It is going to be a couple of days before I get to this weeks episode of Top Chef. We are having some much deserved family time. I decided to take a look at what some people are thinking about the season and where all the chefs stand.

The Chicagoist is relatively bored with this season. They love Richard and for some reason have Antonia ranked as number 2. Skillet Doux has Richard as his number 1 as well…if he doesn’t make the final two I am going to have a hard time watching the finale. Armato tries to deconstruct the whole wedding challenge, but has a difficult time. Many of the recipes are not on the website and with a such a challenge it is hard to know who is responsible for what dish. I am beginning to agree with a lot of fans…this is supposed to be Top Chef not Top Caterer. Catering food limits you and I hope that this is it for this type of challenge. Hopefully we are getting down to the bare bones and get to see what the final 7 are made of.

I don’t know if you have heard the news, but there is a lot of speculation about the final 2. Some reports are that Stephanie has not been employed and having a lot of “practice” dinner parties. I would the final two to be Richard and Stephanie. They both are skilled and actually likable.

So what are your thoughts with the season so far? What are your Power Rankings?

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image: www.freeimage.co.uk

Everyone always talks about the importance of making meals with fresh ingredients. What could be fresher than ingredients from your own back yard?

The Grow Your Gardening Challenge is all about getting your hands dirty and growing fresh foods for you to eat at home:

Rachael often raves about the benefits of eating fresh fruits and veggies … and with spring in full bloom and summer on its way, this is the perfect time to take her advice and start your own garden! Need a little extra incentive to get your hands dirty and pull out the shovels? Join Rachael’s “Grow Your Own …” challenge. Whether you’re a veteran gardener, or a first-timer eager to give it a try, now’s the time to get planting!

Here’s what you do to get involved, and then you could end up on the show in the fall:

(1) Upload photos and share your summer crop with the Club RR community.

(2) Do you prefer to keep your story between you and Rachael’s producers?

(3) Watch the show this fall and keep an eye out for Rachael’s update on America’s amateur gardeners!

Read more.

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The next stop for Rachael Ray’s contestants in the Hey, Can You Cook? competition ended with them making dinner for Michael Buble.

The challenge was a filling, but not heavy, meal that was healthy and packed with punch for him to eat before the show. They had a roulette spin that determined the protein they had to use. I was a little surprised that they were nervous about their protein choices. Now granted, there are some meats that I work with more than others, but no one was being asked to work with a fresh munk fish.

My main man Pete was nervous because his protein was turkey cutlets. This ended up being his jackpot, because he won the challenge and a spot in the finals.

It came down between Angie and Suzanne and I wasn’t surprised when Suzanne got the boot. Suzanne made a very unappetizing meal of lettuce and undercooked pork tenderloin. Angie’s dish of lamb kabobs looked great and Buble loved them. She just neglected to have anything else on the plate to make it an actual meal.

So it is down to Angie and Pete. The finale and winner of the competition will be announced next Monday. Go Pete!

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A few weeks ago Tom Colicchio mentioned in his blog about a food blog from a chef who among other things, blogs about Top Chef. Dominic Armatoa Skillet Douxdeconstructs the show and the food. Every week he also gives his Top Chef Power Rankings. This is a chef’s eye view on who is top on the leader board.

He currently has Richard at the top. The best thing about Skillet Doux is that Armato focuses on the food. Case in point, on one of the most recent Top Chef episodes they had to shop at Whole Foods and make a meal for a family of four for $10. A lot of people cried foul and said that this is impossible and smelled a set-up. Armato showed that it is possible with his Case if Point.

So, what do you think of Armato’s Top Chef Power Rankings?

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(c) Tracey Thompson 2008

I had to share this picture. This week, I was finally able to get my oldest in the kitchen. I have made several attempts but received a little reinforcement this day. I have two boys with autism and often the simple things, that many people take for granted, mean the world to us.He is standing next to one of his therapists. I think he has a little crush on her, so it made this task easier. He made pizza for the family and discovered the joy of cooking…getting to eat as you create. I think for every pepperoni on the pizza he ate two. The best part is that we all had fun and he was proud of himself.

(c) Tracey Thompson 2008

Every day I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am. I owe it all to 2 little guys who are the best part of my life. I never have any problem thinking up items my husband can purchase on behalf of my boys. But as my boys get older I learn more and more thatwhatI want most is just time with my family.

One of the most poignant moments in my life was sitting with my grandma in a bowling alley. She was beginning to have a hard time getting around, had her legs propped up and was sitting next to me. Her 5 children were playing a few lively rounds, laughing and joking. My grandma turned to me and said, “My kids always ask me what they could get me, but the best present in the world is seeing them all happy and spending time together. Today, right here, watching them is the best gift.”

That moment has always stayed with me. A moment before my own husband and children. A moment before I understood who I was. A moment which I thought was sweet, but never truly understood until the day I held my first child in my arms. The “things” I cherish the most are the times with my family. Each smile, each laugh is one of life’s most precious gifts.

The brightest part of my days are when I feel that little hand grabbing mine, when I go to school and my youngest catches my eye and runs into my arms, watching my boy for the first time make a pizza, the moments watching the boys giggling and chasing each other on the trampoline. Each morning I wake-up is a beautiful gift.

My boys have given me the gift of unconditional love. They have made me become a better person,helpedme become my best self and helped me understandthe “meaning” of life.

To all the mom’s out there, have a beautiful Mother’s Day and may each day bring to you life’s most precious gifts.

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