‘Next Food Network Star’ gets to work quickly

Camden’s Aaron McCargo Jr. walked away with the win from the Next Food Network Star during the finale this week and “Big Daddy’s House” will make its debut Sunday with a Boy’s Night In theme. Look for his youngest son, Justin, to make an appearance.

Rachel rescues pets, too

Rachel Ray is launching a pet food line.

Rachael Ray Nutrish, a selection of dog foods which are based off of recipes that she created for her pit bull, Isaboo. A cat food line is also hitting the market. The proceeds will go to Rachel’s Rescue, which was founded to aid at-risk animals.

Based on reports by Yahoo News.com, the decision to include a pet food line came easy to Ray, who felt it required “not a lot of extra time to donate to something that could potentially raise millions of dollars for championing these little creatures that can’t speak for themselves.”

Alton hits the high seas

Alton Brown is serving up a third season of his “Feasting on…” series. The first “Feasting on Asphalt” and then “Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run” were so successful the Food Network is scheduling “Feasting on Waves” in the coming weeks, setting Brown on a boat to cruise the Islands off the Americas looking for local delicacies.

A second piece of good news: Brown is signed on to the network for another three years.

DVR Alerts

Saturday’s morning schedule is stuffed with new episodes and below are just a few choices. Maybe you should tape a few and watch them later if you don’t want to sit in front of the tube for four hours straight.

Saturday

9:30 a.m. — Jamie at Home (Food Network) — It’s potato time with demonstrations of potato salad, purple potatoes and a Spanish omelet.

11 a.m. — Down Home with the Neelys (Food Network) — There’s other things in the Neely chicken besides barbeque and pork. How about spicy crab cakes, gazpacho salad and ice cream with an orange liquer flambé?

12:30 p.m. — Ask Aida (Food Network) — In this first episode, Aida helps home cooks with flank steak, grilled peppers and onions, and cherry, almond and herb salad.

1:00 p.m. — Everyday Italian (Food Network) — Giada shows off the flavors of Sardinia.

1:30 p.m. - Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger (Food Network) - Find out how to lighten up that Comforting Shepherd’s pie.

Sunday

9 a.m. - Grill It! With Bobby Flay (Food Network) - Bobby’s guest shares her recipe for Pork Steaks with Homemade BBQ Sauce, Texas Style Yukon Gold Potato Frites, and Grilled Chayote. Bobby even makes Bartlett Pear Crips with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips for desserts.

10 a.m. - Simply Delicioso (Food Network) - Brazilian codfish balls are on the menu with Ingrid Hoffman.

12:30 p.m. — Paula’s Best Dishes (Food Network) — It’s everything upside down in Paula’s kitchen today.

1:30 p.m. - Big Daddy’s House (Food Network) - Big Daddy cooks up dishes inspired by his sons Josh and Justin. Aaron makes the Everything but the Kitchen Sink Chicken Tenders Salad, Josh’s Roast Pork Sandwich with Broccoli Rabe and Provolone Cheese, and Oven Baked Seasoned Fries. When everything comes together perfectly, Aaron’s youngest son, Justin, joins him and together they sit down for a Boys Night In.

Monday

10 p.m. — Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network) — Guy explores local favorites in Tennessee, Virginia and Nebraska.

Tuesday

9 p.m. - Food Detectives (Food Network) - Next time you catch a double-dipper, have the health facts behind you.

9:30 p.m. — Road Tasted with the Neelys (Food Network) - The Neelys go to new heights in Denver.

Wednesday

9 p.m. - Throwdown with Bobby Flay (Food Network) - When it comes to classic comfort food, no dish is more iconic than meatloaf. Fourth generation restaurateurs Jack and Rocco Collucci have been honing their comfort food skills at their Collucci Brother’s Diner in Hyannis, Mass. Bobby Flay’s showing up to challenge them to a Meatloaf Throwdown! It’s the hometown heroes versus the gourmet Goliath.

Thursday

10:30 p.m. - Ace of Cakes (Food Network) - Birthdays and doctors are the theme this week. The team has been enlisted by a radiology company to create a cake in the shape of a CT scanner, with a patient inside!