What to watch: Celebrities cooking while in quarantine

The rampant increase of social distancing regulations has come with a greater public reliance on the world's favorite celebrities and influencers. 

As the U.S. grapples with social distancing, celebrities have been trying to brighten their followers’ days and encourage quarantine productivity by broadcasting cooking lessons from their homes. Every day, the lighthearted videos and creative ideas help their followers stay safe, sane and satisfied during this unprecedented situation. 

Clearly, the world is social distancing. But here are some ways we can continue our obsessions with celebrities and food during this time:

Model, TV personality and food blogger Chrissy Teigen has long been sharing her recipes, but her increased use of her cravings Instagram account has become a saving grace to those who want an activity to do. Teigen posts recipes of comfort foods such as banana bread and scalloped potatoes but also recipes that are catered to our times: namely, “pantry recipes.” 

Chef Massimo Bottura continues his cooking career by giving the public a portal into his kitchen every night at 8 p.m. Eastern time in his segment, “Kitchen Quarantine.” He gathers his whole family in the action -- working to radiate positivity and passion to any dispirited viewers. Check out his in-depth recipes, Q&As and tutorials on his Instagram page, @MassimoBottura. 

A star of Netflix's "Queer Eye" Antoni Porowski has been sharing his knowledge of food through his Instagram Live videos, dubbed “Quar Eye: Cooking Lessons in Quarantine.” His light-hearted videos provide viewers with delicious recipes and much-needed comedic relief. Follow his page @antoni for tutorials on punny recipes such as chicken “parmageddon” and “roasted squash your hands.”

Stand-up comedian Iliza Shlesinger has started her own social media segment dubbed “#Don’tPanicPantry.” She and her husband, chef and food writer Noah Galuten, share their grocery lists and recipes a few days before conducting their lighthearted and hilarious episodes on Facebook and Instagram Live. Some of their simple recipes include spring vegetable pesto, California stir fry and pasta e fagioli. See Shlesinger and Galuten's #CoronaCooking on Instagram accounts @ilizas and @galuten.

If you are in need of sugar, definitely make your way to Milk Bar founder and chef Christina Tosi’s Instagram account, @christinatosi. Recently, she has been sharing shopping lists, recipes and live tutorials for her virtual #BakingClub. Join her every day to make delicious homemade treats such as fudge brownies, meringues and cereal rice krispie treats.

Martha Stewart has started a daily Instagram segment, “Homeschool with Martha,” during which she and the editors of Martha Stewart Living give her followers recipes and lessons on comfort foods for the whole family. In addition, “Homeschool with Martha” has created lists of baking swaps for unavailable ingredients, recipes that use canned beans and recipes that focus on pantry essentials. Find Stewart's tips, recipes and projects on her Instagram account, @MarthaStewart.

With her show on pause, chef Rachael Ray wants her followers to use the power of cooking to #KeepCalmCookOn with her Instagram comfort food cooking sessions. Check out her recipes, such as chicken pot pie and breaded/baked fish on her page, @RachaelRay.

Contact news and features writer Carly Kessler at carly.kessler@richmond.edu.