Did you catch Food Network's "The Big Waste”? As with all Food Network specials, it will be rerun. You should try to watch or dvr, if you missed it. It’s playing again Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. ET/PT or Jan. 15 at 5 p.m ET/PT.

The show explained why food can get thrown out before it even hits the store shelves (carrots with bumps on them, blemished fruit or eggs not big enough to fit securely in a carton). It also showed that this food is perfectly edible. I also loved it, because my 4 favorite chefs from Food Network were in it.

Here's the information about the show from Food Network's website: First-class chefs Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, Anne Burrell and Alex Guarnaschelli tackle one of the most massive problems in food today — waste! Divided into two teams, with only 48 hours on the clock, they are challenged to create a multi-course gourmet banquet worthy of their great reputations, but with a big twist; they can only use food that is on its way to the trash. The chefs' hunt takes them from grocery aisles to produce farms, and orchard lines to garbage piles, as they attempt to source enough ingredients to feed a gathering crowd. Bobby and Michael square off against Anne and Alex, as they challenge their views of food waste and how and why it is created. Oh, and they did have a food safety expect that came in and tested all the food, before they served to the 100 guests.

It was a great program, that really will make you think! Educational programming AND cutie-pie chefs? YES PLEASE!

Their meal came from nothing, into dinner. I have a different definition of waste now, when it comes to food. Don't mind natures imperfection. Buy the lonely apple with the spot.

I am SO pumped about Season 4 of The Next Iron Chef on Food Network. I’ve watched the past 3 seasons and enjoyed it…but it was always a 7 or 8 people I’d never heard of and then 1 or 2 chefs I knew about.

Not this season, I know and like ALL 10 of them. Will be so fun to watch. Here is the lineup & where you've seen them:


Anne Burrell: Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, Worst Cooks in America (Food Network) Marcus Samuelsson: Top Chef Masters, Chef of Red Rooster Harlem & Chopped

Geoffrey Zakarian: The Lambs Club (New York), 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, Chopped (Food Network)
Spike Mendelsohn – Season 4 Top Chef, Good Stuff Eatery (Washington D.C.), Kelsey & Spike Cook (Food2.com)

Beau MacMillan – Worst Cook in America (Food Network), Iron Chef America – challenger (Food Network)
Alex Guarnaschelli: Butter, The Darby (New York), Alex’s Day Off, Chopped (Food Network)

Robert Irvine: Robert Irvine’s eat! (Hilton Head Island), Dinner: Impossible, Restaurant: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America (Food Network)

Chuck Hughes: (he is Ryan's food boyfriend) Garde Manger (Montreal), Chuck’s Day Off (Cooking Channel), Iron Chef America – challenger (Food Network)

Michael Chiarello: Bottega Restaurant (Napa Valley), Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello (Cooking Channel)

Elizabeth Faulkner: Citizen Cake, Orson (San Francisco), Iron Chef America – challenger (Food Network)

Will anyone else be watching? It starts Sunday October 30th at 8pm central. My money is on Marcus or Spike!

The North Texas Food Bank, Feeding America, General Mills and NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” are working together for the Pound for Pound Challenge, a weight-loss plan that allows you to lose weight while helping your neighbors in need. For those of you looking to start a New Year’s Resolution, this is the challenge for you! Participating is easy and free. Simply pledge to lose weight at Pound for Pound Challenge to help your community. For every pound pledged by North Texans, 14 cents will be donated to the North Texas Food Bank To help promote the Pound for Pound Challenge at the North Texas Food Bank, pop singer/songwriter Nick Jonas helped Close the Gap during a special volunteer event with Kroger and Chase where he surprised Food Bank staff with a gift of $25,000.

Check out “The Biggest Loser” episode featuring Nick and the North Texas Food Bank on February 2.

The North Texas Food Bank is the charity I hosted a food drive during the holidays. They were so grateful for the donation & so easy to work with. Please take a few mins and sign up for the challenge & help FEED AMERICA!

I watch The Secret Life of An American Teenager' at first I was embarrassed because I’m 30 and why would I be watching that ABC Family show about 14 years olds…but now I’m embarrassed because of its filthy content! It started out as a wholesome little show, with Christian undertones. The main character is a highschool freshman that got pregnant (at band camp). I think the show handled that part well & didn’t glamorize teen pregnancy and definitely showed the VERY hard things that come along with a 14 year old being pregnant. I think that part is fine & in most cases healthy for teens to see, because they DO happen in real life. But as the show progressed it became less and less wholesome and more and more racy. Last night was the 3rd episode of the newest season and it is downright raunchy! The name should be changed to The Secret SEX LIFE of an American Teenager, because that is ALL they talk about for the whole hour. I’m a full grown adult with all my morals & values intact and I even felt guilty for watching that trash. I’m certainly not trying to taught myself as being “too wholesome” to watch certain shows…but I just wanted to inform others in case their kids are watching this show. So if your kids or teens are watching this please take it off the DVR and tell others as well, because I know there are LOTS of parents whose pre-teens are watching this in their bedrooms with the door closed & the parents think it’s completely harmless because it’s on the ABC Family channel.

Are yall watching Big Brother 11? Gosh, I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with it. I LOVE to HATE all the dumb things they say and do.
But one thing I LOVE/LOVE is Jeff. Good grief, he's so stinkin hot!

Only a few more weeks until the finale....once it's over, anyone up for a road trip to Chicago?

Big Brother is one of my favorite reality shows on tv. Big Brother 11 is in full swing, which means Big Brother watching parties. Last Thursday we went to Angie & Adams.

I'm totally in love with the gang~sta teacher by day & dj by night Casey. He makes me laugh and I think people really underestimate the "lay low & be cool" player.

We had some good snacks: chili cheese triangles!

marinated black olives

chips, hot sauce, queso & taquitosMaster_A relaxing!

Of course Angie had to watch while she baked (very typical at her house)

Kfoo & Tara. The boys got a BIG kick out of Jordan, and her lack telling time skills.

So, are you watching BB? If so, let's talk game play. "Expect the un-expected" haha!