I don't HATE Rachael Ray

Really, I don't. I think what's interesting after watching her Chefography is how unremarkable her story really is. She's a good girl, from a nice family. (Although, why is it that we think of her as being a a kid? She IS pushing 40...well, in a few years anyway.) If I had to say anything, it would be that it's kind of annoying how she's dumbed down her shtick for television.

She grew up in restaurants, for goodness sake, she probably could have been a great chef, if she'd wanted to. She certainly has the work ethic to succeed at anything she puts her mind to. I like it when people use their powers for good. Shilling every conceivable piece of culinary schlock...is that good?

She loves to say she's not a chef, she doesn't chop onions correctly, blah blah blah. I think she's scared to compete in an arena of true excellence, where she could fail. Instead she appeals to the lowest common denominator and gets raves.

Having said that, despite my humble opinion about her cooking, I think Rachael Ray has found her calling. And it's something that she is truly excellent at - being a talk show host. She eminently affable, could hold a conversation with a dead earthworm and explores not completely uninteresting topics on her RR Show. Props to her producers...

So forget her recipes, or just look at one book...they're all the same anyway - seven hundred thousand ways to use ground beef and when you're done with that seven hundred thousand ways to use sausage. Watch her show (just be sure to skip the cooking segments) and watch her walk away with 7 Daytime Emmys.