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...

I was at my local co-op this week and the produce section was a lonely place. Vibrant with fruits and veggies all colors of the rainbow in summertime, we are talking root vegetable city now. One of the stars of the winter produce aisle? That unloved work horse, the potato. The potato has been snubbed in recent years due to various no-carb crazes - however, potatoes are not to be feared, but embraced. Carbs do not make you overweight, consuming more calories than you expend, regardless of where those calories come from - proteins, fats or carbs - is what causes...

A few readers have posted comments looking for Rachael’s Top Ten Recipes of the Year from her show that aired on Monday January 25. Here is the link - e...

To the Cooks: What can you do when you get too much salt in a recipe? Thanks, Margaret   Dear Margaret: Don’t throw away the dish! Sometimes a recipe can’t be saved, but if you have slaved over the stove and got a little heavy handed with the salt, you can try some kitchen CPR before tossing all of your hard work and ingredients. Here are a few over salting remedies to try: For a soup, dillute with unsalted liquid or add a peeled and quartered potato for a minimum or 15 minutes. Remove potato prior to serving. For over salted soups or sauces, a little sour cream,...

This weekend was my husband’s birthday and my mother-in-law prepared a delicious meal of braised short ribs, caesar salad and another salad that was made with farro. The salad was room temp and the farro - which looks like wheatberries or barley - was mixed with corn, green beans, scallions, shallots, fresh marjoram and a light vinaigrette. The farro was nutty and al dente - very delicious - everyone at the dinner was hot on the topic so I thought I would do some research on this new (to the group and me) grain. Actually not new at all, farro is...

Homemade gifts are often the best gifts, especially the edible kind. Great for teachers, friends and family, gifts from the kitchen are always appreciated and fun to make -especially with kids. You can go the route of  canned/jarred jams, salsas and sauces, but if you don’t have time for canning, here are just a few quick and easy ideas for gifts from the kitchen: Chocolate Peppermint Bark  2  pounds white, dark or milk chocolate 30 small peppermint candy canes  DIRECTIONS Line a large jellyroll pan with heavy-duty foil. Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave on medium setting for 5 to 6 minutes. Stir...

Dear Cooks: Now that the holidays are officially here, I remember my grandmother always used to have a pot of mulled cider on the stove which made the whole house smell delicious - and it tasted just as good. Do I need to buy the mulling spices packet at the store, or can I make my own? Thanks, Sue C. Dear Sue C.: Mulled cider absolutely could not be easier to make, and we personally think the homemade version beats the store-bought spice packet hands down. You can find all of the ingredients in the spice and produce aisles at the supermarket. Mix...

If you have been to the grocery store lately, you’ve probably noticed how cranberries are suddenly at center stage. Not dried cranberries, but the fresh stuff that comes in a bag usually in the produce section. With the holiday season just about to launch into high gear, cranberries are in demand. So what do you do with fresh cranberries? Here’s the scoop: Fresh cranberries are extremely tart so don’t even think about eating them raw. A delicious cranberry sauce can be put together quicker than you can open a can. Place cranberries in a saucepan, cover with water, add desired amount of...

Many readers have inquired about a recipe that was on Rachael’s show last week using pumpkin in a chocolate cake box mix; the recipe was simply one box of devil’s food cake mix which you made with one 15-ounce can of pure pumpkin puree, that’s it. Stir and bake at 400 degress in prepared muffin tins for 20 minutes. The puree replaced the eggs and oil. Yum. There are many healthy substitutions for higher fat ingredients like oil and butter in baking recipes. Applesauce, pumpkin, prune and other purees are great oil and butter substitutes in cake, quick bread and muffin...