E.V.O.O.

I am wiped. Long day at work...seemed like anything that could go wrong, did. Fortunately, there was a silver lining. Paul and Amy invited Nicky and I over to their house for dinner. Mary Anne was there, too. It felt great to unwind and relax among friends. What a blessing.

Here's an interesting article about Rachel Ray in the New York Times. I didn't know that she has no formal training as a chef, much to the chagrin of professional cooks everywhere. Goes to show you where personality will get you! I'm not one of the slobbering hordes of men who find RR "hot" (although, again, I was surprised to find out she's 37!) I DO think that she's photogenic, full of perk, and appealing to people who want to making cooking a part of their lives without dedicating their lives to it. As the New York Times article points out, her appeal is not about fancy dishes. She represents the idea that you can make a good meal without exotic ingredients. Maybe not in thirty minutes, as her show promises, but close. This is the same philosophy that Mark Bittman, writer of my favorite cookbook, promotes in "How to Cook Everything." I like that concept. What I don't get is why the NYT decided to print such an unflattering photo of her with the article. She looks like a vampire!

Time to play Katamari...