Watching Rachael Ray

Starting off in the kitchen again today with a new BLD - breakfast, lunch or dinner - meal: Ham and cheese waffles with honey mustard dipping sauce.

Snackable suppers are the theme of the day since the Writer’s strike is obviously over and our favorite shows are coming back - among them, one of Rachael’s favorites, The Office. Back to dish about the show AND his new movie, Leatherheads, is John Krasinski. He laughs about being seen as ‘hot’ in some circles and said he insisted it was part of his “Strategic” contract negotiation. He said he’d do the movie if they made him People’s Sexiest Man, and joked that it worked for Matt Damon!

He said he was scared because Clooney is a renowned prankster and thought he would hit him with a big zinger during the shoot. He looked under his bed and in his closed every night - he made it through the shoot safely, but he was unprepared for the prank Rachael’s crew pulled on him - silverware in the jello mold - you can watch it here.

No pranks - but he did bet George Clooney $1000 he could beat him in basketball. They talked smack, and he told his friends and they were like “do YOU read vanity fair man?!” And he’s very good, very quick… John bought him a basketball hoop for his Italian Villa. Hardest part was getting it past customs. “It’s a basketball hoop for Clooney!” “They all say that.”

John is very funny, and the interview itself was cute and full of laughter. There was even a little dish about the ’spin-off’ of the office. John jokes that it’ll be called “The Stapler” and then says “I’m leaving the show” and then laughed because Rachael believed him a minute. They know nothing about it, it’s more from the creators of the show, instead of an actual spin-off.

All of us remember the story of Elizabeth Glaser, wife of Paul Michale glaser of Starskey & Hutch who got HIV from a blood transfusion and passed it on to their two children, Ariel and Jake. Without childhood treatments, Ariel lost her life four years after contracting the virus. Elizabeth was determined not to have her son suffer the same fate and co-founded the Pediactric AIDS Foundation, championing the prevention of HIV infections until her death in 1994.

Jake is now 23, and is carrying on his mother’s legacy, focusing his message on high school and college students, kids 25 and under who are going to lead this generation into the future. As important as the donations are, the message needs to get to the younger kids so that they will keep on in the fight. He admires his mother, and her ability to work so hard, accomplish so much, yet come home and live life - do a shot of tequila, jump in the pool with her clothes on. He says it helps him remember the passion and hard work are great and important and he’ll contiue on - but he needs to enjoy life at the same time.

Jake reminds us that despite the advantages that help people like him live with the HIV virus, there’s always more to be done. It’s too easy to get comfortable, and be happy with the treatments - but it’s not just the virus. Social issues, dealing with big questions like having a family, dating, etc. He admits it’s difficult to date having HIV, but he’s learned to get comfortable with letting others know about his condition. “If you’re going to walk away, then it’s your loss.”

If that’s not enough -want to know what’s for dinner? Mozzarella in Carozza with Warm Zucchini Salad.