Friday, July 23, 2010

Jean's Pick of the Week for July 23rd

Joe Hardtke

Jean's pick this week displayed the more serious side of what we do best: Talking about the critical international issues on a very human level.

Watch Jean reveal her pick then download the show for free from the Here on Earth archive.



See you next week with encore presentations from our award-winning Inside Islam series.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Stir Fry to the Sky's Edge! - 7/16

Dominique Haller

On today's show, we've talked with Grace Young about her stunning cookbook Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge. Find a recipe for the Stir-Fried Ginger Beef that Grace mentioned during the show:

Stir-Fried Ginger Beef
(serves 2 as a main dish with rice or 4 as a part of a multicourse meal)

12 ounces lean flank steak
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1½ teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon Shao Hsing rice wine or dry sherry
1 teaspoon corn starch
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
¼ cup sliced pickled ginger (about 1 ounce)
4 scallions halved lengthwise and cut into 2-inch sections

1. Cut the beef with the grain into 2-inch-wide strips. Cut each strip across the grain into ¼-inch-thick slices. In a medium bowl combine the beef, ginger, soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of the rice wine, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the oil. In a small bowl combine the oyster sauce and the remaining 1 tablespoon rice wine.

2. Heat a 14-inch-flat-bottomed work or 12-inch skillet over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes whitin 1 to 2 seconds of contact. Swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, carefully add the beef, and spread it evenly in one layer in the wok. Cook undisturbed 1 minute, letting the beef begin to sear. Then, using a metal spatula, stir-fry 30 seconds until the beef is lightly browned but not cooked through. Swirl the oyster sauce mixture into the wok, add the pickled ginger and scallions, and stir-fry 30 seconds to 1 minute or until the beef is just cooked through and the pickled ginger is well distributed.

And enjoy!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Letters from Brussels by Leona Francombe

Dominique Haller

On today's show, we start our series featuring vignettes by Leona Francombe. Leona is a pianist and author who was born in England and grew up in the States. She obtained a BA magna cum laude in Russan and music from Bryn Mawr College, and a Master's from Yale School of Music. She was invited to Brussels in 1987 by the European Cultural Foundation to create an East/West chamber music ensemble. Irresistibly drawn to Europe, she has lived in Brussels, Belgium, ever since. Most of her essays and short stories, as well as her two novels, are inspired by European themes and moods.

Leona's work has appeared in Writer's Forum, Symphony Magazine, The Brussels Bulletin, Humanities Magazine, amongst others. Her first novel, music of the Mists, was a semi-finalist in the 2008 Amazon Novel Competition. (To check out a CD by Leona Francombe, click here.)

Check out Leona's pieces below!

Jean's Pick of the Week for July 9th

Joe Hardtke

Diego in Rome said it best on our Facebook page, "I never believed that NPR would dedicate an entire program to football." Actually, last Wednesday's program was the second time we've talked about the 2010 World Cup. Find out why Jean loved the show in her Pick of the Week video.



You can download the show right now from the Here on Earth archive. We tip our hat to you, Spain.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

World Cup Donations: Get Involved! - 7/7

Dominique Haller

On today's show, we had the great pleasure to talk about the World Cup in South Africa with South African native and Madison resident Raymond Kessel, Professor Emeritus at UW-Madison and co-owner of the Calabash Gift Store in Madison.

With his wife Leah, who runs the Calabash gift store, he initiated the Soccer Gear for Africa Campaign in collaboration with the University Wellness Foundation. The campaign collects soccer gear which will then be sent to South Africa for players of all ages. Fontana Sports already donated 60 cleats, and other people have followed their example by donating 90 soccer balls!

If you too would like to donate soccer gear, you can drop off the items at the following locations:

- Calabash Gift Store, 2608 Monroe Street, Madison
- Keva Sports Center, 8312 Forsythia Street, Middleton
- Stefan's Soccer Store, 6620 Odana Road, Madison

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Raymond Kessel at rkessel@wisc.edu or by calling the Calabash Gift Store at 608 233 2640.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Jean's Pick of the Week for July 2nd

Joe Hardtke

Jean's pick this week seemed to bring out vivid memories, deep thought and strong emotions in our listeners (and in our host as well, it seems. Well, OK, me too.)



You can download Jean's Pick of the Week from the Here on Earth show archive. Check it out...

...and thanks for listening!