Snark Talk: Home, Home on the (De) Ranged

[Qoass]

I watched that and liked it enough but my Beloved TiVo listed no further episodes.

[ariel]

I think Ree is a replacement for the Paula Deen worshipers. I get a vibe of a dog whistle.

[grisgris]

I saw that as well and have recorded it for viewing either this evening or at a later date. I also didn't see any future episodes. Either this is another Amy Thielen type (one season and done) situation or FN is testing a new show. Fingers crossed that it is good and will last.

[Westiepeach]

19 minutes ago, grisgris said:

I saw that as well and have recorded it for viewing either this evening or at a later date. I also didn't see any future episodes. Either this is another Amy Thielen type (one season and done) situation or FN is testing a new show. Fingers crossed that it is good and will last.

It's rerunning Friday at 10:30. I watched it; it was ok. I wouldn't go out of my way to look for it, JMHO. But it also did not want to make me turn the channel (looking at YOU, Guy Fieri).

[ariel]

I like Amy Thielen.  I guess she was too talented for the current FN audiance.  She is one of those uppity James Beard Award winners.  She's more PBS material.  I hope they give her a show.

[ChickenLatte99]

This is always funny.

http://www.pienearwoman.com/about/

[anneofcleves]

Trisha Yearwood’s (and Ree’s) weight bobbles up and down like a lot of women.  I think it’s a tough industry to work in and stay movie star slim and trim like Giada does.  Neither of them seem unhealthy.

[cathy]

I should not have criticized Trisha for gaining weight.  I read somewhere that Giada spits out the food she makes into a bucket.  I can't imagine that there would be that many takes to make that necessary.  She could swallow, then skip lunch or dinner, and not gain weight.  Seems like a waste of food to me.  There is an article about Ree on people online (and picked up by MSN) with a video with the usual propaganda/lies about how she never planned this.  The same old......

[Natalie68]

On 11/24/2017 at 4:20 PM, Lura said:

I just saw the re-run of Ree's Thanksgiving challenge to Bobby Flay on "Throwdown."  She wore no makeup that one could tell, especially no eye makeup and no lipstick ... and she looked WONDERFUL!  She didn't smile from ear to ear during her presentation, and most especially, she talked in a normal tone of voice with none of the theatrics that she uses on her show.  I cannot believe it, but I liked Ree!!!  She seemed so normal, down to earth, and not "put on" in the least. 

This show made it oh, so obvious that she is nothing now compared to the way she was in the beginning.  It was enough to make you want to weep over what she could have been if she'd only stuck to her natural self.

She really did look a lot better.  Darker, less orange hair and more natural make up.

[ariel]

11 hours ago, anneofcleves said:

Trisha Yearwood’s (and Ree’s) weight bobbles up and down like a lot of women.  I think it’s a tough industry to work in and stay movie star slim and trim like Giada does.  Neither of them seem unhealthy.

I agree with you, but most of  Ree's "recipes" aren't figure friendly. She claims to be a cowgirl, but I don't see her doing much ranch work that would help burn the calories.  Does she even know how to ride a horse?

Edited November 30, 2017 by ariel

[Qoass]

Yes, but she doesn't like to.

[jcbrown]

It gave me great joy to hear her mispronounce "bruschetta"  over and over again in one of this morning reruns. Twit.

[chessiegal]

Heads up all you snarkers! Ree's got a special airing at 7 pm ET titled "Super Sweet Christmas". Hah.

[Automne]

Like her Thanksgiving special, this Christmas one was just a clip show of Christmas episodes past where she made cookies and candies. Again, if she can only come up with clip shows at this point, she needs to call it a day and go back to blogging full-time. Maybe take a break and change things up because she's on borrowed time with mining her children for her blog and show fodder and there are only so many reiterations of lemonade and nachos she can do. And since she's terrible at writing and her photography isn't really all that good, either, she can't translate her blogging into an actual food writing/photography career. Plenty of blogs that have come after her have far surpassed her in writing and photography.

[grisgris]

I am recording it right now, but a quick glance looks like another cut/paste episode.

I was pleasantly surprised by the new show, "Baked in Vermont" that debuted today. Gesine Prado is the host. I have never heard of her so I have some homework to do. However, my initial impressions were positive. She definitely is from my generation and she had me when she said music from "AC/DC" was going through her head when she was decorating something.  Her baked goods looked delicious and I enjoyed her teaching style. She is very at ease in front of the camera and maintains a good balance of instruction and friendliness and a light touch of humor. She is a self-taught baker and while what she made probably wouldn't take first place on "Cake Wars," they certainly looked easy enough to try and get good results at home.

She and her husband have a beautiful home/baking school in Vermont, so we have the New England scenery porn of "Farmhouse Rules."  The cooking class segments were well balanced with stand and stir. It was a nice change from Giada's "cooking class" shows, where she has to hog front and center at all times. I loved the idea of preparing a cake mix in a jar and those pistachio star cookies are a must-try for me.

I could tell you that in 20 minutes or however long ... I picked up at least three new and helpful baking tips. I think that I might have picked up three "tips" total in how many years of watching PW ...

I hope that Genise has more than one show and I'd be especially interested to see what she does with savory foods.

[Lura]

1 hour ago, chessiegal said:

Heads up all you snarkers! Ree's got a special airing at 7 pm ET titled "Super Sweet Christmas". Hah.

Oh, joy. 

Grisgris, thanks a million for ringing the bell!  I hope the FN repeats the show.  It sounds like a winner.  I've been wanting a new baking show ever since Gail Gand left, and that's been a while!  A Vermont setting couldn't be more lovely, especially at this time of the year.  What a great way to kick off the season.  Thank you for your review.  I'll bet Genise makes Ree look pathetic -- Ree and her patchwork Christmas.  Pffffft.

[grisgris]

Ah ... NOW I know who Gesine reminds of ... Laura Vitale. Obviously, Gesine is a bit older, but it's the same vibe.

[Fairfax]

The FN website says that Gesine Prado's "Baked In Vermont" will be shown on Saturdays at 12:30pm (EST), with repeats on Tuesdays at the same time.  The first episode was shown today & will be repeated this Tuesday, Dec. 5.  It sounds like it's worth a try -- thanks for pointing it out, grisgris.

[Kohola3]

17 minutes ago, Fairfax said:

It sounds like it's worth a try -- thanks for pointing it out, grisgris.

Definitely. I just set my DVR for it.

[Lura]

I see that Ree has removed all of her recipes from her blog.  Try finding them at the FN sometime.  I tried about a month ago for I-forget-what, and it turned out that she'd given the recipe some goofy name, so SEARCH couldn't find it.

Some of her cookie recipes have only been reviewed by 14 people.  I guess that tells us how much her sweets enticed everyone.  Her Christmas Cherries only received 3 stars from viewers.  Not very impressive for the woman who leads the FN.

In the meantime, her latest blog is laden with picture after picture of renovations made to the hotel.  I swear she took pictures of every nail driven into wood there.  She still hasn't decided what to call it -- a boarding house, a guest house, a hotel. 

I noticed that Ree posted a recipe of Hy's favorite Christmas cookies.  I wanted to look at it, but it disappeared.  Did anyone see what kind they were?

[anneofcleves]

Lura, I see cookie recipes on her blog, under the cooking section.  I don’t follow her blog anymore and don’t know if she’s pruned some  but there are recipes showing now.  I haven’t paid any attention to her hotel activity, but oy.  I’m telling you, friends, that Drummond theme park/water park/petting zoo can’t be far behind.

The Super Sweet Christmas was predictably pretty awful.  I imagine even her most diehard fans are bored with a lack of new content and not overly impressed.  I’m wondering how long she’ll keep up the ruse of a weekly show, given that she doesn’t seem to have the time or interest to be creative with new offerings?  And by new offerings I mean variations on chili, burgers, meatloaf, tacos, quesadillas...

Edited December 3, 2017 by anneofcleves

[tvchick]

Gesine Prado is Sandra Bullock's sister.  After law school and a stint producing movies, she became a pastry chef in Vermont, wrote cookbooks and and opened a deli/bakery here in Austin several years ago called Walton's Fancy and Staple.

Sorry to go off-topic, but wanted to ID her for you.

[grisgris]

No, thank you, tvchick! I knew zilch about Gesine. How interesting.  That's what I was trying to put my finger on to describe her. She seemed very self-confident, which I find sorely lacking in some of the other cooking show hosts. (Not to imply that law school or being SB's sister have anything to do with being self-assured but it was refreshing.)  I am eager to see future shows and hope that maybe this will turn into a lasting gig.  Unfortunately, I foresee this beating a hasty retreat to "The Cooking Channel" once the obligatory six-episode stint is over. If that happens, I'll still follow it.

[Qoass]

I pulled a couple of cookie recipes from Prado's cookbook but I've never made them because they sound good to eat but just too much work to make.

I've been collecting some of the Food Network holiday how-to shows on my Beloved TiVo to watch while all my network shows are on hiatus. I'll probably watch them while eating something I didn't bake myself...

[Automne]

Did anybody else catch the Homestead Table pilot? Unfortunately, I don't see any re-airings in the near future, but I hope they pick it up. The food is very simplistic, which is exactly what Shaye Elliott advertises, but it looks delicious and not chock-full of unnecessary ingredients and additions.

I'm wondering if they're attempting to present her as a PW replacement. With PW clearly moving onto becoming a businesswoman with the Mercantile and now a hotel popping up, her show over-relying on clips of previous episodes, and her kids are ranging from 13-20,  the show honestly needs to be buried on the home prairie. I can't help but make comparisons between Shaye and Ree: both are gingers with four tow-headed kids (two boys and two girls), live on a ranch/farm, and run successful food blogs (Shaye's: http://theelliotthomestead.com/). Shaye is clearly more comfortable in front of a camera and her food clearly uses what she grows. Just skimming her blog, I see she even talks about using the less popular parts of meat, like chicken feet. And while her kids are still really young and there's only been one episode, I see none of this gender stereotype bullshit that Ree does. Everybody is eating vegetables and meat, not "girls eat this and boys eat that."

Shaye Elliott seems to be more of what Ree SHOULD have been. Honestly, the untapped potential of a ranch housewife cooking show that Ree keeps ignoring is what pisses me off most about her. And it would've been great if FN kept Heartland Table and Farmhouse Rules. Though all three shows are similar (two of the shows having fraternal twin titles), it could've been a Saturday or Sunday morning block of rustic Americana farmland cooking showcasing three different regions of the USA, especially when the Midwest, PNW, and upstate NY/Northeast are underrepresented on FN. Plus, imagine the crossover potential: holiday specials with Nancy, Amy, and Shaye getting together at each other's farmhouses to put together a feast and comparing/contrasting each other's regional cooking. 

Ugh. THE FOOD NETWORK COULD BE SO MUCH BETTER! GAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

[HyeChaps]

As opposed to Ree, Nancy has real knowledge and expertise!!!  Farmhouse Rules getting cancelled burns me up!

[ShortyMac]

I thought you'd all get a kick out of my sister and I's texts from the other day. I'm in blue.

 

Edited December 5, 2017 by ShortyMac
Gonna fix the images

[grisgris]

I'm dying laughing, ShortyMac! ;:

Meanwhile, I'm pretty amazed that Ree has missed this one:

http://12tomatoes.com/cattle-drive-casserole/?utm_source=12t-12t&utm_medium=content-12t-content&utm_term=20171011&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=cattle-drive-casserole&origin=12t_12t_content_12t-content_link_cattle-drive-casserole_20171011

ETA: As we used to say about Aunt Sandy ... "Don't give her any ideas!"

Edited December 5, 2017 by grisgris

[ariel]

Ree's menfolk would love that, while her girls eat their salads.

[sigmaforce86]

On 12/2/2017 at 8:18 PM, Automne said:

Maybe take a break and change things up because she's on borrowed time with mining her children for her blog and show fodder and there are only so many reiterations of lemonade and nachos she can do. 

I disagree but not in a "you're wrong" way more in a "she'll ride that fame horse as far as she can" sort of way.  Unless she voluntarily gives up the show because she actually wants to move on I think she'll find ways to use her family and kids as show fodder to pull in ratings and fans.  Picturing a couple last kid goes off to college/first kid graduates and moves back home episodes where we do flashbacks of favorite care package recipes with some new items like lot's of beef jerky thrown in because it's a boys care package and you know they're just different.  Then we'll have the courtship and wedding episodes, the my new son-in-law on the ranch episodes, the Bryce joins his dad as ranch partner episodes (he seems the most likely to follow the family business) and of course that can lead to more of those menfolk vs. womenfolk episodes.  Then, if it goes on long enough we'll be treated to the new grand baby and a baby shower at "the merc" episodes where the main dish also serves as the gender reveal; quiche if it's a girl or Lad grilling a side of beef if it's a boy.

[ariel]

Ree is very big with the home school crowd.  They think she actually home schooled her children through high school.  She might have HS when they were very young, but paid professional tutors were hired when they got older.

Edited December 6, 2017 by ariel

[jcbrown]

Why does she homeschool, does anyone know? Is it a fundie religious thing?

[ariel]

1 hour ago, jcbrown said:

Why does she homeschool, does anyone know? Is it a fundie religious thing?

She claims it takes too much time to drive her kids to school & back, but she will use the fundy card when needed for $$$$

I don't understand with all Ladd's money she couldn't hire someone to drive the kids to school & drive them back home.

Edited December 7, 2017 by ariel

[grisgris]

1 hour ago, ariel said:

She claims it takes too much time to drive her kids to school & back,

 

I call bull (and mustang) shit on that flimsy excuse.  Shit, even the laziest "Real Housewife of Dallas," (Don't judge. LOL!) spent 45 minutes-hour driving each way every day to take her sons to school.

How many episodes have we seen Ree making multiple trips to and from town in a single day to conduct business at the Merc? Given that, appears that if it is a trip that benefits her somehow, the driving is no problem. Didn't we figure out that it's really not that far to town? (Like 20 min. or something?)  Certainly, there are other farm/ranch/rural students in proximity. Doesn't Osage Co. have school buses?

WTH does she have to do around the ranch all day that's more important than her kids' education? (I know that's a multiple-sided question ... ) Seriously. She doesn't help Ladd with (m)any ranch chores. The kids also do the small outside jobs like watering the garden, pet care and lawn maintenance. Which leaves ... ? Oh, yeah, right ...

[Lura]

So true, grisgris, and I think there's one more reason.  Ree comes from a well-to-do background, a country club atmosphere, and she was educated at a major university.  Even the Drummonds, going back to Chuck, have university educations.  In this day and age, colleges and universities  put huge emphasis on how well an applicant does on his or her SATS and other test scores.  I suspect that Ree and Ladd knew better than to continue homeschooling them after middle school age and turned to tutors to keep the kids on a high level.  So, with Ree's money, they hired the best tutors they could  find. They probably flew them in from some prep school in the East!

I picture Ree having the tutors stay at the ranch or at the best hotel in the area and having them drive out to the ranch daily.  I also imagine that she gave them credit for one big night eating out at one of Tulsa's finest.  For Ree's kids, there would be no shuttle in and out of town for them!  What Ree wants, Ree gets!  She will do whatever it takes to see her kids graduate from the best schools, not especially for their educations, but for bragging rights, the most important thing to her.

And don't forget: Ladd and Ree have the money to promise each school a $1 million endowment upon receipt of a diploma.  I would not for a second put that past them.  It's a different world for people that wealthy.  [Look at Trump's son-in-law.  His father paid millions to Harvard to get him accepted.]  I doubt they went that far, but I'm just saying they could, and I'd bet dollars to donuts Ree would.

[grisgris]

I guess then that I am confused.  I thought the kids went to an actual high school, otherwise how are the boys able to participate in football and other sports and don't the girls play soccer. (I guess that Ladd being the coach ensures Bryce and Todd spots on the teams and prime positions.)

I am not a parent and probably shouldn't venture too far into rendering an opinion on education. I would just think that the kids would miss out on the other "benefits" of going to a public or private school, for example, the social activities, things like French/Spanish club and drama to name a few. (I always got excited in high school for the Friday afternoon pep rallies during football and basketball season and was a pep club officer. Riding the bus together to away games was always so much fun!)  I guess on the flip side, by homeschooling, you can minimize the risk of the adverse public school byproducts like bullying, getting in with the *wrong* crowd, cliques, social media issues (which are going to exist anyway), etc.

Shrugs ... If Ree homeschools, etc., to ensure that her children get a quality education, then she should own it and not hide behind ridiculous excuses like driving time. I'd even accept something like, "With Ladd's and my *work* schedules, it made more sense from a logistics standpoint to homeschool." (Then admit that they use tutors.) I have never read Ree's blog except very recently, so I have no idea what she wrote during the days when the kids were younger.

There is no hope for this one.

[ChickenLatte99]

I'm new to watching The Pioneer Woman, discovered by accident.  I love spicy food but I also enjoy other flavor profiles. Why does Ree add cayenne to EVERY dish she makes?? She claims her family likes things spicy....I bet they enjoy a wide range of flavors.

[Kohola3]

32 minutes ago, ChickenLatte99 said:

 I love spicy food but I also enjoy other flavor profiles. Why does Ree add cayenne to EVERY dish she makes??

Because she's a hack and is too lazy to explore other spices - 99% of her recipes are either drowning in cayenne or sugar.   Plus loads of fats of some sort.

[peacheslatour]

45 minutes ago, Kohola3 said:

Because she's a hack and is too lazy to explore other spices - 99% of her recipes are either drowning in cayenne or sugar.   Plus loads of fats of some sort.

Done in one. Somebody hit the lights- I'll lock up.

[ChickenLatte99]

50 minutes ago, Kohola3 said:

Because she's a hack and is too lazy to explore other spices - 99% of her recipes are either drowning in cayenne or sugar.   Plus loads of fats of some sort.

Yes she often uses butter and olive oil for things that only need one or the other. I'm just discovering how popular she is and it boggles the mind.

[Kohola3]

1 hour ago, ChickenLatte99 said:

I'm just discovering how popular she is and it boggles the mind.

Pretty much everyone on this forum feels the same way.  It'a a mystery how she has so many sheep following her.

Not only is she a terrible cook, she is a major fraud with her "down on the farm, good old girl" shtick.  She's from wealthy parents and married into money.  It's all a big, fat, phony act.

[cathy]

There is an article about her in the current "National Examiner."  It is something like "Ten delicious facts about the pioneer woman."  Or something like that, it is the same old nonsense about how she met Ladd, and of her hatred of bananas.  A short article, most probably sent in by her publicist.  She is skiing in Vail now, and her fans leave comments on her site about how she deserves a vacation.  Dummies.  I bet that one vacation costs more than what most of them make in a year.

[anneofcleves]

On 12/5/2017 at 1:49 PM, grisgris said:

I'm dying laughing, ShortyMac! ;:

Meanwhile, I'm pretty amazed that Ree has missed this one:

http://12tomatoes.com/cattle-drive-casserole/?utm_source=12t-12t&utm_medium=content-12t-content&utm_term=20171011&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=cattle-drive-casserole&origin=12t_12t_content_12t-content_link_cattle-drive-casserole_20171011

ETA: As we used to say about Aunt Sandy ... "Don't give her any ideas!"

Hahahaha.  And this delightful recipe is a riff on the old Bisquick Impossible Cheeseburger Pie.  Yes, if Ree found this one she’d be stamping her brand all over it with her fancy, garish cowboy boots.  Can’t you just hear her saying, while grinning, “And now I’m gonna add something you might not expect.  Yes folks, biscuit mix.  (Cut to Bisquick box with grayed out label.)  I know, I know, but trust me.  Your friends will not know the difference and will swear they are in the finest French-Mexican bistro when they try this!”

Edited December 8, 2017 by anneofcleves

[Lura]

Ree skis?  Maybe she'll slip and shatter her tailbone like I did, ice skating.  That's a guaranteed pain in the butt for at least a few years.  Of course, I don't really wish her harm -- just a minor reminder that even the queen of the FN is human.  It does make me smile, though, thinking that such an injury might put at least a temporary end to that tingling she talks about.

[anneofcleves]

The room service from her ski vacations serves as the inspiration for all of her future recipes that don’t involve hamburger.

[grisgris]

I have been watching the Christmas Cookie Challenge (or whatever it's called) and watched last night because of: 1) Eddie Jackson and 2) one of the competitors was from this area.  I kid you not, one of the contestants was so excited to breathe the same air as Ree, that she actually started crying!!!!  And guess who won?  (The guy from Leawood, KS, flamed out in the first round.)

What was so hilarious was that one of the contestants was an Asian hipster who I believe just wanted some airtime so he could show off how he adds Asian flavors to literally anything. (It was obvious he didn't GAF about decorating.) Anyway, he did some really cool stuff like use hoisin sauce in gingerbread, which when you think about it, makes a lot of sense. Anyway, when he was doing his presentations, you could just seen Ree's face collapse in dismay and fear about how "them fur-in spices were going to taste." She took delicate bites and murmured non-committal responses like, "Interesting."

There was a young female contestant who was from some tiny town in rural Missouri, which I guess I should know where it is, but I have never heard of it. She was hilarious and looked just like a country bumpkin with her long red pigtails and plaid flannel shirt. (I don't mean it as an insult. It was like she got the memo about playing a stereotype and she didn't disappoint. I want to say she was like a toned down, female Millennial Jason Smith.) She was just adorable but funny as hell and she was a decent baker. She definitely won Ree over and I am so expecting to see her as a guest on PW one of these days.

[ChickenLatte99]

17 hours ago, grisgris said:

"them fur-in spices were going to taste."

This made me laugh out loud.

[cathy]

Ree is on the cover of Woman's world magazine again.  She presents "delicious" baked treats!!!  The boots she is giving away for the 12 days of boots are ugly. Not worth bothering to enter.  I looked at the comment section below the boots contest, and many of them are like "Ohhhh, my daughter would love those."  Or, "Oh, I wish I could win, money is so tight this year, it would help me, I could give this to my granddaughter, who would just love them."  They think that if they say they are broke and can't afford decent Christmas gifts, Ree or the "prize administrator" will have mercy on them and pick them out of sympathy.  It is supposed to be done by an automated prize generator, or so they say.  I still would not put it past Ree to lie about who gets the prizes, I mean, when they announce the winners, it's like the first name plus last initial.  That could be made up.  Anyway, her fans are pathetic.  Or maybe just poor.  Most of her fans are I believe:  white, middle to lower class. conservative, fat, middle aged. stupid, fundamentalist Christian. 

[peacheslatour]

Quote

What was so hilarious was that one of the contestants was an Asian hipster who I believe just wanted some airtime so he could show off how he adds Asian flavors to literally anything. (It was obvious he didn't GAF about decorating.) Anyway, he did some really cool stuff like use hoisin sauce in gingerbread, which when you think about it, makes a lot of sense. Anyway, when he was doing his presentations, you could just seen Ree's face collapse in dismay and fear about how "them fur-in spices were going to taste." She took delicate bites and murmured non-committal responses like, "Interesting."

Ree Drummond's Collapsing Face is the name of my new blue grass jug band.

[cathy]

There is another article in the national examiner.  This time both good and bad.  It says that "she hasn't been honest with her fans" about her lifestyle.  It says that Ladd's family is worth $200 million, she has made $50 million from her brand, and they have made $24 million from the government horses they keep.  Part of the article is how she is a phoney, but at the end it says that she has "saved Pawhuska" and that the locals love her.  And that they will help and give to whomever needs it, and that they are interested in their neighbors.  I don't know about that.  It says that she downplays her wealth because she makes money doing it.  I wonder how many Reeple will read that and be turned off by it?