Lowdown on the Pioneer Woman

[Social Worker Sue]

OK - I have saved the recipe. I usually cook this type of dish in a crock pot, but would LOVE to try this - so - for the truly ignorant - tell me exactly how deep my pot must be to be a dutch oven. I have one that would qualify I think, but it has the non-stick coating which wouldn't work for the deglazing - another cooking technique I have yet to try. Yeah I know, I'm not the best cook!

Not being the best cook can change in a matter of months For real.

Got to a Homegoods/TJ Maxx and pick up a generic version of a le creuset Dutch oven. They run about $40-$50, as opposed to $250.

Get one about 6 inches or more deep. Then follow the Pioneer Woman step by step.

Perfection

 

[MickeyManiac]

Yes, a lot of her recipes are high calorie but like everything else they should be used in moderation. The only thing I've tried from her cookbook that I didn't like was the mac and cheese but that's because I have a love/hate relationship with mac and cheese.

My husband and son BEG for Marlboro Man Sandwiches. They are spectacular!!! Yep, I use nearly an entire square of butter but they are soooo worth it.

I also only use her Pot Roast recipe now too. So good and so easy.

 

[jen0610]

From what I've heard, she is disliked because
1) she has this "country girl", simple and unfussy personna on her blog, but she actually comes from a wealthy family (her father is a doctor, and she has tales of going to the country club), and her husband's family are very wealthy as well. THere is of course nothing wrong with that ! But it's tough to buy the "keeping it real " because her financial situation (even before the cookbooks) is very different from other farming or ranching families.
2) she rarely quotes the source of her recipes, which may lead people to believe she invented them. A lot of the recipes she uses have been around for decades, yet she does not mention that . She sometimes mentions using her grandmother's recipes, or her friend's , but she does not have a source for most of her recipes.
3) Most of her recipes are very VERY high in fat, low in fiber, and use very little vegetables.
I don't have an opinion personally, I like some of her recipes, I dislike some of them. I've never watched her show. I used to follow her , but I've stopped reading her blog after the sour cream enchiladas recipes because her recipes are simply too caloric for my family.

Then people don't know the story behind her. She has never, IMHO, tried to come off as simple. In fact her book and blog very clearly states from high heels to tractor wheels. She was a big city girl who NEVER anticipated marrying a cowboy.

Yes her recipe are high in fat, but she lives on a ranch and these guys need "big heavy" food. They burn it off, where as most "city folk" don't.

I have also never heard her pretend that her recipes are her own. She simply had a blog that most people loved and I am sure the the networks cashed in on it.

I also realize that you are stating why you thought that others don't like her, so I wasn't accusing you of any of this.

I was going to say the same thing. Ree has always been very honest about her childhood. Well to do. Lived in a house on the golf course and went to the country club. Took weekend trips with her mom, moms best friend and DD to New York City to see the shows and eat in really nice restraunts.

If someone hasn't read High Heels to Tractor Wheels, either the book or the online story that she did prior to getting the book deal, read it. She was on her way to Chicago, when days before she was to leave that she met Ladd and that was all she wrote for going to Chicago.

I think her whole family is incredibly uncomfortable being on her show. She's a bit too Stepford for me. The Novogratz's came out from New York and decorated a room for her daughters; that was interesting. The recipe's, as mentioned prior, are good but unhealthy for the most part.

Read her blog, she's so outta her comfort zone. She's a homebody. She readily tells that prior to getting the show on FN, when she would be on GMA or whatever show had her on, promoting her books and blog, she was a nervous wreck. She sweats BADLY. She's more comfortable staying in her home and home area, then any where else. To some extent, I think the girls have it as well. The boys, are just being boys. And Charlie and Walter are just being themselves. If you hear Josh talking and he sounds off, that would be because of his hearing loss. He wears hearing aids.

 

[wdwmom2]

I love her iced coffee recipe!!!!

 

[beaucoup]

I've heard of her. Maybe caught a show once. Never read the blog. Never tried one of her recipes.

 

[Shmily1]

I love to watch her show. I love to see what her family is doing, all the food she is making, and all the decorations she is using for whatever she is doing. It never dawned on me that people would expect they would follow her 24/7 and want to know her ordinary day stuff. I really don't expect that from tv, but instead focusing on stuff they do that is fun and interesting. Her kids are precious. They just seem real.

On what she cooks, she makes things that taste good. It's not meant for you to eat every meal that way, but if there is something you want that she cooks, she has the recipes available for you. I also don't see the problem with her not reporting exactly who created a recipe to start with. I guess next time I make something I will have to give credits after blessing saying who's recipe it is.... "Thanks to Grandma for the roll recipe, mama for the veggies, and Betty Crocker for the brownies! Oh, and I made up the chicken recipe all by myself. Now eat."

 

[Katy Belle]

From what I've heard, she is disliked because
1) she has this "country girl", simple and unfussy personna on her blog, but she actually comes from a wealthy family (her father is a doctor, and she has tales of going to the country club), and her husband's family are very wealthy as well. THere is of course nothing wrong with that ! But it's tough to buy the "keeping it real " because her financial situation (even before the cookbooks) is very different from other farming or ranching families.
2) she rarely quotes the source of her recipes, which may lead people to believe she invented them. A lot of the recipes she uses have been around for decades, yet she does not mention that . She sometimes mentions using her grandmother's recipes, or her friend's , but she does not have a source for most of her recipes.
3) Most of her recipes are very VERY high in fat, low in fiber, and use very little vegetables.
I don't have an opinion personally, I like some of her recipes, I dislike some of them. I've never watched her show. I used to follow her , but I've stopped reading her blog after the sour cream enchiladas recipes because her recipes are simply too caloric for my family.

I've lived here about 2 years and I live about 30 minutes from Pawhuska, where the Pioneer Woman lives. Her kids play soccer here. I think the above nails it...to a point.

Pawhuska is a VERY small town. 3,500 people. I think some of them are irritated by the whole deal. Some think she doesn't support the town enough. She filmed the Christmas parade for her show, but allegedly doesn't offer to support it in a monetary way. A distant relative claims that she pays someone to homeschool her kids...I have no idea if that is true. Basically, people feel she misrepresents herself. Some say she's not even writing the blog anymore, someone else is. Again, I don't know. I like the blog.

A lot of her recipes are from old church cookbooks...people feel she is stealing them.

I like her blog. Its well done and entertaining. I don't like the show, find it boring. Her recipes...a lot of them are just things that I've always cooked, without a recipe. I do use a few of her recipes on a regular basis...Marlboro Man's favorite sandwich...banana bread (which is her mom's recipe)...

 

[Aimeedyan]

I'm a food blogger, and there are a lot of strong feelings about her on the interwebs for one, recipe citation is a HUGE deal - and she doesn't cite her recipes. Even if they were her grandmother's recipe, it should be cited as so. All other food bloggers do so.

And, it's supposedly well known that there is a lot of hired help running The Pioneer Woman operation. It may have started with just her but it's a giant empire now and that means there is no way she's homeschooling, running a ranch, creating cooking and photographing food, filming a TV show, maintaining an active Pinterest account, maintaining an active Facebook account, parenting, cooking for her family, writing a book, and maintaining her blog/website. It's simply not possible. So for some, the fact that she's not transparent in that is irritating. There ARE other big food bloggers who readily admit to having a team behind the brand now and I don't think it hurts their image - if nothing else, it shows us that it's really not all possible and they aren't super woman.

That said, I like some of her recipes! Her TV show is a snooze fest but it's just not her forte... but it's popularity shows how much of a need for that type of food is out there

 

[gwynne]

I'm a food blogger, and there are a lot of strong feelings about her on the interwebs for one, recipe citation is a HUGE deal - and she doesn't cite her recipes. Even if they were her grandmother's recipe, it should be cited as so. All other food bloggers do so.

And, it's supposedly well known that there is a lot of hired help running The Pioneer Woman operation. It may have started with just her but it's a giant empire now and that means there is no way she's homeschooling, running a ranch, creating cooking and photographing food, filming a TV show, maintaining an active Pinterest account, maintaining an active Facebook account, parenting, cooking for her family, writing a book, and maintaining her blog/website. It's simply not possible. So for some, the fact that she's not transparent in that is irritating. There ARE other big food bloggers who readily admit to having a team behind the brand now and I don't think it hurts their image - if nothing else, it shows us that it's really not all possible and they aren't super woman.

That said, I like some of her recipes! Her TV show is a snooze fest but it's just not her forte... but it's popularity shows how much of a need for that type of food is out there

Thanks! You answered so many of my questions. I kinda thought she had to be outsourcing. After all, there are only so many hours in a day.
And I have wondered about the lack of sourcing as well.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Everything I've tried from her recipes have been good -- and I used to like her blog, but I do *not* care for her show.

I think, for me, the show is a little too hokey. There doesn't really need to be an "occasion" for every meal: "The hubby and the kids are out driving the cattle. They're going to be starved for a home-cooked breakfast. I'm going to whip up _____, ______, ______ with a smile" (which you know took a team of people 3+ hours to prepare.) Or "Todays' my son's 8th birthday, so I'm going to plan a fabulous party for 30 people, do all the cooking, and all the decorating, and surprise him at lunch!" Really? They just seem to go over the top to say "I'm supermom!" or "I'm super wife!" Please, just cook the food.

For what it's worth, I also have similar issues with Martha Stewart and Ina Garten. (I've heard many people say that Ina is a fabulous cook -- and she probably is -- but her show just seems *so* contrived. Just cook the food. You don't have to preparing it for your "very good friends" who just happen to be in an all-day movie editing session down the street. Or whipping it up for Jeffrey who's just getting back from a grueling business trip.)

ETA: I don't have a big problem with Rachel Ray except that her "30 minute meals" usually take me at least 45 minutes... and I find some of her catchphrases (like "sammies" and "yummo!") annoying. I also am certain that Ree Drummond is a nice person, so I have nothing against her personally... I just don't like the show.

You and I see eye to eye on this! There's a little thing that went around pinterest with Ina Garten saying, "If you don't have time to blow your own glass mixing bowl, storebought will do."

And I cannot stand watching Rachel Ray even though I do like her recipes. The "sammie" thing makes me want to break my TV, and why does she think I need to buy a special bowl to collect the garbage in while I am cooking?

 

[lucas]

Love, love, love the Pioneer woman! I don't care where her recipes come from. I love her stories, blog, pictures and her show. (Her show will be on in 15 minutes.)

 

[Christine]

I've always enjoyed The Pioneer Woman blog, but the show--not so much. I've watched it two times and I have to turn it off. I certainly don't dislike her but I really do not enjoy the pacing of the show.

What I do like about her recipes are that most of them are striaghtforward, "normal", flavorful dishes that appeal to me. I'm certainly NOT a picky eater and I do like some adventure, but lately all my usual go-to cooking magazines and shows have turned me off. The recipes have sort of gone "out there" with bizarre combos of ingredients that often miss the mark or I have a hard time finding without a special trip to some place like Whole Foods. Just not interested. PW's recipes are very straightforward, yet not boring.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I love her. I love the old style homecooking. In fact, I have her strawberry bars in the oven right now!

 

[lucas]

Everything I've tried from her recipes have been good -- and I used to like her blog, but I do *not* care for her show.

I think, for me, the show is a little too hokey. There doesn't really need to be an "occasion" for every meal: "The hubby and the kids are out driving the cattle. They're going to be starved for a home-cooked breakfast. I'm going to whip up _____, ______, ______ with a smile" (which you know took a team of people 3+ hours to prepare.) Or "Todays' my son's 8th birthday, so I'm going to plan a fabulous party for 30 people, do all the cooking, and all the decorating, and surprise him at lunch!" Really? They just seem to go over the top to say "I'm supermom!" or "I'm super wife!" Please, just cook the food.

For what it's worth, I also have similar issues with Martha Stewart and Ina Garten. (I've heard many people say that Ina is a fabulous cook -- and she probably is -- but her show just seems *so* contrived. Just cook the food. You don't have to preparing it for your "very good friends" who just happen to be in an all-day movie editing session down the street. Or whipping it up for Jeffrey who's just getting back from a grueling business trip.)

ETA: I don't have a big problem with Rachel Ray except that her "30 minute meals" usually take me at least 45 minutes... and I find some of her catchphrases (like "sammies" and "yummo!") annoying. I also am certain that Ree Drummond is a nice person, so I have nothing against her personally... I just don't like the show.

Off topic, but some things I find interesting about Ina:
She is a former White House nuclear policy analyst. Her father was a surgeon. Her culinary career began with her gourmet food store, Barefoot Contessa.

And about Jeffrey:
He is the Juan Trippe Professor in the Practice of International Trade, Finance and Business at the Yale School of Management and the Chairman of Garten Rothkopf, a global consulting firm. He also serves on several corporate and philanthropic boards. From 1996-2005 he was the dean of the school, and before that, Undersecretary of Commerce for international trade in the first Clinton administration. Previously he worked on Wall Street as managing director at the Blackstone Group and Lehman Brothers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ina_Garten

They mentioned all that on her Chef-biography show on the Food Network. I like her show, too, and think they are cute together. They have been married since they were basically kids.

Just like the Pioneer Woman's family and her husband's family - they already had loads of money!

 

[lucas]

I love her. I love the old style homecooking. In fact, I have her strawberry bars in the oven right now!

Yum! And I just took her blackberry cobbler out of the oven.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Yum! And I just took her blackberry cobbler out of the oven.

How funny. I was debating between the two!

 

[Kimberle]

Another PW potroast lover! In fact, I had it for dinner tonight! Some of her recepies are yummy, and some are very complicated. I remember watching her 28 step (or so) preperation of cheeseburgers.

Like any other cooking show/site/book, you use some ideas.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

The Pioneer Woman's blog is very user friendly, it takes you step by step on each recipe, and the food is awesome comfort food like Mama/Grandma used to make. She got this popular for a reason. Now that she is there, the haters surface. I think it's probably unavoidable, no matter who you are. Once you hit a certain level, you get hammered.

Food snobs absolutely hate people like Ree and Paula Deen. If you gained popularity, or fame, by making simple, comfort foods the masses enjoy they will look down their noses and sneer.

 

[bookgirl]

I've been following the blog for a number of years. I like her.

She does homeschool but her kids also belong to a coop so depending on the subject, some else is teaching her kids. It's a great way to get someone who is knowledgable about math to teach all the kids math then they can send thier own kids to someone else who is better at English. There usually is a fee involved.

Yep they have never hidden the fact that they are not poor, but it's not like the Drummond family didn't work for thier money. Running a ranch is not like an episode of Dallas. You are up at 4am feeding livestock and mending fences and breaking ice, you are working hard and in bad years you are losing money. I think a lot of the hate for that is from people who think that running a successful ranch means paying other people to do the work, and from other ranch people who are not as sucessful. But a lot of her fans are people who understand that culture and are not resentful.

I love some of her recipies and some I don't. I cook the ones I like. I don't need a cite source, its cooking not a Thesis. I do a ton of cooking and my recipeis are ones that I've seen and adapted or tweeked and honestly some that are verbatem but in no way could you say they are owned by anyone. I've posted them, given them out, taught others to cook them. I don't cite, I may mention where I saw the original but at that point I've changed it and it's now my recipie. If some church lady thinks that because a recipie looks like the one in her box at home or church news letter I got news for her. It looks like the same recipie that is in EVERY church letter. There are only so many ways to cook a pot roast, and only so many ingredients and combinations of using them. Recipies look similar it's the nature of the beast. In fact I've posted a pulled pork crock pot recipie on this site. It's her oven pulled pork recipie adapted to my preferred cooking method and tweeked the ingredients to my taste. So it all evens out in the end. I think I've said it's her's but not everytime I give it out.

I haven't followed her blog daily in a few years. I still go back and check out the cooking thread every so often. I don't watch the show (if it's on and I'm channel surfing I'll watch) it's a little to stilted. It does look contrived but I think that's mainly because they've taken old blog posts that were spontaneous and tried to 'recreate' them. Not really working out. But still long time blog fans recongnize the situations.

People love to hate. I follow a couple of vlogers and bloggers and they get slammed all the time. People love to be mean, the internet is the best friend of cowards and passive aggresive wannabes.

I never believe the rumors that the internet spreads about vloggers or bloggers. If I have questions I go look for myself. If I like it I follow and if I don't then I just move on.

 

[ManyMinnie]

I enjoyed The Pioneer Woman blog, until I read her book.

She comes off as a ditzy, high maintenance diva.

Some of her recipes are good, though I haven't followed her blog in a couple years.

I watched her show a couple times and couldn't stand how contrived the show was and how irritating she was on camera.