A Message From Rachael Ray

GROWING UP IN THE KITCHEN

I was in the kitchen at an early age cooking alongside my mother. In fact, I was in the kitchen watching my mother and learning about food even before I picked up a spoon! She’d have me on her hip while she stirred a pot on the stove and carried on a conversation. I saw how food plays an important role in our lives. In the kitchen, we can be creative, and if the turnout isn’t what we wanted, it’s no big deal – it’s only food and it might still taste great. It’s the idea that you are cooking together and sharing with someone the result of your hard work and creativity. Every time I cook, I’m making new memories and learning valuable skills that will last a lifetime.

I’ve encouraged people not to be afraid of cooking and to give it a try. Especially kids! When I receive letters from people telling me that I’ve helped them in some way to overcome the fear of the kitchen, then I know I’ve done my job and made a difference.

I get letters from kids of all ages telling me that they have a passion for cooking and that they are eager to learn more. Kids gain confidence and self-esteem by creating recipes and cooking in the kitchen – whatever it is – a snack, a meal, a dessert, you name it! And the bottom line is that whatever you make yourself – with good ingredients – is going to be better tasting, healthier, more affordable and more fun than most things you can buy.

Growing up, my family had a healthy relationship with food and cooking. That relationship helped shape my lifestyle and businesses. Throughout my life I have met people who also were influenced by lessons learned in the kitchen. Together we formed Yum-o! to introduce more kids to cooking. We want to help parents and kids enjoy cooking together and to break down the myth that cooking is hard or confusing. We believe that parents and kids will make better food choices if given the opportunity, knowledge, confidence and realistic options to do so. Lives are so busy today. Food choices should be easy and realistic. Parents should have the tools to cook good food for and with kids.

“Yum-o!” is the sound you make when you eat something really super delicious. It’s kind of a combination of “yummy” and “oh wow!” You can’t help but smile when you say it because it’s such a fun word to say. A big part of the Yum-o! organization is about making cooking and eating something that makes people happy. Food should be delicious, fun and put a smile on your face.

I love meeting people and appreciate having so many people welcome me into their homes through my shows, books and magazine. Nothing makes me happier than when people say I have helped them in some way or that their kids like watching my shows. I hope that Yum-o! can be another way to help make everyone’s lives easier and introduce people to the fun in cooking.

So, check out our site and see how you can get cooking some yum-o! dishes of your own!

—Rach