Food Network was nice enough to send me some of Rachel Ray’s new Balsamic Drizzle, which is being sold at the Food Network Store, as well as other spots on and off of the Internet. I also received Paula Deen’s House Seasoning. You will want to keep on the lookout for reviews of both, which should be up soon. Since they were nice enough to offer me two of the Balsamic Drizzle, I have decided to share the love and give one away.

Ashtyn’s Home Cookin’ is proud to be giving away a bottle of Rachael Ray’s Balsamic Drizzle. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one. Comments are moderated to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

To enter you need to be 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible. Winners will be announced here. If we do not hear from you within 3 weeks from the date the winners are announced you forfeit your prize and we will select another winner. Prizes will be shipped within 45 days from the day you win.

We will pick a winner for this on July 1, 2008. This means you have until June 30, 2008 to enter.

Note:
Of course, you don’t have to wait for us to pick a winner. You can pick some of the Balsamic Drizzle up at the Food Network Store.

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There are so many great celebrities on Food Network that when I asked this question to our resident Picky Eater he didn’t know how to respond. “When you say favorite,” he asked, “what o you mean?”

I had to consider that for a moment and we finally narrowed it down into a few categories.

I asked him who was his:

All around Favorite:
Favorite Cook who has food he’s most likely to eat:
Most Entertaining:
Chef most likely to teach him cooking skill:

I also was curious as to find out who the least favorite of all the stars were.

Our Picky Eater had this to say:

All around Favorite goes to: Paula Deen
Favorite Cook who has Food he’s most likely to eat: Paula Deen
Most Entertaining: Cat Cora
Chef most likely to teach him Cooking Skills: Giada De Laurentiis & Ina Garten
Least Favorite: Sandra Lee

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TED ALLEN DISCOVERS THE ANSWERS BEHIND FOOD’S BIGGEST MYSTERIES IN FOOD DETECTIVES

Famed Culinary Expert Joins Food Network To Host New Primetime Series Premiering Tuesday, July 29th at 9pm ET/PT Featuring Experts from ‘Popular Science’ Magazine

NEW YORK, NY, June 10, 2008 – Famed culinary expert Ted Allen joins the Food Network family with the debut of his new series Food Detectives, premiering Tuesday, July 29th at 9pm ET/PT. The half-hour primetime series explores the delicious connection between science and food, pulling back the curtain and revealing the answers to some of the most puzzling food mysteries.

“We’ve wanted to work with Ted for years on a series of his own and we’ve found a great fit in Food Detectives,” said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production for Food Network. “Not only will this show provide a wealth of interesting information for our viewers, it also gives Ted an opportunity to show off his wit and culinary knowledge.”

“I’m so excited to be working with Food Network on this new series,” said Allen. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to head up my own show and I know that viewers are going to be totally engaged with the information we are discovering on Food Detectives!”

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I started watching The Next Food Network Star last season and had a hard time finding someone I could like. I thought JAG had promise, but those who watched the show remember how that turned out. In the end, I chose Amy (who won and produced an awful show) over Rory, who probably would have also produced something that no one wanted to watch. Either way the Network was damned.

I couldn’t wait for the new season to start, but once it did I have noticed that again, I am finding it hard to find someone to really root for in the scheme of things. I know who I absolutely want to go home today, but I don’t know who I want to remain on the Network after the show is over. Of course, I realize that it’s just week two, so it’s hard to say that the contestants won’t grow and develop as the show wears on. I am hoping that by the end of the show I will see someone evolve into the Next Food Network Star, which is kind of the point of the entire show.

Currently, there are eight potential winners left. Of the two that have been kicked off, Cory Kahaney (the non-funny comedian) and Kevin Roberts (Mr. Food is Sexy) I can’t say that I was too sad to see them go. However, I would have gladly sent home Nipa and put up with either for an additional week.

In the case of Cory, it wasn’t that she was a comedian or that she wasn’t funny, it was that she looked like she was going for a root canal every time she was put up in a presentation situation. This uncomfortable nature would not have made for a good show and while she might have been a good cook, there is no way that viewers would be able to get past that demeanor.

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FOOD NETWORK’S PAULA DEEN “DISHES” UP A NEW SERIES IN JUNE - ‘Paula’s Best Dishes’ Premieres Sunday, June 15th at 12:30pm ET/PT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – What happens when America’s favorite Southern cook opens up her kitchen to family, friends, viewers, and the best home cooks in the country? Viewers find out this June on Paula Deen’s new series, Paula’s Best Dishes, premiering Sunday, June 15th 12:30PM ET/PT. Paula is cookin’ up something new as she rescues viewer recipes, learns the secrets of some of America’s best cooks and shares stories and traditions with friends and strangers alike. You just never know what you might get when the queen of southern cuisine dishes up good times and great food with the gang!

EPISODES INCLUDE:

PAULA”S BEST DISHES: MENU FOR MY MAN- Sunday, June 15th at 12:30PM- PREMIERE!
Paula Deen is sharing the way to her man Michael’s heart…through his stomach! She starts by enticing Michael into the kitchen with a succulent Stuffed Beef Tenderloin and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Then, he helps Paula with a rich Shrimp Bisque and Homemade Croutons. And for dessert, a decadent Chocolate Mousse hits the spot!

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FOOD NETWORK IS CASTING FOR ‘DEAR FOOD NETWORK’ POPULAR HOLIDAY SPECIALS SOLVE VIEWER COOKING QUERIES Submissions on FoodNetwork.com Through July 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 27, 2008 – Food Network is casting for the popular Dear Food Network specials set to air this holiday season. Four all new, one-hour programs will feature Food Network fans as they get the chance to have their cooking questions answered face-to-face by their star of choice.

To be considered for Dear Food Network, viewers must upload a unique and entertaining three-minute video to www.foodnetwork.com by Monday, July 14th, sharing their story and explaining why they want a chance to have their cooking problems solved by their favorite Food Network star. Entrants must include their age, location and a humorous testimonial by a family member or friend. The best videos and questions will be considered for inclusion on the show. For additional information, please e-mail foodnetworkseries@gmail.com.

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Food Network Premieres “Chic & Easy” With Host Mary Nolan
Brand New Episodes of “Throwdown” and “Iron Chef America” Debut During May’s “Thrill of the Grill Week!”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – This May, Food Network gets ready for the summer entertaining season with a brand new series, Chic & Easy with host Mary Nolan, premiering Sunday, May 18th at 10:30AM ET/PT. Also, to make sure the backyard barbeques are a complete success, Bobby Flay hosts the Thrill of the Grill Week from May 25th - 31st. Get your grill on with brand new grilling-themed episodes of Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Iron Chef America and Food Network Challenge.

NEW SERIES

CHIC & EASY
Premieres: Sunday, May 18th at 10:30AM
Whether it’s a ladies-only soiree, a posh picnic, or big movie night, Mary Nolan proves that successful entertaining results from mouth-watering menus and stylish, welcoming atmospheres. Every Sunday at 10:30 AM ET/PT, her exciting twists on the traditional will create entertaining delights like Stilton-Stuffed Dates, Sweet and Smoky Popcorn, and Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes with Ganache Frosting. Whether highlighting her practical approach to using local produce, showcasing a single splurge ingredient, or impressing guests with a unique flea-market find, she always offers crowd-pleasing and affordable solutions to make memorable entertaining Chic & Easy.

TEAM BONDING BRUNCH
Premieres: Sunday, May 18th at 10:30AM
What better way to connect than over a blissful brunch complete with a variety of delicious dishes? Mary cooks up a Riviera Egg Pie complimented by a fresh Minted Fruit Salad. Then, her lip-smacking Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes With Ganache Frosting really hit the spot. To add a spicy twist to her brunch (and her name), Mary concocts some of her signature Terry’s Bloody Marys.

IT’S LADIES NIGHT, OH WHAT A NIGHT
Premieres: Sunday, May 25th at 10:30AM
With style and spice, Mary prepares a Ladies Night menu fit for a queen. From Crispy Curried Coconut Shrimp to Spicy Cocktail Meatballs and flavorful Stilton-Stuffed Dates, snacking with gal pals never tasted so good. Then, Mary toasts to tasty food and fabulous friendships with her crowd-pleasing Gingered Pomegranate Cosmos.

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CALLING ALL VIEWERS WITH COOKING QUERIES: ‘ASK AIDA’ TO FEED YOUR CULINARY CURIOSITY

Food Network Launches New Interactive Cooking Show “Ask Aida”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 6, 2008 – Cooking expert Aida Mollenkamp will prepare delicious dishes while solving the culinary conundrums of Food Network viewers in her new interactive cooking show, Ask Aida. From recipe and ingredient issues to advice on kitchen machinery and tools, Aida can even offer guidance for impromptu parties, feeding a crowd, make-ahead dishes, and time-saving tips. Food Network is looking for viewers with burning culinary questions to be featured on the series, which is set to premiere on Saturday, August 2nd.

To be considered for Ask Aida, viewers must upload a creative and entertaining 45- to 60-second video highlighting their culinary challenge and how Aida can help solve it or email questions and photos to AskAida@foodnetwork.com. The best videos and questions will be considered for inclusion on the show. For more detailed instructions from Aida herself and to submit a video, visit foodnetwork.com/aida.

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Before receiving the box set for Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run I was not familiar with the show. I was familiar with Alton thanks to his other show Good Eats and because of his work on Iron Chef America, but I had not had the pleasure of watching this show until the DVD arrived.

Alton is definitely one of the more interesting hosts on Food Network. One of the most impressive things about him is that he seems to know everything about food. His shows are also quite different than the average Food TV fare. While most of the shows offer a standard kitchen setting (whether live or taped) and a host that shows you how to cook the meal or food item of choice, Brown’s shows not only show you how to cook something (in one sense or another), but also how to eat it, as well as giving you more food knowledge about the item then you will probably ever need! Brown brings Science and History into the kitchen and makes cooking entertaining in a way that it wasn’t before.

The idea of Feasting on Asphalt was to mix Brown’s love for traveling and motorcycles with his love for food. The entire idea is for a group of travelers, led by Brown, to experience the best regional foods that an area has to offer. This leaves behind all of the corporate eateries that have taken over and allows the group to explore all of the small, yet famous spots with food that you can only imagine unless you’ve been lucky enough to taste it.

This three disc set offers the second season, which is known as The River Run. Apparently, in the first season the group went from East to West across the country. This time around they followed the Mississippi River, from Louisiana to where it ends in Minnesota. Along the way, they sampled the best of everything and offered a nice bit of education on all the good eats that they got to try.

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BOBBY FLAY “GRILLS” A NEW SEASON OF FOOD NETWORK HOPEFULS

Network Announces Season Four Finalists On “The Next Food Network Star” Iron Chef Flay Joins Selection Committee As Permanent Celebrity Judge Series Premiere Set For Sunday, June 1st at 10pm ET/PT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Television’s most challenging food fight, The Next Food Network Star, returns this June for a fourth season filled with star-studded appearances and culinary challenges sure to test the boundaries of any palette. Premiering Sunday, June 1st at 10pm ET/PT, the series offers viewers a cast like never before – filled with 10 contestants eagerly vying to be the next face of Food Network. From a stand-up comedian, to a cookbook author and a self proclaimed “Mini Martha Stewart” – the contestants are sure to introduce a new flavor to the line-up. The names of the finalists were announced today by Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production for Food Network.

“Last season’s show was our network’s highest-rated, most-watched series ever and we look forward to keeping that bar raised and the level of competition high,” said Tuschman. “This season’s finalists are our most skilled ever, and we put them through the toughest challenges we could devise. We guarantee viewers an incredibly compelling and entertaining series.”

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