Rachael Ray shares decades of cooking wisdom.
| | | | Happy Friday, and happy birthday to me! Am I allowed to wish myself a happy birthday? Oh well, I just did. The big 3-0 gets a bad rap, but I'm looking forward to everything this milestone decade has in store. Anyway, enough about me … | | I'm excited to introduce today's Q&A with *drumroll, please* best-selling cookbook author and celebrity chef Rachael Ray! I hope you already ate –– if not, this interview is sure to get you hungry. | | Before you dig in, take a look at the other daily specials on our menu: | | | | Be well,
Morgan Mandriota
Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Morgan Mandriota
November 18, 2022 • 6 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | Rachael Ray has earned a seat at the table as one of the biggest household names when it comes to cooking. With decades spent working in the kitchen under her apron (read: belt), she's a best-selling author of several cookbooks, TV personality, and master at the craft of whipping up easy, delicious, and quick-prep meals. | | Gather round the virtual table, friends. Ray's spilling the tea on her favorite cooking hacks, Thanksgiving dishes, and more food-related nuggets of wisdom below. | | Q: | Rachael, what's on your Thanksgiving menu this year? | | | A: We're creatures of habit when it comes to Thanksgiving. We always do two smaller 10-pound birds rather than wait all day for a massive one. Sleep in! | | We usually do some sort of bacon and Brussels sprouts dish, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and my sister Maria always makes dessert. We don't go too crazy. | | Now if you want to talk about leftovers, we'll save that for another day. | | Q: | What are some of your favorite cooking hacks? | | | A: I just like to play and have fun. I love finding other ways to use things you already own. I don't make a ton of waffles, but I use waffle irons to make brownies, focaccia, and corn dogs. Put cherry tomatoes between two plates, and slice them. I try to come up with new ones all the time. | | Q: | What advice would you give budding chefs who want to get better at pairing flavors? | | | A: Be inquisitive. Every time you're at a restaurant and taste something you love, ask what's in it. If you discover something you like, go buy those ingredients and research recipes that use them. It'll start steering you in where to go with your pantry. | | Read, and educate, and buy for what you like. Don't just look at a picture and say, "That's pretty, I'll try that." | | Dry spices should be rotating all the time, away from heat. Buy your spices online and rotate them out every 6 months. The dates are listed on the bottom. Rotate, rotate, rotate. |  | | Q: | What have you learned from your decades spent in the food industry? | | | A: As long as you love to eat and love to cook, you can always have a job. I'm so lucky to be a woman in her 50s and still considered relevant and to have so many opportunities. The only time in my life I felt limited, I put those limits on myself. | | I think no matter what you do in this industry, one way or another, it has to be what you're passionate about. It can't be about you or your bank account. It's about serving other people. How are you helping others? Were you of service with your life that day? | | Q: | What's the No. 1 piece of advice you have for home cooks? | | | A: I appreciate there are people with special diets or health concerns, but in general, eat a lot of colors, and just go cook. I don't feel when you're cooking that you should measure. Add or subtract anything you want. It's your dish. | | | | | | |
| | | | Editor faves with health perks | | You know those great finds you just *have* to tell your friends about? That's how we feel about the products we recommend here. Every pick has been vetted by our editorial team, and we genuinely think it'll make your life better. | | | | | | |  | | HUROM HP Slow Juicer | | Juice, sorbet, and nut milk cost a pretty penny at the store. Why not save your money by making them at home with HUROM HP's heavy duty, bladeless, cold-press slow juicer? I started using it a few months ago, and I'm a huge fan (hence this review). | | It's super quiet and only takes a few minutes to blend things well, especially if you chop up fruits and veggies super small before throwing 'em in. Some juicers take forever to clean up, with millions of teeny tiny parts and messy, pulpy insides, but nope, not this one. It comes with cleaning brushes and a built-in drying rack, which easily disassembles (and reassembles!) in no time. | | Yes, it comes with a hefty price tag, but if you like fresh juice, sorbets, puddings, or almond milk and can afford to buy a device that makes them all, I highly recommend investing in this worthwhile option. | | | | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | Mocktails are the new cocktails | People may not drink alcohol for a million reasons, and 2022 dry January participation shows more folks skipped the booze this year than ever before. I personally prefer not to drink because alcohol makes me feel terrible. No matter your reason for opting out, mocktails might just be your new go-to order at the bar.
Mocktails and nonalcoholic (NA) beverages can bring fun drinks back into your social life and improve your health as well. For example, this elderberry mocktail can boost your immunity, while kombuchas offer you a healthy dose of probiotics (be mindful of alcohol levels less than 0.5%!).
Offering NA drinks at social gatherings also enables folks to feel included and hydrated without facing awkwardly invasive "OMG, why don't you drink?!" questions from curious onlookers. Drinking mocktails can save you money, too!
Whether you're sober, pregnant, or trying to enjoy a night out without the hangover, skip the cocktail and try drinking a mocktail or NA beer instead. Check out books like "Mocktail Party: 75 Plant-Based, Non-Alcoholic Mocktail Recipes for Every Occasion" if you need extra inspiration.
Tell us: Have you ever tried a mocktail? What's your favorite NA drink or brand? Share your thoughts with us at wellnesswire@healthline.com. | | | | | | |
| | | | Thanks for reading today's newsletter! I'm off to go celebrate my birthday with my family and friends. Whatever you do this weekend, I hope you have a great time. We'll be back in your inbox on Monday with more health stories we think you'll enjoy.
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