Wednesday, January 18, 2012

TEAM PAULA DEEN!

That's right y'all, I'm on Miss Paula's side. Bless her heart, she's been in all the media this week 'cuz she revealed that she's got Diabetes 2! I feel for Paula...cooking her down-home Southern Style dishes is now a threat to her life. Of course, she went on the Today Show and revealed her diagnosis to the world and that she has partnered with Novo Nordisk in a campaign to promote their drug Victoza. Now people are criticizing her for continuing to pedal her fat-laden recipes to the world even though she knew that she had the disease.

Last night I hit the kitchen...wearing my Paula Deen "Hey Y'all" apron, my stretchy pants, some cute polka dot mitts, and baked up a Paula Deen classic recipe in my red Paula Deen casserole dish. TEAM PAULA DEEN.


Which team are you on? Team Anthony Bourdain or Team Paula Deen?
Anthony Bourdain, Chef & Author. On his Travel Network Channel show "No Reservations," Bourdain travels the world seeking the ultimate dining experience. He's also a long-time critic of chefs on the Food Network. He has said "Paula Deen should feel bad before telling an already obese nation that it is okay to eat food that is killing us!" Excuse me, but this man eat snakes! Who is he to judge? He also criticizes Rachel Ray for using pre-chopped onions. Lord have mercy! Not on my radar anymore...
Paula Deen, The Queen of Southern Cuisine and Food Network star is now the spokesperson for "Diabetes in a New Light" a site run by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. Y'all know I'm a long-time support of Miss Paula...I buy her books, magazines, kitchen ware, aprons, foods, et cetera. But even I don't eat the calorie-laden, delicious foods all the time! In Paula's words to Oprah, "I'm your cook, not your Doctor!" Moderation y'all. Moderation. Team Paula Deen. Winning. None of us are perfect y'all and we all make mistakes. She doesn't eat snakes...
BUT, even though I love Paula and LOVE Southern foods, even I wouldn't eat this Krispy Kreme Doughnut Bread Pudding...One of Paula's Top 10 High-Calorie Foods.
Never even tried Paula's Twinkie Pie...another dish on the TOP 10 list...my LAWD!
This is one of her most high-calorie, artery clogging recipes...The Lady's Brunch Burger! LOL {Bacon-doughnut-egg-burger} Please people!
I am excited about the new "Light Dishes" Paula will be creating from her vault of "Best Dishes" recipes! You can tell she has already lightened up some of her recipes in the Jan/Feb issue of "Cooking with Paula Deen." However, I cannot help wondering what will become of the foods she serves at her restaurants...Will they remain the same? 'Cuz let's face it folks, when Southerners go out to eat Southern food, they want the REAL thing. We want our macaroni tres cheesy and our chicken fried just right. I cannot imagine visiting Paula's restaurant at Harrah's in Tunica and going through the buffet line of "Light Dishes." I'm stumped.

When I visited her new site HERE,I was happy to see that he has created a lighter version of "The Lady & Sons Lasagna." Of course, I had to go to the store for the ingredients and made it last night. Her new recipe calls for a LOT LESS ground beef {which I substituted with ground turkey} and all the cheeses I used were no-fat. I LOVED the lasagna!
The Jan/Feb issue of "Cooking with Paula Deen" already includes some "no-guilt" recipes!

I
wish Paula the best with her new life and look forward to what she brings to the table next!!!

OH, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAULA DEEN!

37 comments:

Mary Ellen said...

Team Paula all the way! Have you seen her son Bobby's new show, "Not My Mama's Meals" on the Cooking Channel? He makes healthier versions of his mother's recipes.

Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper

erica said...

Team Paula! People need to leave her alone. A family friend is 72 eats super healthy watches sugar and fat and was just diagnosed with type 2. People need to lay off of Paula. xo

Chaos Cottage said...

I love Paula and wish her good health. Even she has admitted she doesn't eat the way she cooks 365 days a year. You are right, moderation is the key. I look forward to her "lighter" recipes as well. I think she will know how to do light right!

Girl with the Curlz said...

Team Paula here too!! Everything in moderation people.

The Tuscan Home said...

Add me to the Team Paula!! I love her personality and enjoy watching her shows. I can't wait to see her "lighter" recipes, as well! Thanks for sharing. You are ADORABLE!! xo ~Liz

Jennifer said...

100% with you on this! Hello...everything in moderation! It's like when people sue McDonalds for making them fat or for their coffee burning them. Of course 98% of Paula's food is fattening. If you eat like that every day you are gonna weight 600 pounds, unless something else gets ya first. Even Paula admits she doesn't eat Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding every day! haha! I wish people would lay off her! She has a show with yummy recipes that you can choose to prepare if you want, however often you want. She isn't shoveling it down America's mouth. If Anthony Bordain thinks that America is that daft to prepare her meals every night and eat them and think they are going to be healthy, then he is an idiot. Sorry Bordain, Team Paula!

P.S. It will be exciting to see some lightened up recipes since obviously everyone realizes you can't eat like that every day!

Becky Crawford said...

Go Team Paula! People are critical of her, also because of her weight. Well, I know 3 very thin people who have diabetes. So, it can strike anyone! And, although our family does eat a lot of salads during the week, "Soul Food Sunday" is for those special buttery recipes, that you wouldn't normally eat. Sundays are the Lord's Day, and you should have a special "feast". My Daddy grew up in Hattisburg, and remembers those Fried Chicken Sundays (all while staying dressed in seersucker suits- even in the summer - hot!) Paula has passed on traditional family recipes that would be lost under the trendy organic arugula.

Becky Crawford said...

God bless Paula! And thank you for defending her good name! There are lots of folks who are super thin with diabetes. It can strike anyone! I think most folks are savvy enough to flip through her cookbooks and reserve those extra buttery recipes for special occasions, company, etc. After all, that's what "Soul Food Sundays" are for! You get to experiment with all those yummy recipes you've been thinking of during the week while eating organic arugula. My Daddy grew up in Hattisburg, MS - Fried Chicken every Sunday, but modest meals during the week.! God bless Paula, preserving tradition that could easily be lost!

Hillcrest Acres said...

Team Paula all the way!!!! Looking forward to her lighter recipes.

DawnW said...

I'm on Team Paula Deen too! I'm so upset with everyone for bashing her right now! She has no obligation to reveal any of her medical information to anyone! It is our job to prepare her meals in moderation and eat responsibly. She's not forcing the food down anyone's throat. Go Paula!!! Great post, Miss Janice!

Anastasia Schembri said...

You know where I side Miss Janice! (Unfortunately I don't have a clue as to who Mr. Bourdain is or the show he hosts)
I love Paula Deen for all that she is- entertainer, gourmet, successful entrepeneur, and a beautiful strong southern lady who has made it. (Maybe that is why some are so quick to try and cut her down)

CarolinaClover.com said...

I loooveee Paula! Nobody ever held a stick of butter to my head and said, "Eat this!" Keep on cooking, Paula!

Jan@southernjunkin' said...

Team Paula!! Heard about Bobby's new show! Can't wait to see it!
She has always said eat in 'moderation'! Really sounds like the 'traveling man' is a wee bit jealous!!

jeanie said...

Count me on Paula's side. She even says on her show that some of the recipes that she prepares are not meant to be an everyday diet. Like everything, moderation is the key. (something I need to practice a little more of)

TW said...

You are hilarious! "Excuse me, but this man eat snakes!" Perfect. It is a good reason to be suspicious of the him! :)

T.W.

Suburban Princess said...

I think what people dont realize it fat does not make us fat. Sugar is the culprit. All the flours, breads, cakes, pasta etc...that's the problem! As well as the sweets. When people increase good fats and lower sugars they actually lose weight.

As for Paula...she isn't the first person with a bad diet to end up with an illness. Did you know vitamin D deficiency is a major cause of type 2 diabetes???

Preppy Girl Meets World said...

I've never paid attention to her. Because I keep kosher style, I pretty much can't make any of her recipes. Now that she's going to try to make "lighter" stuff, I wonder if there will be anything that I can actually have.

Oh, and my arteries clogged just by looking at that burger!

Kathy said...

Team Paula, y'all!

A Simple Southern Life said...

Team Paula all the way! I have been thinking the same thing this week with all of the news reports.

Suburban prep said...

I so do not like that guy. He is a rigid son of a gun and has no personality except to think that he is right.

Paula!!!

karenlthomason said...

Team Paula for sure! I have been making (my own tweaked) version of her dishes for years and while Im sure they don't taste quite as good as her's, nor do they leave my coat quite as shiny; I can sleep better knowing they have much less fat and way fewer calories:-)

Socially Savvy said...

Team Paula all the way!

Muffy said...

Miss Janice!

I must politely disagree! I absolutely WORSHIP Miss Paula-- I am obsessed with her and cook her foods fairly often (well, before I joined weight watchers...!).

It's not that she has diabetes that is the problem. The issue is that she has had diabetes for several years without saying a word, but now, suddenly when she has a huge sponsor she comes out with the news and says she is just "educating people" about the disease. She didn't bother educating people before there were big bucks in it for her? That's just tacky Miss Janice!

I still adore her even though I am disappointed in the way she handled it. Very very disappointed.

Mr. Bourdain is simply making a fuss about it for press in my opinion. He has things to sell as well and wants to get a little attention from all this. Also VERY TACKY according to Miss Muffy!

I am surprised at all the attention this topic is getting!

highheeledlife said...

Team Paula .. for sure!! She is creative and has shared her food creativity with the world... it is up to each person to decide and do the right thing for themselves. Like you mentioned; even with the lite lasagna , you chose to use turkey... Great post Miss Janice!! HHL

Tammy B said...

I'm on Team Paula. People need to learn about nutrition and take responsibility for what they eat. One hundred years ago, people could eat on a regular basis what Paula cooks because they were more active. Now that we've become lazy, we can't eat like that.

Beaufort Belle said...

Like Mary Ellen, I was going to mention Bobby's new show. I love when he puts up the comparisons between the 2 versions. I look forward to trying many of his lighter versions, however, I will continue to cook many of Paula's recipes. As Miss Janice has said as well as every health expert prior to this media circus has said, it is all about moderation!

TEAM PAULA all the way!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Love Paula....I remember finding her when she was just getting started on the food network before most people knew who she was.....So glad she's done so well. Like many people, she's got a health issue that she needs to watch and treat. Wishing her all the best. Mr. Bordain can go eat snakes! Speaking of eating...so glad that you turned me on to "Taste of Gourmet" products. Love them...I take a Monday treat each week to the office....and we love the cheeseballs and pies. Keeping to "moderation", I get a bit and share the rest.....and everybody's happy! Just ordered from your website.

Kathie Truitt said...

Paula!

Tricia said...

I love Paula!! Always have, always will. Anthony is an evil man that I never even like to think of or talk about . I hope Paula continues to get some great support.

Jennifer @ Her Southern Charm said...

I'm with my Muffy darling on this one. I'm not exactly Team Bourdain, per say, but I was VERY disappointed at how she handled it. And the fact that she kept it hidden. Everyone with a brain knew that her recipes were high in fat.

Blaming her for your own weight problems would be like the lady that sued McDonalds for spilling the hot coffee on themselves. Dumb, indeed.

But bless Miss Paula's heart- I know know what a havoc the disease can create in your body. I wish her well and am glad she is coming out with new lighter recipes. As for her coming out with the disease with financial backing from a pharm company....well, that's her karma, not mine.

Happy weekend, Miss Janice!! xo

Jennifer @ Her Southern Charm said...

Ha! I just saw that someone else commented on the "McDonalds" fiasco, too! Great minds think alike! :)

annie said...

Team Paula here!

You know we all ate like Paula cooks in the 50s and 60s and we were not fat!
I think fast food etc has more to do

Teresa Jane said...

Chateau at the Tracks is with Team Paula Deen and BFF, Miss Janice.

A Hint of Home said...

I wish her the best with her health and loved visiting Lady & Sons. Love southern foods just in moderation!

Gary said...

Baloney!!! This is PURELY monetary driven. She has been working on this in the background for a long time before she made it public. Wake up People, its no accident that at preciously the same time she announced she had Type 2 Diabetes, her son comes out with a new show "Not my Mama's Cooking" She is driven by MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!!!!!!!

Sonia said...

I love Paula Deen too..Anyone knows that Southern cooking is not low calorie foods. Back in the day hardworking farmers started their day with grease gravy and biscuits..we dont' have to eat that way anymore! Once in a while we do have biscuits and gravy...not everyday. Margarine is really worse for us than butter due to the process of hydrogenation. We shouldn't be eating that much fat or sugar anyway!! She is a sweet Southern Belle and like so many she is a business woman as well. French cooking is laden in heavy cream sauces...are they going to criticize Julia Child too? Moderation is the key...if you eat the wrong things or too much you put yourself at risk for many things ..not just Type II diabetes. Wishing Paula success with her new endeavor.

Miss Bloomers, R.N.

Debbiedoos said...

Well seeing I just ate at Paula deens a few months back, I really enjoyed it. She seems like a fun, light hearted lady. I don't look too much beyond the personals of the matter as they do not affect me one way or the other. People choose to eat what they want regardless of their health sometimes.