We taste-tested dozens of oatmeals from the grocery store to stir up our favorites.
BEST STOVE-TOP: McCann's Original Steel-Cut Irish Oatmeal
This 30-minute oatmeal blew away the competitors-traditional and instant. Unlike rolled oats, which are steamed, pressed and toasted, steel-cut oats are sliced in half, resulting in a "nutty, complex" flavor. "You barely need salt or butter," one judge said. Read more »
BEST PLAIN INSTANT: Nature's Path Original Organic Instant Hot Oatmeal
Zap this instant mix for a great bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal in 75 seconds; each packet contains organic rolled oats and a pinch of sea salt. Testers were most impressed by the "thick, creamy" consistency: "Wow, this came from a microwave?" Read more »
BEST CINNAMON: Quaker Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon
This runaway favorite stood out for its "amazingly plump" chunks of apple and "just the right amount of cinnamon." One impressed taster said, "It smells like someone's baking an apple pie." Read more »
Blog Posts by RachaelRaymag.com
Taste Test: The Best Oatmeal (+ recipes to try)
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Fri, Oct 22, 2010 4:30 PM EDTAchoo! 6 soups to kick that cold for good this Fall
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Wed, Oct 20, 2010 8:52 PM EDTGot the sniffles now? Or trying to keep them away? These fast-and-easy, warming bowls of soup will have you feeling better in no time.
THE RECIPES:
Contest Winner! Beef Ravioli and Spinach Soup »
Cure-a-Cold Spring Chicken Soup »
Tomato Alphabet Soup with Parmesan Crisps »
Curried Chicken-and-Cider Soup »
MORE LIKE THIS:
How to feel better with sneaky spices »
How to stay healthy on vacation »
Read More »from Achoo! 6 soups to kick that cold for good this FallPet-friendly recipes for both of you to enjoy
By RachaelRaymag.com | Work + Money – Tue, Oct 19, 2010 11:13 PM EDTShare these pet-friendly recipes with your furry pals this Halloween-or any day of the year!
Note: Always check with your vet about which foods are appropriate for you to share with your pet.
THE RECIPES:"Orange You Glad It's Halloween" Soup
Isaboo's Butternut Squash Mac and Cheddar
"Two Paws Up" Breakfast Scramble
"Green with Envy" No-Cook Doggie Stew
MORE LIKE THIS:
How to read your pet's food labels
How to teach your dog a new trick (literally)
Read More »from Pet-friendly recipes for both of you to enjoyLuxury mashed potatoes: Our favorites on the menu (+ recipes to try)
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Tue, Oct 19, 2010 7:26 PM EDT
Read More »from Luxury mashed potatoes: Our favorites on the menu (+ recipes to try)
Indulge! If you want a taste of luxury, these four hot spots around the country turn the humble starch into high-end dining.
Caviar Mashed Potatoes
There's always a crowd waiting on the cobblestone street in front of Nantucket's Boarding House (12 Federal St., 508-228-9622), a restaurant that's been popular for all of its 19 years, possibly because it used local ingredients before they were trendy. Or maybe it's due to the homemade carbs: french fries, flatbreads, doughnuts and, of course, mashed potatoes. Chef Erin Zircher's crème fraîche mashed potatoes with hackleback caviar ($9 as a side; $24 with scallops) is served with lobster until November, when the Nantucket Bay scallops arrive. They're in season for a short while and taste even better when dunked into these rich potatoes.
Sound good? We bet you'll like our:
Mashed Broccoli Potatoes with Browned-Butter Salmon »
Or, add caviar to our Potato Mash with Mix-Ins »
Rosemary and Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Perched on the shore of* * *
These one-pan chicken dinners are easy, flavorful and perfect for busy nights, with leftovers that make a great next-day meal. Who could ask for more?
Recipe by Tracey Seaman | Photography by Yunhee Kim
ALL THE RECIPES:
One-Pot Ginger Chicken, Bok Choy and Couscous »
Chicken with Mushrooms and Peas »
Marsala Chicken-and-Mushroom Casserole »
MORE LIKE THIS:
Try Italian Flag Lasagna
8 Chicken Dinners That Are Good for You »Try Crispy Chicken and Fries
Rachael Ray's Newest 30-Minute Meals with Chicken »Try Maple-Walnut Chicken Thighs and Cheddar-Apple Rice
Read More »from 7 Easy One-Pan Chicken DinnersRachael Ray continuing to work to improve school lunches, raise healthier kids
By RachaelRaymag.com | Moments Of Motherhood – Fri, Oct 15, 2010 5:09 PM EDT
Remember how Rachael went to Washington to help encourage lawmakers to fight for better school lunches? Our friend Andrew Kaplan, Rachael's director of special projects (that's him in the background, left, with Rachael and Senator Robert J. Casey of Pennsylvania), has been meeting with the USDA and the USDA Midwest division, based in Chicago, to continue to talk about Rachael's work to help improve child nutrition, both in schools and at home. He sent us this great letter from Audrey Rowe, Deputy Administrator of Special Nutrition Programs, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, which we thought you'd like to read, too. Because as Rach says, "We want to change the way this generation thinks about food, and we're going to need your help!"
FROM: Audrey Rowe, Deputy Administrator of Special Nutrition Programs, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service
TO: The Editor
I would like to sincerely thank Rachael Ray for being such a strong advocate for raising a generation of healthier children
Read More »from Rachael Ray continuing to work to improve school lunches, raise healthier kidsSupermarket Do’s and Don’ts: What do you consider acceptable shopping behavior?
By RachaelRaymag.com | Work + Money – Thu, Oct 14, 2010 10:27 PM EDT
Read More »from Supermarket Do’s and Don’ts: What do you consider acceptable shopping behavior?
We polled our readers on what is acceptable (or not!) when it comes to shopping behavior. What do you think?
Shopping in Your Pajamas
86% DON'T: "I'm not a dressing-up kind of girl-I am and always have been a huge tomboy. But I would still never go anywhere in my pj's!"
14% DO: "I'm a mother and if I need to go to the store, I go when I have the chance-pajama pants or not. I may not even have clean laundry! I am not lazy or sloppy, just busy."
Talking on Your Cell Phone During Checkout
93% DON'T: "It's rude to multitask on the phone while interacting. My husband does this often and it embarrasses me, so I take over and talk to the person for him."
7% DO: "Sometimes I need to take a call while shopping-especially if it's my family. I apologize to the cashier, though, and always end the call before finalizing my purchase."
Walking Past a Spill And Reporting It
75% DO: "I don't want to walk into a mess! I would let someone know, but hopefully the person who did it has already told aRachael Ray's Stoup: 8 not-quite-soup, not-quite-stew meals that satisfy
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Thu, Oct 14, 2010 9:42 PM EDTWhen you're craving something more hearty than a soup but not as thick as a stew, Rachael Ray's stoups really satisfy! You won't have to wait long: Each of these 30-Minute Meals comes together in a half-hour or less.THE RECIPES:Double Chicken Dumpling Stoup »Zucchini Stoup with Herb Breadcrumbs »K
Read More »from Taste Test: Best Boxed Rice Mixes
We taste-tested dozens of rice mixes from the grocery store and picked our favorites.
BEST CHEESY: Rice-A-Roni Nature's Way Italian Cheese & Herb
After sampling too many bright orange rice mixes, our tasters were delighted by this naturally flavored, creamy blend that packs in plenty of parmesan with the "perfect al dente texture," said one taster. Read more »
Try it with: Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia »
BEST CHICKEN: Uncle Ben's Long Grain Rice Herb Roasted Chicken
Tasters went crazy for this moist and hearty mix, made of wheat berries, orzo, and long-grain and wild rice. There's no fake meat flavor here: "It tastes like it was cooked in real chicken stock," enthused one panelist. Read more »
Try it with: Chicken with Apple Gravy, Rice Pilaf and Green Beans »
BEST VEGGIE: Alessi Risotto con Funghi Porcini
Founded in 1947 by Antonino Alessi, the family-owned company stays true to its Italian roots by using chewy, short-grain arborio rice in this outstanding risotto with woodsy porciniThe Dos and Don'ts of Whole Grains
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Wed, Oct 13, 2010 11:09 PM EDT
By now you're familiar with at least a few whole grains in your local supermarket, like brown rice, millet, barley, farro, buckwheat and quinoa. And you probably know some of the health benefits to cooking with them:
- Whole grains contain more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. Millet provides a considerable antioxidant boost.
- Regularly eating whole grains can slash the risk of heart disease and diabetes by more than 25 percent.
- Fiber-rich foods like whole grains help you burn more calories. Brown rice packs three times as much fiber as white; and farro is lower in calories and higher in fiber and protein than other grains.
- Children who eat whole grains are half as likely to develop inflammatory diseases such as asthma.
Once you pick them up, keep these tips in mind to make the most of your buy.
DO:
- Do store them in the freezer: Whole grains retain some of their natural oils-giving them a shelf life of about six months-so freeze them to
