FC Inner Circle

Getting Carded

So here it is, Sunday evening, less than two weeks before Christmas. Never before have I pushed the envelope this far when it comes to ordering cards. (In my defense, I had major surgery in November—don't ask—and I'm only now really starting to feel like myself again.) I thought I was going to be forced to settle for something less than amazing (ugh!) but the elves at Shutterfly, my go-to site for all things photo-related, must be working double- and triple shifts or something, because I just ordered cards and will have them in hand by this Friday the 18th (thanks to 2-day shipping). In other words, despite my slow start, I can get gorgeous personalized cards out in time. There are so many stunning designs, choosing was not easy. In the end, I went with a classy angel motif, the perfect backdrop for a photo of my two angels, Jack and Cam. If you've not gotten around to cards yet, get thee to shutterfly.com right away! /Jonna, articles director

Japanese Hot Pots are hot!

What could be better than a meal that is healthy yet satisfying, comforting yet exotic, quick and easy to prepare yet impressive? One that is also served in one pot that can be brought to the table for family members to gather round and choose whichever morsels they particularly like?

If that sounds like a great way to warm up a winter evening then I have just the cookbook for you: Japanese Hot Pots: Comforting One-Pot Meals by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat. My co-worker Samantha Bednarek and I were lucky enough to attend the book launch party held at the elegant Matsuri restaurant, in downtown New York City’s Maritime Hotel. Authors Salat and Ono cooked up three delicious selections from the book for us to sample.

All the dishes are cooked in one pot and are surprisingly simple. Some do have exotic ingredients which might require a visit to an Asian grocery (or you can order online from Asian Food Grocer), but author Salat says hot pots are incredibly flexible, and substitutions won’t diminish the taste. For example in the chicken hot pot recipe below, Salat suggests these substitutions: “If you can’t find shungiku, you can substitute with spinach. No shiitake? Sub with crimini or white button or any mushroom except for portobello, which would overwhelm it. Instead of negi, scallions work great. Finally, if you can’t find itokonnyaku, you can use harusame or “bean thread noodles,” available in Asian markets, or just skip it."

No special equipment is needed—a dutch oven will keep the meal warm on the table (or you can use a hot plate). The hot pots are typically served with either a bowl of rice or noodles and diners can use chopsticks or forks to select what they want right from the pot.

Need more convincing? Japanese people are among the healthiest on earth so we would do well to follow their lead when it comes to food. If you're nervous about trying something new check out the helpful youtube video of Salat and Ono preparing this chicken hot pot.

HAKATA CHICKEN HOT POT
(Tori Mizutaki)

SERVES 4
4 chicken legs and thighs (2 to 3 pounds), skinned, boned, and cut into bite-size pieces
2 6-inch pieces kombu
1/4 small head green cabbage (about 1/2 pound), cut into bite-size pieces
1 7-ounce package itokonnyaku, well rinsed, strained, and quartered
1/2 package (about 1/2 pound) firm tofu, cut into 4 pieces
1 negi, white part only, sliced on an angle into 2-inch pieces
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms (about 8 pieces),stemmed
3-1/2 ounces shimeji mushrooms, trimmed and pulled apart
1/2 medium carrot, peeled, cut into 2-inch pieces, and thinly sliced lengthwise
2 teaspoons salt
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups shungiku leaves, stemmed
1/2 cup shibori scallions, for garnish
4 teaspoons green yuzu kosho, for accent

1). Fill a large stockpot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Add the chicken. When the water returns to a boil, poach for 1 minute. Remove from the heat, strain
the chicken in a colander, and cool under running water. Set aside.
2). Place the kombu on the bottom of a hot pot and add the cabbage over it. Add the chicken, itokonnyaku, tofu, negi, shiitake and shimeji mushrooms, and carrot on top
of the cabbage, arranging each ingredient in a separate, neat bunch. Sprinkle in the salt and add the chicken stock. Cover the hot pot and bring it to a boil over high heat.
3). Decrease the heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover the pot, add the shungiku leaves, and simmer for 1 minute more.
4). Transfer the hot pot to the dining table. Serve the ingredients together with the broth in small bowls. Garnish with the shibori scallions and accent with the green yuzu kosho.

—Lisa Kelsey, art director

Under the Big Top

Editorial Assistant Krista Meyerhoff and I got a sneak peek of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the new party game for the Nintendo Wii, and experienced a virtual version of the “Greatest Show on Earth.” Its cool features and vivid graphics made us feel like we were actually at the circus. My favorite act was clown bowling—I even came close to knocking down all of the clown-faced pins. With patience and balance, Krista tested out the high wire and successfully made it across. Other mini-games include the human cannonball, juggling, and aerial acrobatics. We earned Barnum  Bucks throughout the demo and made our way to the Big Top for our final performance. I felt like I was a kid again. The only thing missing was cotton candy and popcorn!

—Nicole Reddick, Editorial Intern

Musical Genius

I’m rarely excited for a CD to be released—unless it’s Dave Matthews Band’s newest studio album. But I couldn’t wait for Glee: The Music, Volume 1 to hit shelves on Monday. After two weeks without my favorite new show (thank you, World Series!), I missed the high school drama, witty dialogue and, of course, the catchy tunes I looked forward to every Wednesday night. I immediately uploaded all 17 songs to my iPod and was practically dancing in the street on my way to the subway the next morning. Now I can relive every musical moment from the first nine episodes on-the-go! —Krista Meyerhoff, Editorial Assistant

Sing Along

It seems like my friends and I will use any excuse to do karaoke—everyone’s birthday is celebrated with a microphone. So I immediately loved the Ultimate Karaoke Experience Starter Kit. For $39.95, it comes with two microphones and a USB vocal mixer with echo and volume controls, and is both PC and Mac compatible. The Karaoke Channel Online has more than 5,000 songs, and subscriptions run $9.95 a month, $14.95 for a one-time use for 24 hours or $99.95 for one year. But laughing at your friends belting it out at home is priceless. Check it out at Amazon—hopefully your pals will love it as much as mine did.

And tell us what your signature karaoke song is!
—Celia Shatzman, Associate Editor

"Take Your Kid to a Museum" Day

Thanks to Smithsonian Magazine and their sponsors, you and a guest can get free entrance into one of hundreds of participating museums on Saturday, September 26, 2009. Take a look at the list of participating museums to find one you'd like to visit and then download a pass to bring with you. I'm looking forward to taking my fashionista daughter to see Katonah Museum of Art's "Dress Codes: Clothing as Metaphor."

Lisa Kelsey, art director

Shout for “Glee”

I fell in love with the preview episode of “Glee” when it aired on Fox in May. After months of waiting, the series finally returns tonight and I’m counting down the hours! The tongue-in-cheek comedy follows Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), a high school teacher who tries to revitalize the school’s glee club. “Glee” plays with high school clichés like the overachiever and the popular jock, but it’s never predicable or campy. I was hooked by the club’s amazing rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin,” and I’m looking forward to more show-stopping songs. Tune in tonight at 8 p.m. and let us know what you think.

-Jen Gordon, Health Intern

Coupons For a Cure

The only thing better than saving money is doing it while helping a great cause. The new      Everyday Coupon Book  (Harper Paperbacks, $20) offers more than $500 in discounts on brands like Tyson, Special K, Lean Cuisine and iTunes. A portion of the proceeds benefits   Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which works to fight breast cancer. In addition to the major savings, you’ll find 60+ recipes and healthy eating tips. Pick up a copy at bookstores today!

—Allison Baker, food and health assistant

Have you Eat In?

This labor day people will gather across the country in parks, schools, restaurants, and private homes to share a meal and to raise awareness about the state of the school lunch. These events, called "Eat Ins," are part of the "Time for Lunch" project sponsored by the nonprofit organization Slow Food. Many of the events feature films, guest-speakers, and locally produced food.There are 300 scheduled to take place, at least one in every state, so if you'd like to learn more about what you can do to help the cause check if there's one you can attend nearby. Just don't forget to bring a favorite dish to share!

Must-See Movie

Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved musicals. I used to sit on my grandfather’s couch for an entire day and watch the film version of Carousel followed by The Music Man and finish up with The King and I. So when I moved to New York City seven years ago, I tried to see as many Broadway shows as possible. But with my busy schedule and entry-level salary, it’s impossible for me to catch every one! Last weekend I saw the film version of Passing Strange, a show that made a short appearance on Broadway during the spring 2008 season and won a Tony award for best book. But unlike the classic movie-musicals I watched as a kid, this one follows the actors and musicians on stage during their final performance. The performers enter the aisles of seats in the theater and I got to clap along with the audience—thrilling! I was lucky enough to catch it on the big screen but you can watch it on-demand now. --Krista Meyerhoff, Editorial Assistant