Cool Cat Cora

The pressure of being the only female Iron Chef has taught Cat Cora to appreciate the joy of cooking for her two young sons.

By Karen Cicero; Produced by Jackie Plant

Thayer Allyson Gowdy

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Iron Chef, Cat Cora

If you think you're stressed in the kitchen, just imagine how Cat Cora feels. On the hit TV show Iron Chef America, she competes against another top cook to see who can make the most delicious five dishes in an hour or less -- using an ingredient that isn't revealed until the clock starts ticking. "It's really as intense as it looks on TV," says Cora, who won 10 of her last 14 challenges and has another one scheduled on Food Network for February 10. "We're not faking the boiling-over pots or smoking pans for the camera. It's not easy staying cool."

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