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The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, January 11, 2008
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    Money Money Money

    The first coins were invented in the seventh century BC. Please Explain looks into the history of money...from the earliest lumps of metal, to modern-day virtual money. Also: two new Broadway productions: Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" and Harold Pinter's "The Homecoming." and Padma Lakshmi on her new cookbook, Tangy Tart Hot and Sweet.

Mel Brooks’ "Young Frankenstein"

In the new Mel Brooks musical "Young Frankenstein," New York surgeon Frederick Frankenstein inherits a castle in Transylvania from his grandfather…and then must decide whether to move there and carry on his grandfather’s mad experiments. Roger Bart and Andrea Martin co-star. It’s now playing at the Hilton Theatre, at 213 West 42nd Street.

“Young Frankenstein” website, including ticket info

Padma Lakshmi: Tangy Tart Hot and Sweet

Actress, model, and food star Padma Lakshmi’s new cookbook is Tangy Tart Hot and Sweet: A World of Recipes for Every Day.

Padma's recipe for BBQ Korean Short Ribs
2 cups light soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon cayenne
2 cloves garlic, minced
1⁄2 teaspoon crushed Sichuan pepper (substitute plain black peppercorns in a pinch)
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons canola oil
1⁄2 cup chopped fresh chives
1⁄2 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 teaspoon dried mango powder
4 pounds beef short ribs

Mix all ingredients except the ribs in a large bowl. Combine well.
Place the ribs in a baking dish and pour the mixture over them.
Slather the ribs with your hands to coat them well and evenly with the sauce.
Marinate for 2 to 3 hours, covered, at room temperature.

Heat the grill. Place the ribs on the grill rack or barbecue when the coals are glowing red hot and white and the flames have died down, and baste with any leftover sauce.
Turn often to cook both sides, until the meat is brown, tender, and caramelized.
Serves 4–6

If you can't see the video click here

Padma Lakshmi’s website

Ian McShane in "The Homecoming"

Harold Pinter's 1967 Tony Award-winning play "The Homecoming" has returned to Broadway. Ian McShane of "Deadwood" stars as a difficult father.

"The Homecoming" website, including ticket info

Please Explain: The History of Money

The first coins were invented in the seventh century BC! Please Explain looks into the history of money...from the earliest lumps of metal, to modern-day virtual money. Numismatist Douglas Mudd is the curator of The American Numismatic Association's Money Museum and author of All the Money in the World.

National Book Award Winners

The Leonard Lopate Show

A number of this year’s National Book Award winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show. Click here to see the list!

Tributes: Jeanne-Claude

The Leonard Lopate Show

Jeanne-Claude created environmental works of art with her husband and fellow-conspirator/collaborator Christo. Together, they wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf in Paris, and created The Gates, with billowy orange drapes, in Central Park. Jeanne-Claude just died at the age of 74. You can hear Leonard Lopate’s last interview with them both, from July 19, 1999.

Please Explain: Eco-Labels

The Leonard Lopate Show

Your broccoli, shampoo, and air conditioner might bear labels declaring them to be organic, cruelty-free, or energy efficient, but what do those labels mean and are they true? Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Project Director for Consumer Reports' GreenerChoices.org and Consumers Union’s Senior Scientist for Policy Initiatives, and Dara O'Rourke, founder and CEO of GoodGuide.com, took a look at what eco-labels indicate, how standards are set, and what they mean for consumers and manufacturers around the world.

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

The Leonard Lopate Show

On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.