• Lots of ideas for your Super Bowl party, including Mini Hot Dogs, Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn, and Linebacker Limeade. Readers sent in recipes too, for everything from pepperoni bread to buffalo chicken cheesesteaks.
• Here's a recipe for something called a Power Pooch Smoothie, which is a dessert for dogs, but it sounds OK for us humans too.
• Win a date with one of these most eligible singles.
• Chinese New Year starts February 7.
• Send your significant other a food-related e-card.
• More recipes: Mashed-Potato-Stuffed Chicken and Sopa de mariscos.
• Also in this issue: ideas for two more parties you might throw, for Oscar night and Mardi Gras; caramel cheesecake; ideas for winter getaways, and what's in Al Roker's fridge.

I know, I know, it seems like we have Rachael Ray news at least once a week here, but hey, the girl is popular and seems to be EVERYWHERE (your television, Dunkin' Donuts, boxes of Triscuits) so...

Ray has just signed a new two-year deal to continue cooking for Food Network. Besides her 30 Minute Meals show (she'll do 60 episodes under the deal), she'll also host a new program titled Rachael's Vacation, which sounds a lot like her $40 A Day show only in foreign countries. The new show starts on January 12.

She'll continue to do her daily syndicated show too, of course.

There are several "Rachael Rayisms" (I think she coined the term herself), and we all have our favorite. Or should I say our least favorite of all the ones we don't like.

Mine used to be "EVOO," but that has become such a part of the everyday food lexicon that I consider it a real food term now and not just something that Ray says (in fact, I believe the Oxford Dictionary just added it?). I'm gonna go with "Delish," because it embodies everything that's silly about the worst cooking shows and just overall lameness. Plus she says it in that new Christmas Dunkin' Donuts commercial and it drives me nuts. Other phrases she uses: "You guys!," "Parmigiano Reggiano," "awesome," and the classic "Yum-O."

To get you in the mood, after the jump, 2 minutes and 46 seconds of Rachael Ray saying "mmmmmmm."

• Make your next party a little more fancy with these gougeres (French cheese puffs).
• The oldest game supper in Vermont.
• Frank Zappa has inspired a Boston restaurant to change its name.
• Everyone likes to hang out at Bickford's.
• The world of contraband foodstuffs.
• Absinthe is available in Boston.
• The Brookline restaurant Lineage makes Kobe Meatballs.
• Rachael Ray is everywhere.
• More recipes: Southern-Style Shepherd's Pie, Italian Pork and Beans, Creamy Mushroom Soup, and Cardamom-Infused Dark Chocolate Truffles.

I know, I know, you sit there in your comfy chair watching Rachael Ray make "delish" meals every day, and you think to yourself, "gee, she'd really look better in a V-neck sweater."

Well, now you can dress her yourself! The folks at Cartoon Doll Emporium have created a virtual doll of the queen of the 30 minute meal. You can choose her top, her pants, her shoes, even what type of food she's carrying in her hand. There aren't that many food choices yet, but maybe they'll add some EVOO soon.

Some of you will probably like her the way she appears before you add any clothes.

[via EndlessSimmer.com]

Now, this isn't exactly breaking news. Bourdain has had a lot of things to say about Rachael Ray, as well as other TV cooks like Sandra Lee and Emeril Lagasse. But his venom is a little bit more specific this week.

The Kitchen Confidential author/No Reservations star takes a dig at Ray for endorsing Dunkin' Donuts in the latest issue of Outside:

"She's got a magazine, a TV empire, all these best-selling books - I'm guessing she's not hurting for money. She's hugely influential, particularly with children. And she's endorsing Dunkin' Donuts. It's like endorsing crack for kids ... That's evil!"

Of course, Ray's reps answered Bourdain by saying that if you watch her shows (all 40 of them), she actually preaches moderation.

• I haven't had a great breakfast in a while. I usually just grab a granola bar. But here are some recipes for breakfast foods, including Corn Bacon Muffins, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Turnovers, and Plum and Pecan Pancakes.
• What's in Marge Simpson's fridge?
• Some desserts to cool you down this summer: Almond Joy Mousse Cake, Frozen Caramel Hot Chocolate, and Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Sandwiches.
• Don't forget your dogs this summer. They want to cool down too.
• This month's taste test? Pickles.
• A new way to make chicken enchiladas.
• Here's a wine pairing tool to use when trying to figure out what goes with what.
• More recipes: Green Tea Champagne, Chicken Provencale, Orange Cookies with Strawberry Ice Cream, and Lillet Slushes.

Like many classic kitchen tools such as the cast-iron pan, old-fashioned pastry blender and our good friend the mortar and pestle, the mezzaluna has a simple design that gets the job done. Whether chopping chocolate, chervil or nuts, all you need to do is rock the crescent-shaped blade back and forth.

The mezzaluna is a tool that has no need to be reinvented with a whimsical design. The last time I checked, nobody looked at a knife and said, "Aw how cute." As far as I'm concerned the handle should be wood, stainless, black plastic or antler if you want to get fancy.

So why one earth would anyone want a mezzaluna that looks like a grinning frog? Beats me. I'm sure it works fine. It does have a rubberized antimicrobial handle and is made by Austrianalian knifeworks Füri. Lest I be called out for being a hater, I'll just say that the Froggy Mezzaluna is an RR product and leave it at that.

• Summer is for grilling: Grilled Caponata with Charred Bread, Beer Can Chicken with Dirty Bird Rub, and Grilled Peach Upside-Down Cake.
• Kids love Frankenstuffers.
• What does actress Anika Noni Rose keep in her fridge?
• Or how about Dennis Franz?
• Having a big party? Print out these DIY place cards.
• Even dogs love salad (right?).
• Make some vegetarian dinners: Portobello Mushroom and Almond Pesto Lasagna, Zucchini Fritters with Roasted Red Pepper Dip, and Grilled Vegetable Salad with Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette.
• Another celeb: Jane Seymour makes a centerpiece with flowers and crayons.
• More recipes: Pineapple-Shrimp Tostadas, Asian Chicken Cutlets, Chicken Burgers with Barbecue Onion Sauce, and Spiked Pink Lemonade.