History. Rated R.

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Catherine de' Medici, Huge B Word Feb 25, 2022

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Italian noblewoman who became the Queen of France, Catherine de' Medici and her hubby committed some awful, awful genocides. Nostradamus predicted 3 of her sons would be kings and they were! But she killed a lot of folks. Not cool. Also, the apropos history of Chicken Provençal and Craig's recipe below! Cook yourself up some and sit down and eat with us 'cause when you're here...YOU'RE FAMILY!!
Step 1. Bring your favorite pieces of chicken to room temperature. Set the oven on bake to 375 or convention bake to 350.
Step 2. Lightly spray, brush, or otherwise coat the chicken with olive oil.
Step 3. Sprinkle herbs de Provence and garlic salt on all sides of the chicken.
Step 4. Place the pieces of chicken in a baking pan and add enough dry (white) vermouth to cover the bottom of the baking dish.
Step 5. Bake the chicken for 30 to 40 minutes.
Step 6. Serve the chicken with your favorite vegetables and white wine. Small potatoes can be roasted with the chicken. Asparagus sprayed with olive oil and sprinkled with garlic salt compliments the chicken as would any dry white wine.

Queen E: Eleanor of Aquitaine Feb 18, 2022

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Eleanor of Aquitaine was one tough broad and Queen of France, Queen of England, AND Duchess of Aquitaine. Although her sons saw a lot of problems and caused her a bunch of grief like participating in a little something called The Crusades. But she is one badass lady in History. Plus, we're drinking the French 75! Hear about its history, pour one for yourself, and cheers with us!
The French 75
Combine 1 oz Gin, 1/2 oz Lemon juice, and 2 Dashes Simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into champagne flute, fill with 2 oz Champagne, garnish with a thin lemon slice or lemon peel.

Abraham Lincoln's Bisexuality Feb 11, 2022

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You heard it here folks! (But maybe not the first time.) Abe was totally bi. He also isn't necessarily the great white savior a lot of people make him out to be. Even progressive folks have their problems. So why WASN'T the emancipation proclomation so hot? Well, you'll see. Also, cook yourself up some risotto with us and hear about its history in Italy! (Eat-aly?)
Craig's LEGEN-wait for it-DARY Risotto
Step 1: Place one half cup of arborio rice and one cup of chicken, fish, vegetable or beef broth in a medium sized pot. (The broth you select should complement your main dish.). Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Stir frequently and when all the broth is absorbed add another quarter cup of broth.
Step 2: In the meantime, cover the bottom of a sauce pan with a quarter inch of olive oil, place over a burner, and raise burner to medium heat. Add half a cup of chopped red onion and half a cup of Anaheim chillies (or green pepper). Stir and cook until onions are translucent.
Step 3: Add two chopped garlic cloves, one tablespoon oregano, and half a teaspoon of turmeric to the onion mix and stir in.
Step 4: Transfer the rice to the onion mix and stir in. Add another quarter cup of broth to the mix, continually stirring. If it seems too dry, add more broth.
Step 5: Add two slices of gorgonzola cheese to the rice mixture. (About two inches by one inch, about a quarter inch thick.). Melt the cheese into the rice mix constantly stirring.
Step 6: For white risotto, add two tablespoon of sour cream. OR for red risotto, add two tablespoons of tomato paste. Keep stirring!
Step 7: Taste the mix to see if the rice is done to your satisfaction. If it is too tough or dry, add broth and keep stirring. When it's nice and soft, serve it.

A Brief History of the Ukraine (And Russian Douchebaggery) Feb 08, 2022

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In this special episode, your uncle Craig, a Ukranian himself, brings you the most concise, comprehensive history of the Ukraine and why Russia is consistently a dick to them. It all begins with some Vikings and Barbarians and churches and lots of wars. Plus, make Craig's family recipe for the traditional Ukranian supper, "Halupki!"
The Ukrainian stuffed cabbage, known as Halupshas, Halubtsi, or Halupki, is a peasant dish that is actually healthy and nutritious. Remember read through all the steps before you start to make sure you have all the ingredients. The dish takes about two hours start to finish when using an oven (1 hour baking at 350 degrees in a Dutch oven) but can be done in half that time in a pressure cooker, such as Instant pot at high pressure and natural release.
Step 1. Cook half a cup of rice in one cup of water and set aside.
Step 2. Put a pound of ground lamb in a bowl, add one egg, four chopped cloves of garlic, a tablespoon of chopped or dried rosemary, and half a cup of sour cream. Mix thoroughly and then mix the rice in. You now have your filling.
Step 3. Core then Boil a large cabbage for ten minutes. When it cools, gently remove the leaves.
Step 4. With a knife pair the bulge (lol) in the stem on the back of the leaf. This will make them easier to fold.
Step 5. Take a leaf place it in front of you with the bottom of the leaf, inside up, facing your stomach. Place a heaping tablespoon of the mixture on the center of the leaf. Fold in the sides of the leaf over the mixture, then fold the bottom of the leaf over that rolling it away from you forming a package. Continue making packages until the mixture is used up.
Step 6. Put a cup of water in your Dutch oven or pressure cooker. Add packages in a circular pattern against wall of the pot so they won’t come undone.
Step 7. Pour a can of diced tomatoes over the packages and sprinkle with red wine vinegar. Cover the pot. Cook at 350 for one hour in the Dutch oven or 30 minutes in a pressure cook and then let it set for 12 minutes.
Serve when hungry.
Say it with us..."Cabbage Package."

The Mexican American War or: A History of Taking Sh*t Just 'Cause Feb 04, 2022

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President James K. Polk wanted more shit (read: more land). So he sacrifices some soldiers in Texas to motivate going to war with Mexico to take more of their land. Only they got it from Indigenous Peoples before them. This begins the Mexican-American war and a long history of coming around to saying, "no one is illegal on stolen land." Plus, the Atta Boy cocktail and the history of its bartender inventor Harry Craddock. (Shout out to Carrie Frazier!) Stir one up and drink along with us!
The Atta Boy
2 parts dry gin
1 part dry vermouth
1/4 tsp grenadine
Garnish with an aspired orange rind
Stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass.

Andrew Jackson's Bandwagon and Six Year Rum Campaign Jan 28, 2022

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Andrew Jackson was a big ol' piece a sh*t! And his bid for the President lasted six years. Outside of being responsible for the massacre and mistreatment of indigenous people amongst other awful things, he also...invented the bandwagon? Let's take this guy off the $20 for God's sake.
Also, the history of lasagna! Cook, listen, and eat with us using Craig's recipe below!
CRAIG'S LASAGNA (for four)
Before you start cooking you should read through the recipe to make sure you have all the ingredients prepared and ready to use:
Step 1: Cover the bottom of a sauce pan with olive oil, place over a burner, and raise burner to medium heat. Add half a cup of chopped red onion and half a cup of Anaheim chillies (or green pepper). Stir and cook until onions are translucent.
Step 2: Add three chopped garlic cloves and a pound of Italian sausage to the onion mixture. Mix thoroughly until meat is cooked.
Step 3: Add one can of diced tomatoes and one small can of tomato paste to the meat and onion mix. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of dried oregano and a tablespoon of dried basil. Add salt to taste. Stir in half a cup of water.
Step 4: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and place 6 strips of lasagna noodles in the pot. Cook for eight minutes and then remove the strips from the water with tongues and place the strips on a non-stick surface.
Step 5: Lightly coat a loaf pan with oil and then place a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom.
Step 6: Place two strips of lasagna noodles over the meat sauce, then spoon a layer of meat sauce over the noodles. Cover the meat sauce with a checkerboard of diced mozzarella and half teaspoons of ricotta cheese.
Step 7: Place two strips of lasagna noodles of the cheese, then spoon a layer of meat sauce over the noodles.Cover the meat sauce with a checkerboard of diced mozzarella and half teaspoons of ricotta cheese.
Step 8: Cover the cheese with two strips of lasagna noodles, then cover the noodles with the remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese.
Step 9: Heat your oven to 375 degrees, place the loaf pan in the oven for 45 minutes.
Step 10: Remove the lasagna from the oven, slice and serve.
WILL'S APPLEBEES-KNEES QUESADILLA APPETIZER
Saute jalapenos, garlic, and red onion in 1 tbsp of butter and a dash of salt, pepper, and cumin. Add to a tortilla lined with Kraft American cheese. Top with another tortilla. Fry in 1 tbsp of high smoke point oil until crispy on one side, then flip and fry the other side until crispy and cheese is melted.

Jefferson and Adams, Presidential Sh*t Talking Jan 21, 2022

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We have DNA evidence that Thomas Jefferson slept with Sally Hemings, a biracial enslaved woman that he owned (and fathered the children of). So, John Adams tells his son to spread word of this to the papers to try to do Jefferson dirty. In retaliation, Thomas Jefferson accuses John Adams of procuring prostitues for the Czar of Russia (fake news). How did these former friends and founding fathers become bitter rivals in their race for the Presidency?
Plus, the history of the martini! Want to sip along while you listen? Here's Craig's recipe for our shared cocktail of choice.
Dr. Craig R. Smith's INFAMOUS Gin Martini
In a shaker with ice...a splash of vodka (calm down!), half a cap of dry vermouth, two ounces London dry gin. Shake twenty times. Pour into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with a stuffed olive, lemon twist, or slice of cucumber.

Premiering January 21st...History. Rated R. Jan 12, 2022

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Premiering Friday Januray 21st...History. Rated R.
Let's be honest. History is full of f*cked up sh*t. But what are we gonna do, pretend like it never happened? Have a drink with your host, actor and writer Will Sterling, and his more qualified former Presidential Speechwriting co-host, Dr. Craig Smith. They unpack the silly, salacious, scandalous, and serious stuff in history. If we don't learn from the past, we're doomed to repeat it. So let's at least try to do it with honesty and, wherever possible, a laugh.

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