Rachael Ray grew up watching her mother in a restaurant kitchen, and insists that cooking is a way of life she simply was born into. "Everyone on both sides of family cooks," she says.

Rachael has parlayed that birthright into a wildly successful career as a syndicated television star, an iconic Food Network television personality, bestselling cookbook author, founder and editorial Director of her own lifestyle magazine and founder of the large non-profit Yum-o! organization.

Rachael's hugely successful syndicated daytime program, Rachael Ray, launched in the fall of 2006. Showcasing Rachael's warmth, energy and boundless curiosity, the show—produced by CBS Television Distribution and Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions—was immediately embraced by critics across the country. TIME magazine wrote, "You can't attract her kind of following by just being accessible. Newsweek praised Rachael as being "the most down-to-earth TV star on the planet. Credited with getting America back in the kitchen with her easy approach to cooking, Rachael takes the same philosophy—finding simple solutions to everyday problems—beyond the kitchen and into all aspects of the show.

Rachael's television work grew to include a series of lifestyle and travel segments as well as a long-term relationship with the Food Network, hosting shows such as Rachael's Vacations, Tasty Travels, $40 A Day, Inside Dish and 30-Minute Meals. She also picked up several Emmy Awards along the way.

In addition to her television endeavors, Rachael has turned her 30-Minute Meals concept into a bestselling series of cookbooks, including 30-Minute Meals, 30-Minute Meals: Get Togethers, Comfort Foods, Veggie Meals, Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals for Kids Open House Cookbook, Express Lane Meals, Yum-o! The Family Cookbook, and more, many of them becoming New York Times bestsellers.

Taking the can-do spirit of her television shows and books, Rachael launched a new lifestyle magazine bearing her vision called Every Day with Rachael Ray. With great food at its heart, the Award-winning full-size glossy magazine, for which Rachael serves as editor-in-chief, covers much more than food. Through the magazine, Rachael takes readers around the country to meet people who love food—from top celebrities and authentic artisans to great home cooks.

Despite her growing celebrity she is determined to stay grounded and hold on to her down-to-earth values. In the spring of 2007, Rachael Ray launched a nonprofit organization, Yum-o! that empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking. Yum-o!'s three work areas include educating kids and their families about cooking, feeding hungry American kids and funding cooking education and scholarships.

"My life has been a total accident—a very happy, wonderful accident that I didn't and couldn't have planned," says Rachael.

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