KELSEY'S ESSENTIALS and UNITED TASTES OF AMERICA Premiere of Cooking Network

Cooking Channel will add more fresh faces to their programming line-up this November, with the premieres of Kelsey's Essentials on Saturday, November 6 at 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT and United Tastes of America, hosted by Jeffrey Saad, on Tuesday, November 16 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT. Both Kelsey and Jeffrey were fan favorite contestants on season four and five, respectively, of The Next Food Network Star and will be making their Cooking Channel debut.

"Kelsey's enthusiastic culinary voice will inspire new and seasoned cooks alike to feel comfortable in the kitchen - empowering them with essential techniques, tools and tips that they can master and make their own," said Bruce Seidel, Senior Vice President, Programming, Cooking Channel. "And Jeffrey Saad's passion and interest in every aspect of iconic American food makes him the perfect host for United Tastes of America."

In Kelsey's Essentials, Kelsey Nixon inspires a new generation of food lovers with her own fresh take on essential cooking basics. She gives her savvy tips on must-have pantry items, the latest gadgets and essential kitchen techniques - from roasting to baking. Kelsey's passion is creating recipes that target the beginning cook - breaking down the basics, teaching proper technique and making everyone feel comfortable in the kitchen.

The premiere episode, airing Saturday, November 6 at 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT, is all about fresh pasta. Featured dishes include hand-cut cannelloni with Italian sausage, spinach and ricotta in a simple red sauce and fettuccine with savory yellow squash and parmesan-lemon cream sauce.

Kelsey Nixon got her start in the food media industry when she created Kelsey's Kitchen, a college cooking show at Brigham Young University, emphasizing fast, fun and affordable meals. After graduating with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, she attended Le Cordon Bleu - Hollywood, where she earned her professional culinary arts degree. In 2008, she was a contestant on The Next Food Network Star, where she was voted 'fan favorite,' and went on to star in the Food2 web series Kelsey and Spike Cook, with Spike Mendelsohn.

Hosted by Jeffrey Saad, each episode of United Tastes of America focuses on one iconic food staple, such as donuts, burgers and pizza - and explores it from every angle. The history, process, science and pop-culture significance of each item are examined, along with a look at how today's hottest chefs are reinterpreting them in unexpected ways.

Premiering Tuesday, November 16 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm ET, pizza is the first food on the menu at United Tastes of America. In addition to the ultimate New York street slice and the hearty deep-dish style of Chicago, the episode explores what happens when pizza goes upscale and collides with international influences - resulting in unexpected Indian-curry and sushi pizzas.

Jeffrey Saad was a leading contestant on season five of The Next Food Network Star in 2009. He began his food career at 13-years-old working in a Chicago diner, and at that moment he knew he would open restaurants and food would be his life. Jeffrey was formally trained as a chef at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, as well as the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.

For a taste of more, check out www.CookingChanneltv.com, Facebook.com/CookingChannel and Twitter.com/CookingChannel.

COOKING CHANNEL (www.cookingchanneltv.com) is an entertainment brand dedicated to today's passionate food lover. For food people, by food people, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing hunger for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension from global cuisines to international travel, history and unconventional how-to's. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates Food Network (www.foodnetwork.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com) and Great American Country (www.gactv.com), is the manager and general partner.

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