Chef Spotlight: Food Network Celebs Round Up!

Since the birth of Food Network TV, our culture has embraced food even more. This month for my Chef Spotlight dinner, my friends and I gathered for dinner to celebrate Food Network TV Chefs. We each prepared a recipe from our favorite Food Network celebrity and brought it to the event to share! Here are the recipes that made it to our table:

Baked Mac & Cheese
shared at the event by John
(an Alton Brown recipe, found HERE)
Herb Coated Goat Cheese
shared at the event by Jen
(a Giada De Laurentiis recipe, found HERE)
Garlic & Herb Three Cheese Pizza
shared at the event by Tricia
(a Rachel Ray recipe, found HERE)

Chicken Club Salad
shared at the event by Joelen
(a Sara Moulton recipe, found HERE)
Ratatouille with Feta, Green Olives, & Almonds
shared at the event by Jenny
(a Tyler Florence recipe, found HERE)

Bruschetta Planks
shared at the event by Joelen
(adapted from a Rachel Ray recipe, found HERE)

Sugar and Nut Glazed Brie
shared at the event by Jen
(a Paula Deen recipe, found HERE)

Chicken Florentine
shared at the event by Teresa
(a Paula Deen recipe, found HERE)

Pecan Bananas Foster w/Butter Pecan Ice Cream
shared at the event by Joelen
(an adapted Paula Deen recipe, found HERE)
Chicken & Smoked Sausage Gumbo with White Rice
(seen on the left below, in red pot)
shared at the event by Howard
(an Emeril Lagasse recipe, found HERE)

Not Pictured (sadly):
Buckwheat Blini & Smoked Seafood Salad
shared at the event by Robert
(A Michael Symon recipe, found HERE)

To join in the fun, my fellow bloggers have submitted Food Network Chef recipes! As I do with each blogging event I host, a lucky blogger receives a giveaway related to the food theme. This event's winner is Brandie of No Reservations Required!

Brandie will be receiving the above book, Cooking School Secrets for Real World Chefs, by Linda Carucci. Hopefully this book will give Brandie some insight on how these Food Network chefs create & prepare their masterpieces! Congratulations Brandie and thanks to all that participated in the blogging event! Read on to check out the recipes submitted by my fellow bloggers...

Kira of Food alla Puttanesca
from Tennessee
Jalepeno Cheddar Cornbread
(a Barefoot Contessa: Ina Garten recipe)
Kira joins us to submit a recipe she's been wanting to make for quite some time. She liked this recipe because it was more like a savory cake. Check out Kira's blog to get the recipe and perhaps pair this up with some fall chili!

Dellene of Cooking and the City
from Australia
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins
(a Nigella Lawson recipe)
Dellene joins us from the other side of the globe to share these muffins which are a family favorite. Check out Dellene's blog for the recipe!

Kristine of About A Bit of Everything
from Illinois
Salmon with Puff Pastry & Pesto
(a Giada De Laurentiis recipe)
Kristine makes a showstopper dish courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis. This dish is not only easy but "looks totally gourmet." To find out who thinks so and learn how Kristine adapted this, check out her blog and get the recipe!

Jenn of Jenn & Food, Perfect Together
from New Jersey
Super Sloppy Joes
(a Rachel Ray recipe)
Jenn joins in to give us her healthier take on Rachel Ray's Super Sloppy Joes recipe. To find out how Jenn makes this great dish healthier, check out her blog and get the recipe too!
Courtney of Prescription For Good Food
from Ohio
Fire Roasted Gazpacho
(a Rachel Ray recipe)
Courtney comes to share a refreshingly cool gazpacho, courtesy of Rachel Ray. Aside from enjoying this cold soup, check out her blog to find out how her husband used leftovers and for the great recipe.
Brandie of No Reservations Required
from Texas
Mexican Chicken Soup
(a Barefoot Contessa: Ina Garten recipe)
Brandie joins us from Texas and shares with us a fabulous soup for fall, courtesy of Ina Garten. She has some great suggestions and ideas to make this versatile dish. To find out what she thinks about the soup and what you can use to save time in making this, check out her blog and get the recipe too!

Becke of Columbus Foodie
from Ohio
Jerk Pork Cheeseburgers with Green Apple Slaw
(a Rachel Ray recipe)
This deliciously monsterous entry is from Becke of Ohio. She has been having fun making different kinds of burgers this summer and I'm wondering if this is her largest one? For the recipe and some recipe adaptation suggestions, check out Becke's blog!