Every Freaking! Day with Rachell Ray: An Unauthorized Parody

Elizabeth Hilts
Grand Central Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780446509442
Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (9/08)

 

Sure, creating and tasting just one of the many recipes included may, if fact, make you vomit but that is truly not the intent.  Grab a very large bottle of vino and a deep glass, cuddle up on the couch, open the cover, and enjoy.

Filled with wonderful advice such as, “If you want to add some fun and funky style to your tabletop, go shopping!,” or yummy burger recipes that replace the bun with a donut you may just think that the writer may have indulged in a tad too much vino.  That’s ok, there is an entire article dedicated to Swell Swill which will give you some great ideas on what not to accent a meal with.

With each turn of the page Rachell emphasized the hilarity of the phenomenon; all the books, all the shows, all the products, all the endorsements.  Can you really do all that in 30 minutes?  “Y’know, when I get home and open up the first bottle of vino, it can take me up to an hour to make dinner and that’s okay.  The bottom line is, you need the right tools – like my, knives, my cookware, my prep cooks…” how true.

Along with not so subtlety pointing out the fact that it is alright that you cannot prepare a perfect, pretty, nutritional meal in 30 minutes or less, this over-the-top publication makes you feel good.  A spoof on all those trying to achieve culinary perfection (Yes, I admit I did buy the books, the knives, the cookware…) following the advice of those neither as informed nor as perfect as we may envision.  Think about it, does someone else need to tell you to go shopping if you need salt and pepper shakers?  We are smarter than that – and that is what, in my opinion, the writer was trying to convey. 

Close the book, “Every Freaking! Day with Rachell Ray,” and put a smile on your face, remembering this inspirational quote from Rachell’s mama: “When life gives you lemons, trade them for some limes and make a margarita.”

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