Melissa d’Arabian Talks About Ten Dollar Dinners

RRC: Will the recipes that you use on Ten Minute Meals always use fresh ingredients, or will you sometimes incorporate canned or processed food ingredients as a shortcut?

Mellisa: I definitely don’t want to give you a quote that says, “I will never use a processed ingredient,” That being said, my own personal preference is that I love cooking with fresh foods. In fact, I think that using fresh foods is a great money-saving technique. I love to let the produce department tell me what’s in season. When the produce department has something on sale it is telling you what is in season, because it’s an overstock. But remember, but remember the supplier is Mother Nature. So when Mother Nature has an overstock, it usually means it’s on sale because it’s in season, and that’s the best food anyway. I’m very fresh-food focused, and that’s how I love to go and shop. In my opinion, you don’t break the budget in the produce department. I love using fresh ingredients and I think that you’ll see that in my food. Am I somebody who’s never opened up a can of food? Absolutely not. We’ve all had the days where we’ve had to just get through the day. Will that every make it to my show? For the right episode, the right show, the right reason? Absolutely. But I would say that I’m more alligned with fresh ingredients because it tatses better, it’s nutritious, and in the context of Ten Minutes Dinners you will be amazed at the great, interesting ingredients that are out there that won’t break the bank.

RRC: In either the final episode or the one before that you were asked my one of the judges why you think you should be The Next Food Network Star, and you said that you felt that there was a market for you. In watching you each week, I always thought that your style was very marketable. With that in mind, do you have vision for yourself in the future?

Melissa: My husband and I have a vision for our family, and we do have a set of values and goals that we want to acheive as a family. And we do have a vision and a mission that we use as a guiding principle. In terms of my personal mission, I really want to encourage people along to what every the road is to success. That’s what I want to do in this world, and in this life. And so, being The Next Food Network Star was the next step in expanding the scope of that personal mission. What that’s going to look like in Five years, I don’t know. But I’ll tell you this; if I take that one little mission and apply to more and more people, then that’s what I want to do over the next five years. So, I see myself doing the same thing I’m doing today with the same values, but on a bigger scale.

RRC: Would you ever considering doing a show or an episode where you cook with your girls?

Melissa: (laughs) It would have to be a really long cooking show. “Melissa cooks meatloaf in just two short hours!” For me, if I couldn’t open up who I am, then being on The Food Network wouldn’t be a good fit for me because food is so part of who I am. Sharing who I am is very natural to me and it’s part of my life’s mission, and part of what makes sense for me. The balance is that some parts of my life I want to keep private, and I want to protect my kids and not expose them too much. Would I ever consider it in the right scenario, and the right environment? Yeah, I would consider it, but it’s not where my mind first goes. Maybe a cooking special with them.

You know, last night we had a party and fans were there, and we were signing autographs, and it was so much fun. It was so neat to share that experience with everybody else. By 8:30 we were home, and the kids were asking for their Cinderella toothbrush, and it was like nothing had anything to do with The Next Food Network Star. I want to preserve that. That’s more important to me than any job out there. This show is pretty important to me, but my kids are more important.

This season’s winner of  The Next Food Network Star is stay-at-home mom Melissa d’Arabian. Melissa, held her ground throughout the competition against executive chefs by staying true to herself, presenting wholesome yet elegant dishes that we all felt we could make ourselves.

Melissa’s new show is called Ten Dollar Dinners, and the title is self-explanatory. Each week she will cook an entire meal (including dessert)  for a family of four, with a budget of $10.

Reality Roll Call talked to Melissa about her new show, and plans for the future:

RRC: Will the recipes that you use on Ten Dollar Dinners always use fresh ingredients, or will you sometimes incorporate canned or processed food ingredients as a shortcut?

Mellisa: I definitely don’t want to give you a quote that says, “I will never use a processed ingredient,” That being said, my own personal preference is that I love cooking with fresh foods. In fact, I think that using fresh foods is a great money-saving technique. I love to let the produce department tell me what’s in season.  I’m very fresh-food focused, and that’s how I love to go and shop. In my opinion, you don’t break the budget in the produce department. I love using fresh ingredients, and I think that you’ll see that in my food. Am I somebody who’s never opened up a can of food? Absolutely not.  Will that every make it to my show? For the right episode, the right show, the right reason? Absolutely. But I would say that I’m more alligned with fresh ingredients because it tatses better, it’s nutritious, and in the context of Ten Dollar Dinners you will be amazed at the great, interesting ingredients that are out there that won’t break the bank.

RRC: In one of the final episodes you were asked by one of the judges why you think you should be The Next Food Network Star, and you said that you felt that there was a market for you. In watching you each week, I always thought that your style was very marketable. With that in mind, do you have vision for yourself in the future? Read more