Issaquah resident, Maureen Francisco, found herself on the “Rachael Ray” show doing something she never imagined she’d receive national exposure for – cooking.

On Jan. 14, Fransicso’s home video was chosen to appear on the show as part of Rach’s Top 10 Recipes of 2010. Francisco prepared the portabella cacciatore, a recipe that appeared on the “Rachael Ray” show in 2010. She added her own variation by including one fresh tomato and a pound of prawns.

“The Northwest is known for its seafood. That’s why I added the prawns,” Francisco said.

Francisco hasn’t always known her way around the kitchen.

“I often eat out nearly every meal. Last month, I invested in some good set of knives to inspire me to start cooking. Here I am on national television preparing a dish from scratch. Now, my friends and family want me to show off my culinary skills and prepare them something,” Francisco said.

Francisco created a home video in December at her Issaquah townhouse with the help of a friend.

“From buying the fresh ingredients to cutting them and actually cooking the dish took about 10 hours because I had to set up each shot.”

Producers found Maureen through RealityWanted.com, a website that focuses on reality show casting calls.

“Show producers asked if I was a Rachael Ray fan, and I said “yes!” They asked me to select a list of 10 recipes, choose one to make, and send in my home video. There was no guarantee that my video would be chosen,” Francisco said.

She only learned that she would appear on the show 48 hours before the segment aired on KIRO at 3 p.m.

“I couldn’t help but smile and post the good news on Facebook,” Francisco said.

This isn’t the first time Francisco has been in the national spotlight. She was the first contestant on CBS’s “Power of Ten,” hosted by Drew Carey and on the FOX Reality Channel’s “Solitary 3.0.”

To see the original portabella cacciatore recipe, go to the Rachael Ray website.