History. Rated R.

Arguably the most talked about and controversial figure in American political history, Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th president of the United States and the only president to resign. But how did he get to become THE Richard Nixon? We're breaking down his road to politics and the presidency and his relationship to...his mother.
Also, we're talking about the history of beef stroganoff! Follow Craig's recipe below to cook yours up and eat with us.
"Ok, podcasters, this week’s recipe is going to be a little bit of a challenge but well worth it: Beef Stroganoff for four.   Remember to check that you have all the ingredients before you begin.
Step 1. The day before, take a pound and a half of your favorite steak and cut it into two inch by 1/2 inch strips. Put the strips a bowl and lightly salt and pepper them. Put the strips in the fridge over night.
Step 2. On the day of the meal, pull bowl of strips out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature, about twenty minutes.
Step 3. In a sauce pan, melt one tablespoon of butter then stir in one tablespoon of olive oil.  Then whisk in one tablespoon of flour. (It’s called a roux.)
Step 4. In a small pot, bring one cup of beef broth to a boil.  Then whisk the broth into the butter flour mix. When it is smooth, whisk in one teaspoon of mustard (Dijon is best). Turn off the heat.
Step 5.  Following directions on the package, in a large pot, boil enough pappardelle pasta to serve four.
Step 6. In a frying pan melt another tablespoon butter and another tablespoon of olive oil. Add two minced cloves of garlic, a tablespoon of chopped onion, and then the steak strips. Brown the strips to your preferred doneness and remove them from pan to a large bowl.
Step 7.  Turn on the heat under the butter/mustard sauce and whisk in three tablespoons of sour cream.  (Takes about 4 minutes at most.).
Step 8. Drain the pasta and pour it over the steak strips. Then pour the butter/mustard/broth sauce over the pasta and steak. Toss the sauce, pasta and steak together and serve."

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Was JFK really as transformative a President as he gets credit for? He's the reason we started sending troops to Vietnam. And after he was assassinated, his VP and successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, took up the work of much of the important change we credit Kennedy of having done today. Learn more about the man who led the nation after John F. Kennedy.
Care to serve up JFK's favorite cocktail while listening along (at brunch time)? Here's Fernard Petiot's original recipe...or so he says.
Cover the bottom of the shaker with four large dashes of salt, two dashes of black pepper, two dashes of cayenne pepper, and a layer of worcestershire sauce; then add a dash of lemon juice and some cracked ice, put in two ounces of vodka and two ounces of thick tomato juice, shake, strain, and pour.

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It's Part 1 of our deep dive into the Presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Learn about his horribly racist father Joe and his brother Bobby, the pairing of JFK and Lyndon Johnson, and how Robert Nixon was transformed into a ghoul of sorts in his first televized debate with Kennedy.
Hungry for pesto? Cook up Craig's recipe and enjoy a little dinner and a pod tonight!
Here are the steps to making the perfect pesto with a few options thrown in at the end. As usual read all the way through before you start to be sure you have all the ingredients.
Step 1 place three cups of tightly packed fresh basil leaves (no stems) into a food processor.
Step 2 add 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts to the food processor.
Step 3 add three chopped garlic cloves to the food processor.
Step 4 add 1/2 cup ground Parmesan cheese to the food processor.
Step 5 add 3/4 cup of olive oil to the food processor.
Step 6 add 1/4 cup white wine or dry vermouth to the food processor.
Step 7 turn the processor to low speed and blend the ingredients into the consistency of a sauce (add more olive oil if needed).  Place the mix in a sauce pan and cook over low heat stirring regularly for ten minutes. At the same time start...
step 8. (Option: to make the mix into cream pesto add 3/4 cup sour cream. You can also add crumbled Italian sausage or chopped chicken to the mix and keep cooking until the sour cream is absorbed and/ or the added meat is cooked. )
Step 9 cook your favorite pasta and drain.
Step 10 serve the pasta in a bowl topped with the pesto sauce.

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Uh oh. Controversy. Arguably one of the most challenging and debated pieces of American politics is the 2nd Amendment. Hear your uncle Craig breakdown it's pretty simple and straightforward history and explain how we've gotten to our modern interpretation of it today.
To read Craig's in depth article "Originalism and the Second Amendment: A Reassessment" click here! It's free to the first 50 people who would like to further educate themselves.
If you like weird ass cocktails and have an affinity for apples, mix up your own Apple Toddy and sip along with us.
Jerry Thomas' Apple Toddy
1 tea-spoonful of fine white sugar dissolved in a little boiling water
1 wine-glass of cider brandy (apple jack) or apple brandy
1/2 of a baked apple
Fill the glass 2/3 full of boiling water, stir, and grate a little nutmeg on top. Serve with a spoon.

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We continue our two parter of the hottest couple to ever grace the romantic movement with Mary's husband, infamous poet and controversial firebrand...Percy Bysshe Shelley. Hear Craig's take on him as he goes in depth on his life and writings, and expands on what a jerk Lord Byron continues to be.
This week's recipe:
Brew some tea to sip you lil Bysshe.

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In a special bonus episode, we're flashing back to an episode of Will's old podcast, "The Motivation Report," for an in depth look at the novel, "The Modern Prometheus or Frankenstein." This episode first aired on October 23rd, 2016. If you haven't listened to our episode going in depth on Mary Shelley, do that first as it provides a lot of additional context.

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Craig and Will switch seats this episode! Will talks about the author of Frankenstein, arguably literature's most significant romantic, sci-fi, and horror contribution, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Many know her name, few know her husband (yet), and even fewer know just how much her life informed her writing. Learn her tragic and moving life story and how she gave birth to one of literature's most enduring monsters. Also, Craig's taking the reigns up top to discuss the history of lamb as a cuisine and gives a recipe for you to cook along to!
From senor Craig: As we learned in the latest podcast, lambs are important in Judeo-Christian history and a favorite food in merry old English. Here’s a great recipe for lamb chops of all kinds. (vegans close your eyes). As usual check through all the steps before you begin to be sure you have all the ingredients.
Step 1. In a large bowl, mix the juice of one lemon, with half a cup of olive oil, three crushed and chopped garlic cloves, a teaspoon of salt, and a tablespoon of chopped rosemary.
Step 2. Coat lamb chops in the marinade and leave over night.
Step 3. Light the barbecue or the broiler in your oven.
Step 4. Using tongs place the chops on the grill or under the broiler for five minutes.
Step 5. Flip the chops and cook for five more minutes. They can be served with your favorite rice or potato recipe.

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Cleopatra. She's so high-ey-ai-ay! High above us. But also, she had a storied history with Rome and its many rulers and fighters and politicians and boys. But MOST importantly...she loved wine. Even bathed in it to keep her beautiful. That's why this week's cocktail recipe is likely the easiest ever...
Cleopatra's Wine Recipe:
Step 1: Buy a botle of wine.
Step 2: Open that bottle of wine.
Step 3: Drink that wine.
Step 4: Finish that bottle bitch.
Step 5: Purchase ten gallons of wine and bathe in it you fucking sluts!!!!

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President Harry Truman was a lot more progressive than most preisdents when it came to equality, and when we needed someone to get us out of the war. Only it involved nuking Japan, which arguably didn't need to happen at all. But equally as important, Craig is cooking up "coq au vin," a French dish with a history he wants to argue about with Will. But you should cook it up and chow down with us. So cook according to Dr. Smith's recipe:
Remember to read through the recipe so you have all the ingredients you need before you start and that you have your timing down:
Step 1. The day before you intend to serve the meal prepare a large bowl of brine by mixing half a cup of salt (Kosher is best), with half a cup of season salt in a quart of water. Then pierce your favorite pieces of chicken with a fork and place them in the brine solution. Refrigerate over night.
Step 2. Remove the chicken from the brine and allow it to reach room temperature (takes about an hour).
Step 3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and/or butter and sear the chicken pieces on all sides. Then set them into a casserole dish, Dutch oven, or pressure cooker.
Step 4. Add half a cup sliced onion, two sliced garlic cloves, tablespoon thyme, one cup diced celery, a bay leaf, and two strips of bacon.
Step 5. This step is optional, but if you ever watched Julia Child’s first cooking episode, you’ll remember that at this juncture she poured a quarter cup of cognac over the chicken and ignited it. (She nearly caught the set on fire, so do this carefully.)
Step 6. Pour one cup red wine over the chicken.
Step. 7. If you are using a casserole dish or a Dutch oven, set your oven to 300 degrees and cook the chicken for two and a half hours.  If you are using a pressure cooker, set it on high pressure for 35 minutes. Let it stand for 15 minutes when the time expires, then release the remaining steam and serve.
The Coq au Vin can now be served with boiled potatoes, rice and/or vegetables. When Julia Child tasted her dish at the end of episode one, she looked directly at the camera and said, “I’ve never tasted better Coq.”  Bien Appetite.

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We skipped a bunch of Presidents before we got to FDR so Craig is making up for it with a lightning round, running down US Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover!
Want to make a mint julep to toast to Teddy? Here's his controversial recipe:
10 to 12 fresh mint leaves "muddled" (until it resembles paste) with a splash of water and a sugar cube
2 to 3 oz rye whiskey
.25 oz brandy
1-2 sprigs fresh mint as a garnish
First fill a bar glass* with the muddled mint, then fill the glass generously with finely crushed ice. Top off with the rye, brandy, and mint garnish.

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