Rachael Ray

It wasn’t until recently that I was introduced to malt soda.  Now that we’ve grown quite well acquainted, it’s hard to imagine a time in my life when such a treasure wasn’t there.  Tucked away with ready access in the Mexican or Latin foods aisle of the supermarket, malt soda (or “malta” as it’s referred to in Latin American countries) is basically beer that hasn’t been allowed to ferment.  Brewed from the same wheat, hops, barley, and water that go into the beer production process, this mixture is then sweetened, carbonated, and enjoyed most commonly over ice. The beautiful part about malta (well, one of the many beautiful parts) is that it’s a delicious, alcohol-free alternative for adding the depth of [...]...

This week’s “Supermarket Score” has gotten a bad wrap over the years.  It’s been bullied with names like “inferior”, “old school”, and “yucky”.  It’s been pushed to the shadows of pantries nationwide and quarantined for last-ditch camping rations and afternoon bridge tournaments in grandma’s parlor.  Well, today is a new day - our old friend instant coffee is back! World Wars and space travel have been the biggest aggregators for refining the production of instant coffee.  Basically a freeze-dried version of the well-regarded morning staple, instant coffee earned its acclaim as a result of its long shelf life, lightweight portability, and ease of preparation.  The greatest part of all that advancement is [...]...

“Supermarket Score!” is all about taking a look at the great deals and delicious meals that are hidden in lesser-known yet commonly found supermarket items. Coconut water is getting a lot of attention lately, especially from celebrities who are endorsing it as the “it” drink of the moment - and rightfully so!  Coconut water is the actual liquid that is harvested from inside the center of a coconut (whereas “coconut milk” is a much richer prepared combination of that liquid and some of the meat of the coconut and “cream of coconut” is a sugar’ed-up version of coconut milk commonly reserved for making drinks like Pina Coladas).  Coconut water is an incredible source of hydrating nutrients and has been a staple [...]...

In my house during the winter months, butternut squash soup always wins honors at the table. It’s hearty, creamy, and a super-simple way to eat local and seasonal when it grows chilly outside. Having received a distress call from my mom the other day who was upset that her soup “didn’t look like the one on the TV”, it seemed a fitting occasion to share a few tricks of the trade to achieve a sinfully silky butternut soup. Prepared like a run-of-the-mill cream soup (see the recipe below), the pot of tender vegetables - while delicious - is hardly a sight for starving eyes when it’s finished cooking. It’s a trip to the blender (NOTE: not the food [...]...

With resolutions and diet season upon us, it’s a timely bit of irony that I come home at night craving fried chicken.  In the interim, I fill the void of deprivation with one of my favorite weeknight low-guilt meals: baked chicken.  It’s comforting, delicious, easy, and with this clever styling trick, crispy without the grease of traditional fried chicken. The secret to beautiful, crispy baked chicken lies in the breading.  Just like Rach says and does: to get a crispy coating on anything, dredge it first in flour, then egg, and then breadcrumbs.  The secret to keeping your breading on the chicken (instead of sliding off onto your dinner [...]...