Thirty minutes, Rach?
Let’s try FIFTY instead, k?
It was still yummy
Last Christmas I received the magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray, as a gift. Now I realize that there’s a lot of hate in this world directed at Rachael, which if you ask me (and you didn’t but this is my blog so HA!), I think it’s silly. Sure she’s a little too perky and animated and I swear if she throws salt over her shoulder or says EVOO ONE MORE TIME, I may have to charge my TV and squish her head. But overall she’s just a seemingly genuine, sweet gal with a few annoying tendencies.
Her magazine freaking rocks, though. I have made many a recipe from her magazine and they are all SO GREAT. Last night I made Corn and Salsa Tortilla Soup from the 30 minute section of her magazine.
Rachael flat out LIED to me. It took me fifty minutes, not the promised thirty, to make this dish. There was lots of poblano pepper blackening, corn tortilla baking, cutting kernels off fresh corn cobs….had I blessed with a sous chef, I could’ve whipped that recipe up no problemo. But one little person (me) endlessly chopping with three little children running circles around my feet and whining (Tate, Carson, and Ella), made the thirty minute preparation IMPOSSIBLE.
Luckily for Rachael, the Corn and Salsa Tortilla Soup was mmm, mmm, mmm delicioso*. (*phrase courtesy of Dora’s backpack!) (Swiper no swiping my delicioso soup.)
Now onto my cilantro rant. There are two types of people in this world, those that like cilantro (Goooo cilantro luvahs!!!) and those who don’t (BOOO!!!) Frankly, those of you who don’t like cilantro can suck an egg. I DON’T GET how you cannot enjoy the yummy freshness cilantro adds, especially to a spicy or tomato-ey dish.
Cilantro fans unite! Rise in protest against our enemies! Let’s put an end to all these weirdo cilantro haters (BOO!).
Dawn
July 25, 2008 at 10:37 am
They are 30-minute meals if you can chop & dice & cut things the way she does. Or if you’ve made the recipes a hundred times before. But since they are still yummy, I forget the 30-minute promise & cook them anyway. I love her magazine too (that & Real Simple are my favorite magazine reads) and I highly recommend her actual cookbooks too! She may be a bit over-the-top on tv, but you can’t hear her in print!
Lori
July 25, 2008 at 10:50 am
I love cilantro. I have the best green chicken enchilada recipe that uses TONS of cilantro. And I love Rachel Ray’s magazine too. i can handle her in mag form, not in live form.
storyteller
July 25, 2008 at 11:04 am
My sister talks about Rachel Ray and watches her show … I’ve given up cooking for the most part, but I admire those of you who still do this thing ;–)
Hugs and blessings,
Karen Sugarpants
July 25, 2008 at 11:11 am
Cilantro rocks. But I hate when people call it coriander because it makes me stop and think. And thinking is off limits for the summer.
phyllis
July 25, 2008 at 11:16 am
a) i <3 cilantro – i’m with you.
b) i agree with dawn, they are only 30 minute if everything is already washed and cut for you or if you’re a speed chopper
c) her recipes (although often meat-heavy) are usually really good so totally worth it.
d) she definitely doesn’t annoy me at all. i’m a big fan:-)
phylliss last blog post..One step back, one step forward
all things bd
July 25, 2008 at 11:30 am
Cilantro haters UNITE!!!
Seriously, can’t stand cilantro. Sorry.
all things bds last blog post..Body Worlds
Queen of Shake Shake
July 25, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Since we were sisters in a previous life, you KNOW I love me some cilantro. Mmmmmm!!
I’ve been tempted to get Rachel’s magazine, but was deterred after your subscription story. Now I want it again. Plus, I love her new shorter hairstyle.
I’d totally hang around Rachel, annoying quirks and all because, can you imagine me beside her? I’d look like the ultra cool toned down mature woman. Except when I fart on the set. Maybe.
Queen of Shake Shakes last blog post..To Write or Not To Write?
peg c
July 25, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Cilantro tastes like SUMMER!
Yay! Cilantro!!
peg cs last blog post..Moosey-business…
Amanda
July 25, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Sounds way better than my Smart Ones I am sitting here eating
Rachael doesn’t bother me…granted, I don’t watch her show, but when I see her on other talk shows and such, she doesn’t really get under my skin. She’s kinda annoying, but much less so than a lot of people I know!
Amandas last blog post..The pointless pulmonology appointment
peg c
July 25, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Veronica, it is also sometimes referred to as Chinese Parsley. But I haven’t that term in a long time.
peg cs last blog post..Moosey-business…
Mary Beth
July 25, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I have a couple of Rachael Ray’s books and I pick up her magazine every month (I should just bit the bullet and subscribe cause I’d save a lot of money that way). I’ve found that the more I do her recipes, the closer to 30 minutes I get. To begin with, it took me 30 minutes just to chop everything but I’ve gotten better at that as my thumbnails will attest. And remember, Rachael doesn’t have kids running around, under foot and asking questions all the time. If you’re all by yourself, you’d be amazed how much faster you can get things done:)
Mary Beths last blog post..VINDICATION
Renee
July 25, 2008 at 12:47 pm
That soup does look yummy. I’ll see if I can free up an hour to make it.
I love love love cilantro. But on more than one occasion I’ve brought home flat leafed parsley and cried.
Renees last blog post..Our Journey Has Begun
Bethany
July 25, 2008 at 1:09 pm
HAAAH! I loathe RR. I used to love her… she used to not get on my last nerve… she USED to be aight!
UNTIL, my sweet friend went to a taping of her show… and she said she SUCKED.ASS. She’s so not nice unless the camera’s are rolling, and she doesn’t even interact with the audience on the breaks!
Funny blog, as usual!
Bethanys last blog post..I’M A SLACKER
Megan
July 25, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I am with you on all of the above! Rachael Ray, annoying but I still buy her cookbooks and magazines.
Last weekend I made a wicked awesome corn salsa with cilantro and one of the party guests wouldn’t eat it because of the cilantro. I wanted to kick them out of the party and take away all their dip eating privledges. Just wrong I tell you.
Kymberli
July 25, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Being a SAHM, my husband is the chef of the family and he does a lof of 30-minute meals. However, he’s slow as all get-out to do ANYTHING, so 30 always turns into more like 60.
And cilantro? Gotta have it.
Kymberlis last blog post..Frank’s Friday Fixin’s – somethin’ for the ladies
laurie
July 25, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I’m not really Rachel Ray, but I play her on TV.
lauries last blog post..I laughed. I cried. It became a part of me.
Marti
July 25, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Cilantro rocks. Especially in salsa. UMMMM!
And yeah I make a lot of her recipes and they always take me twice as long.
I love her magazine too!!!
Vixen
July 25, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I love cilantro. And I love the Dora/Swiper reference. It just made me giggle. At work.
I have never made a recipe that it didn’t take double the time it said it would. Wonder why they can’t be a little more accurate on that part?
Have a wonderful weekend.
lceel
July 25, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I luvz me some cilantro. I luvz me some Salsa. I luvz mixin’ the two of them together. Makes for (damn, my mouth is watering) great, great salsa.
lceels last blog post..Yesterday’s backstory
Jennifer
Twitter: playgroupie
July 25, 2008 at 3:38 pm
@Queen of Shake Shake: Despite my horrific experience with the subscription people, the magazine is fantastic with AWESOME recipes.
Of course when it comes time to renew…I may just pay newstand price.
Jennifer
Twitter: playgroupie
July 25, 2008 at 3:39 pm
@lceel: I didn’t get a chance to say thank you for your very kind offer yesterday about my “injury!”
Salsa just isn’t salsa without cilantro.
Jennifer
Twitter: playgroupie
July 25, 2008 at 3:40 pm
@Vixen: Glad to do my part in spreading giggles through the workplace!
Jennifer
Twitter: playgroupie
July 25, 2008 at 3:40 pm
@Megan: You should have kicked him out! Ungrateful, no tastes buds guest!
Jennifer
Twitter: playgroupie
July 25, 2008 at 3:41 pm
@Bethany: She has gotten more and more annoying through the years. At first she seemed sweet and chipper, but now it’s kinda like she’s on crack.
Jennifer
Twitter: playgroupie
July 25, 2008 at 3:43 pm
@Dawn: I just read Real Simple for the first time the other day and I LOVED it! Almost every recipe was something I’d like to try. Where has that magazine been all my life?!
Jerseygirl89
July 25, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I like cilantro when it’s done the right way – not too much, not too little.
As for Rachael, she’s gone to the “too much” dark side.
Jerseygirl89s last blog post..Haiku Friday – Search Terms Edition
MH
July 25, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Who ARE these crazy cilantro haters?
Anglophile Football Fanatic
July 25, 2008 at 4:22 pm
You really need to get Taste of Home’s Simple & Delicious. If I can cook when using it? It’s EASY and most are very good.
Anglophile Football Fanatics last blog post..Oh, Snarfblatt! A Dinglehopper!
Mama Ginger Tree
July 25, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I can’t stand Rachel, but I love cilantro. Yum, yum, extra yum.
Mama Ginger Trees last blog post..I Need to Get This Off My Chest
Nicole
July 25, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Cilantro haters are boring people! I love cilantro, even make pesto out of it. My favorite food to top with cilantro? Spanish rice. Put a handful of fresh cilantro on top, a little roasted salsa plus Mexican cheese and YUMMO!
Nicoles last blog post..Where’s the beef?
WM
July 25, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I used to lurve Rachel Ray. Now she just annoys the shit outta me. But she does come up with some killer recipes. So I watch her but make fun of her the whole time …you know the “yummo” and the goofy stories…I can only take so much.
I know I’m cool , huh ?
WMs last blog post..I’ve loved her from afar now I can love her up close
Stimey
Twitter: Stimey
July 25, 2008 at 5:21 pm
1. Yes to cilantro.
2. Rachael Ray also lied to me. Her kiddie cookbook GUARANTEED that my kids would eat it. They did not.
3. Prepare to get a lot of google searches for Rachael Ray. After I bitched her out about #2 on my blog, I learned that there are a lot of people looking for her out on the internet.
Stimeys last blog post..There’s No Whining in Baseball…
carma
July 25, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I’m not much of a cook (BIG UNDERSTATEMENT), but while working out one day I flipped the channels and Rachael was making beefsteak fries. They were nice and easy and came out awesome : )
I’m not a big fan of the cilantro, though!
carmas last blog post..A Tribute
Kristin
Twitter: kristins4kids
July 25, 2008 at 6:11 pm
New to your blog. LOVE IT!
Rachael Ray~awesome food, but it NEVER NEVER NEVER takes the alloted time (we have 3 of her cookbooks)
cilantro is YUMM-O (sorry)
Kristins last blog post..The post where I bitch
Shell
July 25, 2008 at 9:23 pm
My son’s first food was avocado. A week or so later we were at Chipotle and he reached for the guacamole. Now (12 months) he won’t eat avocado without onion or cilantro. Crazy, lovely baby person!!
Shells last blog post..In other news: United Airlines still sucks
janny226
July 25, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I {heart} cilantro too. DH does not but will tolerate some for me. A good man.
janny226s last blog post..Got Those Summer Camp Blues
Jennifer A
July 25, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I hate Rachel Ray and most cilantro. Sorry, I’m not allowed to cook from any Rachel Ray product. Blame husband
Jennifer As last blog post..A new Milestone for Jimmy!
A Serious Attempt at Fun
July 25, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Dios Mio! I didn’t realize that one must either be a cilantro lover or a cilantro hater! That’s pretty extreme for a mildly pleasing, though easily over used herb.
But if I must, I will come down on the love-it side.
Spretty good.
A Serious Attempt at Funs last blog post..Fantasies
Kelley
July 26, 2008 at 2:21 am
Those cookbooks always lie. The 30 minutes never includes the hours of chopping and chasing the children. I got a 4 ingredient cookbook, half the recipes had a note at the bottom with 4-6 OTHER THINGS that needed to be added to the 40 bucks worth of chicken and a can of soup…
Kelleys last blog post..Dear ‘Concerned’
anymommy
July 26, 2008 at 3:04 pm
This post made me laugh so much. I hate to cook. I just decided to try and stop feeding my family premade processed food every single night. I’m following RR’s 365 30 minute meals for one month. I’m cooking, but for me they are really 60-75 minute meals.
anymommys last blog post..Remembering the Little Things
Gina
July 26, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I love cilantro – the more the better. My favorite cilantro dish is Tom Yum soup – the spicy and tangy flavors are fantastic with the cilantro.
Ginas last blog post..We Have a Winner!
Jennifer
Twitter: playgroupie
July 26, 2008 at 8:06 pm
@Gina: That soup wouldn’t be that soup without cilantro! So yummy!
Karly
July 26, 2008 at 9:43 pm
To whoever it was that said you can freeze cilantro: YOU CAN FREEZE CILANTRO? WHY DIDN’T ANYONE EVER TELL ME THIS BEFORE?
To all you Cilantro haters: I will cut you.
To my grocery store: You were out of cilantro last week. I’m coming back tomorrow. You better HOPE that I find what I’m looking for.
Karlys last blog post..Feelings…
Donna
July 27, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Like your blog. Love cilantro. On the fence about Rachael Ray. Who woulda thought all your readers would be so passionate on the topic of cilantro?
Donnas last blog post..Olympics Widow
Julie @ the calm before the stork
July 31, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Shut up! I looooove cilantro. I just talked about a chile verde recipe in the linky-love post I put in your list above and will do again in the link to my name here — a dish that would be NOTHING without cilantro.
(It was also TOTALLY easy to make, by the way. Less than 30 minutes for prep, I think, though it has to stew for 2-3 hours.)
Did anyone mention that if you put your bunch of cilantro, bottom trimmed, in a cup of water, with a plastic bag on top, in the fridge, it keeps for about 2 weeks? I got dizzy scrolling down through all the comments. I guess cilantro’s a pretty incendiary topic!
Julie @ the calm before the storks last blog post..yesterday, tv was such an easy game to play
Corn and Salsa Tortilla soup | Playgroups are No Place For Children
August 21, 2009 at 12:04 am
[...] I first introduced you to this recipe last summer when Rachael Ray lied to me and said this recipe only took 30 minutes to prepare, which is a BALD-FACED L… [...]