All Episodes Talk

[grisgris]

I like and appreciate the fact that they maintained a lot of the building's architectural integrity. I don't care for the decor, though. Way too many pictures for my taste. It really does look more like an art gallery. Oh, well. To each their own.

[sabretooth]

That tenderloin sandwich platter that Ree's SIL made looked really tasty. Give me some of that, the crudite and the cheese and I'd be a happy camper. Drippy, saucy meatballs seem like there would be too much potential for mess throughout that nicely decorated office. 

 

I was put off by the jingle bell sound of the Food Network 'holiday tips' bugs. Until I figured out where the bells were coming from, I thought that Ree was using some sort of secret word indicator. 

[3pwood]

... I discovered this little gem from The New Yorker that is a delightfully honest review of her tv show in 2012.  I don't know how I missed this, but I'm sharing it in case others missed it, too.  The Pioneer Woman Gets Lost on the Range.

 

Many thanks for pointing this out -- note that an earlier story by the same author is linked within this one & is also well worth reading. I'll bet that Amanda Fortini hasn't been invited back to visit the ranch again. 

 

 

[tabloidlover]

I can't figure out the bacon wrapped, almond stuffed figs.  What is with the almonds in the middle to introduce "nuttiness" as she called it?  I just don't get it.

[CMH1981]

 

I can't figure out the bacon wrapped, almond stuffed figs.  What is with the almonds in the middle to introduce "nuttiness" as she called it?  I just don't get it.

 

All I thought was somebody chipping a tooth when biting into it not expecting the almond.

[mojito]

Interesting read from The New Yorker. I would love to know what percentage of her income comes from viewership that only watches her so that they can snark about her later. I gotta find me a way to make that happen for me. I'm a bit envious of this woman.

 

 

I don't mind people using their hands to mix everything for meatballs or meatloaf, hell I watched Martha Stewart use her hands on her cooking school show last week and you know if that woman does it that it's okay, but could Ree take her damn wedding ring off?!  All I can think of is I hope she got that ring scrubbed really well and sanitized w/soap and water before going to town w/her hands in the food that people, other than her family members, were going to eat.

I don't watch many cooking shows, and I'm not a germaphobe, but every time I see someone handling food wearing rings, I wonder how sanitary those rings are. For TV's sake, I would not wear rings. Of course, I would also make sure I'm filmed using soap and water (visible suds a must) when I wash my hands rather than that wetting the fingertips and rubbing them together motion.

[Qoass]

I'm CONVINCED that they taped a close-up of her hands at the sink which they then plug in wherever a hand wash is called for.  I get the same impression with Nigella Lawson's programs too so maybe there's some intern at the production company they share who is getting hygiene residuals. 

Edited December 2, 2014 by Qoass

[Iboatedhere]

I think her photography is beautiful but agree that there was way too much of it on display for an office. I know there were bigger pieces hanging on the wall but were there smaller ones on the shelves too? Beautiful yes, but how many pictures of horses, cows, and children do you need to see?

[WhitneyWhit]

Call me crazy, but I'm excited about her Cowboy Christmas. Since Sandra Lee doesn't do Holiday specials anymore, I need something to snark on, and I'm positive Ree will give it to me. I was thinking about taking a drink everytime Ree says "I'm so excited for Christmas" or "Cowboy"  in a complete monotone, but I would like to live to see Christmas.

[NausetGirl]

With the amount of cast iron and enameled cast iron she uses, I wonder if Lodge will be involved?  Did I really see a purple, enameled cast iron pot with a handle in the shape of a butterfly?  I believe I did.

 

When stumbling around the internet looking for info about her cookware, I discovered this little gem from The New Yorker that is a delightfully honest review of her tv show in 2012.  I don't know how I missed this, but I'm sharing it in case others missed it, too.  The Pioneer Woman Gets Lost on the Range.

 

ALL the pros use cast-iron and/or enameled cast-iron. It truly is the best, the most versatile, the easiest to care-for [short of toss-away foil pans] and needless to say, it lasts forever.

Edited December 4, 2014 by NausetGirl

[rustyspigot]

Why does she say shrimps in one sentence, shrimp the very next sentence and then back to shrimp in the next? Its distracting. It was in the episode with her dad and the step mom who I can't figure that if she really likes or despises. She kept saying her name in a really different tone.

 

Kind of like the interchangeable "a cuppa" vs "a cup of".

[ariel]

ALL the pros used cast-iron and/or enameled cast-iron. It truly is the best, the most versatile, the easiest to care-for [short of toss-away foil pans] and needless to say, it lasts forever.

Very true.  With all that's out there to buy, one has to wonder why anyone needs to purchase it from a non-pro like Ree

Edited December 4, 2014 by ariel

[chessiegal]

Okay, ariel, you just made gin and tonic come out my nose. Thanks for the laugh.

[mousie]

 

Very true.  With all that's out there to buy, one has to wonder why anyone needs to purchase it from a non-pro like Ree

It seems like if you read the reviews for the various TV chefs who have come out with their own lines of enameled cast iron, they get pretty poor reviews. The coating chips and they don't seem to hold up very well, even to normal home use. And that's including Martha, Batali and others.

 

So I will stay with my small collection of Le Creuset. They have been acquired over 20+ years and nothing was bought at full retail. If you keep an eye out, the major retailers often have sales and closeouts, there are the LC outlet stores, occasionally you can find the odd piece at someplace like HomeGoods or TJ Maxx, plus eBay, thrift stores, yard sales. They are a pleasure to cook with. Don't fall for the cheap knockoffs with a celebrity name.

[Westiepeach]

Why does she say shrimps in one sentence, shrimp the very next sentence and then back to shrimp in the next? Its distracting. It was in the episode with her dad and the step mom who I can't figure that if she really likes or despises. She kept saying her name in a really different tone.

 

Kind of like the interchangeable "a cuppa" vs "a cup of".

I know! I saw that yesterday and it bugged me to no end! I was actually yelling at the TV, "it's SHRIMP ... not SHRIMPS.  SHRIMP!" minor pet peeve of mine.

Edited December 4, 2014 by Westiepeach

[novhappy]

I believe they do a lot of work in the editing room for her. On the steak Oscar program she blends the hot coffee with the chips and the eggs (by the way, what? Has anyone ever heard of this- does is work?) and when she finishes blending it's clearly still grainy. ON the crazy-ass meatloaf when she mixes the 12 whole slices of bread that has been soaked in milk into the ground beef there is an edit and then it is perfectly incorporated. I believe that would not really work- even soaked in milk whole bread slices would be difficult to evenly blend in. I would think one would have to tear up the bread before soaking it.

[txvoodoo]

Call me crazy, but I'm excited about her Cowboy Christmas. Since Sandra Lee doesn't do Holiday specials anymore, I need something to snark on, and I'm positive Ree will give it to me. I was thinking about taking a drink everytime Ree says "I'm so excited for Christmas" or "Cowboy"  in a complete monotone, but I would like to live to see Christmas.

Just don't take a drink every time she says "just". You'd end up in the emergency room.

 

I love my cast iron skillets, but I also love my pyrex casseroles for oven use. Not as heavy, easier to clean!  Le Crueset is nice, but honestly, I can't see spending that much for it. I'd buy Lodge's version in a heartbeat - I have 1 piece, and it's lasted beautifully. I'd rather spend the money on ingredients. :)

[anneofcleves]

 

Very true.  With all that's out there to buy, one has to wonder why anyone needs to purchase it from a non-pro like Ree

 Amen, Ariel!  I suppose the thing you'll get from Ree is a purple pan with a butterfly handle?  You know, something cowboys would have used over a campfire on the range.  {cue the coyote howl}

[rustyspigot]

 

Amen, Ariel!  I suppose the thing you'll get from Ree is a purple pan with a butterfly handle?  You know, something cowboys would have used over a campfire on the range.  {cue the coyote howl}

 

Don't forget finding the random "fly" some where on it. I would be surprised if she didn't sell the "hilarious" plastic snakes somewhere in her new deli.

[mojito]

 

Why does she say shrimps in one sentence, shrimp the very next sentence and then back to shrimp in the next? Its distracting.

I'm thinking that there's a way she's used to saying things and the way she knows is correct, and she still slips back to her old way. I noticed this very thing with the word "potato". Half the time she says "potata". Maybe she should give "'taters" a try.

[Hildegard802]

I've always gotten the impression the "down-home country" speak (puh-tay-tah, tuh-may-tuh, fixin's, etc) is a put-on for purposes of her "cowboy" affectations.

[mousie]

 

I've always gotten the impression the "down-home country" speak (puh-tay-tah, tuh-may-tuh, fixin's, etc) is a put-on for purposes of her "cowboy" affectations.

 

I agree, she went to college in Los Angeles and lived there for a few years before returning back to the frontier. So yes, I agree it's a put on.

[film noire]

 

a shit ton of records to be kept,

 

I don't think modern day record keeping requires that kind of space (unless they're keeping records in the manner of Ike Godsey, circa 1933 on Walton's Mountain -- scribblin' accounts down whenever Grandma comes in for sugar to bake up a pie for Johnboy -- although that would explain Ree's habit of 'borrowing' recipes from old cookbooks.)

 

 

 

I agree, she went to college in Los Angeles and lived there for a few years before returning back to the frontier. So yes, I agree it's a put on.

 

 

She is one scrubbed up, faked out lie  (sorta like the way she removed all refs to her "r*******" brother from her website

years ago -- after being snotty and defiant about using the word -- because she knew it wouldn't jive with the line of bullshit she's trying to sell her audience.)

Edited December 6, 2014 by film noire

[3pwood]

I've always gotten the impression the "down-home country" speak (puh-tay-tah, tuh-may-tuh, fixin's, etc) is a put-on for purposes of her "cowboy" affectations.

 

I agree, she went to college in Los Angeles and lived there for a few years before returning back to the frontier. So yes, I agree it's a put on.

 

And she was raised by educated parents in a prosperous neighborhood (her father was a surgeon).  She's slumming & getting rich(er) doing it -- patronizing as well as dishonest.

Edited December 6, 2014 by 3pwood

[Notmuchofacook]

I have followed Ree's blog almost from the beginning. She was witty and funny. Other folks thought so, too, and she got a TV gig. She came from privilege and her husband is crazy wealthy with his cattle business. The family works hard. I still enjoy reading her blog and watching her show. I'm not inclined to cook her recipes, but that's okay. I love the house/lodge porn. She's had great success. Good for her.

[maggiemae]

Now Red can cook in The house, Lodge, and office.

Seems a bit much to me....especially with all the suffering around for à meal. I'll throw out on the range as well.

[mojito]

 

I agree, she went to college in Los Angeles and lived there for a few years before returning back to the frontier. So yes, I agree it's a put on.

It could be a put on. But a college degree and time outside OK and educated parents don't have a whole lot to do with how one talks in an informal "home" setting. Many of us have a couple different ways of speaking, depending on the audience.

[anneofcleves]

 

 

Now Red can cook in The house, Lodge, and office.

Seems a bit much to me....especially with all the suffering around for à meal. I'll throw out on the range as well.

 

The office building has a professional kitchen on site so I'm sure the food for the Christmas party was all prepped and cooked there with staff help.  Can you imagine how long it would actually take Ladd to grill 100 sirloin kebobs?  (By the way...How far is that office from their home?  I always had the impression that it's a good 20-30 minutes away.)

 

It looked like a nice party - great venue at the office building- and people actually looked to be having genuine fun.  Her food always bores me to tears because it's such basic, heavy stuff, but it looked good.  I do give her props for using some lard in the biscuits.  That's something you don't see much on FN.  Go, Ree!

Edited December 7, 2014 by anneofcleves

[HyeChaps]

The ham looked good.

[grisgris]

I was getting whiplash watching Ree racing around between the lodge (house? I think she mentioned going there, but didn't show it???), the pens, Edna Mae's and The. Building.

 

Was the show/event somehow tied into Osage County or the Oklahoma Division of Tourism or something? I lost count of the number of times Ree mentioned Osage County.

 

I felt sorry for Paige getting stuck with the children's cookie decorating duty. Ree is giving Ina a run for the money in candy selection.

 

It did look like people were having a lot of fun at the party.

[CMH1981]

 

Was the show/event somehow tied into Osage County or the Oklahoma Division of Tourism or something? I lost count of the number of times Ree mentioned Osage County.

 

LOL!!!  I know, I was going to post here did she mention that enough?  We could make a drinking game out of it if her show was on in the evenings and she mentioned it more in her everyday shows.

 

 

I was getting whiplash watching Ree racing around between the lodge (house? I think she mentioned going there, but didn't show it???), the pens, Edna Mae's and The. Building.

 

Yeah, it just seemed odd, let's say she went to meet the workers, which let's say at least 20 minutes, and I'm pretty sure it's been said that they live 30/45 min from town so her timeframe is off from preparing food and then making all these extraneous trips into town.  In my opinion the timeframe for the entire episode was probably skewed and all this took place over two days, not one.  

 

I wondered what Edna Mae's reason for not attending the party was?  In my mind she doesn't like the extravagance of the party/spending that Ree does, but that's just me.

 

Her food did look good, the potatoes looked great as did the biscuits.  For once I agree w/Ree, the holidays are the time of the year when you don't skimp on the cream, butter, and lard.  I was afraid that she wouldn't have enough food since she didn't mention it was potluck at the beginning.  

 

I'm guessing this was filmed last Christmas since the building wasn't done yet compared to last weeks episode.  It confused me at first b/c I was wondering when they filmed this for the current holiday season and that the college-daughter came home just to do ranch work and all.  I figured it out when they showed more of the office building not finished.

 

I have a feeling Ladd, that most cities doesn't allow you to cook on city sidewalks w/o a permit of some sort, even if they are small rural towns.

Edited December 8, 2014 by CMH1981

[Fostersmom]

Their daughter hasn't gone off to college yet. She's in the process of applying. 

[grisgris]

That was the most animated that I've ever seen Ladd. "These look about ready.....  Yeah. Almost ready."

 

There were at least two recipes where Ree said "I just added a buncha..." without giving any specific measurements. She's that sure that we're going to rush to the FN site and read the recipe? Not me.

[Qoass]

I'll give credit where credit is due:  I would have had a good time at that party as long as I was far, far away from the little children with lassoes.  The ham and "puddada's" looked delicious and I would have eaten them up while willfully ignoring the calories and I thought the band was terrific.

 

Nobody was going to actually eat the decorated cookies off those wooden crates, were they?  You all are turning me into a germaphobe.

[funky brewster]

I joined just to say that the comments here about Ree are absolutely spot on.  Thanks for the laugh!  Back to reading them...

 She's had great success. 

Easy to claim when hubby gets Big-Ag taxpayer funding.

[Notmuchofacook]

I joined just to say that the comments here about Ree are absolutely spot on.  Thanks for the laugh!  Back to reading them...

Easy to claim when hubby gets Big-Ag taxpayer funding.

Yes. That may be true. But she has had her own success. If she had advantages, why wouldn't she use them (money for the lodge, etc)? Her husband making money from taxpayer supported ag and mustang collection is ingrained in our country. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but should she not enjoy her own success because of the way her husband and family become wealthy? I guess she should wear sackcloth and ashes.

[film noire]

 

If she had advantages, why wouldn't she use them

 

imo, If you have wealth/other advantages, then don't weasel,  fudge, pretend or try to divert attention away from that truth (or who you are, where you're from, etc). Fronting something you're not is always going to draw negative attention; most people hates fakes. Drummond could've been as big (if not much bigger) a success by being truthful to who she is (a woman from a very privileged background, who ended up the rich wife of a cattleman -- like a cross between a Ewing wife and a western Ina -- albeit without the fab food and fab gay friends). But instead, she built a fake Ree & with that (imo) she gave people the right to criticize every hypocritical crack in the cheap veneer.

 

The best thing at that party was the band -- man, did they swing! -- would love to go to a party they played at. (btw, Funky Brewster -- love your handle.)

Edited December 9, 2014 by film noire

[Hildegard802]

Yes. The pretense she's 24/7 bloggin', takin' pitchers (not a typo) and photoshoppin' 'em, cookin', shoppin' and waterin' her massive "herb garden", in addtion to crankin' out childrens' books, "cookbooks" and doin' speakin' engagements and book tours PLUS rollin' out a line of expensive cookware (seems to be quiet on that front lately?) PLUS startin' up a deli and "mercantile" and buildin' another TV studio in "The Building" PLUS maintainin' a constant presence on FB with the millions of "friends" she holds so dear and who worship the ground she walks on because she's "just like them," all about God and family values and whatnot [and gag me with a spoon]. The pretense that she herself is actually doing all this all by her wee little self, without breaking a sweat, with precious few hints there is one single soul in the background doing the vast majority of the actual work. If there IS a suggestion there's a helper of any sort she claims the people are her "friends" or "neighbors." That's the bullshit I find disgusting. While attempting to foster this "I'm just like you and I love you all more 'n my luggage" image, I never get the impression she actually gives a royal shit about any of her "fans" as anything but tools by which to enrich her already overflowing coffers and as a vehicle through which to admire herself more than she already does. I know of no other food network host who pretends he or she wants to be besties with the viewers. The way she pimps her kids and flaunts a supposedly sex-fueled life with her husband (I don't believe that shit for a second) out to the crazies adds to her distinct unlikeability. Very few of her admirers could ever possibly afford the ugly shirtains she wears, not to mention the cookware she uses. But yeah, she and the lily-white fam are downhome on the farm workin' a few thousand head of cattle on the daily. As was said by one reviewer, she's found a sellable line of lies and fat- and sodium-laden "recipes" a first-grader could produce, so good on her, I guess? And I will watch just to laugh and marvel at what a fundamental asshole she is, cuz I enjoy it!

Edited December 9, 2014 by Hildegard802

[ariel]

Didn't Ree claim to suffer from Agoraphobia?   That sounds rather curious with all her out of the house activities.

[grisgris]

Ariel, I believe you are thinking about Paula Deen. She has frequently discussed suffering from agoraphobia. I think she's fine now.

 

OTOH, if one had agoraphobia, then being stuck in the "middle of nowhere," seems like an ideal situation!

[ariel]

http://thepioneerwoman.com/about/

 

"Howdy. I’m Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman. I’m a moderately agoraphobic ranch wife and mother of four. Welcome to my frontier!"

 

She gets around a lot for someone who is "moderately" agoraphobic.

Edited December 10, 2014 by ariel

[grisgris]

Wow. That's strange. "Moderately" indeed. I've never read her blog.

[Automne]

I don't think she knows what the word "agoraphobic" means. Someone who is even mildly agoraphobic isn't going to go on book tours.

[captain1]

Was I the only one who really enjoyed the Christmas party episode? I thought Ladd looked at ease and seemed to be enjoying himself. And the food looked really good (as well as the space)!

[Qoass]

No, I also posted that I enjoyed it upthread.

 

However I did forget to mention that it appears the Drummond boys have entered the surly years.  In that barbershop segment, I didn't hear a "please", a "thank you" or even a "have a nice (holi)day".

[Diane]

I also enjoyed it. 

[captain1]

Wow just realized I somehow missed all the comments about the party - that would've gotten me banned on TWoP!

[parrotlover]

I don't know why it's taken me so long to find this thread but I'm so glad I did! I've watched for two or three years and started out a big fan, but over time have the same complaints as others have stated with the repetition of recipes and shows on making sandwiches and salads. But hey I still watch every week. Maybe for the snark factor.

 

Okay, I enjoyed the Christmas party episode too. That space is beautiful and the food looked really good. Love homemade biscuits so I would have loved to have tasted those.

 

But I do have a complaint and I know it's a dumb one, but it annoyed me. I get that Ree wanted to have something for the kids to do so she came up with the gingerbread cookie decorating station. But seriously, did she go like way overboard on the candy choices to decorate the cookies? I can understand having red and green sprinkles and those kind of things, etc., but I swear it looked like Dylan's Candy Bar in there with all the jars of candy toppings she had. And it didn't look like that many kids were even at the party. Also, I'm surprised she actually made the frosting and didn't just give the kids the icing in the can that comes in red and green and has different decorator tips!

 

This tells you that Ree gets on my nerves when I find something so minor to nitpick about!

[anneofcleves]

I swear to God I haven't tainted my kids on the topic of Pioneer Woman, but the other day I overheard my son talking to tv while he was watching her.  He was mocking her in a nasally, monotone voice saying, "Today I'm going to show you how to make a sandwich.  A fancy sandwich.  With ham.  And cheese.  Because I have a TV show and you probably don't know how to do this."  I about died laughing.  

[SanLynn]

My DVR caught the "Little School House on the Prairie" episode today and I laughed at how excited these kids are over School. That and the Jam segment gave me some nice giggles today.

 

"While the jam cools we have time for Memory Work!" All kids together: "Yayyyyyy!" My eyes rolled so far back in my head I almost passed out.