I don’t want to admit it, but here it goes: I learned pretty much everything I know about cooking from Rachael Ray.
The year is 2004. I’m an underpaid, overly-stressed “Cafe Team Member” at a highly renowned San Francisco bakery/cafe. I work the night shift, 4:00pm-10:00pm in a very crowded mall with bitter shoppers and managers filled with disdain. I am pretty damn miserable.
30 Minute Meals was and probably still is the Food Network’s most popular cooking show. I am not sure how I came across the show, but one day while waiting to leave for work, I found myself mesmerized by the loud-mouthed cook. She wasn’t a chef, just a normal cook. She didn’t measure ingredients and she hated to bake. Kinda like me! I thought.
Soon enough I had a routine. Shower by 1pm, finish getting ready by 2:30pm, plop down on the couch by 3pm. Flip channel to Food Network. Learn a few things, drool and for a half hour and let my troubles (aka my job) roll by.
From Ray I learned how to chop an onion. I learned that “two turns around the pan” of EVOO equals 2 tablespoons of EVOO. Give or take. I learned that measuring ingredients when cooking is optional. I learned that orange cupboards look awesome. I didn’t know it then, but I think those afternoons spent watching the often times annoying cook was setting the stage for something spectacular to come in my own life.
FOOD AND MORE FOOD!
Since embarking on this food/cooking/food writing journey I have been kind of stupidly happy. Christmas Dinner was a HIT (why did I just capitalize ‘dinner’? I’m becoming pretentious…).
My mom said “This is the best pork shoulder I have ever tasted.” And she’s been to Spain!
So, thanks Rachael. When I happen to catch 30 Minute Meals now I have to watch on mute because let’s face it…that voice. But, she taught me that cooking doesn’t have to be stuffy or hard or something that only trained chefs can do well. With a little bit of enthusiasm, a good sharp knife and a kitchen for a soul, anyone can make good food. Even me.
