FN Dish – Food Network Blog: Go behind-the-scenes at Food Network featuring your favorite chefs, shows, recipes, events and more.

Ohio artist Eliza DeVogel extends the holidays, coming in second place for They Draw and Cook's contest.

The Dish is teaming up with Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell, founders of They Draw and Cook, all December to share holiday recipes rendered by artists and inspiring all sorts of seasonal cooking with Food Network chefs. Each day, stop by the Dish for a new drawing and Nate and Salli’s liner notes about the illustrations and the artists. Tell us which you like and why. A dollop of this, a dash of that and some talent add up to interesting ideas in the kitchen. Visit theydrawandcook.com for more info.

As we come to the final days of our month-long celebration of artistically illustrated holiday recipes, it’s time to recognize (and reward!) four artists whose recipes represent all the good things we love about drawing and cooking at holiday time. We at They Draw and Cook will reward four artists with cash prizes totaling $2,000, to be announced here today through the 31st. Because Salli and I love all the recipes you’ve seen this month we could never in a million years pick favorites! So, we asked our friends at Weldon Owen Publishing (they will publish the upcoming They Draw and Cook book, available next fall) and here at the FoodNetwork.com to be the judges. From a batch of 250 holiday recipes, they picked four top favorites.

Today, we’d like to congratulate Eliza DeVogel, an illustrator from Cleveland, Ohio, for being our second-place winner. Eliza will receive $500 from They Draw and Cook for her super-cute illustration of a Christmas Hot Russian cocktail. The judges thought that Eliza’s illustration was fun, hip and pretty and that her combination of pattern, color, linework and texture made it really unique. And, of course, the matryoshka dolls were a very smart and whimsical choice. Congratulations Eliza and thanks for sharing this deliciousness with us.

Be sure to visit the FN Dish tomorrow to see who the first-place winner will be. Meantime, check out FoodNetwork.com for great New Year’s recipes.

—Nate Padavick & Salli Swindell from They Draw and Cook.

The Food Network Kitchens offer for your perusal eleven trends that will define the coming year in food. Check back here tomorrow for another installment, and then visit Cooking Channel’s Devour for the rest of the list.

And if reading about these trends makes you hungry, you’re in luck. This year they’ve distilled (or rather mashed up) the predictions into emblematic recipes, thus giving you an opportunity unique among year-end forecasts: The chance to eat the predictions! Up first: Southeast Asian Black Kale Tacos (with a bit of Pork Belly). If these recipes are any indication, the year 2011 is going to be a delicious one. Bon appétit! Now for today’s two trends…

Tacos, Authentic to Eccentric
In 2011 chefs will do for tacos what they’ve spent the last several years doing for burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and sandwiches: that is, raising the quality of ingredients, and lavishing high-end technique and creativity on a popular food. Get ready for celeb-chef taquerias, wild fusion taquerias (look for many more Asian/Mexican mashups), locavore-friendly taquerias, hyper-authentic regional Mexican taquerias and many, many more.

Read more »

Dorothy Tong's cupcakes rocked it out, especially the Elvis, made with bananas and peanut butter frosting.

Cupcake Wars judge Candace Nelson is the founder and pastry chef of Sprinkles Cupcakes, the world’s first cupcake bakery. She joins us on the FN Dish each week to recap all the sweet details of the competition from her seat at the judges’ table. Here’s what she had to say about last night’s episode, Hard Rock.

There’s nothing more rewarding to me than cupcakes to support a great cause. This week, Hard Rock’s Pinktober event for breast cancer research inspired plates of rosy-hued cupcakes by our equally colorful bakers. In one kitchen, we had burly Bruce in camo, prepared for battle. In another, the demurely aproned Dorothy. It was a reminder that, just like the cupcakes we see on the show, cupcake bakers these days come in all varieties.

Bruce’s cupcakes packed a punch…his Pink Velvet from round one was gutsy with the beet mousse and salmon roe, and the flavors really sang. But his muscle proved his undoing in round two. He showed no restraint with his edible glitter and really doused the plate, making it unappetizing. Dorothy’s cupcakes were diminutive but they each revealed a surprise with their miniature cookie interiors, a cupcake style I have never seen before. The cookie added another textural element but sometimes fell to the bottom of the cupcake and got lost.

Needless to say, with two such different styles, Florian and I were on the edge of our seats awaiting their 1000 cupcake display. With a theme like Hard Rock, maybe Bruce’s irreverent style would have the edge. But our eyes popped when we saw Dorothy’s pink Cadillac roll into the kitchen. Guest judge Romy revealed to us that the pink Cadillac is a major theme at Hard Rock restaurants and particularly at the Universal City Walk – which Dorothy explains was her inspiration. Dorothy was right on the mark and zoomed away with the night’s win. But why do I have a feeling that Bruce will be back…?

Bake up a batch of Victoria’s winning Elvis Cupcakes and check out FoodNetwork.com for more about Cupcake Wars, plus dozens of our best cupcake recipes.

California artist Paula Pertile extends the holidays, coming in third place for They Draw and Cook's contest.

The Dish is teaming up with Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell, founders of They Draw and Cook, all December to share holiday recipes rendered by artists and inspiring all sorts of seasonal cooking with Food Network chefs. Each day, stop by the Dish for a new drawing and Nate and Salli’s liner notes about the illustrations and the artists. Tell us which you like and why. A dollop of this, a dash of that and some talent add up to interesting ideas in the kitchen. Visit theydrawandcook.com for more info.

As we come to the final days of our month-long celebration of artistically illustrated holiday recipes, it’s time to recognize (and reward!) four artists whose recipes represent all the good things we love about drawing and cooking at holiday time. We at They Draw and Cook will reward four artists with cash prizes totaling $2,000, to be announced here today through the 31st. Because Salli and I love all the recipes you’ve seen this month we could never in a million years pick favorites! So, we asked our friends at Weldon Owen Publishing (they will publish the upcoming They Draw and Cook book, available next fall) and here at the FoodNetwork.com to be the judges. From a batch of 250 holiday recipes, they picked four top favorites.

Today, we’d like to congratulate Paula Pertile, an illustrator from California, for being our third-place winner. Paula will receive $300 from They Draw and Cook for her wonderful ahortbread illustration. The judges told us that they loved the cuteness (reindeer with apron), humor (reindeer listening to music while the shortbread is baking) and simplicity (such an easy recipe to follow!) of this illustration. They also loved the sweet story this conveys through Paula’s use of the happy reindeer family all helping out and enjoying this holiday treat. Her color palette and exquisite hand-lettering were the icing on the cake, or, in this case, shortbread cookie.

Come back tomorrow to see who the 2nd place winner will be.Meantime, check out FoodNetwork.com for great New Year’s recipes.

—Nate Padavick & Salli Swindell from They Draw and Cook.

London artist Weef brings us across the pond as we wind down our month of drawings and wind up for They Draw and Cook

The Dish is teaming up with Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell, founders of They Draw and Cook, all December to share holiday recipes rendered by artists and inspiring all sorts of seasonal cooking with Food Network chefs. Each day, stop by the Dish for a new drawing and Nate and Salli’s liner notes about the illustrations and the artists. Tell us which you like and why. A dollop of this, a dash of that and some talent add up to interesting ideas in the kitchen. Visit theydrawandcook.com for more info.

As we come to the final days of our month-long celebration of artistically illustrated holiday recipes, it’s time to recognize (and reward!) four artists whose recipes represent all the good things we love about drawing and cooking at holiday time. We at They Draw and Cook will reward four artists with cash prizes totaling $2,000, to be announced here on December today through the 31st. Because Salli and I love all the recipes you’ve seen this month we could never in a million years pick favorites! So, we asked our friends at Weldon Owen Publishing (they will publish the upcoming They Draw and Cook book, available next fall) and here at the FoodNetwork.com to be the judges. From a batch of 250 holiday recipes, they picked four top favorites.

Today, we’d like to congratulate Weef, an illustrator from London, for being our 4th place winner. Weef will receive $200 from They Draw and Cook for his amazing Turkey Curry illustration. The judges told us that in addition to his great artwork and wonderful layout, they loved this recipe for its innovative and fresh solution to a common holiday dilemma: what to do with all that leftover turkey. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing your talents with us Weef! Be sure to visit the FN Dish tomorrow to see who the 3rd place winner will be.

Meantime, check out FoodNetwork.com for great New Year’s recipes.

—Nate Padavick & Salli Swindell from They Draw and Cook.

Artist Pamela Nudel of Berkeley, California, readies us all for New Year

The Dish is teaming up with Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell, founders of They Draw and Cook, all December to share holiday recipes rendered by artists and inspiring all sorts of seasonal cooking with Food Network chefs. Each day, stop by the Dish for a new drawing and Nate and Salli’s liner notes about the illustrations and the artists. Tell us which you like and why. A dollop of this, a dash of that and some talent add up to interesting ideas in the kitchen. Visit theydrawandcook.com for more info.

Whoa. This beverage will help relax everyone after all the holiday madness. Artist Pamela Nudel had some fun creating this illustration (and beverage). Her clean and crisp illustration style makes this tasty drink all the more appealing. The zesty lime juice mixed with the hint of peppermint is a winning seasonal combination for any party. We can almost taste how absolutely refreshing this drink is, and that’s what an illustrated recipe is all about.

See more illustrated recipes for great holiday drinks and dishes today on They Draw and Cook. And get ready for New Year’s with FoodNetwork.com.

—Nate Padavick & Salli Swindell from They Draw and Cook.

Alton is at the ready with his Food Network Magazine Buffalo Wings, helping me wing it through the next 24 hours of snow.

Connecticut friends stuck in Los Angeles. Manhattan friends stuck in Texas. My three kids, my mom, my husband and I (or is it me? delirious, clearly), very much stuck at home. Warning, Florida, Arizona and other sunny outposts–this post may not be for you.

Here in New York City, a snowball fight is sounding like a good idea, if you know what I mean. Maybe some fresh air will make quality time in the family room seem more appealing. Meantime, what can I run out to the neighborhood store for, so that, as winter becomes a wonderland outside, we can warm things up inside? I’m dreaming of a ski vacation and the comfy-cozy lodge food that goes with it. Alton Brown recipes, to the rescue:

1. Alton’s Hot Wings Butter and garlic makes these Food Network Magazine wings even better, and not only in snowy Buffalo.
2. Hot Cocoa His secret? Confectioners’ sugar. Sweet memories in the making. Will use extra marshmallows to keep the kids’ energy up, so to speak.
3. Cheese Fondue Alton uses a double dose of cheeses (smoked Gouda and Gruyere) and a double shot of spikes (hard cider and brandy) to make your heart melt.
4. Alton’s Pressure Cooker Chili No pressure, all ease. Spicy and meaty and soul-warming, and without much effort. Bonus: When else will I put that pressure cooker I got last Christmas to use?
5. Ultimate Nachos Corn tortillas, jalapenos, guac, cheese, sour cream and salsa. Six servings, so there’s enough to share.

How will you be cooking your way through the snow?

2010 is drawing to a close, and many of us may find ourselves looking back over the year at goals achieved, trials overcome, times spent with friends and family and – if you’re anything like us – meals eaten. We’ve pulled together your favorite recipes from the past year in one place, so if you’re looking to revisit a beloved mac ‘n cheese dish or you’re searching for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie, look no further; we’ve got you covered! As a little taste, here are five of my favorite recipes from the roundup.

Paula's Baked French Toast Casserole with Maple Syrup

Paula’s irresistible French Toast Casserole can be pulled together ahead of time, and then popped in the oven for an early-morning treat. Waking up to the sweet, cinnamon smell of the baking casserole is a real pleasure, as the 1,346 reviewers can attest to!

Good Eats Meatloaf

Meatloaf is a tried-and-true classic, a comfort food tradition for many. Messing with that sort of thing can be risky, but Alton changes up the flavors in his Meatloaf with skillful aplomb, punching up the spice mixture with cayenne and chili, and adding cumin and hot pepper sauce to the glaze. A no-fail, knockout recipe for meatloaf novices and masters alike – as evidenced by the 432 rave reviews.

Read more »

Artist Joana Faria of Lisbon, Portugal, gives creamy dip a mod makeover. Click the image to expand.

The Dish is teaming up with Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell, founders of They Draw and Cook, all December to share holiday recipes rendered by artists and inspiring all sorts of seasonal cooking with Food Network chefs. Each day, stop by the Dish for a new drawing and Nate and Salli’s liner notes about the illustrations and the artists. Tell us which you like and why. A dollop of this, a dash of that and some talent add up to interesting ideas in the kitchen. Visit theydrawandcook.com for more info.

Mmm-mmm-mm. This is such a simple and easy recipe that promises such big flavor. We’re pretty sure there won’t be any of this left over after a holiday party. We love Joana Faria‘s slightly edgy illustration style. The creative twist on the Advent calendar works so well for this recipe. The chunky hand-lettering style is great combined with the delicate rows of garland. If you venture over to her website you’ll see lots more of her detailed line drawings and intriguing designs. In fact, we love this recipe so much we made it for our own get-together, and it turned out great. Next stop, New Year’s.

See more great illustrated recipes today on They Draw and Cook. And let FoodNetwork.com do the planning for your New Year’s Eve party.

—Nate Padavick & Salli Swindell from They Draw and Cook.

Artist Abz Hakim of Toronto, Canada, nods to holiday cookie baking. Click the image to expand.

The Dish is teaming up with Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell, founders of They Draw and Cook, all December to share holiday recipes rendered by artists and inspiring all sorts of seasonal cooking with Food Network chefs. Each day, stop by the Dish for a new drawing and Nate and Salli’s liner notes about the illustrations and the artists. Tell us which you like and why. A dollop of this, a dash of that and some talent add up to interesting ideas in the kitchen. Visit theydrawandcook.com for more info.

It doesn’t get any more festive than this recipe and illustration by Abz Hakim. We love the elaborately rendered details and all of the holiday sparkle. Every milk pitcher needs to be decorated with a string of lights and a Santa hat! And of course, this is a classic holiday cookie recipe made really yummy by adding buttermilk and cinnamon. Abz is quite the cook and artist. By the way, Santa has given us permission to print his secret recipe. But wait, there’s more!

Artist Sandee M. Chamberlain of Atlanta, Georgia, left a particularly sweet treat for Santa and his reindeer. Click the image to expand.

Cherries, chocolate, and nuts? Some people call this a cookie; we call it dinner. The artist who created this recipe, Sandee Chamberlain, gave us a little background information about this recipe. She said, “This recipe is near and dear to my heart. I have been making it with my family for the past 30 years–it’s our Christmas Cookie!” We love holiday recipes like this, which bring out the tradition in families everywhere. It’s great to have something special like this to look forward to once a year, every year. And, isn’t the cherry on Rudolph’s nose an awesome little touch?

See more great illustrated recipes today on They Draw and Cook. And count down to 2011 with great sweets, appetizer and drink recipes at FoodNetwork.com.

—Nate Padavick & Salli Swindell from They Draw and Cook.