137 replies to this topic

[silverwing]

I was surprised not to see Sara Moulton listed. (I searched all the way back.) Is "Sara's Secrets" her only cooking show right now? I really like her.

Edited by silverwing, Mar 28, 2004 @ 3:27 AM.

[xii]

You're right, she's a Sara, no 'h'.

I'm always amazed at how she doesn't seem to age. She's in her early 50s, but to me she doesn't look anywhere near that.

[Center of Attention]

I cant watch her. Someone once pointed out to me how much she does that smacking noise at the end of her sentences and it is all I hear now. I do check her recipes out on the website.

She is 50? Wow.

[KateQD]

I love her for one main reason, she messes up constantly. I watched her use the blender one time and it was leaking out the bottom, but she just pressed on with it. It was great, her guest didnt know what to do.
She's like a homelier Natalie Dupree to me, Natalie always was messing up and making such a mess. But you had to love her, she was just awesome.

[Elphaba]

Kate, that's why I like her, too. It was Sara (and Rachael) I was thinking of when I pointed out that SL made ganache that she said was too thin, then reached over and got a pre-made bowl, which was thick enough because undoubtedly someone else had made it, and never said a word about how to thicken it. So, if you made it the way she did, you'd have thin ganache and no fix. When Sara messes up, she either tells you it doesn't matter and why, or if it does, what you can do to fix it. It's just so obvious she knows what she's doing that she doesn't bother to try to make it look like she does (if that makes any sense).

I like her. I like the she wears logo-ed aprons in colors that match what she's wearing that would look twee on anyone else, and that she pulls her hair back. She's there to work! But...50? I'm gobsmacked.

[Rinaldo]

Check out Julia Child and More Company, published 1979. There in the introduction is a big group photo of Julia C and all her helpers, including her two sous-chefs for the series, Marian Morash and Sara Moulton (both already established as chefs in the Boston area). 25 years ago, Sara looks camera-shy and awkward, very mousy-brunette and young. That was my first acquaintance with her name, and when she turned up as a blonde poised TV personality I could hardly believe the transformation.

[PornQueen]

And she's tiny! Itty bitty woman, look how Julia, Jacque and other tower over her tiny self!

Sara Moulton

....I didn't mind watching Cooking Live, don't enjoy the Secret's show all that much tho, but not sure why.

Edited by PornQueen, Mar 25, 2004 @ 9:01 PM.

[Gschwend]

Like PQ, I liked Cooking Live and really dislike sara's Secrets. Here's why:

* She does everything half-assed. If there's ever a Sara's Secrets drinking game, "You'll do it better than I did" will be at the top of the list. (Closely followed by, "Who knew?") And how exactly is it an instructional show if she never actually finishes anything?

* She's repetitive. She does way too many pot-pie/casserole dishes. And to me, most of them look gross.

* Most of her guests seem pretty lame. I remember some cake guy, he sucked. You can find better decorated cakes made by 10-year-olds at your local 4H chapter.

Of course, YMMV.

[Elphaba]

PornQueen, did you see the day she had football players on? I think her shoulder came up the elbow of one of the bigger guys. It was hilarious.

[Rinaldo]

Of course, having Julia tower over you isn't really a proper standard of comparison; isn't she one of the tallest women around (like, over 6 feet)?

But I'm delighted to see all those photos from way back. Most of them were new to me. Thanks, Pornqueen!

[PostToastie]

I cant watch her. Someone once pointed out to me how much she does that smacking noise at the end of her sentences and it is all I hear now. I do check her recipes out on the website.

RR does the same thing. If you don't notice, it isn't so bad. But of course, once someone points it out to you, you find yourself counting the smacks.

She does everything half-assed. If there's ever a Sara's Secrets drinking game, "You'll do it better than I did" will be at the top of the list. (Closely followed by, "Who knew?") And how exactly is it an instructional show if she never actually finishes anything?

I don't watch the show that often, but I'm starting to notice this. Even when she has a guest on, it seems like she doesn't let them finish anything either.

She's repetitive. She does way too many pot-pie/casserole dishes. And to me, most of them look gross.

She makes alot of soups too. And she's all about telling us how much her kids like it. Like they're a barometer....

[Bungalow Joy]

Popped in to see if there was loads of Sara-hate; but, no, like for me it's more Sara-impatience. The show's really not all that informative. She should really stop taking calls, because there's usually very little substance to her answers. I expect more from the, what?, editor of Gourmet Magazine? Anyway...

She's like a homelier Natalie Dupree to me, Natalie always was messing up and making such a mess. But you had to love her, she was just awesome.

Love her? Do I have to?! <STOMP, STOMP, STOMP> (Gets sent to my room without supper.)

[Center of Attention]

RR does the same thing. If you don't notice, it isn't so bad. But of course, once someone points it out to you, you find yourself counting the smacks.

AHHHH! I never noticed it. I guess I will have to cross that show off my list too. Sigh.

I agree about her not finishing recipes. One of the reasons I like to make tv recipes is because I know what it is supposed to look like during the process. With her, I do better not watching her cook. I just watch the beginning and flip back for the finished plates.

I noticed on cooking live that her set was made for her. Wheneber she had a guest they really had to bend down to cut on her counters.

[CydW]

I like Sara. I think I find it reassuring that someone who's made a career of cooking (unlike Sandra Lee, who's made a career of pretending to cook) can look so klutzy at it. It makes me feel as though there's hope for me. I also enjoy her down-to-earth, slightly self-deprecating manner.

If she has a custom-made set, I envy her. At 5'3" I'd guess I'm a little taller than she is, and that's still my biggest frustration in the kitchen: I feel like I have to reach up to my countertops. It makes anything like chopping or kneading harder than it should be.

[silverwing]

I like Sara's unassuming, low-key manner as well. Watching her is sort of soothing and hypnotic, like hanging out with an old friend. Unlike oh, say... Emeril.

[biakbiak]

I also love Sarah, she is a nice antidote to Ray Ray's cloying cheerfulness. Plus, she doesn't make a big deal about things when she messes up she is just like oh well don't do that or it will still taste okay. Plus, for some reason none of her often used sayings annoy me.

[keckler]

Lord, it's been forever since anyone posted in here! I hope I can get an answer to my question. Sara did a show featuring midwestern hot dishes and I can't remember if it was on "Cooking Live" or "Sara's Secrets" -- does anyone remember that show?

Edited by keckler, Jun 16, 2004 @ 4:02 PM.

[InnerCanuck]

Sorry, I don't remember that one. Did a quick search on FN, but no luck. They don't even have "Cooking Live" listed anymore. :(

[lesleyg456]

Yes, both of Sara's sets were custom-made for her.

Keckler, if you can remember anything about the recipes (a key ingredient or any kind of date), I can check on that for you. Has it aired recently?

[keckler]

I saw it about three or four months ago and the "hot dishes" were things like green bean, maybe tater tot? I tried all sorts of searches and can't find them so I fear it might have been "Cooking Live," which doesn't even list their recipes anymore.

Edited by keckler, Jun 20, 2004 @ 5:44 PM.

[lesleyg456]

Okay, I'm working on it. I'll let you know what I come up with.

[Bungalow Joy]

I just saw an episode and Sara made guarded reference to why duck is not as susceptible to salmonella poisoning as chicken, therefore can be eaten medium rare. She said, "without going into details," that it had something to do with the difference in how the two birds are slaughtered. I gleaned no further information from a quick web search. Does anyone know what those details are?

[Juliekins]

I normally hang out in the Semi-Ho threads, but my TiVo recorded Sara's Shortcut Suppers episode for me so I watched it. This is how semi-homemade should be, folks. Sara did great quickie recipes, and her handling of the whack-a-biscuit was hysterically funny. When the can popped open, she shreiked and jumped, then giggled! She doesn't seem to get that worked up very often, and it was refreshing to see that I'm not the only one that jumps when my whack-a-biscuit pops open. Heh. Her recipes in this ep used prefab foods but they still looked wholesome and tasty.

Edited by Juliekins, Feb 14, 2005 @ 7:29 PM.

[Grits]

I agree....she did a great job of preparing a good meal using prepackaged items. I honestly don't believe this was the first time she had ever come across "whack-a-biscuits" as she indicated on the show. Although she did come across as genuine in her surprise at the popping can..........are there really people who have never used these biscuits???

[biakbiak]

I haven't and the people in my family haven't, its not that uncommon to have not used such prepackaged products.

[Lemess]

I miss Cooking Live. I really enjoyed the question and answer part of the show. I made her individual chocolate souffles from Cooking Live, they were better than anything I have ever had in a restaurant. Does anyone remember the show when she had a lady on whom won a food contest with a recipe for cheeseburger soup? I have always wanted to try it but I can't locate the recipe.