Paula Deen's At It Again- Yawl hear?

Some things never change and I guess Paula Deen's racial insensitivity is one of those things.

The Celebrity Chef found herself caught up in a nightmare when her use of the "N" word became public. in an interview last year, Paula Deen told Matt Lauer that she had "learned so much" from the backlash that ended her business relationship with the Food Network and many major market outlets, i.e. Wal-Mart and Target. During a year of apologizing for the racist remarks she made, a "contrite", tearful the disgraced Food Network star declared that she "had hurt people". If the truth be told, her remarks on the Today Show told the whole story. "I is what I is", she said. She blamed her southern heritage and the language and attitudes which she says were common. While some fell for this simple explanation, others listened in disdain.

It appears that Paula has learned very little and obviously hasn't changed her mindset at all. Recently she tweeted a photo that shows she is still racially insensitive and hasn't learned a thing. The photo shows her dressed in a red wig and polka dot dress circa 1950. At her side is son Bobby Deen...in brownface. Could it be Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz? The photo is from a 2011 episode of her now cancelled show.

Let's see how many tears she sheds over this one while some whistle 'Dixie" and wave the confederate flag.

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Paula Deen: She's Back!

"The Paula Deen brand is alive and well."

So says Jahm Najafi, head of the Book-of-the-Month Club and Najafi Cos, which just invested between $75 million and $100 million to fund Paula Deen Ventures.

You probably recall Paula's fall from grace less than a year ago for using the "N" word and planning a "plantation-style wedding". While embroiled in a lawsuit with an employee, 67 year old Paula lost her contract with the Food Network and 12 other major accounts including Walgreen's, J. C. Penney, and Smithfield contracts. She gave a teary apology on the "Today Show" and faded into the sunset.

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Food Network Southern Cooking: Life After Paula Deen

If you watched the implosion of “celebrity chef” Paula Deen, you probably wondered how things could go so terribly wrong in such a short time. It’s interesting to see Paula claw her way back into the limelight and attempt to recapture the adoration of her many loyal fans. Watch Paula play a minor role on Not My Moma’s Meals, her son Bobby’s show on the Cooking Channel.  She also appears from time to time on son Jamie Deen’s Food Network show Home for Dinner. As she seeks to overcome her troubles and rebuild her brand, she has several new ventures underway.

Have you noticed how the Food Network has handled its harsh dismissal of Paula Deen with a number of new shows and personalities challenged to fill the southern, home cooking gap?

Let's start with The Pioneer Woman  starring Ree Drummond. It's life on the ranch with Ree, her husband Ladd whom she calls the Marlboro Man, their four spirited children and a couple of dogs. The Pioneer Woman introduces herself as a writer, blogger, photographer and accidental country girl. Her award-winning blog, the Pioneer Woman.com, attracts more than 20 million page views per month. Her cook books include "The Pioneer Woman", "Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl", " Food From My Frontier" and "A Year of Holidays". Her cookbooks have ranked #1 on both the Wall Street Journals and New York Times Bestseller lists. Her hard cover introduction to the family's basset hound titled "Charlie the Ranch Dog gained a 5 star rating on Amazon.com and launched a number of other books including "Charlie Goes to School, "Charlie and the New Baby", "Charlie's Snow Day", and Charlie and the Christmas Kitty".

 

Fans say Ree blooms while she cooks and brings a bright spirit to the world of cooking. but, some caution that her cooking isn't for everyone citing the heavy use of butter, oil and red meat (which sounds familiar). Viewers say they enjoy the ranch, the down home atmosphere and learning about Ree's family and friends. These are many of the same elements that made Paula Deen's shows so successful.

Trisha Yearwood is another new Food Network star focused on southern cooking. Most folks know Trish as a three time Grammy award winning country music super star and wife of Garth Brooks, but many aren't aware that she knows her way around the kitchen. Her show "Southern Kitchen" is in its fourth season on the Food Network. With the tradition of southern hospitality setting the atmosphere, Patricia Lynn "Trisha" Yearwood shares her family's recipes and  her life with family, friends, old bandmates and others at her home.

In addition to her 19 top ten singles, Trish reached the New York Times bestseller lists with her cookbooks "Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen" in 2008 and "Home Cooking With Trisha Yearwood" in 2010.

One of the newest entry of Food Network home cooking shows is "Farmhouse Rules" introducing mother of six and grandma of 13 show host Nancy Fuller. The show departs from the "southern strategy "and picks up a folksy warm grandma type who brings local goods from Hudson Valley of upstate New York to the comfort foods she features. Nancy Fuller is a business woman who owns Ginsberg's Foods, a successful, multimillion dollar enterprise with her husband. The show emphasizes farm fresh classic meals, i.e. Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad, hearty Butternut Squash Soup, and Lamb Stew with Sherry and Mushrooms.

 

Another new show, "Southern at Heart" provides an excellent platform for Damaris Phillips, winner of The Next Food Network Star, Season Nine. Damaris is both a matchmaker and chef, teaching those who are unskilled in the kitchen how to prepare an impressive meal for their dinner date. Not bad for a culinary instructor from Louisville, Ky.  who describes herself as a "Southern Spitfire". Expect a fresh take on southern cuisine with recipes like Roasted Chicken with Bourbon Pear Butter Glaze, Pumpkin Scones with Maple-Cinnamon Glaze, and Quiche with Country Ham.

The lineup at The Food Network continues the magic formula, food, family, friends, and fun adventures. Whether it's Paula, Bobby and Jamie Deen or Ree Drummond and the Marlboro Man, the audience loves a focus on family meals and entertaining friends. That should keep the Network thriving with lots of talent and new personalities readily available to supplement the tried and true show hosts. Let's keep rattling those pots and pans!

 

 

 

 

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Minn Legislator's "Uncle Tom" Tweet

Shades of Paula Deen reflects itself in a MN Legislator's recent "Uncle Tom" tweet.

A Democratic legislator from Minnesota swiftly apologized Tuesday for a tweet he sent that referred to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as “Uncle Thomas” following a major ruling on the nation’s landmark voting rights law.

Thomas, who is black, was part of a 5-4 majority that invalidated part of the Voting Rights Act meant to deter racial discrimination in elections. The ruling makes it tougher for federal officials to prevent states and localities, primarily in the South, from adopting policies that add barriers to voting.

In response, state Rep. Ryan Winkler tweeted: “#SCOTUS VRA majority is four accomplices to race discrimination and one Uncle Thomas. Marriage decision may blur Court’s backsliding.”

“Uncle Tom” is a connotation to describe someone subservient to another and has its roots in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s pre-Civil War novel about slavery, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” The latter part of the tweet refers to the high court’s expected decision on gay marriage.

Winkler, who is white, deleted the tweet and told followers in his feed that he didn’t understand the phrase to be a racist term. He later told The Associated Press that he was trying to make a point about institutional racism resulting from the ruling.

“I used a term that was too hot for the issue, but I didn’t intend for it to be derogatory,” said Winkler, who holds a history degree from Harvard.

Chris Fields, secretary of the Minnesota Republican Party, said Winkler’s comments were “beyond the pale” and his apology wasn’t enough. “If he had any personal integrity, he’d resign,” said Fields, who is black.

Winkler, of Golden Valley, had been weighing a run for Minnesota secretary of state, whose office oversees elections. He said he ruled that out several days ago but hadn’t announced it.

The four-term lawmaker represents a district that covers western Minneapolis suburbs and is an attorney. He is known for rhetorical clashes with Republicans while on the House floor and on Twitter.

It should be noted that Justice Clarence Thomas did something at a Supreme Court argument Monday for the first time in nearly seven years — he spoke. Thomas hasn’t asked a question in court since February 22, 2006.

Source: The Associated Press; The Grio

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While attention focused on Paula Deen's troubles, many folks were surprised at the large incomes of "Celebrity Chefs". Forbes most recent ranking includes Deen Among the top ten earners. She was number four on their list, coming in with a cool $17 million dollars. Take a look at some of the others, some surprising and some not.

Gordon Ramsay tops the list of Celebrity Chefs with earning of $38 million dollars. Most Americans know Ramsay as the fire-breathing host of Hell's Kitchen and Master Chef, but he is also known world wide for his famous restaurants. Since restaurant margins are notoriously thin, Ramsay is expanding his TV empire with a new show, Hell Hotel, where he helps struggling small business owners.

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The Food Network Queen and popular restaurant owner Paula Deen is involved in a harassment lawsuit filed last year by Lisa Jackson, a former manager of Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House in Savannah, GA. The restaurant is owned by Deen and her brother Bubba Hiers.

Jackson, who is white, was hired at the restaurant in February 2005 and within months was promoted to general manager. Jackson said in the lawsuit that she was sexually harassed and subjected to work in a hostile work environment. She also said in the lawsuit that Hiers routinely made inappropriate sexual and racial remarks and that she heard both Hiers and Deen use racial slurs.  Jackson said her doctor encouraged her to quit her post at because she suffered from panic attacks and other stress.

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What do country music matriarch Naomi Judd, record breaking NFL quarterback Drew Brees, Pro Golfer Alfonso Soriano, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rod Stewart have in common? These A-1 Entertainers have birthdays in the first month of the New Year.


Naomi Judd

Drew Brees


 

Mel Gibson

 

Actor/Director Mel Gibson (1/3), seasoned actresses Diane Keaton (1/5) and Betty White (1/17), singers Mary J. Blige (1/11) and Alicia Keys (1/25), all celebrate heir special day in January.








Nigella Lawson




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You probably already know someone who has diabetes, either a family member, co-worker, or family friend. But, just so that we start on the same page, here’s a brief rundown on the basics of diabetes.

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