Are You Watching? If You Really Knew Me

MTV's new show If You Really Knew Me really surprised me with its intensity. The show profiles an event called "Challenge Day" at high schools across the country. It is a one day seminar that pulls together students across cliques and creates an environment where students feel safe what is really going on with them.

I think this is an important TV show and MTV is the perfect channel for it. I just can't stomach it. Watching the angst that these teens are going through just tears me up. It is really raw.  I am hoping that other teens watching will feel less alone and realize that every high school student suffers through some type of loneliness and isolation.

The one tiny thing that really bugs me is that the logo uses the Price is Right font. Really? Couldn't find a new font? But other than that - this is a really impressive show.

Hey Good Lookin'! Whatcha Got Cooking? Basmati Risotto

I have always wanted to make risotto, but I cannot find arborio rice at our grocery store so I decided to try it with basmati rice. It turned out with great flavor. The only issue is that the basmati rice is less starchy so it ends up not being as creamy as a "normal" risotto. You could create a more creamier texture by adding cream or milk, but I wanted to flavors of the cheese to shine.

1 cup basmati rice
4 cups stock - chicken or vegetable
4 Tbsp oil - I used hazelnut oil, but most people would use olive oil
2 shallots or half an onion diced
1 clove garlic diced
3/4 cup grated cheese - I used a mixture of Parmesan and Dutch goat cheese
Pepper to taste

To start, put 4 cups of stock on to simmer.

Add the 4 tbsp oil to a pan on medium to medium high heat. When the oil is hot, add the shallots and garlic. Saute for about 2-3 minutes or until the shallots/onions are translucent. Add the rice. Stir the rice around to make sure all the grains are coated with oil.

Begin to add the stock about 1/2 cup at a time. Stir. As the stock boils down, continue to add more stock. It took me about 20 minutes. Taste the rice. It should be the consistency you like. Add the cheese and stir in to mix. Taste again and add pepper to taste. And there you go.

Bon apetit!

Hot Topic: State funds passed

Yesterday the the House passed  a bill to provide $26.1 billion dollars in state aid to fund education and healthcare and President Obama immediately signed it. This aid will prevent layoffs of many teachers and state employees.

State governments have been under extreme fiscal pressures as the property tax base and sales tax base have been erroded by the recession. Budgetary cutbacks on the state level generally mean that our most vulnerable citizens - the elderly, disabled and children - no longer have access to vital services like health care, rehabilitiation and education.

I am glad to see that Congress and the Administration have taken this issue seriously and have acted swiftly even in the face of opposition by Republicans. I am not clear why Republicans are so opposed to this particular bailout. I understand the criticism of too much government spending and the fear of growth in government. However, a healthy, educated, productive workforce is the cornerstone of a free market economy. In fact, when we go into "developing" nations, the first investments are transportation, education and health care because until society is "productive" there will be no ability for capitalists to make money.

I opposed the auto and bank bailouts, but I strongly support this package because the money is earmarked for specific, measurable programs, it will prevent layoffs, and the programs it supports have a multipler effect in the communities. What do you think?

Ask Angie: Cheaters: Tell or keep silent?

Bethenny Frankel recently tweeted: "a stranger tells you they have a boyfriend & you know that guy(acquaintance) is cheating,do you tell them?"

I give that a resounding NO! This person is a stranger. How do you know that she is even telling the truth that he is her boyfriend? Also, how can you be sure that the boyfriend is really cheating? Did you witness him having sex or are you relying on gossip? I think it is clearly best just to stay out of this. The gossip mill usually claims a few victims every day and you don't want to be an accomplice.

What do you think? Out an alleged cheater?

Whatcha Reading: Somewhere Inside

Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home tells the story of Laura Ling's captivity in North Korea. Laura is a journalist who made headlines when she was captured for crossing the border into North Korea. She and her producer were the first Americans to go on trial in North Korea.

The format of the book is very interesting because it alternates from Lisa's perspective in the States back to Laura's experience in prison. In the beginning this format is a little clunky, but then both ladies hit their stride. They do a good job using reflections and letters to tell the story of Laura's life to this point.

I enjoyed reading the book. It followed the theme of Orange is the New Black (reviewed earlier) that compassion finds its way into the most difficult circumstances.  The herculean effort it took to get Laura back to the States was only possible to the political connections of Lisa and Laura's boss - Al Gore. While Laura's story is a triumph, I worry about those journalists and travelers that find themselves in similar situations without the necessary celebrity to secure freedom. This story is also a good reminder that the freedoms we enjoy here are not found elsewhere.

Brewing Report: Smuttynose Brewing Company

Today's brewing report takes us to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We are kicking ourselves that we didn't visit Smuttynose Brewing Company where we were in town. Luckily, the beers are distributed along the East Coast so we can sample them here at home. So here we go.

First we have to say, we absolutely love the labels on these beers. They are so fun and this one label is our favorite:

Smuttynose IPA -  This is a drinkable IPA. It has the sharp hop notes you would expect, but also offeres a smooth and refreshing finish.

Shoals Pale Ae - The pale ale is well blended and smooth with slight floral and fruity notes.

Robust Porter   - This lovely porter has a nice mouth feel, full-bodied flavor with a slight bitter finish.

Old Dog Brown -  This is a solid brown ale. It has good full flavor with a slight bitter finish. We liked the Downtown brown slightly better,  but this is a good choice.

Cheers!

At Home: Arena Football

My husband and I decided to check out Arena Football this year and we got season tickets to the local team. Last night was the first game of the playoffs. We have really enjoyed going to all the games. Here's a breakdown of the games:

The game begins with a big whoop-de-doo. A long line of motorcycles parade through the arena leaving a noxious smell of gasoline behind. We were a little shocked the first time they roared through, but now we have come to enjoy it.

We have the star spangled banner.

Then the play begins. Note the field is only 50 yards long. This leads to a lot of offense and not a whole lot of defense. Before this season, the league didn't allow having dedicated defensive players. Everyone had to play both offense and defense. Now, there is dedicated defense and it makes for very exciting games because an inception is very easy to run back.  Also note the side walls. Nothing is out of bounds except if you are over the wall.

The field goal is very small. It's the small rectangle in the field. The other two large rectangles are used at kickoff. Kickers can bounce the ball off the screens. This delays the catch - allowing the defensive line to reach the catcher.

And this leads to very high scores.