Whenever I’m feeling lonely I do one of two things:

1. I put on sweats, grab a blanket and settle in front of my couch for the day/night/month.
2. I eat a box of Oreos smothered in peanut butter.

Ok, I’ll be honest – I do both. And usually polish off the jar of pb with a spoon.

I used to think that those nights made me feel better because of the intense sugar rush all that quality programming (read: Food Network challenges) distracted me from my personal issues, but a new study is saying that watching TV actually cures loneliness.

According to a series of studies performed at the University at Buffalo and Miami University of Ohio, people feel personally connected to the characters they watch on TV, so much so that it is like they are actually a part of whatever is going on week after week. These “relationships” fulfill them (much like my Oreo/pb combo fulfills me) and their need for personal contact.

So, basically, my long stints in front of the TV take away my loneliness not because they are distracting me from it, but because I feel as if I am right there with Bobby Flay cooking up a 6 course meal with a crazy secret ingredient in 60 minutes. And we are totally BFF.

I can sorta see the truth in this – lord knows I talk about LC and Audrina like we are all living together and crushing on the Brodester – but it all seems so sad. Do people really think that they are part of Blair Waldorf’s latest scheme? Do they really stop questioning the fact that they have 9 cats and a crazy knitting hobby because they feel so close to Pam and Jim on The Office? Read More »

I am absolutely obsessed with the Food Network. My friend Rachael even goes so far as to refer to their cooking shows as “my porn.” Ironic, considering that some say that the Food Network uses angles and editing similar to that of pornography to make it more appealing. I don’t know if it’s the food, the angles, or the fact that my parents refuse to buy the full cable package, but I just can’t get enough of the Food Network. Here are some of my favorite shows/top reasons to check out the most addicting of television networks. What’s your excuse?

Paula Deen’s Home Cooking: You see, I’m a nutrition major. This (in theory) means that I should be a pretty healthy eater. The thing I love about Paula Deen’s cooking is that she makes the unhealthiest food possible. I have yet to see one of her southern dishes prepared without butter, mayonnaise, shortening, or some combination of the three. Watching her make disgustingly delicious food makes me feel like I’m indulging without actually consuming and subsequently gaining ten pounds of lard.

Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade: Sandra Lee basically embodies who I want to be when I’m in my 30s. Why? Because she’s hot, knows how to enjoy a good cocktail (or five), and can whip up an amazing meal without actually doing any of the dirty work herself. Plus, she makes the cutest little “tablescapes” out of practically nothing. Basically, watching her show gives you hope that you can be old and still have a life (and good looks to boot). Read More »

It’s true. Men who can cook are hot no matter what. (Editor’s Note: It probably has something to do with that whole “wearing an apron but nothing else” fantasy…mmmm.) But when they’re actually sexy and willing to slave over a stove to cook me up a steak dinner (some sort of chocolate dessert doesn’t hurt either), they’ve automatically won my heart. Sometimes I just sit on my couch watching the Food Network and drooling. No, not because of the food. Because of the men.

Gourmet food and delicious men; what else could we ask for?

Do you need some new eye candy…that actually knows how to make candy? Check out these top 5 sexy celebrity chefs. So hot they boil water (sorry, I had to go there):

1) Bobby Flay- I actually think Bobby Flay is kind of an assh*le. I also think I might like assh*les just a little bit, because I have a serious thing for him. I love his extreme sense of self-confidence on Throwdown, where he smugly believes he can beat food masters around the country at their culinary specialties. I secretly root for him every time. And on Iron Chef America? Come on, not even a competition. The man is magic and he knows it; Bobby’s confidence causes him to ooze sexiness. Also, who doesn’t love a man behind a grill? I’ll take him medium rare. Rarrr.

2) Curtis Stone- Sometimes when I’m wandering through the grocery store, I fantasize that Curtis Stone will, all of the sudden, appear and beg to come home with me. He is the Take Home Chef on TLC after all. The Australian-born hottie seeks out women in grocery stores and then goes home with them and helps them cook dinner. Hi, dream come true. I’d force him to eat dinner with me and then put the house on lock-down so he had no way out: Curtis Stone, Live In Chef. Read More »