Review: $24 in 24 with Jeff Mauro
When Rachael Ray’s $40 Dollars a Day went off the air it wasn’t because they had exhausted the vehicle. It was because RaRay had launched her day time talk show and magazine. She simply didn’t have the time to do the show anymore. I, like many, have lamented the loss of what was one of the most educational food/travel shows ever done.
Well, Captain Hoagie himself Jeff Mauro has brought the concept back only this time the budget has been trimmed to just $24. Clearly a reflection of the horrible economic conditions of the past three years. But still the premise is largely the same. On $24 in 24 the Sandwich King has to find three squares in one day with only $24 to spend.
Here’s the Network’s official description:
Jeff Mauro is taking his passion for food to the streets, searching for the best budget-friendly eats across America. With just $24 he’ll hunt down breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes in only 24 hours.
The show lacked Rachael’s eternal cuteness but otherwise was pretty much the same. In place of Ray’s perkiness was Jeff’s unique charm and comedic flare. The pilot episode was shot in his hometown of Chicago which meant Jeff’s research was actually done by him.
I’m sure there will be people who naysay the show simply because it is a reboot of $40 but they are likely just looking for something to whine about. The reality is that the original show was far from played out, the host just ran out of time. I for one am glad this format has returned and that my buddy Jeff is at the helm of it.
Here’s a taste:
Cinco de Mayo Recipe: Rachael Ray’s Super Nachos
Food Network is helping you prepare for Cinco de Mayo by pooling the talents of their chefs for an unbelievable Mexican menu. Check out this recipe from Rachael Ray.
Super Nachos
Ingredients
2 bags corn tortilla chips in 2 colors or different flavors, such as blue corn, red corn, yellow corn, lime flavored, chili flavored or black bean chips — pick 2 favorites
Pico de Gallo Salsa:
4 vine ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped, for medium to hot heat level
1 small white onion, chopped
1/4 cup, 2 handfuls, cilantro leaves, finely chopped — substitute parsley if cilantro is not to your liking
Salt
Beef and Beans Topping:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound ground sirloin
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dark chili powder
1 1/2 ground cumin, half a palmful
2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper sauce, giving you medium to hot heat level
1 can black beans, 15 ounces, drained
Cheese Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
3/4 pound pepper jack cheese, shredded, about 2 1/2 cups
Additional toppings to choose from, optional:
Sour cream
Chopped scallions
Chopped black olives
Diced pimento
Sliced avocado, dressed with lemon juice
Hot pepper sauces
Directions
- Arrange a mixture of 2 varieties of corn chips on a very large platter or use your broiler pan as a platter.
- Combine salsa ingredients in a bowl and set aside for flavors to marry.
- Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add oil, garlic, onion and peppers to the pan and saute 2 minutes, then add meat and crumble with wooden spoon. Season meat with salt, chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper sauce. Cook meat 5 minutes, then stir in beans and reduce heat to low.
- In a medium sauce pot, melt butter and add flour to it. Cook flour and butter 1 to 2 minutes over moderate heat, then whisk in milk. When milk comes to a bubble, stir in cheese with a wooden spoon. Remove cheese sauce from the heat.
- Pour cheese sauce evenly over the massive spread of chips and top evenly with beef and beans and the pico de gallo. UBER NACHOS! Serve immediately as is or, garnish with your choice of extra toppings from the toppings list.
Hell Hath No Fury Like a Martha Scorned
There was a time when Martha Stewart ruled the airwaves with helpful hints and creative ideas for the kitchen. But that was a long, long time ago. Today Martha can be seen on Halmark (which is 
apparently a TV channel). Or make that Martha was last seen on Halmark.
The Martha Stewart Show is being canceled by Hallmark in May. Why? An average audience of just 225,000 viewers for starters. That’s less than Polish stock car racing gets. Extremely high production costs is another. Adding salt to the wound, Home Depot is dumping Martha Stewart-branded paint and the value of Martha Stewart Living’s stock is plunging. Finally, moving into to Martha’s old studio at Chelsea Market is Rachael Ray.
Yes, the very same Rachael Ray that Martha once described as, “more of an entertainer than she is, with her bubbly personality, than she is a teacher like me,” on ABC’s “Nightline.” She went on to say that one of Rachael’s cookbooks was “not good enough for me.” The same Rachael Ray who’s show long ago replaced Martha’s as the “go to” lifestyle show. I guess “bubbly” is Martha-speak for likable.
Well, apparently seeing the newer, younger, hipper version of herself was too much for Martha last week when she and “RaRay” just happened to dine at the same Bond St. hot spot, Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria. A witness of the event told the New York Post that, “Martha was staring Rachael down as soon as she walked in with a group of friends. Martha looked disgruntled. You could definitely feel Martha’s heat in that kitchen.”
Rachael, who was accompanied by Time magazine food writer Josh Ozersky, became quite uncomfortable with Stewart’s evil eye and elected to get her entree to go. Stewart’s camp denies their matron was even aware that Ray was on site but according to everyone who was at the restaurant it was obvious that Stewart was aware as she was, “noticeably glaring in Ray’s direction throughout her meal.”
Stewart once condescended of Ray, “I don’t know if she has a garden; I don’t think so.” Well, one thing Rachael does have that Martha doesn’t is a TV show.
By the way, I asked Josh what was in his doggie bag and he told me, “short ribs, of course!“
Rachael Ray Leaves Her Publisher
From the WSJ:
New Recipe for Rachael Ray
Cookbook Author Switches Publishers
to Improve Reach on Digital Devices
Rachael Ray, the TV personality and best-selling cookbook author, has struck a new publishing deal she hopes will improve her reach with the growing number of people turning to digital devices for help in the kitchen.
Best known for her daytime talk show, “Rachael Ray,” as well as the magazine “Every Day with Rachael Ray,” Ms. Ray said Friday that she has left Random House imprint Clarkson Potter after publishing nine titles, and signed a new, three-book deal with Atria Books, an imprint of CBS Corp.’s Simon & Schuster Inc.
Clarkson Potter is the traditional publisher for Food Network/Cooking Channel stars including Ina Garten, Martha Stewart, Giada DeLaurentiis, Anne Burrell, David Rocco, Mario Batali, well you get it. So is this a game changer?
Not really Simon & Schuster already publishes Michael Ruhlman, Aaron Sanchez, Bobby Flay and Paula Deen. Both of he latter also started with Clarkson Potter. It’s just business. But hey, Clarkson Potter, if you are looking for someone to fill RaRay’s void give me holler.
Seriously.
