You could almost hear computer keyboards across North America simultaneously clicking in search of www.canola-council.org after the world's best known domestic diva touted the Canola Council's website as a trustworthy source of information on canola oil, live on the air on January 17.
Erin McKenna, owner of Babycakes bakery in NYC, was demonstrating two recipes on Martha Stewart Live, Stewart's television show. McKenna uses canola oil in both featured recipes and a number of others. However, neither Stewart nor McKenna knew anything about canola oil. Stewart instructed her staff to find the answer, and after running into the myths about canola on www.cooking.com, they found the truth on the Canola Council's website.
"Here is why I always tell everybody you can't trust the first place you go to on the Internet," said Stewart. Then she moved to her notes from the Canola Council site. "It says canola is the healthiest oil of all commonly used cooking oils. It is not rapeseed oil," she explained. "So I think I would trust the Canola Council of Canada, wouldn't you?"
Stewart still has a little to learn about canola oil - she referred to the canola "bean" at one point - but she did clarify most of the misinformation. Hopefully her staff will also add the correct information to her own website.
Featured recipes using canola oil:
Brownies - Recipe from Babycakes NYC
Cinnamon Toasties - Recipe from Babycakes NYC
The Martha Stewart Show
Babycakes NYC