Rachael Ray Wants Us to ‘Keep Calm and Cook On’
In our current coronavirus crisis, sequestering ourselves at home until curves are flattened, celebrity chef Rachael Ray has reassuring advice for all of us: “Keep calm and cook on.”
Here are strategic tips from Ray on working with what you’ve got in your kitchen and getting through this season.
How other celebrity chefs are coping at this time
‘Barefoot Contessa’ star Ina Garten’s advice for these uncertain times? Try to make the best of what you have, with what you have on hand. She encourages her fans to focus on the positive of the situation.
She posted on Instagram last week, saying, “Happy St. Patrick’s Day! In the middle of a crisis, celebrating traditions and staying connected give us a sense of much-needed normalcy. Have lunch with a friend over FaceTime or bake something!”
“For St. Patrick’s Day, I made Irish Scones with jam and cream – with ingredients I had in my fridge and pantry! If you don’t have currants, you can substitute the same amount of raisins, dried cranberries, chopped pecans – or anything delicious that you have!”
Another celebrity chef, Giada De Laurentiis, is getting through this with her friends by her side. Virtually, of course.
The Giada at Home star is planning a party this week with fellow Food Network stars Valerie Bertinelli and Alex Guarnaschelli.
She tweeted this week, “Ciao! @guarnaschelli & @Wolfiesmom and I are hosting a fun virtual dinner party Monday night on our Instagrams! More details 2 come…. #3ItalianChicks”
Sounds like a lot of fun, and a great idea!
Rachael Ray’s advice during this difficult time
The Rachael Ray Show star has been vocal about helping out restaurant owners to stay afloat, urging her fans to order takeout, delivery, and to buy gift cards whenever possible.
She is also encouraging restaurants with “ingredients that can help fill home kitchens” and that are forced to close at this time to “use the @FeedingAmerica Food Bank Finder and #FeedItForward.”
It’s a difficult time but it helps to have a voice of reason to help people see there are various choices they can make that can help so many others.
She tweeted last week to help out home cooks who are feeling concerned about food shortages and using what’s in their pantries.
“I know the grocery shelves look bare + your pantry scares you right now, but here’s what it is: we’re all gonna spend more time at home. Time to focus on who + what we love. Cook with a little more love, lean a little more heavily on your pantry…”
A recipe from Rachael Ray using your pantry items
One of the recipes Rachael Ray suggests that could make good use of what’s already in your kitchen is her Tuna Puttanesca and Penne.
Calling for penne pasta, of course, EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil), oil-packed tuna, garlic cloves, crushed red pepper flakes, capers, crushed Kalamata olives, and canned tomatoes, plus parsley, this is an easy and quick meal for any night of the week.
It can also be doubled so there’s lunch for everyone the next day.
Remember – keep calm and cook on.
Read more: Rachael Ray Says This Would Be Her Dream Meal in Heaven
