Cindy’s not-so-sweet cookie controversy

Cindy McCain can not keep herself out of the culinary limelight — and it’s not a good thing.

The wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain was busted when she copied Food Network recipes for the McCain campaign Web site. The recipe was meant to be an original family specialty.

Now it seems a recipe posted to the “Family Circle” Web site is a replica of a Hershey recipe. The oatmeal-butterscotch cookies are nearly word-for-word identical.

The recipe was part of a potential First Lady bake-off. Michelle Obama submitted a shortbread recipe. No word on how the discovery will affect the contest.

The Lady & Sons eatery bounces back after blaze

The Deens won’t let something like a little fire keep them down.

It only took 20 minutes to get a fire under control that broke out in an upstairs storage room at Paula Deen’s The Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, Ga. After getting an OK from city officials, the Deens were able to reopen on time the very next day.

The Food Network star opened the restaurant in 1996 before she became a television personality.

It’s a Todd against a network for Emmy

Todd English, James Beard Award winner and restaurateur, is nominated for an Emmy award for “Food Trip with Todd English.” The first season of the program aired on PBS stations this year.

His worthy adversaries in the Outstanding Lifestyle Host category include Ina Garten of “Barefoot Contessa,” Bobby Flay of “Boy Meets Grill,” Giada de Laurentiis of “Everyday Italian” and Nigella Lawson of “Nigella Express.”

Though the trophy won’t be presented on tonight’s program (ABC at 8 p.m.), it will be announced during the ceremony.

DVR Alerts

It seems the Food Network believes culinary enthusiasts get up pretty early in the morning. There is plenty to check out this week, so you can save up some shows for the days the schedule is a little light.

Saturday 7 a.m. - Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello (Food Network) - Keep the oven off during the dog days and try out some “no cook” recipes.

9 a.m. - Tyler’s Ultimate (Food Network) - Tapas are not just for restaurants and bars anymore. Watch Tyler whip up some of his favorite small plates, get your friends over, and stir up some sangria.

9:30 a.m. - Jamie Oliver at Home (Food Network) - Jamie has a passion for pizza. This week he forages in the garden to find interesting veggie toppings. Jamie’s traditional wood oven is a great location for a magnificent quattro gusti pizza and calzones.

10 a.m. - Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee (Food Network) - Sandra deconstructs a menu inspired by the French Riviera. From La Romana Tomatoes Gratin to a St. Tropez cocktail, it’s an exotic meal on a budget.

Sunday 12:30 p.m. - Best Dishes (Food Network) - Paula reminisces about the backyard wedding she threw for her brother. This fun menu includes Martini Style Pork Grillades and Grits, Chicken Salad Sliders and Spicy Oyster Shooters.

8 p.m. — Food Network Challenge - Find a new twist on macaroni and cheese when experts get together to compete for $10,000 and bragging rights for making the best version of the classic comfort food.

10 p.m. - The Next Food Network Star (Food Network) - Tyler Florence tests finalists’ culinary skills doing videos for foodnetwork.com and then Iron Chef Michael Symon presides over the creation of unique seafood dishes for a ship full of Coast Guardsmen.

11 p.m. - Throwdown with Bobby Flay (Food Network) - Catch a sneak peek of the new season when Bobby challenges Maribel and Aristides Barrios, restaurateurs who hail from Venezuela, to a throwdown featuring arepas — delicious grilled cornmeal patties filled with sweet and savory treats.

Monday 9 p.m. - Hell’s Kitchen (Fox) - Jen is gone and now it’s down to three running the entire kitchen for a service at Hell’s Kitchen. Looks like it’s a tough challenge when each chef gets to run the pass.

10 p.m. - Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network) - Guy Fieri finds local favorites from a third-generation cafeteria outside Atlanta that serves Southern favorites, a Louisiana bar with a culinary school grad who’s making everything from rabbit to turtle soup, and the Albuquerque, N.M. steakhouse you can enter through the liquor store.

Wednesday 10 p.m. - Dinner Impossible (Food Network) - The next mission for Robert Irvine is to feed 1,000 hungry construction workers his version of an upscale brown bag lunch. However, he will be cooking in two Salvation Army canteen trucks normally used for disaster relief and will have only six hours to complete the task.

Thursday 10 p.m. - Supper Club with Tom Bergeron (Planet Green) - A green dinner party hosted by Tom Bergeron in an eco-friendly house in Venice, Calif. Guests: actor Ricky Schroeder, radio host Larry Elder, dance judge Bruno Tonioli, climate expert Heidi Cullen, and Chef Akasha Richmond cooking honey glazed chicken.

Friday 4:30 a.m. - Sugar Rush (Food Network) - Warren Brown discovers summertime’s sweet tooth as he makes cupcakes with Clare Crespo in Los Angeles, and Michael Brock of Boule creates luscious seasonal fruit tarts and sorbets while Chef Kraig Hansen of the Palisade restaurant in Seattle gives an ode to seafood with a dessert lobster.

10 p.m. - Paula’s Party (Food Network) - It’s Paula’s cheesiest show yet. Whether it’s soft, hard or cream, there are all kinds of creations for the curds.