every day with rachael ray

My favorite recipe for classic chicken parmesan is Tyler Florence's variation with a homemade tomato sauce, crisp, succulent chicken, and briny olives. However, it's not necessarily a dish that comes together quickly. That's why I was excited to come across another recipe for the Italian-American favorite. With whole wheat pasta, a rapid tomato sauce, and no breading, this rendition is not only faster, but it's also healthier! It doesn't lack flavor, however; it's still a cheesy and hearty pasta.

For a restaurant-worthy feast at home, serve with a green salad, garlic bread, and a glass of Chianti. Learn how to make it now.

If you can't make it to watch your favorite baseball team on Opening Day this year, turn your home into spectator central by gathering everyone 'round the big screen and serving up some stadium foods. Hot dogs, peanuts, and, of course, beer. Be sure to pass around fresh, hot soft pretzels, too (since most of you prefer them to their crispy counterparts). Serve them as a pre-dinner snack with coarse salt and spicy brown mustard — or studded with chocolate chips as a portable dessert. Which one suits your taste best? Decide when you read more.

The slow cooker isn't just great for braised meats and stews; it's also the ideal vehicle for making smooth and creamy blended soups. This recipe is a staple of mine; it's wonderful on the fly because it calls for commonplace ingredients like broth and canned plum tomatoes.

When pureeing the hot soup, I recommend allowing it to cool slightly and partially covering it as you use an immersion blender. Or, opt for a standing blender if you're worried about being splashed by hot soup.
For a complete meal, serve with crusty homemade garlic bread and, if you want to add a little more protein, a topping of crispy baked prosciutto. See the recipe when you read more.

A nationwide celebration as big as the Super Bowl is the perfect occasion for serving all-American hamburgers. Translate them into game day eats by passing around plates of bite-sized sliders. Keep them simple (and not too sloppy!) by topping them sparingly with caramelized onions. Or, if you're feeling up to the challenge, take inspiration from another football favorite — seven-layer bean dip — for a winning combination of fixings. Get both finger foods when you read more.

Summer or Winter, I'll never say no to a piping-hot tureen of New England clam chowder. But lately, I've been trying to reduce my calorie intake by steering myself toward lighter, broth-based soups, like lentil vegetable soup. It's time, I've decided, to try my hand at making Manhattan clam chowder, a totally different yet irrefutably delicious take on shellfish stew.

While I love white chowder for its luscious, velvety texture, my palate flips for the tart, slightly spicy tang of the tomato-based red version. On a weeknight, I'll bust out the shortcut version, which calls for canned, pre-cooked clams. But on my next Friday night in, I'll scrub fresh clams for a slow-simmered soup made from scratch. Which rendition suits you best? Find out when you read more.

Now that Christmas is over, take a break from your time spent in the kitchen in favor of some rest and relaxation with family. Tonight, piece together some pantry staples like eggs, bacon, and onions, to make an Asian takeout-inspired supper sans the grease.

Up the vegetable quotient by adding frozen carrots and corn. Or, to make it more substantial, serve this fried rice with a skillet-fried egg on top. For the recipe, read more.

Whoever first conceived of quesadillas is a genius: It's virtually impossible to go wrong with the combination of skillet-toasted flour tortillas, diced vegetables and meat, and warm, melted cheese.

Take advantage of last night's versatile roasted chicken and vegetables like mushrooms and spinach to create a filling Monday night supper. If you don't have time to grab those, make your life easier: Plenty of other mix-ins, like bell peppers, roasted piquillos, beans, or cooked broccoli would work, too.

Serve it alongside fresh salsa, and you've got a symphony of well-balanced flavors — as well as a nutritionally balanced meal. Make this in minutes when you read on.

When we kicked off our Best of 2009 coverage, we wanted to know which glossy was your go-to food magazine for recipes, tips, and entertaining ideas. The results were shocking: an overwhelming 65 percent of you chose Every Day With Rachael Ray, blowing the runnerup, Food Network Magazine, which got 8 percent of the vote, out of the water. We agree: Every Day With Rachael Ray is our pick, too. We love its energetic layout, helpful suggestions, and fun travel pointers — all of which we can imagine Rachael Ray chirping about in person. Most of all, we love its practical yet creative recipes, from electric pink beet rigatoni to Thanksgiving turkey.

What do you love about Every Day With Rachael Ray?

Around December, so much focus gets put on edible gifts and Christmas cookies that it can be easy to forget about the star of the holiday meal. If you want to impress without going through too much trouble, don't discount duck breast: it has all the exotic cachet of a game bird, without any of the fuss.

Regardless of how little you know about duck, you can't go wrong with its à l'orange preparation; the acidity of a sweet-tart orange glaze cuts through the fowl's robust flavor. Go all out by reducing the orange juice and segmenting fresh oranges to serve alongside the roast; otherwise, a pre-made glaze like orange marmalade does the trick. Make either version when you keep reading.

It's been cold and wet outdoors this weekend, so tonight I'm going to indulge myself by making a gorgeous savory pastry that takes inspiration from French country cooking, the Mediterranean, and the fruits of the sea.

I don't plan on toiling over a crust from scratch. Instead, I'll parbake some store-bought pie dough, then fill the tart with a sumptuous filling of shrimp, feta, and roasted red peppers. The result is a sophisticated update on a rustic classic. For the recipe, read more.