I'm not sure when my resentment of Rachael Ray began. Perhaps it was when I saw her face on a Dunkin' Donuts commercial, on the cover of three magazines, and plastered all over Barnes & Noble all in the same day. Perhaps it was when she called her viewers "kids" for the 2938th time. Perhaps it was when I realized that she had the best job ever and that I was extremely jealous of her.
Yes, I resisted as long as I could, but yesterday I finally caved and made a Rachael Ray recipe.
To be honest, it's a shame that I avoided it for so long. Just because the woman has built an empire doesn't mean she can't occasionally make good food. I guess I'm slowly coming to terms with my envy.
I haven't eaten a lot of French toast in my life--I'm more of a pancake person--but for some reason, I was craving it pretty fiercely all week long. I did a quick search and found Rachael's recipe to be one of the more unique and appetizing, so I picked it.
I always have granola on hand, and I ended up using a bit more than the amount called for in the recipe. Also, oddly enough and most unexpectedly, I added cinnamon. The result? The toast had a gooey, spicy center surrounded by a crunchy coating. In other words, it was wonderful.
Crunchy Cinnamon French Toast
(based on a recipe by Ms. Ray)
1 1/2 cups granola of choice
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
bit o' nutmeg
4 slices bread
2 tablespoons butter
In a wide dish, beat the eggs, milk, and cinnamon. Add the bread and soak until saturated. Transfer the bread to the granola crumbs (previously pulverized, if need be) and heavily coat each slice.
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the granola-coated bread and cook until golden, about six minutes per side. Douse with syrup and enjoy.
November 16, 2008
resistance is futile
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72 comments:
i hate rachael ray, too. she's so bubbly and annoying. you kinda just want to kick her. or at least turn her volume down. this does look good though - and i'm sure you make it better than her ;)
ISn't it funny, I'm constantly surprised when we like her recipes
Sometimes you run across a person that annoys the crap out of you and you just can't pin point what it is, and it's not that you even know them well , just something about them. I think that's her. When her show first started she used pricey cuts of meat and I would think, who's gonna make this stuff? Not me and not anybody I know. Thankfully when I do occasionally watch she has come down to earth and her meals are affordable. The French Toast looks great Grace, I would make this in a heart beat.
Yep Rachael Ray has built an empire and travels around and makes a fortune for eating...and she has a great smile...how could anyone not be jealous. I'm happy for her, now if we could get the same break eh?
This looks awesome Grace and perfect for weekend breakfast.
To quote Rachel Ray, that french toast looks Yummo! (Sorry couln't resist)It really does look great!
That is funny!
It is like a train wreck~ I say I'm not going to watch, but I do, I do!
I've watched Rachel Ray, thumbed through one of her cook books, but never tried a recipe. We love french toast (and pancakes and waffles...) this sounds super yummy. Thanks for giving it a try and passing it on.
Oh DEELISH! (hee hee hee) Rachel Ray has actually turned out to be an inspiration of sorts for me. Her food is tasty and I try to be as annoyingly sweet and perky as her when I'm trying to annoy the shit out of people I can't just haul off and slap. :)
Love the title of this post! By any chance are you a fan of the old Dr. Who series? Your french toast (with cinnamon!) looks dreamy. I kind of like Rachel and the story behind her success. Oh to be young, perky, cute, successful, and wealthy!
I'm absolutely shocked you added cinnamon. :) The french toast looks fabulous and maybe this means more RR recipes to come???
Cinnamon???? No!!!!
I can deal with RR on her 30 minutes shows..but not on her hour long talk show!
I am undecided about RR. Sometimes I like her, and other times I would rather not hear a single utterance from her. I have made a couple of recipes from her, but they were only okay. This however, looks fabulous!
Mmm interesting! I've never thought to do granola and french toast together! That look really good and it's now breakfast time...
Yummy Grace! And you're right, RR is everywhere isn't she? LOL!
Lon and I hate Rachel Ray. It's mostly her voice that kills us but there's a lot of other technical cooking reasons. You are right though, there is some jealousy mixed in, mostly because she makes lots of money.
I can take RR in small doses, but I have to say that the repeticious catch phrases get to me. I have tried a few recipes and found that they were "doable" and the family likes them. Now, for a TV foodie whose recipes are really easy and family pleasing, take a look at Paula Deen. You might die from all the butter and bacon though.
RR is a little "too much" for me as well. I want to like her, but I just cant totally like her. Then I have all the feelings you do as well about her face being everywhere, as if she was the cheerleader for the foodie world. But then if I met her I would probably end up being friends with her. Go figure.
This does look very good. A few of her recipes have caught my eye. Like pomegranate on ribs and such.
New reader here - don't have a clue how I got here, but here I am, nodding and grinning and agreeing with it all. LOL
She annoys the crap out of me, but what can I say, I love her food! I've made a dozen or so of her recipes, and I always tinker with them but dern tasty! I also broke down and got her magazine, to which my husband said "Thank god! Now I don't ever had to listen to her!"
As a matter of fact, I'm making white bean chicken poblano chili based on a recipe of hers (which in turn is based on a restaurant recipe). Mmmm ... I've made it before and it's yumm-o!
I'm not much into Rachel Ray either, but your version of this French Toast looks fabulous. I think I get annoyed by the EVOO and Yum-O. When people start putting all this cutesy crap in their everyday speech, I begin to twitch....same for retarded slang words. My sister is always saying really. Like one conversation was "Really?" "REALLY?" "Reallllyyyy."
I almost took her head off.
LOL, I must be one of the few people who have built up a resistance... she's never really bothered me. I've tried a few of her recipes and liked them.
Anyway, these look fantastic! glad you enjoyed them. I looove french toast.
(P.S. you mentioned that my chicken looked like it had laid chocolate chip cookies. I never noticed it, but you're absolutely right, LOL. If I had a CCC-laying chicken, I would be one happy woman!)
I really liked RR when she first came on the scene. But, the more famous she's become the more annoying and obnoxious she's become! She sounds like she's SHOUTING ALL THE TIME! Sheesh!
She can't be that bad, though. Look at that fab French toast she thought up! Looks great!
I am not a huge fan of Rachel Ray. I can't watch her because her voice drives me nuts. I've never tried her recipes before either but I must say this French toast looks amazing!
Grace, the toast is delicious! As for RR, I think I'm not the only one who can't tolerate her voice.
Haha, she does say "kids" all the time. I noticed that last night when I was watching her Thanksgiving special.
This looks fantastic!
I like RR, and this french toast sounds divine .. guess I should duck and run ?
:)
As I was reading your post, I was myself nodding my head in agreement until I remembered that Rachael Ray got me cooking in the first place! I started watching 30 Minute Meals as a starving grad student and began to understand that it was possible to make quick, healthy meals. I feel like I've graduated (pun; terrible, I know it) to more advanced techniques, but I owe something to the perma-perky Ms. Ray...
But, my does that gooeyness look good.
Cinnamon? What, do you like that stuff or something? ;)
Man alive, I have an intense dislike of Rachael Ray, too. I feel like I see her EVERYWHERE--she even has a dog food brand out now called "Nutrish."
Way to overcome the fear and try her recipe anyway.
Looks like a winner! Yup I have a love hate relationship with her too. I don't know why? She works hard for every bit of her success. I guess we all want to be discovered for something!
For the record, I do like Rachel Ray. I like her spunk and easy short cuts ... simple stuff like surveying all of the things to be done for a meal and doing some simple planning. Heat the pans while chopping. Need onion twice? Chop once and divide portions. A good meal can quickly be had without going all gourmet.
That being said, I was so sad to see she had her own show on daytime TV. I don't want us all to get sick of her too soon and just discard her like we do so many other "favorite of the day" kinds of TV personalities.
To go way out on a limb here, I love that she looks like a regular person. A cute one at that. But, she hasn't had plastic surgery to change herself into the "ideal" body type. I can't name another TV personality with the $$ she has that hasn't given "the girls" a little extra lovin, if you know what I mean. These days, that is a perfectly respectable basis for respect.
I can only handle RR in small doses:) I love french toast though! This looks wonderful!
and here I thought I was the only person who finds RR really annoying. Some of her recipes are good - ok, I admit it but that voice and the uber enthusiastic Yum-O just puts me under. I was gifted 3 RR garbage bowls - I love them and use them all the time. They're light and wash well and I use them as mixing bowls.
I find her to be trying at times as well but sometimes she comes up with some great recipes.
French toast, granola, and cinnamon...three of husband's most favorite things. Let's just keep this little recipe between you and I. Who knows, I may need to pull this baby out as leverage at some point in my marriage! Nothing says "There is no wife better than me...give me whatever I ask for" like crunchy cinnamon french toast!!
Where the inspiration comes from matters less than the result. (Unless it's Sandra and involves jello and cool whip.) Looks delicious!
I dont understand who can resist her initially I used to watch her shows oh but now nope I quickly change to something else. I make French toast but 2 versions one with cinnamon and another without it just for me... yours look so good...
I'll say it: I cannot stand RR. Is it her voice? The way she laughs at her own funniness (though she isn't funny)? I don't know. I can't STAND it that she calls salt and pepper S-and-P and olive oil EVOO - kill me now.
But fine, that french toast looks rockin' good. Or should I just say "RG". Gawd.
One of my daughters had an allergic reaction to something this summer, and spent 3 days bi***ing about her "Rachael Ray hands", because evidently the woman has sausage fingers. Luckily, I have never seen her on TV, so I'm not as annoyed as y'all are! Guess I'll keep the TV off, too! ;)
This looks wonderful. Nothing wrong with a craving for French Toast, as a matter of fact, I think I might have one now! I used to like RR when she first started, now she seems like it's all just a job, it doesn't look like she's having fun anymore.
The french toast sounds delicious. I'm obsessed with all things breakfast...especially if they include cinnamon! My love for 30 minute meals hosted by Rachel Ray has been rekindled after watching her Thanksgiving meal specials (before that, I was losing hope, used to be a bigger fan :P).
That looks delicious!
I hate Rachael Ray, too. I used to really love her show years ago, and thought she was great, but over time the Food Network has become overly saturated with her zillion shows, and she's become little more than a caricature of herself. I'll readily admit, though, many of her recipes are great! I have several of her cookbooks, and it's not often that I'm disappointed in one that I try.
You know what really sucks? I think she's incredibly annoying and irritating, but no fewer than 4 people have told me out of the blue that I remind them of her. Ack! At least all 4 of them love her, but still...I'm like HER? Ugggggh.
Oh, and I think garbage bowls are the best idea ever. Score one point for RR, but it still doesn't outweigh the 1,000 points scored for Annoying. ; )
must admit it looks wonderful. but I do so enjoy being a snob.
mmm. french toast, i'd eat it even though it is ms. ray's recipe.
OMG Grace you almost gave me a heart attack: how come you ended up adding cinnamon to it? LOL! That's so unexpected of you :)
Grace I love YOUR french Toasts, really I didnt try a Rachel Ray recipe I dont know why! But always your recipes look wonderful!!! xxGloria
My daughter did a number of RR thirty minute meals back when she was still living with us. RR may be annoying, but the food was sure good.
I haven't watched the lady's shows much, even though I like food tv. I tend to go for No Reservations and other travel food shows.
Spider snacks, anyone?
from the looks of it, you can give her a stiff competition there... lovely post... :)
I like Rachael Ray, but not in love with her recipes. I feel like a lot of them are too complicated for what they are. For example, if I want a turkey burger, I don't want an "OH SO YUMMY good cheddar apple-tini burger" or whatever crazy name she gives the recipe. I'll just make it my way! Ha-ha.
That said, she's very creative and I think she has some awesome ideas but I think she tends to go overboard.
I am also not a fan of RR, but this does look like a delicious French toast. I did assume this would be a vehicle for cinnamon though, lol ;-)
Looks divine! I think I know what I'll be making for breakfast tomorrow! :)
i completely agree with you about rachael ray. it's like you want to hate her, but the stuff she makes is just so darn good. my main problem with her is how she "waits" for applause when she is cooking on her show in the morning. if people don't applause, she'll say some stupid remark like "wow, it seems pretty quiet in here, kids." haha
Oh, sheesh, that pesky Rachael Ray. I truly don't like her bubby personality and with recipes like "lasagna pizza" it's just too much. BUT, trying to be the evolved peson, no one is ALL bad, and darn it, the French Toast does look pretty good.
Ah, the quandry that is RR. Good for you for challenging long held beliefs.
Grace, this looks great! I love french toast, even though it has been a very long time since I have had it. I almost have all the ingredients, I might have to give this a try.
Oooh, I despise Rachel Ray! I'm not fond of french toast either - but this recipe actually looks pretty delicious!
She really irritates me but I have never made a recipe of hers that I didn't like.
Your french toast looks amazing. I'm usually more of a pancake person as well, but these look amazing enough that I'd forget.
true. rachel ray pisses me off too. She has the best job ever. Her job is to cook and Eat. How cook is that? But your dish looks even better!!
I'm sorry but I truly love R.R. and her perky attitude. I wish I could be half as chipper as she is. Oh well...the french toast looks great.
I'm super tempted to try this one as well. Rachel Ray has some great recipes, and I think most of the hatred aimed her way stems from jealously. Sure, she's posted everywhere and that gets annoying, but wouldn't you do the same in her position? Sandra Lee on the other hand....I could do without her.
We don't see any Rachel Ray over here so I have no opinion about her.
I think I will be making french toast asap :)
I think I'm in the minority, because I find Paula Deen a lot more annoying than RR. I actually make a lot of Rachael's recipes, and rarely have one that disappoints. I want some of this french toast for breakfast!
I really don't have much of an opinion on RR. I have yet to make anything of hers. I have upon occasion watched her show and thought her recipes had too many different (& odd) flavor combos. This on the other hand looks like a winner. This is on the menu Sat's breakfast. I've already told my children and showed them your photos. I got the greenlight.
~ingrid
Not a big fan of Rachel Ray-- generally I think she overdoes the personality and her recipes are just okay. However, this is a unique take on french toast. I like the combination of textures. Nice work, Grace!
I didn't like Rachel Ray from the time I watched her first show. Continued not to like her even when she became big and famous. That being said, I do own several of her cookbooks and have cooked several things from them I like. Still doesn't mean I gotta like her!
I've never made anything of Rachel Ray's either. There are some people in the world I just want to smack (in only a semi-violent way) and say "stop talking". She may be one of them. So, I haven't made any of her food in protest. I'm also annoyed that she sells a garbage bowl. Why do you need to sell a bowl for garbage? Mind you, my aunt bought a bunch of them and gave Giz one. Giz says they're good for mixing.
i don't like rachael herself, but i do enjoy some of her recipes
Let's just say she's a tad perky for me. I've never really watched her show because it's not marketed for me. I don't need anything in 30 minutes. Ever. And if there's a hard way to do anything, I'll find it in 3 seconds flat. But I'll give it to you that you picked a winner on this french toast. Totally droolicious.
I've only ever encountered her name and her recipes - never seen her on TV here in the UK (or maybe I just watch the wrong channels!) - so I don't have strong feelings either way. But the fiendishly evil mind that though up crunchy French Toast.... ya gotta admire that!
I can only handle RR in small doses--and only when I am sure I would like what she is making. :) She is a bit much in large doses.
But on to what is important--how can you not have had much french toast in your life???!?!? I LOVE french toast! Between waffles, pancakes and french toast, well.. I like them all equally! :)
That french toast looks amazing!
I'm not even a giant french toast fan but that looks luscious... And from that harpy?! Inconceivable.
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