I am a 'Food Network" Junkie

February 7, 2010 - I am a Food Network Junkie. Saying it out loud and admitting it to myself is the first step. Although, I feel no shame, so first step to what, I am quite ok, with being a 'foodie' as we 'Junkies' prefer to call outselves. I love to cook, so it is only natural that I love to watch the cooking shows. The only difference between me and a sports 'Junkie' is that after the show I really can cook.

My addiction started about 10 years ago when I got hooked on 'BAM', essence of everything. I searched every food store I could find until I found the magic potion, my only disappointment was it didn't say a 'damn' thing when I threw it on the food. I moved on to little miss 'EVOO' and 30 minute meals, just so you know little miss EVOO is laughing herself all the way to the bank, and she never had a cooking lesson. You gotta love that. Then I really fell in love with the 'Contessa', I mean you gotta love someone with the word 'barefoot' in their name. She is a woman after my soul, being barefoot was speaking to me, that and the decadent french food she whips up, I gain pounds just watching her. And Bobby Flay, southwest heaven, a little chili peppers even in your ice cream, cool and hot at the same time. Who would have believed you could sweat eating ice cream. Oh, and how about 'Dinners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Guy, with his spikey hair, heavy chains around his neck, and his never ending appitite. Watching the places he eats at makes me want to jump in the car and drive. I never knew just how decadent a perfectly cooked hamburger could be. And you can't be a 'foodie' and forget Paula. She does not have a single recipe that does not call for a stick of butter, or as she would say Buh ter. Paula seems to be the person that drives folks nuts, she certainly grated on my husband's nerves, but to me..she epitomizes what it means to cook, you spill some, you get some on your shirt, and of course you lick your fingers...yummy. And let's not forget Giada. She loves chocolate, loves to eat, and weighs like 90 pounds. I am pretty sure she must be a 'purger' as no one who eats as much as she does could be so skinny. Oh and then we have our little 'drunk', Sandra Lee. While she is frugal and creative the most notable thing about Sanda is she really, and I mean really, loves her 'cocktails'. Believe me her eyes light up like a pinball machine when she starts making the cocktails. She is no whimp when it comes to sucking up the sauce. And what about Tyler Florence, my favorite was the 911 show. The one where he showed up at your door step and helped you fix up one of your diasterous recipes. I burnt food for weeks and sent pictures hoping he would come to my house. No such luck, all it got me was a big bill from the fire department for having to come so many times, to tame the fire.

Yes, I have a long standing love affair with the food network. I thought I was unique, and maybe even a little weird, for my fasincation with the food shows. I never talked about it, and tried to keep it a secret. I pretended to be up on all the reality shows when really my reality was cooking shows. But then little by little I noticed more and more people seemed to know what was meant by 'the trinity' and a 'rue' and everyone was using words like EVOO, and BAM. And at the bookstore I also noticed people hovering around in the cookbook section. And bigger surprise many hoverers were men, and they weren't just looking at the BBQ books. No it seems cooking is an obsession for both men and women. And we are beginning to wear our aprons proudly. So take a risk, next time you are alone, turn the food channel on, watch a show or two. You will be hooked, you will be hungry and you might even surprise yourself and learn to cook. Who knows you could be our next food netword Star...but then that's another show.