All Episodes Talk

[Kohola3]

But hey, they'll sleep a family of 12 comfortably.

 

Or a family of 4 if they have been eating all of the nutrition-free crap that she promotes.  

 

Plus, having seen the dubious quality of her merchandise, they will leak in the rain and the supports will be so cheap that they will fail in the softest of breezes.

[autumnh]

First laugh of this episode?

 

"I am a cookbook writer" oh Rierie....

 

So more soup, Kale Salad and White Bread with blue cheese butter? 

 

Please bring me back some Sarah Moulton or David Rosenberg...even Two Hot Tamales are better than this damn disaster!

[chessiegal]

Sara Moulton is alive and well on PBS. Support your local PBS station.

[autumnh]

Sara Moulton is alive and well on PBS. Support your local PBS station.

 

 

Yep, I know! I just wish she was on as often as RieRie.

I just wish they'd bring back REAL cooks to Food Network and Cooking Channel...I don't need to see Kelly Kapowski, Tia Mowry or Trisha Yearwood singing on every.damn.episode. lol

[Westiepeach]

I was kind of half-watching today but was she showing us her blouses???? Is there a clothing line in her future? Or am I just making stuff up?

[grisgris]

Yes and no. Ree said that one of her *cough* FAQs from viewers or readers or whomever, asked her where she gets her tops. (Why??) Anyway, she showed an array from her vast collection and said she purchases them from discount stores, department stores and online. She didn't say anything about designing a collection (at least not yet.) What bugged me was all of that discussion went down during a remote scene with Ree traveling to a dry cleaners to pick up a whole buncha tops. How frickin' impractical is THAT? You live on a cattle ranch and your claim to fame is cooking, so let's wear dry clean only clothes. SMH.

 

The rest of the show was meh. We've seen variations on the chicken tortilla soup millions of times before on Ree's and other shows. I also didn't get how the kale salad was so "healthy" when it was covered with bacon and onions and mushrooms fried in the bacon drippings. I don't know if she included bacon grease in the salad dressing, but I did hear "bowel-SAM-ic."

 

Lastly, Ree confessed that she wasn't that apt at making bread. So, she demonstrated her mother's recipe for white sandwich bread, which looked like a whole lot more trouble than it was worth. (If I'm going to go to all of that effort, I want something that's healthy and preferably special to warrant the resources.) The white bread was slathered with a bleu cheese-chive butter.

 

The best part of the show was meeting the dogs, especially the adorable German shepherd puppy, Presley. The worst part (even surpassing the food and clothes) was the/ highlights reel of all of the rubber snake pranks of episodes past.

 

Overall: C- for ordinary lackluster (and contradictory) food, self-indulgent discussion about wardrobe choices and too much filler of old footage of ranch work, kids eating and aforementioned childish pranks.

[SanLynn]

She was indeed showing us her blouses in response to the "grilling" she gets from her fans. Definitely a clothing line coming. I love how she played up getting them in thrift stores and discount shops.

 

The Canine cast of characters was a surprise... Charlie and his children books?! Really?! .... I have to admit Presley is cute though.

 

How appropriate that her idea of a healthy salad includes basting the onions in butter, cooking the mushrooms in white wine and adding bacon.

 

I tried to stay to the bitter end but I just couldn't take another segment waxing on about the tricks they all pull on each other. I can't stand those parts of her show. It boggles my mind that anyone is interested in learning more about them.

 

I also caught the make ahead potluck episode before the new one. I haven't watched that one in a while. The layered salad looked awful but then I don't like layered salads in general.

 

What really got me is that she added butter to her olive oil so she could fry her meatballs. What?! Is that common? I don't think I've ever seen that before.

Edited April 16, 2016 by SanLynn

[Kohola3]

What really got me is that she added butter to her olive oil so she could fry her meatballs. What?! Is that common? I don't think I've ever seen that before.

 

Strangely enough, Julia Child did that exact thing. It allows you to heat the butter to a higher temp (for flavor) without burning it.  However, I'm sure Clown Posse Cowgirl would claim this was all HER idea.

http://www.thekitchn.com/4-things-we-learned-about-butter-from-julia-child-228696

 

And God help us if she starts "designing" clothes. My eyes start to water just looking at some of those horrible rags she wears.  

[anneofcleves]

Oh for crying out loud.  

 

Question:  "How do I juggle it all?"

 

Answer:  "I don't."  Insert clips from ranch and homeschooling life.  End with clip of Drummond familly attending church.  The only thing missing was Ted Cruz and Jim Bob Duggar applauding.

 

The real answer is that she juggles it all because she married into an established, wealthy ranching family who had the capital and resources to front her venture into blogging and the eventual branding of herself as "The Pioneer Woman"  She is no more your typical, home-cookin' mom than, honestly, Hillary Clinton is.  Own it Ree.

Edited April 17, 2016 by anneofcleves

[Lillybee]

She was indeed showing us her blouses in response to the "grilling" she gets from her fans. Definitely a clothing line coming. I love how she played up getting them in thrift stores and discount shops.

 

The Canine cast of characters was a surprise... Charlie and his children books?! Really?! .... I have to admit Presley is cute though.

 

How appropriate that her idea of a healthy salad includes basting the onions in butter, cooking the mushrooms in white wine and adding bacon.

 

I tried to stay to the bitter end but I just couldn't take another segment waxing on about the tricks they all pull on each other. I can't stand those parts of her show. It boggles my mind that anyone is interested in learning more about them.

 

I also caught the make ahead potluck episode before the new one. I haven't watched that one in a while. The layered salad looked awful but then I don't like layered salads in general.

 

What really got me is that she added butter to her olive oil so she could fry her meatballs. What?! Is that common? I don't think I've ever seen that before.

 

 

She does that all the time. I remember her frying rib eye steaks in about at least a half inch of butter and olive oil. Rib eyes for crikes sake.

[Lura]

OK.  Should I confess it? 

 

I lied.

 

It was my first peek at Ree's blog, not so very long ago, and I saw that she took questions.  I had to send a question, but I couldn't think of one.  Finally, in desperation, I asked, "Where do you get those beautiful tops you wear?  They're so colorful, and you look beautiful wearing bright colors.  I would love having some just like them!"  (God, forgive me.)  I never got an answer -- until today in a post up above mine.  (Thanks, I guess!)  I've been waiting to see whether Ree amps up her already-wild colors.

 

As for Ree's dry cleaning, I worked at a dry cleaner's when I was in college.  Lots of people, especially rich ones, take their cotton shirts and blouses and other washing to the dry cleaners.  Most dry cleaning establishments also have washing machines and someone who irons.  I can't speak for Pawtuska and Lady Drummond.

[Kohola3]

Lura, if eye-damaging ReeWear starts appearing on the street, we have you to blame!

[Hildegard802]

Color me shocked she came up with a response (lie) for where she gets her "stunning" tops.  Prior to this, she has never, ever answered.  There's a rabid fan who's built a macro (are they still called that?) in which she says HRH has said she gets them at Nordstrom, Dillards and a couple of online places, kinda similar to what Ree said.  This is the first I heard about thrift stores and Walmart.  What a joke.  The crap she wears is from MUCH more pricey places than those.  Not to mention Nordstrom buyers have a little better taste than gaudy shents.  

 

Hell, maybe she's got a sweatshop that makes them for her.

 

Self-indulgent, indeed.  HRH has an ego that must be stroked constantly, or she will wither and die.  It's nuts.  I guess I should feel sorry for her, but I much prefer to hate-watch.  

 

Did she say how many dogs they have?  Certain ones seem to have disappeared, like the Jack Russell.  Because of her many other lies, I think she's just glomming on to "people love puppies!!!!" to get hits on her media.  As they grow, she pretends to get another puppy.  Once they get to be a certain age, they're never seen again, with Cookie Jar Charlie or Walter, the bassets, being the exceptions.  Reality is they probably actually own two dogs.  

 

She does the same thing by posting baby photos of the kids and whining about how they grew up.  

[grisgris]

I don't recall Ree mentioning thrift shops. I heard "discount" stores, which to me, means Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx, etc. (I am in no way defending her.) Speaking of thrift shops, I don't think Ree even donates her hideous cast-offs. Didn't somebody say once that she actually sells her used clothes on her blog?

 

Coming soon to a Walmart near you, the "Pioneer Woman" line from Faded Glory. (FG is probably salivating at the idea.)

[Hildegard802]

I heard early on, she did giveaways of tops she'd worn.  Which, if true, ick.

[peacheslatour]

Strangely enough, Julia Child did that exact thing. It allows you to heat the butter to a higher temp (for flavor) without burning it.  However, I'm sure Clown Posse Cowgirl would claim this was all HER idea.

http://www.thekitchn.com/4-things-we-learned-about-butter-from-julia-child-228696

 

And God help us if she starts "designing" clothes. My eyes start to water just looking at some of those horrible rags she wears.  

Yep, Butter and olive oil is SOP with most chefs.

[Lillybee]

What is with the dumb 16 minute meal idea? It seems to be a random number. Did RR trademark 15 minute meals?

 

Today's repeat was 16 minute meals; cowboy style.She went on and on about cowboys loving iceberg lettuce.

[autumnh]

Color me shocked she came up with a response (lie) for where she gets her "stunning" tops.  Prior to this, she has never, ever answered.  There's a rabid fan who's built a macro (are they still called that?) in which she says HRH has said she gets them at Nordstrom, Dillards and a couple of online places, kinda similar to what Ree said.  This is the first I heard about thrift stores and Walmart.  What a joke.  The crap she wears is from MUCH more pricey places than those.  Not to mention Nordstrom buyers have a little better taste than gaudy shents.  

 

Hell, maybe she's got a sweatshop that makes them for her.

 

Self-indulgent, indeed.  HRH has an ego that must be stroked constantly, or she will wither and die.  It's nuts.  I guess I should feel sorry for her, but I much prefer to hate-watch.  

 

Did she say how many dogs they have?  Certain ones seem to have disappeared, like the Jack Russell.  Because of her many other lies, I think she's just glomming on to "people love puppies!!!!" to get hits on her media.  As they grow, she pretends to get another puppy.  Once they get to be a certain age, they're never seen again, with Cookie Jar Charlie or Walter, the bassets, being the exceptions.  Reality is they probably actually own two dogs.  

 

She does the same thing by posting baby photos of the kids and whining about how they grew up.  

 

Hey now....I am 50 and I love a good tunic...Aside from having kids I had gastric bypass 15 years ago this July...there is something good to be said about a tunic. I buy often at  modcloth.com and I think she does too....I have more issues with her butter laden/overly botoxed face than her tunics...they are not cheap and unless you hate a tunic...you probably won't like them...not all of us are against them lol...they are "50 something, gastric bypass, no waist friendly"

 

Please do not criticize me....I don't care...but I do love a pretty shirt! lol

[Kohola3]

...they are not cheap and unless you hate a tunic...

 

I don't think the design is an issue. It's the hideous, made-in-a-third-world-country-by-blind-peasants, garish materials.  She brings on a migraine just looking at those monstrosities.

[txvoodoo]

Sara Moulton is alive and well on PBS. Support your local PBS station.

She and a lot of others had disappeared from my main PBS channel. This week I discovered that PBS has an auxiliary channel called "Create" which airs Sara as well as many others - see http://createtv.com/

 

I'm tickled! 

[chessiegal]

She and a lot of others had disappeared from my main PBS channel. This week I discovered that PBS has an auxiliary channel called "Create" which airs Sara as well as many others - see http://createtv.com/

 

I'm tickled! 

Lucky you. The DC market used to have Create but they dropped it years ago, much to my chagrin.

[ShellSeeker]

She is no more your typical, home-cookin' mom than, honestly, Hillary Clinton is.  Own it Ree.

 

This has always been my biggest problem with her. Her whole schtick is this whole aw-shucks-I'm-just-a-simple-country-girl thing when it's obvious to anyone with half a brain and eyes in their head that her family owns a significant chunk of Oklahoma. 

 

The FAQ episode was a pretty amusing exercise in self-indulgence. I would just like to see her do something new or different. For once.

[Hildegard802]

As far as the tops, I fully suspect she wears her getups only for the show and other public appearances.  The black eyeliner, cheap extensions, jeans tucked into boots . . . it's her costume/part of her "brand."  

 

I, too, have nothing personal against tunics.  The retina-burning patterns don't appeal to me at all.  I don't know anyone who cooks wearing flowing bell sleeves.  Her outfits don't flatter her at all.  The biggest problem I have is with her lying to fans about where she gets the stuff, apparently to perpetuate the "I'm just common folk" myth.  

[Qoass]

 

 

As far as the tops, I fully suspect she wears her getups only for the show and other public appearances.

 

Well, yeah, because then you can write them off your taxes for a business expense.  And if you donate them to charity later, that's another write-off.

[MrsClaus]

I love a good tunic.......hers just aren't.  Modcloth.com, which was posted above, has some cute ones.

[txvoodoo]

Lucky you. The DC market used to have Create but they dropped it years ago, much to my chagrin.

 

Oh dang! I think it depends on your cable provider?

[chessiegal]

Oh dang! I think it depends on your cable provider?

Nope, it depends on your PBS stations. I've checked other cable providers, and none of them carry Create in my PBS market. Totally dependent on your PBS market. What fries me is that Alabama, Tampa, and New Orleans have it, and the affluent DC market won't pay for it. Grrr. I'd pay extra to get it, but you can't.

[txvoodoo]

chessiegal, that sucks. I'm so loving this! 

 

I did find that a lot of the shows on it are available through the PBS app on my Roku. Love that little thing.

 

On the tunics thing - I'm over 50, quite a bit rounder than I used to be, and spending my menopause in Texas. Lightweight, loose tunics are wonderful. Of course, I don't wear long sleeves while cooking because i have a brain. And I try not to wear things that make me look like a clown. 

 

However, she & her fans act like her tops are some rare, unique flowers of middle-aged garb.

 

Watching the FAQ show. She adds tomato paste to "make (her) broth thicker." Darling, if it's thicker, it isn't broth anymore.

 

I can't believe she had a segment on her dogs, though. I mean. Seriously. My twitter & FB are full of my dogs, but if I had a show about food, it wouldn't be about my dogs. I'm weird that way, I guess.

 

Hah, I see she's answering these questions from the Mercantile office. 

 

2016 really is the year of PW & kale. That must mean that kale is on the way out of public favor.

 

"I don't know where kale has been all of my life." 

 

It's been poor people's food, but now it's gentrified. 

 

Good god, she even adds sugar to her plain bread! As a diabetic, I couldn't live in her house. She'd kill me. Also, I make my own bread at least once a week - a no knead, and every time I'll throw something into it: cheese, or garlic, or herbs or olives - or mixes of them. It's so easy. You think she'd know this kind, throwing it into a dutch oven and all. 

 

Gosh, her bread looks so very meh. For all that work (and it is a lot!), it's just nothing special. And once again, she can't do something simple - her butter is chives, red pepper flakes, bleu cheese, and pepper. WAY too many flavors.

 

NO PALATE. (In my head, I call her "no palate Ree".)

 

And more gendering w/ how they decorate Josh's truck. 

 

So wait, it's fun to make Ree scream by firecrackers in the house?  Rubber snakes are just so stupid unless you're 5.

 

eta - I'm watching the "Scrumptious 16-Minute Meals". She's in her pantry again, just like she was in the FAQ episode. In that one, the pantry shelves were lined with her equipment - 2 blenders, 2 food processors, 2 stand mixers, and accoutrements. This time, they're filled with canned & jarred goods - pre-made tomato sauce, alfredo, pesto, etc. Also bags and boxes of pastas. And we can't forget  the hot sauces. 

 

You know something? It's so easy to MAKE and freeze these things. Why can't she do a show on that? Make tomato sauce. Make pesto. She supposedly has a great herb garden, right? 

 

She is SO BAD at covering up brand names. Tape on 3 places over "Mezzetta" on the pepper jar, but missing around the rim of the lid. 

 

Gosh, I never knew that pureeing something made something magical! I eat magical cauliflower all the time!

 

I wish there were a happy medium between Giada's cartoon pronunciation of Italian, and Ree's mangling of it. 

Edited April 21, 2016 by txvoodoo

[Lura]

On last night's "Chopped Championship," four outstanding chefs were given a basket containing some meat or fish (can't remember), sea beans, and -- get this -- a can of vanilla frosting.  They stood there looking at that frosting in shell shock.  I thought  Ree would know exactly what to do with the frosting.  She'd throw in some hot sauce, chili powder, cumin, pepper flakes, canned Serrano peppers and  a "buncha" jalapenos, stir it all up, and serve the "sauce" over the meat.  Presto!  One more 16 minute palate buster!

Edited April 21, 2016 by Lura

[Westiepeach]

On last night's "Chopped Championship," four outstanding chefs were given a basket containing some meat or fish (can't remember), sea beans, and -- get this -- a can of vanilla frosting.  They stood there looking at that frosting in shell shock.  I thought  Ree would know exactly what to do with the frosting.  She'd throw in some hot sauce, chili powder, cumin, pepper flakes, canned Serrano peppers and  a "buncha" jalapenos, stir it all up, and serve the "sauce" over the meat.  Presto!  One more 16 minute palate buster!

Plus a "haffa cuppa" sugar. Maybe just a "fortha cuppa" sugar since the frosting is so sweet. Nah. She would add the "haffa cuppa." Because she can™ ...

[peacheslatour]

 

She went on and on about cowboys loving iceberg lettuce.

Whenever she says "cowboy" my mind translates it to "simpleton". Nothing against the Sons of the West, she just makes them sound like morons.

[anneofcleves]

Whenever she says "cowboy" my mind translates it to "simpleton". Nothing against the Sons of the West, she just makes them sound like morons.

She really does.  Instead of evoking an image of the rugged, hard-working men who put their hearts and souls into tending this land and their livestock, it's more like she paints an image of a bunch of overgrown mama's boys who need their steak cut for them and need to be tricked into trying new foods.  

 

And I'm not really sure anyone really loves iceberg lettuce.  It's kind of like saying you love the flavor of ice.  Iceberg lettuce is a just a crunchy filler - a base for other good stuff.

 

Today's show about the mercantile was not too bad.  The cauliflower soup is not something I'd make for myself, but I'd enjoy it if I went somewhere and wanted a little splurge.  She was doing just fine with it until she started topping it with bacon, cheese, and all the other crap she can't help herself but adding to the soup.  The caramel cheese cake bars also looked very good, though they look like things I've seen her do a 1,000 times.

 

She was losing me with the quinoa and roasted root vegetable salad, because I was not loving the thought of the texture of the quinoa (which can become mushy) with very soft, sweet, roasted root vegetables.  But then she added the arugula and the pine nuts, which would give that salad some much-needed texture and flavor.

 

The jalapeno bread looked like broiled cat food on toast.  I'll pass.  

Edited April 23, 2016 by anneofcleves

[autumnh]

Plus a "haffa cuppa" sugar. Maybe just a "fortha cuppa" sugar since the frosting is so sweet. Nah. She would add the "haffa cuppa." Because she can™ ...

 

 

I just watched Steel Magnolias this morning and said to myself...I am surprised Ree hasn't made "cuppa cuppa cuppa" lol

[tenativelyyours]

No but she has made Can-a Can-a Can-a Can-a Can-a Can-a Can-a Can-a*

 

*I think she has maxed out at eight canned 'ingredients'

[Lillybee]

That dump cake with that canned cherry pie filling, so ugh.

[sabretooth]

The jalapeno bread looked like broiled cat food on toast.  I'll pass.  

 

And it was starting to congeal in some of the later shots, so it looked really unappetizing. There is nothing wrong with a plain old hunk of baguette and some good butter to go with a nice bowl of creamy soup. To be fair, the cauliflower soup did look good, but I think I'd pull back a bit on the half & half. 

 

I was also trying to figure out the whole mercantile setup. The Drummonds own the shop but dear Hy is running the joint and her son and fiancee are somehow involved, which makes Pawhuska a good place to raise a family? I lost the plot on that one. 

 

[grisgris]

During this episode, I kept laughing at the "almosts" when I suspect Ree wanted to say "expense" or "expensive" when she was going on about all of the "phases" of the building renovation. You know that all had to have cost a pretty penny (or two.) When Hy and the other women were gushing about Ree's "vision," "brains behind ..." yadda yadda yadda behind the mercantile, I kept hoping that Hyacinth would sarcastically blurt out "money."

 

What I took away from the Pawhuska remark was that as now there was going to be at least one "decent" store in town, that it was deemed good enough for Hyacinth's son, future DIL/grandkids to live there. /eyeroll.

 

That dinner looked like it was sponsored by the American Dairy Council. Even the salad wasn't spared with the addition of shaved Parmesan.

 

I swear that Ree has made every single one of those dishes before or at least the individual components. Hasn't she made that bread in other episodes? She just swapped out a second variety of olives for jalapenos.

 

I was more interested in what ideas and samples The Three Stoogettes brought back from Atlanta because I'm dying to know what the Drummond Mercantile is going to stock. I guess Ree can't peddle her crappy cookware stuff there as it would violate her deal with Walmart? I'll bet she has a sub-boutique of fugly flowly tops.

[maggiemae]

That is a huge Mercantile. I was anxious to hear the types of products they were shopping for as well in Atlanta Wonder if they are going to put little shops in their small town out of business.

Hope cowboy Josh' kids are being paid to work the cattle.

[Kohola3]

Hope cowboy Josh' kids are being paid to work the cattle.

 

They probably are. Unlimited access to indigestible fodder from Ree's kitchen plus acting wages for reciting "I'm starving" and "This is delicious" on cue.

[autumnh]

This is right up Rie Rie's alley.

 

[SanLynn]

LOL Dump Soups ... are you sure Ree doesn't have a co credit on that?

 

I sent most of yesterday's episode cringing at the way she said Mercanteel instead of the way I thought it should be Mercantile (like a tile floor). Since no one else has brought it up I'll assume I've just been saying it wrong all this time.

 

That Jalepeno bread looked disgusting, especially when she was plating everything up at the end. And I thought the Quinoa salad looked awful too but I'm going to put that down to me not being a big Quinoa fan.

 

I was surprised there wasn't a low key blouse commercial when they were discussing all their ideas at the end. You know those fugly blouses are going to prominently displayed for sale.

Edited April 25, 2016 by SanLynn

[txvoodoo]

I sent most of yesterday's episode cringing at the way she said Mercanteel instead of the way I thought it should be Mercantile (like a tile floor). Since no one else has brought it up I'll assume I've just been saying it wrong all this time.

Most online dictionaries with pronunciations agree with you: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/pronunciation/english/mercantile

 

So do I. :D It's grating!

 

"Two sleeves of graham crackers." Why not say 10, or 1 cup of cracker crumbs, or something else that would be, ya know, standard? Ditto "3 blocks of cream cheese." I know, I know, if she gave the actual amounts, we'd have no reason to go to the blog or website, increase hit counts and ad views so she can make bank.

 

Dear Ree - your measuring cup in which you cracked eggs is not a "pitcher". 

 

Wait. No fruit or caramel or reese's pieces on the cheesecake? Someone take Ree's temperature - she's gotta be sick!

 

AHHH there it is. The gratuitous sugar load. Sweetened condensed milk, sugar, corn syrup. 

 

Every time she says "merc" I think of Deadpool. 

 

When she is mixing up the vegetables, it looks like a lady playing mahjong.

 

OK, that salad looked good until she threw in pine nuts and Parmesan, both of which I like but they're two flavors too many. Again I say NO PALATE.

 

The jalapeno bread looks oily, and peppers on everything is meh.

 

"Gray is from the devil." What? How weird. Then again, it speaks to everything else about her - nothing neutral, everything full blast. 

 

NO PALATE.

 

I'm so confused about the Mercantile. Who's gonna be shopping at this backwater pseudo Zabars?

Edited April 25, 2016 by txvoodoo

[3pwood]

... I'm so confused about the Mercantile. Who's gonna be shopping at this backwater pseudo Zabars?

 

Her fans, of course!  Throngs of them making pilgrimages to the middle of nowhere.

[Qoass]

When Ree was prepping food at the office, I could swear I saw a bottle of Crown Royal in the cabinet to the right of her head.  I don't remember that being in any of the recipes...

[autumnh]

Her fans, of course!  Throngs of them making pilgrimages to the middle of nowhere.

 

 

Can't you see it now? All of her fan girls doing the cross country trip only to line up around the block in hopes of getting some crappy kitchen ware and maybe a tunic? She can do no wrong in their eyes.

[peacheslatour]

Can't you see it now? All of her fan girls doing the cross country trip only to line up around the block in hopes of getting some crappy kitchen ware and maybe a tunic? She can do no wrong in their eyes.

What is the deal with that? Are there that many terrible cooks in this country?

[autumnh]

What is the deal with that? Are there that many terrible cooks in this country?

 

I agree! I don't get the appeal myself....

[autumnh]

What is the deal with that? Are there that many terrible cooks in this country?

 

I was up late last night (I have menieres disease so it keeps me up) and I was browsing through old food network shows on you tube...I see so many great chefs and I think to myself, how did we end up with Valerie Bertinelli, Tia Mowry and well Kelly Kapowski (LOL) as food experts...I want to see CHEFS cook! ugh

[Kohola3]

What is the deal with that? Are there that many terrible cooks in this country?

 

There are that many sheep people who believe everything that they see on the teevee as being desirable, high brow, fascinating, top notch, etc. (or on the Internet for that matter) and then proceed to build their lives around what's on the tube.  They have no capability for independent thought and certainly no desire to learn anything.  They want entertainment and be told that it's perfectly fine to drown everything in marshmallow fluff and hot peppers and that makes it "gourmet" because Clown Woman said so.

 

The same thing goes for people who demand whatever HGTV has decided is "in" this year.  They wander from house to house appalled at any home that doesn't have one of the Holy Trinity of hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, and granite counter tops.

 

Suck it up people and get a life - and a brain.

[ShellSeeker]

 And I thought the Quinoa salad looked awful too but I'm going to put that down to me not being a big Quinoa fan.

 

I love quinoa, but I did wonder if she let it cool down enough before putting it into a salad. I made some meatballs a couple weeks ago with quinoa, and the recipe said they would be "light and airy." They were, kind of, but I was in a hurry to get dinner on the table so the quinoa was still warm when I added it to the meat mixture. Had I added it after it had cooled, they would have been easier to roll and would have had a lighter texture.

 

I'm so confused about the Mercantile. Who's gonna be shopping at this backwater pseudo Zabars?

 

I've wondered that as well, but if it ends up helping to revitalize that downtown area, maybe it will do some good even though it does seem like an exercise in self-indulgence.