"yum-o" news and stories

• Summer is for grilling: Grilled Caponata with Charred Bread, Beer Can Chicken with Dirty Bird Rub, and Grilled Peach Upside-Down Cake.
• Kids love Frankenstuffers.
• What does actress Anika Noni Rose keep in her fridge?
• Or how about Dennis Franz?
• Having a big party? Print out these DIY place cards.
• Even dogs love salad (right?).
• Make some vegetarian dinners: Portobello Mushroom and Almond Pesto Lasagna, Zucchini Fritters with Roasted Red Pepper Dip, and Grilled Vegetable Salad with Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette.
• Another celeb: Jane Seymour makes a centerpiece with flowers and crayons.
• More recipes: Pineapple-Shrimp Tostadas, Asian Chicken Cutlets, Chicken Burgers with Barbecue Onion Sauce, and Spiked Pink Lemonade.

• Need something to feed your pet? How about a French Grilled Sandwich?
• Rachael is looking for your the biggest goofs you've made in the kitchen.
• The Burger of the Month is the Sloppy Joaquin, which sounds slightly, um, dirty to me.
• Musician Moby is a vegetarian.
• Where can you find a good hot dog in Detroit?
• This month's recipes: lots of stuff made with eggs, including Poached Eggs with Mushroom Home Fries, Egg, Goat Cheese and Tomato Toasts, and an Alsace and Lorraine Omelet. More recipes: Great Grandma's Baked Chicken, Chilled Raspberry Cream Pie, Pomegranate Coolers, and an easy recipe for a Zucchini-Gruyere Tart.

In a special surprise election held yesterday, TV food icon Rachael Ray was named President of the United States.

Her challenger, Martha Stewart from the state of New York, put up quite a fight, but in the end, Ray squeaked out a win in electoral votes. Many people cite Ray's ability to seemingly be in every single state in the country at the same time, giving speeches and cooking demonsrations for crowds of supporters. Others cite Stewart's time in prison as working against her.

This is really the most logical next step for Ray, who has 27 shows on Food Network, her own monthly magazine, a daily syndicated TV show, her face on various products in the supermarket, DVDs, a Christmas CD, cookware, a new endorsement deal with Dunkin' Donuts, and her own planet named after her. Ray has said that the first thing she plans to do as President is to add the word "awesome" to the Pledge of Allegience.

After the jump, the complete statement from President-Elect Ray.

How can someone who puts out such a fun food mag put on such an unbearable TV show?

I want to like Rachael Ray, the TV show. I really, really do. Honest. But it's just an annoying hour to me. Maybe it's because I'm a guy. One minute Rachael will be teaching us how to make some cool quick meal with pasta and vegetables, and then five minutes later she'll be talking about women in abusive relationships or how someone can organize the shoes in their closets. It just doesn't work for me. (And there's also the whole thing with her voice and bubbly personality, which I can take on 30 Minute Meals but when it's an hour every day...). But it's really popular, so maybe I'm not the right audience.

But Every Day With Rachael Ray? That's a great little magazine. It has a bunch of recipes that you feel you can actually cook (unlike some mags), quick guides to eating in various cities, tips on shopping, tips on buying wine, interviews. It's well-done. If there's one quibble I have is the whole "celebrity fridge" feature in the back of every issue. It's kinda funny to see what celebs have in there, but do we have to have some quiz about what they have? On the same page where we can see the answers?!? It seems to be a quiz made for people who find the TV Guide crossword difficult.

• Add wine to your weeknight meals, including Glazed Carrots, Red Wine Chicken, and Fruit Soup with Port.
• Check out what Jewel keeps in her tour bus fridge.
• Even your pet wants a special meal on St. Patrick's Day.
• The decorator from Extreme Makeover shows you how to make an interesting centerpiece.
• The Burger of the Month: Cordon Croquettes.
• What does Muhammad Ali eat every day?
• Mmmm...Spaghetti Burgers!
• Hosting a poker game? Try out these cool drinks and finger foods.
• More recipes: Chocolate Pudding Parfaits, Pizza Pockets, and St. Paddy's Corned Beef and Cabbage Stoup.