"podcasting" news and stories

Tired of reading about food? Try listening to food, since food is hitting the airwaves from professionals on the radio to amateurs doing their own Podcasts.

We'd love to think that by watching Emeril, Bobby, Giada and Rachael on tv we'll turn ourselves into master cooks, but the truth of the matter is, you have to get in the kitchen and cook yourself to really learn. Professionals give 10 tips on how to turn your kitchen into a culinary bootcamp. Then you can make Kaboom! Kebabs to serve with Mango Salsa and tortillas, Grilled Salmon with Pasta and Late Summer Vegetables, Roasted Fennel and Red Pepper Salad, Cocoa Sauce for drizzling over anything, Cherry Strudel, and homemade salad dressings: Tarragon Grapefruit Vinaigrette, Mango Lime and Fresh Ginger Dressing, and Lemon Rosemary Dressing.

Put a flattening colander, a silicone rolling pin, and a juicer to good use.

For fresh French fare in Chicago, try Floriole Bakery.

Since you can't take the television set with you when you're shopping at the market for ingredients to make Ina Garten's faaaaabulous croissant bread pudding, now you can take a video with you on you iPod.

Podcasting isn't new, and video podcasts certainly aren't earth-shattering either. However, the food world is just introducing themselves by offering videos that you can download to your iPod of chefs demonstrating things like pan-searing a salmon steak or whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Currently, it seems like it is manufacturers who are using the technology to do demos that feature their products (Sub-zero and Wolf Ranges, for example), but it won't be long, I'm sure, before you can take Ms. Ray right along with you as you try to spend less than $40 a day in her favorite city.