every day with rachael ray

Rachael Ray is known for her burgers, so it comes as no surprise that the television personality, in partnership with her magazine Every Day With Rachael Ray, is looking for the best undiscovered burger chef. Over the past few weeks, magazine readers have submitted nominations for their favorite burgers offered by independent restaurants across the country.

The staff of Every Day has selected three finalists — Paul Malvone, Tommy Up, and Mauricio Oliveros — to prepare their burgers on the Rachael Ray show later this week. Only one will be chosen to bring his burger to Rachael Ray's Burger Bash at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival in February.

Of the competition, Editor in Chief Liz Vaccariello said, "The magazine wanted to show that lesser known cooks can hold their own at the biggest and most respected burger competition in the country." I think the opportunity is a fun one, and I look forward to tasting the winner's creation at the fifth annual Burger Bash on Feb. 24. Who makes your favorite burger?

Whether you're a vegetarian or not, it's a good idea to make the move toward eating less meat and more vegetables — for environmental, health, and budgetary reasons alike. If you've already started with meatless Mondays and want to take it to the next step, apply the same principle to your Sundays as well. You'll begin the week on a lighter step. Whip up a nontraditional vegetable soup that calls for softening, then puréeing carrots, celery, onion, and two different types of tomatoes.
For a little contrast in texture, drop in florets of broccolini and pieces of bread. Warm up to a new soup idea after the break.

Kale is one ingredient to warm up to this Fall; in lieu of lettuce, try serving it uncooked in a salad. To contrast the leafy, crunchy kale, toss in carrots, onions, and tomatoes that have been roasted until golden and tender. Coat gently with a garlic-olive oil emulsion and top with a medallion of goat cheese to bring creaminess and body to a flavorful meatless meal. See the recipe when you keep on reading.

After last night's rustic Italian-influenced bean stew, switch gears and serve your leftover chicken sausage with a light, bright cabbage and apple slaw. Unlike mayonnaise-based or even Asian-themed coleslaws, this one combines a bit of cider vinegar (for tang), buttermilk (for creaminess), and apples (for texture) to produce a sweet-tart, crunchy salad that foils the richness of a pan-fried sausage. For the recipe, read on.

My mom once told me that the fastest way to get dinner on the table is to make a stir-fry. Now that I've been graced with a hectic schedule myself, I've come to realize she's right.

Start off the beginning of the week with a stir-fry that makes use of the weekend's sirloin steak, and relies on evergreen pantry essentials such as sun-dried tomatoes, scallions, and hot peppers for zest. In lieu of the usual steamed rice, opt for ultrathin, quick-cooking angel hair noodles.
Want a well-rounded meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes? Then get the recipe.

Broccoli stir-fry over rice is a staple around my house, but I'll admit I'm quickly tiring of it. Tonight, I've decided to switch it up a little. Once again, I'm using tuna from yesterday's meal as the star, serving it up steak-style with a mustard pan sauce to pump up the flavor. The fish'll pair perfectly with lightly seasoned, blanched broccoli and a bed of couscous with grapes.

For an easy weeknight meal that's different yet familiar at the same time, keep on reading.

Happy Friday! If you're looking to start your long weekend with a delicious and summery meal, I've got you covered. All you have to do is make these quick turkey burgers! The ground turkey is seasoned with store-bought salsa verde and the patties are topped with spicy pepper jack cheese. Combine mashed avocado, minced garlic, and mayonnaise, and you've got a simple but flavorful aioli. Sound delish? Get the recipe now.

Once Spring takes root, it's easy to relegate soups and stews to the harsh Winter months just past. But don't rule them out just yet. This season's vegetables breathe new life into soups, which come together quickly and easily as a well-rounded meal in well under an hour. Build on the flavor of roasted tomatoes with leftover asparagus, green beans, and scallions; feel free to add in any other firm vegetables you have on hand. Serve sprinkled with parmigano-reggiano and crusty bread for dipping. For the flexible, healthy recipe, read more.

Weekend cooking can afford to be more complicated, but often unvarnished preparation makes for better food. Case in point: a straightforward pasta tossed with shiitakes, shallots, and asparagus.

With a lightweight sauce devoid of tomatoes or cream, there's room for only one thing to shine — the market-fresh vegetables. A butter-and-vegetable-broth-based sauce adds creaminess, and lemon peel a sunny, warm flavor.

For an exercise in restraint that's stunning in its simplicity, read more.

After a week of margaritas, Mexican, and Mother's Day meals, it's time to get back on track with a speedy, flavorful, and healthful Monday night dinner. When it comes to feeding loved ones, you can't go wrong with chicken cacciatore, the Italian classic. But instead of working with the course's traditional dark meat chicken thighs and flour-based brown gravy, use yesterday's leftover chicken breasts, along with tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, and onions. A chiffonade of basil and piquant capers add brightness. For the recipe, read more.