Cooking Channel

When the Cooking Channel first launched last year, I was thrilled to find that the lineup included a show called Chinese Food Made Easy — up until that point, the only Chinese cooking shows I'd seen were reruns of Martin Yan's Yan Can Cook. Its host, a fresh, upbeat face named Ching He Huang, had appeared in a slew of cooking shows in the UK, where she's widely recognized for reinventions of her favorite Chinese dishes.

Today marks the Cooking Channel premiere of Huang's second season for the show, which is now titled Easy Chinese: San Francisco. In preparation, Ching spent six weeks in the San Francisco Bay Area. I caught up with her in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown, and in between cups of medicinal herbal tea, she shared her thoughts on why China's multifaceted flavors will be the next big thing. See more when you keep reading.

Editor's Note: This is an article written by Cooking Channel's Kelsey Nixon. Here, Kelsey debunks the idea that date night dinners are just for weekends.

This week, my husband and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. It almost makes me sad that we aren't considered "newlyweds" anymore; thank goodness we still feel like we fit into this category. We're far from perfect, but we're still smitten with one another. I've been told that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach countless times, and while I partially agree with that cliché, the thoughtfulness that surrounds food often gets me much further.

Scheduling meaningful date nights can feel like another thing to pile on a to-do list — not to mention it can be tough on the pocketbook if, in your eyes, this means fancy restaurants and Broadway shows.

See how she transforms Tuesdays into terrific date nights — along with her favorite date night dinner! — when you read on.

Editor's Note: The following is an article written by Cooking Channel personality Kelsey Nixon. Here, Kelsey makes a case for summertime slow cooking.When I got married a few years ago, I was kindly gifted seven slow cookers. You heard me right: seven of them. One of them was even in the shape of a football! I tucked them away, giving them to friends and family who were interested, because I was sure I'd never have use for a slow cooker.

Thank goodness I've put that silly idea out of my head and started embracing my slow cooker! I really fell in love with this essential kitchen tool during cooler months for those hearty dishes that cook low and slow for hours on end. It's the epitome of little effort with big payoff. Ever since, I've been on a crusade to make sure that everyone I know is in on the slow cooker secret. Everyone should have one — I'm convinced.

Find out why slow cooker recipes are ideal warm-weather foods when you keep reading.

Editor's Note: The following is a guest article written by the always amazing Kelsey Nixon. Here, Kelsey explains how she comes up with the recipes that she features on her Cooking Channel show.

As I chat with friends and viewers about the new season of Kelsey's Essentials, one of the things they find most surprising is that an entire "season" is actually shot in about a week. When we shoot my show we basically move in to the set for a week, and then won't return to the set for several months until it's time to shoot the following season.

Right now season two of Kelsey's Essentials is just kicking off on Cooking Channel and I am in between seasons. As I gear up for the next round of filming, it is of the utmost importance that I am constantly in recipe development mode. After filming an entire season, which is usually around 50-60 original recipes, I am in serious need of some inspiration!

To find out what dish has Kelsey inspired in Italy, keep reading.

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Cooking Channel personality Kelsey Nixon; she's the host of Kelsey's Essentials, which debuts its second season tomorrow. In her first article, she discusses three of her Summer must haves.

To kick things off I wanted to share a favorite tip, tool, and technique that I consider essential in my kitchen during the Summer months.

• Tip: Break up with your oven. Preheating the oven on a warm, Summer day for dinner or dessert can send the internal temperature of your home or apartment soaring through the roof. Summer is a great time to make recipes that don’t require the oven. This usually means quick cooking times, fresh food, and cooler living spaces. On the first episode of Kelsey’s Essentials, airing June 25, I share my favorite Summer desserts that require no cooking in the oven. I’ll even show you how to bake a cake in the refrigerator!

See Kelsey's essential tool and cooking technique when you read more.

Ever since we met the perky blonde on the fourth season of The Next Food Network Star, we've been huge fans of Kelsey Nixon. Thus, we're incredibly excited to announce that the up-and-coming Food Network personality will be guest blogging here on YumSugar!

For the next couple of weeks, Kelsey will be sharing her tips and cooking essentials. She'll give us a behind-the-scenes look at what inspires her and even take us on her Italian vacation. We're thrilled about the partnership and can't wait to read what Kelsey has to say. Be sure to come back tomorrow for her first article.

Food Network doesn't just have a new wine coming out — it's also got a roster of brand-new shows for both daytime and primetime.

The surprising programming offers a broad range of variety, from the cooking-centric (on the ranch with Pioneer Woman and blogger Ree Drummond) to the reality-heavy (a squabbling, multigenerational family of cookie bakers).

To see the full list, keep reading.

British chef Jamie Oliver is best known in the US as a crusader for healthier school lunch, but starting this month, American viewers will get a glimpse of Jamie in a different capacity: as a well-heeled world traveler.

Jamie's latest TV program, Jamie's Food Escapes, debuts Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on the Cooking Channel. According to the network, in the six-episode series, the chef will be "heading off the tourist track and exploring the authentic ingredients and extraordinary characters" of various regions.

First up is Venice, where he meets the city's Risotto King, visits aristocrats in a traditional palazzo, and fishes for prawns with Venetian fishermen. Jamie's Food Escapes will also feature destinations such as Athens, the French Pyrenees, Andalucía, Stockholm, and Marrakesh. I'll be sure to tune in, even though my house is sans Cooking Channel.

Considering he's your favorite male chef, do you think you'll watch as well?