Robert Reich News Source Recommendations

Robert Reich, Former U.S. Labor Secretary served under three presidents. He is currently the Carmel P. Friesen Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.

In a time when mainstream media has failed us so miserably, who can we rely on to deliver us truth. And yes, truth does exist even if we are told otherwise...
These are the sources Robert Reich relies on for honest news. I trust him and share in many or his recommendations:

Here are the sources we currently turn to:

The Guardian
Democracy Now
Business Insider
The New Yorker
The American Prospect
Americans for Tax Fairness
The Economic Policy Institute
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
ProPublica
Labor Notes
The Lever
Popular Information
Heather Cox Richardson
robertreich.substack.com/.

Ted Kooser Poetry

Tree by Pam Smilow (detail) mixed media on paper

Pulitzer Prize winning Ted Kooser is a poet, essayist and Presidential Professor Emeritus at The University of Nebraska. He served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 2004-2006. Here are a few of his poems that I like:

JUST NOW
Just now, if I look back down
the cool street of the past, I can seelighting small circles of time
into which someone will step
if I squint, if I try hard enough--
circles smaller and smaller,
leading back to the one faint point
at the start, like a star.
So many of them are empty now,
those circles of roadside and grass.
In one, the moth of some feeling
still flutters, unspoken,
the cold darkness around it enormous.

TREES
Trees are born blind and in need of each other.
With luck they come up in a forest with brothers
and sisters to listen to. Growing up for a tree
is mostly reahing out and out to touch another.
and that's enough of a life. None of them knowwhere they are, but that's OK. It doesn't matter.
They don't ask for much, a good rain now and then,
and what they like most are the sweet smells
of the others, and the warm touch of the light,
and to join the soft singing that goes on and on.

Chicken au Poivre

Courtesy Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist Cyd Raftus McDowell

This recipe comes highly recommended from my dear friend Claudia, college roommate (from way back when) par excellence. I always loved steak au poivre so this variation is a good alternative for those who like to avoid red meat...

CHICKEN AU POIVRE

INGREDIENTS
4 servings
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
Salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
½ cup heavy cream
3 thyme sprigs
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley, plus more for garnishing
Crusty bread or egg noodles (optional), for serving

PREPARATION
 Use a mallet, bottom of a pot or mortar and pestle to crush the peppercorns coarsely. Set aside.

 In a 12-inch cast-iron or other heavy skillet, heat oil over medium. Season chicken with salt. In two batches, sear chicken until light golden all over, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate. Pour off any remaining oil in the skillet.

 Add butter and shallot to the skillet and cook, stirring, until butter is melted and shallot is softened, 1 minute. Add broth, heavy cream, thyme sprigs and cracked peppercorns and mix well, stirring to lift up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan.

 Add chicken (and any accumulated juices), bring to a simmer and cook, turning and basting occasionally with the sauce, until cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees, 6 to 8 minutes.

 Divide chicken among 4 serving plates and discard thyme.

 Add lemon juice to the skillet and stir until sauce is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and stir in parsley.

 Spoon the sauce over the chicken and garnish with more parsley. Serve with crusty bread or egg noodles, if desired. you here.

Great Gifts in our ArtSHOP

Charity of the Week: American Civil Liberties Union

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.