Rachael Ray

This week I started my apprenticeship with Chef Hemant Mathur, co-founder of Tulsi NYC. For those of you familiar with New York City’s Indian food scene, Chef Hemant’s name needs no introduction. An envoy of the finest Indian fare, Chef Hemant is blessed with hard core culinary training from India and a ‘natural hand in cooking’ – a trait that is very hard to mimic. Since my husband and I have been stalking him for 12 years now, it is of no surprise that I was filled with gratitude when he agreed to train me in his kitchen. I showed up, thinking I knew most of the fundamentals and was here to enhance my skills whilst learn a few bonus dishes. [...]...

Shoes shoes shoes. When I walk into my house I am often greeted by a pile - or sea- of shoes. Amazingly, this doesn’t seem to bother the other four humans (or two dogs) with whom I share my home. Grrrr. And not shoes lined up neatly but here a shoe, there a shoe. Upside down, separated from their mates, blocking the stairs. Sound familiar? A custom-built mud room with a locker or cubby for each family member (a girl can dream, right), would be nice, and I have whiled away many an hour on Pinterest drooling over mudrooms nicer than the finest room in my house. Someday. Sigh. In the meantime, here are some real world solutions to cut down [...]...

Evening kick-off with Vikas Khanna, Padma Lakshmi, Varli Singh and Sanjeev Kapoor About 3 weeks ago, I was approached by Anil Bhatia, owner of Heritage India to participate at an Indian food cook-off. The event was to be hosted by the Varli Food Festival, a prestigious food festival and the brain child of Ricky and Varli Singh. The event was kicked off with none other than the gorgeous Padma Lakshmi of Top Chef and industry notables were flown in from all over the world. It was an opportunity not to be missed and there was no way that I would say NO. Yet for some reason, I wished for an ‘out’. I was going to be subject to what contestants [...]...

March Madness is a national phenomenon. Sports fans of all ages join in. It has everything: buzzer beaters; Cinderella stories; heartbreaking last second losses and hysterically happy upset wins. There are triple overtime games that end with young players sobbing on the bench into their towels, while the victors are sobbing in joy on the floor. David can triumph over Goliath. The highs and lows are intense because the players are all such young men and women. The drama is constant and the pain and joy are almost inseparable stories. I know that I personally may never fully recover from the Final Four of 1989. My brother P.J. Carlesimo was coaching Seton Hall. In the first game of the Final Four, [...]...

Come join Rachael and friends once again this year for her annual Feedback party in Austin, Texas.  We will be returning to Stubb’s BBQ for the third year in a row.  This event is open to the public, ages 21 and older.  There is NO RSVP, just come early so you can get in, it’s first come first serve until we reach capacity and then it’s one out one in after that. Details: March 17, 2012 10:30-4 Stubb’s BBQ, Austin, Texas ...

Like Any Town, USA, being from a small city in Northern New York means that a handful of “native to home” dishes saw regular rotation in our lunch sacks and at our dinner table.  Jefferson County, NY favorites like Chicken & Biscuits, Half Hots, and Rye Boat each deserve praise in their own individual posts - posts that we’ll save for another time.  For it was on a recent trip back home that I was reunited with an old friend whose impact on my life I’d nearly forgotten - the Half Moon Cookie. Those who trek the streets of New York City know the Black & White Cookie with great ubiquity.  Corner delis, [...]...

Thai food is without hesitation my favorite cuisine. An assortment of curries, with their distinct flavors, dry dishes sautéed in fresh chili paste and salad dishes pulling together several extremities from cold to hot, sweet to sour, crunchy to soft. The cuisine is an amalgamation of the best culinary practices of Asia. It draws from the spice treatment and curries of India and Persia and the cooking techniques of sautéing and blanching from China. Despite these influences, the cuisine has its individual and very bold personality. After all, Thailand, home to the lush rainforests of Chang Mai and stunning temples has its own beauty to communicate through the medium of food. And it does. The dishes are flirty - they make [...]...

This year is Queen Elizabeth’s 60th year of reign, rather, her Diamond Jubilee. The country is on an adrenalin kick over this and people’s calendars are filling fast with events. There will be events of every scale, be it national, regional or local; some hush-hush and some very public with performers like Sir Paul McCartney. The streets will be buzzing and people will pull out all of their royal memorabilia to add their own touch to the event, making this momentous occasion their own. Great Britain is one of the few countries left where the royal family plays such an active role in the day to day running of the country. Each time there is a cause for celebration, the country [...]...

On the Cleaning Lady Blog we talk a lot about natural cleaning products (vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice are the stars) but we haven’t actually covered how to quickly and effectively handle a laundry stain. Hot water or cold water? Apply soap or leave it alone? Here is a how-to on what to do when you spill on your favorite top. The most important thing is to move quickly! Blot up any excess liquid with a clean white cloth, paper, or other towels. Remove excess solids by gentle scraping or chipping with a dull knife or metal spatula. If the spill is a thick substance like mud, removal may be easier after the stain has dried. Excess can be brushed off [...]...