Rachael Ray

I’m always on the lookout for ways to cut waste around the house, so when I was at my favorite spa, this adorable packet of hankies for sale near the register caught my eye. Yep, that’s right, hankies. Those things that your parent’s or grandparent’s generation used to blow their nose before the advent of disposable paper tissues in the 1920’s. It may seem strange now, but it used to be a given that this item would get washed and reused, the same as rags before paper towels were invented. Well, the HankyBook may just bring hankies back into fashion. It’s a rather hip-looking booklet made of snuggly-soft, organic cotton, and when you need to sneeze or blow your nose, you just [...]...

These cookies are a combination of everything delicious about seasonal holiday desserts, including chocolate, cinnamon, brown sugar, and pumpkin. The cookies are very easy to make. They are classic chocolate chip cookies with a twist, namely, pumpkin pie spices and squash puree. They have a subtle orange hue, a mild pumpkin taste, and a hearty texture that’s both crunchy and bready. Last week, I blogged about roasting winter squash, and all the wonderful things you can do with this flavorful autumnal ingredient. One idea is to use roasted squash - in place of canned pumpkin - in this recipe. Choose a squash variety that has a dry flesh like kabocha, buttercup, Hubbard, red kuri, or turban. Varieties like acorn, pumpkin, and butternut [...]...

‘Tis the season to indulge in all things rich, boozy, and sweet, but when you need a break from all the complex deliciousness of holiday foods, baked apples make a comforting seasonal treat. I was inspired to make this dessert by my sister-in law Joy, an excellent cook, who made it for us a few weekends ago. When I walked into her house, the kitchen smelled like apple pie, but Joy was making baked apples. She served them up with plenty of the delicious pan juice, and I couldn’t get over how satisfying and creamy they tasted. I topped mine with a dollop of almond butter, and the combination of flavors tasted remarkably like apple pie. My sis-in-law cooked her apples with [...]...

Whatever you’re cooking this year for your Thanksgiving meal, there is probably a winter squash involved somewhere, like in pumpkin pie. If you usually use canned pumpkin, why not try roasting your own pumpkin or other winter squash this year? If you’ve ever gone to a pick-your-own pumpkin farm, or to the farmer’s market around Thanksgiving, then you’ve probably seen all the beautiful colors and shapes that winter squash come in. It’s fun to try different varieties, because you may discover one that you love. Also, it’s more economical to buy a squash and roast it. A single pumpkin or other variety of squash will yield several times the amount you get in a can, and it’s just as tasty and [...]...

My husband and I went food shopping today, to stock up on provisions before Hurricane Sandy shuts down the city. (How come food is only called “provisions” before a storm?) What should have been a typical everyday errand turned into a minor dispute, because we couldn’t agree on what food to buy. I thought it would be good to buy fresh vegetables, so we wouldn’t end up stranded without anything green and crunchy to eat for a few days. James, on the other hand, thought it was more important to buy hard sausage, canned soup, and his favorite cookies (Fig Newmans, don’t ya know. . . ). We did, however, find common ground on crunchy peanut butter and crisp Fuji apples. In [...]...

New York City has taken on a big challenge. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, along with the New York City Board of Health, has passed a ban on the sale of sodas larger than 16 ounces. Some of the city’s residents approve the ban, but many - in fact most - are against it. The reason for the ban is to help curb the city’s growing obesity epidemic, which contributes to high rates of diabetes and other health issues.  Not only will the city have its hands full trying to convince New Yorkers that this decision is in their best interests, but they are about to be challenged in court by the soda industry on [...]...

Fall is fig season, and these luscious treats don’t last long. Look for fresh figs at gourmet markets, farmer’s markets - maybe even your own backyard! ...

I just got home from a blissful week in Italy. Every time I go, I learn something new about food. This time, I got familiar with Italian cocktail food. I was struck by the simple and elegant snacks that are standard fare before dinner is served. In fact, the array of snacks in Italy is so impressive that you could make a meal out of them. One of the first things I noticed on my trip is that Italians love potato chips. Everywhere in Italy, whether it’s a fancy hotel, a country restaurant, or an outdoor café, thin, crisp, fresh, potato chips are cocktail fare, served even with fine champagne. Maybe it’s because Italy is so enchanting and lush, but somehow [...]...

Truly Tasty Tofu Burgers I’m always in search of a good veggie burger that’s firm and chewy, with lots of flavor, and I like this recipe because the texture of the burgers is very, well, burger-like! It’s also really easy, and there’s lots of room for variation. To make the burgers, you’ll need to start with some cooked rice. Rice is important because it’s part of what holds the burgers together. It’s nice and starchy, so when it gets whirled in the food processor, it turns into a kind of glue. Try this recipe if you have leftover rice on hand, it’s a good way to use it up. Once you have your rice, turn your attention to the tofu. You want to [...]...