Your Questions About Food Network

Nagesh answers:

I love Food Network.

My top 3 shows are:

1- Unwrapped
2- 30 minute meals
3- Iron Chef

Nagesh answers:

Yeah, man, the Food Network rocks!!! Have you seen Rachael Ray? She rocks my world!!!!

Nagesh answers:

Show: The Best Thing I Ever Made
Episode: Side by Side (not Thanksgiving edition lol)

Ingredients

Pecan Candy:
Nonstick pan spray
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon sorghum molasses
3 cups pecan halves
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin

Potato Puree:
3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and large dice
4 cups vegetable stock, or water if unavailable
4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon white peppercorns, ground
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1 vanilla bean, scraped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

Marshmallow Topping:
1 1/2 cup egg whites
2 3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 strips gelatin

Directions

For the pecan candy: Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. Lightly spray a nonstick pan with oil or pan spray.

Whip together the egg whites, molasses and 1 tablespoon water in a stand mixer until soft peaks or fluffy. Fold the pecans into the bowl.

In a smaller bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, salt, coriander, cayenne and cumin. Place the pecans on the prepared baking sheet and dust over the spice and sugar mixture.

Bake in the oven until evenly browned and fragrant, 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring every 10 to 12 minutes. Be sure to spread out each individual pecan when removed from the oven and let cool. Roughly chop the pecans and store in an airtight container until needed.

For the potato puree: Place the potatoes, stock, salt and pepper into a medium saucepan with a lid. Heat the pot to a boil, return to a simmer, cover and cook until the potatoes are very tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Add the potatoes, but not the liquid, to a food processor and puree until smooth. Add the butter, vanilla seeds and cinnamon, if using, to the puree. Pulse again until all the ingredients are incorporated and smooth.

Butter a 9-inch casserole dish that has enough volume to hold the finished puree. Place the puree in the buttered casserole. (Or hold until ready to place into the casserole.)

For the marshmallow topping: Combine in a stand mixer the egg whites, 1 cup of the sugar and vanilla extract. Beat the mixture using the whip attachment until soft peaks form.

Simultaneously heat the remaining 1 3/4 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepot until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F on a sugar thermometer.

Place the gelatin in a mixing bowl and slowly pour in the sugar syrup over the gelatin. Begin mixing at half speed until combined. Then incorporate the egg mixture and whip until slightly cool to the touch.

To finish: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the marshmallow topping over top of the sweet potatoes in the casserole. Top with the pecan candy, place into the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. And then rotate the pan and bake until the meringue is browned and the potatoes are hot throughout, another 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and let stand for 5 to 8 minutes and serve.

Notes: This recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional and may have been scaled down from a bulk recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

Nagesh answers:

Well I was shocked for he doing something so stupid as lying on Nation TV; sooner or later someone would have sold the true to the tabloids if he would have win the show. Shame on him; he let down the Army guys, the Caribbean people and the Chefs.

The sad thing is that he had no need to do that, the Food-network wasn’t looking for the “Next GI Joe” (or were they??).

Here you can read how was he caught.

Http://www.armytimes.com/entertainment/tv/military_foodnetwork_070625w/

http://www.militarytimes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1559324

He was not my personal favorite. He was a good cook but he did terrible on the “Mini Iron Chef” and remember how Bobby caught him trying to pass a regular soup as a “Caribbean”. He was trying to talk his way out of the burned chicken. I think he has problems dealing with preasure. He is not a bad person but he needs to grow up and be more mature.

I still think they should have fired JAG instead of Paul. As a matter of fact I think they should have fired him on the chapter he started fighting over some food he forgot at the store.

Amy is my favorite and I couldn’t believe when she was sent home; she did better on the radio interview and she did good on the Raychel Ray show. Was the Food-Network staging her comeback or trying to help the “war hero” and play the patriot card? Or did the Network knew bout JAG’s lies from the start and were waiting to use the drama on their favor? Who knows. Officially JAG’s downfall started on a June-1 interview by “Military Times” so Amy going home was recorded long before that interview (or so they want us to think???).

Honestly I don’t trust “Reality Shows”, they have been known to stage many stuffs and play with the public and the cast.

Well going back to the Finals, I think Amy is the most complete but I would not be surprised if Rory win, I think she also has some good qualities, any one of them will do great. Paul also would have been great on a show, he was fun and natural.

But again, Amy or Rory is hard to say, I think I’ll go for Amy but that might change depending on how she does on the final challenge (to be honest she could have done something better than “baked eggs” on her last challenge).

Nagesh answers:

I like Alton Brown’s “Good Eats” …I just feel like I learn something every time I watch the show. I like Alton…he is sort of nerdy but I feel like his shows are well produced and interesting. He did that road show also this year and that was ok.

I think Food Network has done well hiring talent. Quite a collection of interesting personalities…some of my favorites and the big names:
Emeril – probably why everyone was initially attracted to food tv…kind of one of the pioneers of the network.
Bobby Flay – cool as they come…everything he prepares just looks good
Mario Batali – seems like he would be fun to eat with and get a little drunk
Rachel Ray – you either love her or hate her but really a national personality
Paula Dean – queen of fattenning food…everyones grandma
Nigella Lawson – love this woman…can’t cook a lick but fun to watch…lol