ... More >>

Racing Rachael: Mini Meat Loaves with Mac & Cheese and Seared Greens

Carrie Applegate Jaeger​So, here's the thing...Even though Rachael Ray's TV persona drives me up the wall with the overuse of her cutesy catch phrases (specifically "EVOO" and "Yum-O," if you need a reminder), I can't help but be intrigued by the 30 Minute Meals concept. Can a regular Jane wi ... More >>

Beyond the EVOO

The bewildering array of oils at Central Market. ​There is one isle in Central Market that mystifies me more than any other: the oil aisle. I mean, how many types of oil does one need? As an avid Food Network watcher, it seems I've fallen under the Rachael Ray curse of cooking only with EVOO. ... More >>

SXSW: The 10 Best Of The Fest This Year

Photos by Craig Hlavaty​

SXSW Saturday: Hot Sauce Hawker Billy Gibbons Smokes Elmore James At Rachael Ray Party

Craig Hlavaty​ Billy Gibbons sat in with The Cringe at Rachael Ray's Feedback Party at Stubb's just after lunchtime for a cover of Elmore James' blues standard "Dust My Broom". The ZZ Top guitarist also mentioned his BFG hot sauce line, which he had a bottle of in his back pocket.

Chef Chat, Part 3: Joe Apa of Rudz

​After chatting at Rudyard's and sampling some food and beer (see the rest of our conversation here and here), chef Joe Apa and I took an impromptu road trip to Conroe's Southern Star Brewery. Immediately, we were in awe of this grass-roots operation. It's a total craft brewery. Tall fermentin ... More >>

Ingredient of the Week: Red Cabbage

​What is it? Red cabbage is exactly what it sounds like. While it isn't as exotic as a lychee or Chinese broccoli, it wasn't something I ever ate growing up in Southeast Texas, so it is exotic to me. Until later in life when I experienced some tart, sweet and savory red kraut at a German rest ... More >>

This Week in Deliciousness

Wait a minute, where the hell are the Fritos?​Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where procrastination is (note to self: think of some clever definition and insert it here later). We started the week off with one of our favorite things: a recounting of time spent jud ... More >>

In Defense of Rachael Ray

​It's funny how culture seems to creep in via osmosis. Take, for example, a dinner I made on the fly the other night. I found myself staring into a near-empty refrigerator at around 7:30 p.m. on a school night, trying to find something to make for dinner. A container of pre-made basil pesto c ... More >>

Worst Politician Hair: 13 Bi-Partisan Horrors

It's mid-term election season again, and no doubt you have been subjected to seeing Governor Rick Perry's suave Steve Reeves-style pompadour in his campaign commercials, or Democratic candidate Bill White's righteous chrome dome testing the limits of your HD television with it's high-gloss sheen dur ... More >>

Perfecting the Meatball, Part 1

​The October 2010 issue of Bon Appétit magazine featured a piece on one woman's quest to perfect the meatball. I intended to try out this version, because clearly Molly Wizenberg, a former vegetarian turned meatball enthusiast, has put some serious effort into perfecting her recipe. But then ... More >>

Pop Rocks: A World Without Oprah

So long, suckers.​The 25th and final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show kicked off yesterday with a John Travolta dance number, an appearance by Paul Simon (of "and Garfunkel" fame, not the deceased U.S. Senator), and an announcement that Oprah would take the 300 studio audience members in atten ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 2: Heather Vaughan of Chef Heather's Personal Chef Services

​Yesterday we sat down with private chef Heather Vaughan. Today we continue the conversation. Eating Our Words: Since you spend so much time cooking, do you prefer cooking for yourself when you get hungry or do you like going out to eat? Heather Vaughan: I still enjoy cooking. I find myself ... More >>

Battle Celebrity Chef: Cat Cora v. Rachael Ray

​One is a bona fide chef, while the other is a self-described cook. One has made headlines because of her unique method of getting pregnant; the other appears on the pages of the supermarket rags because she is apparently about to get a divorce once a week. One is friends with that creepy "cha ... More >>

Rachael Ray's You Won't Be Single for Long Vodka-Cream Sauce: Part 1

​Who doesn't love Rachael Ray -- with her big smile, bouncy hair and corny jokes? Even if you find her constant perkiness annoying, she's too nice too really hate. And her 30 Minute Meals show is often good for a meal idea or two. I've been watching it on and off for years, so when I saw her c ... More >>

Post-Fireworks Meat: 5 Things To Do With Leftovers

​First things first: I now thoroughly enjoy leftovers but that wasn't always the case. In the days of yesteryear my dad worked overnight every third day-of-the-week at the fire station and my mom would only serve my brother and me the scraps from the previous nights meals. I suppose new food w ... More >>

Fine Living No More: The Cooking Channel To Debut May 31

​If you think that food-oriented television couldn't get any worse or lowbrow than Sandra Lee's infamous Kwanzaa cake or the frosted tips of Guy Fieri traveling the nation in search of burgers, burgers and more mediocre burgers, you're in for a shock: There is much worse programming on the men ... More >>

Kitchen Items We Could Live Without But Wouldn't Want To

​We've heard from both Katharine Shilcutt and Becky Means about their kitchen must-haves. But for us, it's more about what we wouldn't want to live without in our kitchens. We would definitely be fine without these kitchen essentials, but they sure make our lives easier. 1. Hamilton Beach Ha ... More >>

More Breaking Touring News: Vans Warped Tour 2010 Houston Stop Includes Andrew WK, All-American Rejects, Etc.

Katharine ShilcuttA pensive Andrew WK at Rachael Ray's 2010 SXSW party.​ Earlier today, Sam Houston Race Park announced the Houston date for this year's edition of the Vans Warped Tour. The long-running punk-rock/emo summer tour hits the northwest side July 2. Start hydrating now. The festival has ... More >>

SXSW Aftermath: Rachael Ray's Party Pics

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttRachael Ray and husband John Cusimano, lead singer of The Cringe.​John Popper of Blues Traveler (although our favorite Popper role is as himself on the HBO series Z Rock) livened up The Cringe's otherwise banal set at the Rachael Ray party on a cold, gloomy Saturday ... More >>

The Big Three: Feta, Kalamata Olives and Sundried Tomatoes

Last week we brought you a trio of scrumptiously sweet ingredients aimed at improving your breakfasts and desserts. This week, we thought we'd give you a few simple ideas for some fast, delicious dinners. We are big fans of Mediterranean cooking - its fresh and unprocessed goodness leaves you feelin ... More >>

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

​For our annual Houston Press Holiday potluck lunch, I decided to invent a new dish called "Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes." I baked the sweet potatoes, and scooped them out of the skins just like you do when you're making twice baked potatoes. But instead of sour cream and all that, I cooked chop ... More >>

Chicken Soup in Less than 30 Minutes

Photo by Jane Catherine Collins​This is not a Rachel Ray recipe, so just wipe that thought out of your mind. We can't stand Rachel Ray and have banned her show from our house. We do all like a fast meal, though. So here's our version of a 30-minute dish: chicken soup:

Dives and DIY Shepherd's Pie

Our readers weigh in.

This Week In Deliciousness

Photo by Robb WalshUnnnf. Forgive us. We may need to excuse ourselves. Okay, so maybe this week didn't start out so hot. First of all, Robb Walsh made the mistake of ordering a hamburger at BB's Cajun Café, a place renowned for its excellent poor boys, not so much its burgers. So not only did his w ... More >>

SXSW: Rachel Ray at Maggie Mae's

Photos by Craig Hlavaty We valiantly attended the Rachael Ray party at Maggie Mae's on Sixth, braving free food curate by the talk show host and Rose's Mojitos by the gallon. Hometown boy Bob Schneider opened the show upstairs, doing his old reliable ladykilling jams. While downstairs New York's Se ... More >>

How About Some SXSW Day Parties? A LOT of SXSW Day Parties?

We here at Rocks Off are only about a week away from chafed inner thighs, weird Japanese punk bands puking in hotel pools and sweating out our morning mojitos while walking to an art space off 4th Street. South By Southwest is now only a week away. It was all fun and games in December when we w ... More >>

Hurricane Rachael Ray

Here she comes to save the day

Just A Simple Wedding For 50 At Minute Maid Park

SXSW Photos: The Rachel Ray Party

Brit-Indi is the New Tex-Mex

Brit-Indi is the New Tex-Mex

Money!