With over one million monthly active users, you pet lovers out there have probably already heard of Facebook’s not-so-new pet sites - Catbook and Dogbook - but they are new to me. I had to check out the sites - which are Facebook applications where pet owners can set up a profile for their pet, post photos, and “friend”other pets/owners. In addition to Catbook and Dogbook, there are apps for other animals as well - Horsebook, Fishbook, even Ferretbook. On the sites, there are ways to connect with other pet owners who have the same breed or live nearby to meet up for...

Dear Cleaning Lady: My mom gave me her old cast iron frying pan which is really rusty. I’d like to save it if I can - should I throw it out or is there a way to make is usable again? Thanks, Sue C. Dear Sue C.: Don’t throw it away - you can clean the rust and bring the pan back to life with the following steps: 1. Place pan over low heat and put a few turns of oil in the pan. 2. Sprinkle a handful of kosher salt over the oil (leave the pan on burner for this entire exercise). 3. With a paper towel, scrub the salt into the...

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since I began writing this blog for RachaelRay.com and sharing my ideas and tips about fun, eco-friendly cooking and food shopping. As we come up on my first anniversary here at RR central, we’ve decided to take that spirit of sharing one step further by giving away five autographed copies of my brand new book, Lucid Food: cooking for an Eco-Conscious Life, just released by Ten Speed Press. Entering to win couldn’t be easier-and it won’t waste paper! Just fill out the sweepstakes form, which you can find...

When I get the opportunity to plan a party, I jump on it, and his fall I got a chance to design the Green Harvest Gala for the Hilton Garden Inn and Nicotra’s Ballroom in Staten Island. The dinner featured an 8 course tasting menu from Executive Chef Sonny Soemarsono and organic wine pairing provided by Grae Verlin of Wining With Grae. The goal of the event was to bring organic food and a greener lifestyle to the good folks of Staten Island, and to showcase Richard & Lois Nicotra’s commitment to making the hotel and Nicotra’s Ballroom mean and green. Proceeds...

If you’ve got kids, chances are the nights of champagne-filled romantic meals at a fancy restaurant in honor of Valentine’s Day are probably over. If not, lucky you - keep the romance going. Even if you do get a chance to duck out for an adults-only Valentine’s Day with your sweetie, don’t forget to do something special with your kids. Kids get excited about every holiday (my son is even trying to institute a celebration of half-birthdays - oh my) and I have found that the smallest gestures are where family traditions are born. Typically it’s the little things that your kids will...

Dear Cooks: I saw on one of Rachael’s shows where she uses tomato paste that comes in a tube, rather than a can. Could you please tell me the brand name and where I can purchase it? I’ve looked at most of my stores and have not seen it. Thank you so much for responding. Rich  PS: By the way, love your show. Dear Rich: I can’t tell you how many letters we get from readers looking for tomato paste in a tube. It is in most grocery, Italian grocery or specialty food stores right on the shelf with regular cans of tomato paste. It comes in a small skinny...

In response to many requests, here are direct links to each of Rachael’s top ten recipes that aired on the January 25, 2010 show…… Spinach and Artichoke Mac ‘n Cheese Chicken Parm Pasta Toss Mandi Forester’s White Chicken Chili Pesto Presto Italian Flag Chicken Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot Pie Cheesy Hash Brown Chili Gordon Ramsay’s Sticky Baked Chicken Drumsticks David Garrard’s Buffalo Chicken Dip Cheeseburger Chili Mac and Cheese Neapolitan Baked...

Katie Lee Joel likes mayonnaise. Why wouldn’t she? The luminescent egg whip is her birthright as a gentile, a southerner, and the consummate personification of American domestic purity. She’s impossibly likeable and flawlessly pretty (which is one reason she’s so likable.) But let’s be honest: she’s no Vongerichten when it comes to the ingredients in her recipes. Neither of her cookbooks require anything you couldn’t find in a well-stocked convenience store. Which is OK with me. But I was a little uneasy about the mayonnaise. Here’s how the Mayonnaise Moment came to pass. I was at Katie Lee’s West Village...

Let’s face it; Valentine’s Day is kind of goofy. It’s an occasion when everyone from the Greeting Card Consortium to the Lingerie Council to the Chocolate Society urges us to show our love for someone special by buying stuff. Acting out this annual consumer ritual can seem forced, but since everyone does it, you might come across as a killjoy if you choose to opt out. So, if you’re going to participate, why not put your money toward something that has a meaningful impact? Here are three places to spend this year’s candy allowance where it will have a lasting...