Kym Douglas and Cindy Pearlman, authors of The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets, appeared on The Early Show this morning to give away some of their secrets. While they mostly spilled the beans on diet tips, there was one thing that stood out to me: dishwasher salmon. That's right I said dishwasher. You just seal the fish up in foil, toss it in the dishwasher and let it go. The steam, along with a waste of power and water, cooks it through. Just be sure you don't use any soap.

If you think this sounds totally wacko then I should let you know that this is not the first time this has been done. Bob Blumer, aka The Surreal Gourmet, has poached salmon in more than 100 dishwashers on three continents. His recipe actually looks pretty good and comes complete with a piquant sauce. I don't know if I can actually endorse this method, it seems like a waste of energy, but I do think it would be fun to tell your guests you made it in the dishwasher. If you want to try it yourself, get his recipe when you read more

Looks like I'm not the only one who is shaking up things for St. Patrick's Day. If a chocolate stout shake isn't your thing, why not try a shamrock shake? Lindsey and Julie's delicious-sounding version includes mint chocolate chip ice cream, peppermint patties, and chocolate sprinkles. — Coveiter

Just because St. Patrick's Day is a beer-centric holiday doesn't mean you can't serve a specialty cocktail at your blowout bash. Whiskey and Bailey's Irish Cream are excellent options, but a classic beer cocktail — the black and tan — will have guests cheering. A black and tan combines two types of beer to make one drink that has a stunning presentation.

Besides the black and tan, be sure to have lots of cold beer, your favorite liquor and mixers, and water. For the recipe for the black and tan, read more

I couldn't let St. Patrick's Day pass without making a vibrantly green soup. This soup gets its brilliant color from peas. The recipe involves minimal chopping so it's super simple to make. The texture is smooth and velvety, and the flavor is rich and comforting. This soup would be an elegant starter to a St. Patrick's Day dinner or Spring-themed shower. To make it vegetarian, substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth. To see how I made it, read more

Oh RayRay, looks like the world is turning on you. Rumor has it that when her current talk show contract ends, it's not going to be renewed. An "impeccable" source told the New York Post that they are, "seriously talking about taking her off the air."

While she does have a huge following, she apparently does not have the huge ratings. In 2007 her show averaged a Nielsen rating of 2.2, but this year it's currently down to 2.0. Another bad indicator is the average age of her viewers. Although the show's geared for 18-49 year olds, the current average age is 55.1. Both are figures advertisers, and the producers, don't really like.

However, all this talk of numbers and possible cancellations is a bit ahead of itself. According to one of Rachael's reps, the current contract doesn't end until 2010. And even if it doesn't get renewed, it's not like it'll mean the end of Rachael. After all, she still has her queenpin position at Food Network, with both a cooking and travel show; not to mention the fact that she has her own magazine.

So what do you think about all of this? Do you watch her talk show? Would you be sad if it was canceled?

UPDATE — ET Online says the news is completely false, and that Rachael's numbers are going up, not down. Wonder where the Post got their info from?

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I've said it before and I'll say it again: stir fries make an excellent last minute meal. Why? Because the food is sautéed at a higher temperature meaning it will cook quicker. This stir fry is jam packed with vegetables making it hearty and healthful. Choose a firmer tofu to ensure that it won't fall apart when stir fried. For this mouthwatering recipe, read more