Tag Archives: Food Network

Controversy on “The Next Food Network Star”

Until last Sunday, I had never watched “The Next Food Network Star.” As big a fan as I am on the Food Network, I just never bothered to watch this show, which takes people who may or may not have culinary training, runs them through cooking contests, and gives the winner their own six episode show on the network. But, my husband brought home a copy of The Marine Times that prompted me to watch two episodes Sunday. One of the contestants, Josh Garcia (who goes by JAG – his initials) is a former Marine who works as a chef … Continue reading →

Learning to Cook

At home, my mom did all the cooking. She’s a great cook and although she probably would have loved to teach me to cook, I never showed any interest in cooking while I was growing up. Besides picking up on what she was doing in the kitchen some days, I wasn’t actually taught to cook by her. I first learned to cook from taking a cooking class in college right before getting married. At that point in my life, my cooking skills were about to be needed, so I had to learn. Since I was required to cook several meals … Continue reading →

How Carefully Do You Watch TV?

In previous blogs I mentioned the method by which I “watch” television. Typically, I utilize my ears more than my eyes. Most moms will tell you that watching television (even the news) is a rare luxury. It is for me anyway. In addition, in our home the television may be on, but that doesn’t necessarily mean someone is in front of it (one of my pet peeves). What’s more, in our household “watching” could be defined as any number of things. For example, did you know it was possible for some husbands to “watch” television through a newspaper? Or, how … Continue reading →

A Fabulous Travel Package For Foodies

If you love to travel and love to eat then I may have the perfect idea for your next vacation. Hilton Hotels has just announced it will be partnering up with the Food Network for a special promotion. Starting this week Hilton properties will be offering a Food Network Travel Package. Eleven Hilton Hotel properties including the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu and Cityscape at Hilton San Francisco are giving guests who sign up for the package a four-course tasting menu with wine pairings, specific to each destination, an autographed menu and tote bag containing Food Network goodies. The tasting … Continue reading →

The Newest Addition to the Food Network Family

If you watch the Food Network you know that chef Paula Deen loves cooking, eating, and entertaining. But, viewers also know that all of that takes a backseat to her beloved boys. Her two sons are the light of her life and now Paula has one more boy to smother in gravy kisses—her new grandson Jack Linton Deen. PEOPLE Magazine reports that Paula’s son Jamie Deen and his wife Brooke have become first-time parents to their new bundle of joy. According to the magazine, baby Jack was born Monday in the Savannah, Georgia, and weighed in 6 lbs., 9oz. “He’s … Continue reading →

Tomato-Avacado Salad with Lime-Toasted Cumin-Cilantro Vinaigrette Dressing

I do not know about you, but I think it is about 1,000 degrees here in North Carolina. Even with the air conditioning on, the thought of cooking in the kitchen using heat is just not appealing! So as I was looking around the Food Network web page, I was pleasantly surprised to find this recipe from chef Bobby Flay. It sounds cool and refreshing – just what I need on a blistering day like this. For this recipe, you will need four large ripe tomatoes, a large red onion, two large ripe Haas avacados, three coconuts, cilantro leaves, fresh … Continue reading →

Two Delectable Baked Potato Recipes

To me, baked potatoes are perfect with almost anything (hamburgers, steak, and pot roast) or even by themselves! Here are a couple of baked potato recipes from the Food Network that I am sure you will enjoy. Baked Potato with Ring Tum Ditty (from Paula Deen) For this recipe, you will need four to six baking potatoes, bacon, two small onions, two 15-ounce cans of whole tomatoes, one can of whole kernel corn, dried thyme, shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese, and butter. To prep for this recipe, you will need to chop the bacon and enough onions to make 2 … Continue reading →

Throwdown! With Bobby Flay

If you enjoy watching the Food Network, you have probably seen one of America’s premiere chefs – Bobby Flay. He has been the star of six Food Network shows (Hot Off the Grill with Bobby Flay, Grillin & Chillin, FoodNation, Boy Meets Grill, BBQ with Bobby Flay, and Throwdown!) in addition to appearing on the Iron Chef America series. Bobby started his culinary career at a very young age. Working in Joe Allen’s New York City restaurant at age 17, Allen was so in awe of Bobby’s culinary skills that he paid Bobby’s tuition to the French Culinary Institute. Bobby … Continue reading →

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto

If you ever watched Iron Chef or Iron Chef America on the Food Network, you may know of Masaharu Morimoto. Chef Morimoto was Iron Chef Japanese on the original Iron Chef show. However, he was the third Iron Chef Japanese – only Kenichi, Iron Chef Chinese, remained an original Iron Chef throughout the series. Morimoto was the only Iron Chef to make the crossover to Iron Chef America, the Americanized version of the show. He was my favorite of all the Iron Chefs (although Kenichi comes in a close second), so I am happy he is with the new show. … Continue reading →

Rachael Ray Is Everywhere!

Rachael Ray is everywhere. And that may be an understatement. Whenever I turn on the TV, there she is cooking (or talking) up a storm. When I go to the bookstore, there she is on a cookbook smiling at me. When I go to the grocery store, there she is staring at me from the cover of her lifestyle magazine. When I surf the Internet, there she is “popping up” to advertise her cooking merchandise. I can’t escape Rachael Ray. And dodging her is going to get even tougher now that in addition to her Food Network shows, best-selling cookbooks … Continue reading →