Originally published April 8, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 8, 2007 at 2:01 AM
Off the court, in the kitchen
While you might more easily picture him dishing out assists than macaroni and cheese, All-Star NBA guard Ray Allen of the Sonics is actually...
While you might more easily picture him dishing out assists than macaroni and cheese, All-Star NBA guard Ray Allen of the Sonics is actually right at home in the kitchen. Especially if it involves pancakes.
For Allen, cooking is mostly an offseason activity in the home he shares with his fiancée; their two sons, ages 2 and 8 weeks; and Allen's 14-year-old daughter.
What's the first thing you ever cooked for your fiancée?
Pancakes. She didn't eat breakfast. When I was in college, it was mandatory breakfast every morning. So I try to impose that on people, because it's healthy. Then I came to find out she liked crêpes ... . I just can't make crêpes.
How do you cook your fish?
On the grill. I wrap it in aluminum foil and let it cook in some butter with some mushrooms. Growing up, I ate catfish a lot. The only way I knew it was fried. Now I've started baking it on the grill. I've always eaten it fried, but as I've gotten older, I've started eating healthier. It tastes really good baked.
Are you more of a recipe person or an improviser?
I improvise. As you cook, you taste. We have plenty of spices in the pantry. You know what it needs.
What's your slam-dunk dish?
Baked chicken and rice. That's pretty much game-day eating right there. It doesn't settle too heavy on the stomach.
What one thing do you have to take with you if you're cooking at someone else's house?
Pancake mix. There's only a certain type I can use — Aunt Jemima pancake mix.
![]()
What do you like on your pancakes?
Butter and syrup. Occasionally, I will mix in blueberries. Blueberries are something we've added to our diet, for the antioxidants. So we keep that in the fridge.
Any kitchen disasters?
A long time ago, Shannon [his fiancée] moved in and was making banana bread — you know, you make it when bananas are going bad. But I told her, "I don't like banana bread; don't make it." But then we went out, and when we came back after the game, she still had the bread in the oven. Luckily, we caught it at the smoke stage.
How was the bread?
It was crispy.
Butter or olive oil?
Butter. But I've learned to use olive oil in the last couple of months. It's better for your heart ... . Olive oil has really come along. But you can't put olive oil on pancakes.
— Marc Ramirez, Seattle Times staff reporter
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Washington businesses break ties to industrial-food chain
Taste: The Great Pie Bake-off pits friends and fruit
Nicole Brodeur: A welcome extended to everyone
Restaurant review: Artisanal at The Bravern shows French flair in delicious style
Dining Deals: Gojo: Ethiopian favorites, spiced with love

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helen's and Astoria, Ore.
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Italian prosecutors request life sentence for UW student
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Tugboat sinks in Seattle's waterfront
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Senate vote clears hurdle
234 - Mariners add six to 40-man roster
149 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
119 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
112 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
105 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
101 - Prosecutor requests life in prison for Amanda Knox
86 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
82 - Game thread
68 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
47
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helen's and Astoria, Ore.
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- 175 foster kids in Washington get 'forever families'








