Latest news with #O'Connell
Business Insider
12 hours ago
- Health
- Business Insider
3 kitchen staples you can prepare from scratch in under 10 minutes, by a chef who never eats ultra-processed foods
Americans eat a lot of ultra-processed foods, but they've been linked to many health problems. Part of their appeal is convenience, but you can make some dietary staples from scratch in minutes. A chef who never eats UPFs shared easy recipes for bread, pesto, and mayo. You've probably heard that eating lots of ultra-processed foods isn't great for your health. They've been linked to a host of chronic diseases, but with a busy schedule, it can be hard to find the time to make a home-cooked meal to replace convenient foods like protein bars or a store-bought burrito. Rory O'Connell, a chef and cofounder of the prestigious Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland, has a remedy: dietary staples you can make from scratch in around 10 minutes, which can help you eat fewer UPFs overall. O'Connell spends most of his time at the cooking school, which sits on a 100-acre organic farm complete with a dairy, chicken coop, bakery, and fermentation shed. He and his colleagues are in a unique position, being in such proximity to fresh ingredients and working a job dedicated to making delicious food. The salad they serve is made of leaves freshly picked from their fields, and the yogurt they eat for breakfast, made from their own cows' milk, is fermented on-site. Most people who live and work in cities don't have the opportunity or time to eat this way, but there are some simple recipes O'Connell shared that could help. Irish soda bread "Knowing how to make a simple bread is a phenomenally useful skill," O'Connell told Business Insider. And soda bread, an Irish staple, is quick to make and doesn't require any yeast. Ingredients: 8 oz/ 2 cups plain white flour 8 oz/ 2 cups brown wholemeal flour 2 oz kibbled wheat 2 to 3 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 rounded teaspoon dark soft brown sugar 1 rounded teaspoon salt 1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, finely sieved ½ oz butter 1 small egg 16 fl oz/ 2 cups buttermilk Method: Preheat the oven to 400°F Grease one 5 in x 8 in loaf tin In a large, wide bowl, mix the flours, kibbled wheat, sesame seeds, brown sugar, salt, and bicarbonate of soda together, then rub in the butter. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Break the egg into the bottom of your measuring jug and add the buttermilk to the 17 fl oz line, with the egg forming part of your total liquid measurement. Whisk to combine, then pour most of this mixture into the dry ingredients. Using one hand, with the fingers open and stiff, mix in a full circle, drawing in the flour from the sides of the bowl, adding more milk and egg mixture if necessary. Avoid over-mixing to keep the dough light and airy — the mixture should be soft and almost pourable. Transfer to a well-oiled bread tin, then sprinkle the top with the extra kibbled wheat and sesame seeds. Bake in the fully preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes. Remove the tin 10 to 15 minutes before the end of cooking time and return to the oven to continue baking. Tap the base of the bread to check it's cooked — it should sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack. Pesto You can make pesto in minutes, and it keeps for weeks covered with a layer of olive oil in a jar in the fridge, O'Connell said. It also freezes well, but for best results, don't add the Parmesan cheese until it has defrosted. "If you can make pesto, you have a sauce for chicken, fish, lamb, beans. You can have it just on toast with a poached egg," he said. Typically, pesto is made with basil and pine nuts, but you can substitute these for lots of different things. "There's always going to be something in season at any time of the year that you can use in that recipe," he said. Variations he likes include parsley, wild garlic, watercress, or kale pesto. Cashews and almonds are both great alternatives to pine nuts, he said. Makes about 2 x 7 fl oz jars Ingredients: 4 oz fresh basil or watercress ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 oz cashews or fresh pine nuts, chopped 2 large garlic cloves, crushed 2 oz finely grated Parmesan cheese Sea salt, to taste Method: Whizz the basil (or watercress) with the olive oil, chopped cashews or pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor or pound in a pestle and mortar. Remove to a bowl and fold in the Parmesan cheese. Season to taste. Mayonnaise Mayonnaise is another versatile sauce that takes under five minutes to make at home. "So useful. And it keeps in your fridge for up to three weeks," O'Connell said. "If you can make a bit of bread, hard boiled eggs, and a blob of mayonnaise, it's delicious and nutritious," he said. You only need a handful of ingredients that you've probably already got in your kitchen. Ingredients: 2 egg yolks, preferably free range 1/4 teaspoon salt A pinch of English mustard or 1/4 teaspoon French mustard 1 dessertspoon white wine vinegar 225ml oil (sunflower or olive oil or a mixture) - we use 175ml sunflower oil and 50ml oil Method: Put the egg yolks into a bowl with the salt, mustard, and the white wine vinegar. Put the oil into a measuring jug. Take a whisk in one hand and the oil in the other and drip the oil onto the egg yolks, drop by drop, whisking at the same time to create an emulsion. Within a minute, you will notice that the mixture is beginning to thicken. When this happens, you can add the oil a little faster, but don't get too complacent or it will suddenly curdle (split) because the egg yolks can only absorb the oil at a certain pace. Taste and add a little more seasoning and vinegar if necessary.
Axios
a day ago
- Politics
- Axios
Pressure mounts in Nashville over immigration crackdown
Nashville is facing mounting pressure from the Trump administration and congressional Republicans as part of the continuing fallout from an immigration crackdown that resulted in nearly 200 arrests. Two House committees launched investigations into Mayor Freddie O'Connell's office following the May operation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security included Nashville on a new list of "sanctuary jurisdictions" that it accused of "deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities." Why it matters: The White House has said the pushback in Nashville could make the city a target for larger immigration operations. "We'll flood the zone," Trump border czar Tom Homan said repeatedly while discussing the matter on Fox News. Catch up quick: ICE and DHS officers worked with Tennessee Highway Patrol to conduct scores of traffic stops in south Nashville, which is home to many Hispanic residents, earlier this month. MNPD was not involved. In response to the operations, O'Connell updated a preexisting executive order to require Metro agencies to report communications with federal immigration officials, so that Metro would know in advance of future ICE activity. U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles then sent a letter to the House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees urging them to investigate O'Connell over the executive order. What he's saying: O'Connell told reporters on Friday that his focus is on "getting violent criminals off the streets and protecting innocent Nashvillians." O'Connell reiterated that Nashville is not a sanctuary city. (Tennessee outlawed sanctuary cities years ago and state lawmakers made it illegal for elected officials to support so-called sanctuary policies earlier this year.) "I'm puzzled by what criteria they used to include Nashville" on the list of "sanctuary jurisdictions," he said. O'Connell also denied allegations that the city was working in any way to obstruct federal immigration enforcement. He said the city was focused instead on "transparency."
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Kevin O'Connell wins the PFWA's Horrigan Award for his professionalism with the media
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell is the winner of the 2025 Horrigan Award, the Pro Football Writers of America announced Friday. The Horrigan Award is given to the league or club official for his or her qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job. O'Connell was recognized for his openness and helpfulness with reporters. He routinely gives one-on-one interviews, meets regularly with beat writers for off-the-record discussions, provides thoughtful explanations for his decisions after games, and he creates an environment where both players and assistant coaches feel free to tell their stories. O'Connell, the 53rd Horrigan Award winner, is the first member of the Vikings franchise to receive the award. He is the first head coach to win the Horrigan since Ron Rivera with the Commanders in 2023. Other 2025 nominees for the Horrigan Award were Rams president Kevin Demoff, 49ers General Manager John Lynch, NFL VP of communications Brian McCarthy and NFL EVP of football operations Troy Vincent. Jack Horrigan was a sportswriter for UPI and the Buffalo Evening News, public relations director for the American Football League (1963-66) and vice president of public relations for the Buffalo Bills (1966-73). Joe Horrigan is in his 46th year with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame's current senior advisor was executive director (2017-19), executive vice president of museums, selection process and chief communications officer (2014-17) and vice president, communications and exhibits (1996-2014).
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Congressional committees announce investigation into Nashville Mayor
Two Congressional committees announced a federal investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell on May 30, accusing the mayor of obstructing a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in the wake of a major immigration operation in early May. The Committee on Homeland Security—chaired by U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee—and the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives, sent a letter demanding investigative materials from the mayor as part of a federal effort to conduct 'oversight of state and local jurisdictions that endanger American communities through efforts aimed at thwarting the work of federal immigration officials.' The move comes after weeks of public pressure by U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, who held a press conference on Memorial Day weekend calling for the investigation. 'While the state of Tennessee has outlawed sanctuary policies, recent actions from your office threaten to chill immigration enforcement in the City of Nashville and Davidson County,' the letter reads. 'Accordingly, we write to request information about how your recent actions, including a directive to Nashville and Davidson County employees to disclose their communications with federal immigration officials, affects the robust enforcement of immigration law.' Until May 30, O'Connell has declined to comment on Ogles' calls for a congressional investigation. At the mayor's weekly news conference with Nashville reporters, O'Connell said his office intended to 'appropriately respond' to the requests listed in the letter from members of Congress. He also said he's not concerned about the investigation finding any wrongdoing. 'I am not particularly concerned,' O'Connell said. 'We're going to, again, respond appropriately to all inquiries. We have been guided by a full understanding of state and federal law and will continue to be.' More: What to know about how Mayor O'Connell responded to Nashville ICE operation Nashville is weeks removed from the weeklong immigration enforcement operation, during which ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol made 468 traffic stops and arrested nearly 200 immigrants. The ICE sweeps were concentrated in south Nashville, in neighborhoods around Nolensville Pike and Harding Place with a large population of immigrants and Latino residents. Friday's letter condemns O'Connell's public statements of opposition to the ICE operation, as well as a community charity fund that, while announced by O'Connell at a May 5 press conference, is run by a community nonprofit and does not utilize taxpayer funds. More: D.C. Republicans pile on Nashville mayor over ICE response — and imply more action in city It also expresses 'concern' about a previously standing executive order updated by O'Connell requiring city departments to report communications with federal immigration officials to the mayor's office. The order, titled Executive Order 30, isn't new — in fact, it's well over a year old, having first been issued in January 2024. But it's reemerged in the wake of the ICE operation because O'Connell amended it to allow for a shorter timeline for reporting. Regardless, the order is a key focus in the investigation. 'This Executive Order could have a chilling effect on the ability of local law enforcement to communicate freely and candidly with federal immigration employees,' the letter states, adding that there is 'real potential that your Executive Order could have the effect of diminishing ICE enforcement operations.' The letter lists three key requests for the city, all concerning documents created between May 1 and the receiving of the letter: All documents and communications referring or relating to the amendment of Executive Order 30 All documents and communications referring or relating to ICE enforcement actions in the City of Nashville or Davidson County All documents and communications 'between or among Metro employees and non-Metro employees, including but not limited to non-governmental organizations, referring or relating to the arrest of criminal aliens in the City of Nashville and Davidson County' The information is tagged with a June 13 deadline, and is signed by Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement Tom McClintock, R-California, Ogles and Green. 'Today, with the full support of Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, we're taking action," said Ogles, in a press release regarding the investigation. "If Mayor O'Connell wants to spy on federal agents doing their job, then Congress is going to investigate him for obstruction.' The letter came a day after the city of Nashville was added to a federal list titled 'Sanctuary Jurisdictions Defying Federal Immigration Law,' which was posted on the Department of Homeland Security's website. There are only two 'sanctuary jurisdictions' listed in Tennessee — Nashville and Shelby County. DHS says each jurisdiction will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with federal statutes. It's not immediately clear why Nashville — or any jurisdiction in Tennessee — is included on the list, given that neither has self-identified as a sanctuary city. In Tennessee, sanctuary cities have been banned for about seven years, and another state law passed earlier this year criminalizes local officials who support sanctuary policies for immigrants. O'Connell also commented on Nashville's appearance on the list at his May 30 news conference. He passed out copies of the state law to reporters and said Nashville complies with 'every single component' of the law and, by definition, is not a sanctuary city. O'Connell added that Nashville does not have — and has never had — a policy violating the state law. He said the city has asserted over the past several weeks that it has no legal authority related to immigration enforcement and does not impede law enforcement action. 'I'm puzzled about the criteria they used to include Nashville (on the list),' O'Connell said. 'We are not and never have been a sanctuary city. If you look at the state law that defines a sanctuary city policy there are six factors, and we do not and never have had a policy that violates any of those factors. I'd be interested to learn what criteria they're using.' The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@ by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him at ahornbostel@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Congressional committees announce investigation into O'Connell, city
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SCOOP: Top congressional committees launch probe into Nashville mayor accused of blocking ICE
FIRST ON FOX: Two powerful committees in the House of Representatives are opening an investigation into another Democratic official accused of blocking federal immigration authorities. House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., is leading a probe into Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell alongside Nashville-area Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn, Fox News Digital learned Friday. Ogles had been petitioning leaders for weeks to look into O'Connell after the Democratic leader publicly denounced Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in his city and signed an executive order aimed at tracking ICE movements in the area. He sent a letter earlier this month accusing O'Connell of "obstructing federal law enforcement." The probe is being supported by the House Judiciary Committee, which is led by Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., chair of the subcommittee for immigration enforcement. Scoop: House Gop Memo Highlights Republican Wins In Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' "The Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Homeland Security of the U.S. House of Representatives are conducting oversight of state and local jurisdictions that endanger American communities through efforts aimed at thwarting the work of federal immigration officials," the four leaders wrote in a letter to O'Connell. Read On The Fox News App "While the state of Tennessee has outlawed sanctuary policies, recent actions from your office threaten to chill immigration enforcement in the City of Nashville and Davidson County. Accordingly, we write to request information about how your recent actions, including a directive to Nashville and Davidson County employees to disclose their communications with federal immigration officials, affects the robust enforcement of immigration law." The lawmakers said O'Connell's executive order, which mandated that government employees report interactions with federal immigration authorities, "could have a chilling effect on the ability of local law enforcement to communicate freely and candidly with federal immigration employees." "In fact, your chief lawyer recently admitted that it was an 'open question' whether an individual could legally 'announce in advance that there's an impending enforcement activity,'" they wrote. Mike Johnson, Donald Trump Get 'Big, Beautiful' Win As Budget Passes House "This statement, when viewed in context of your order requiring all Metro law-enforcement officers to report about communications with ICE personnel, raises the prospect that Metro employees may use nonpublic information to warn criminal aliens of planned ICE enforcement operations. In other words, there is the real potential that your Executive Order could have the effect of diminishing ICE enforcement operations." It comes after ICE agents working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested nearly 200 people the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said were illegal immigrants – many of them criminals with gang affiliations or other sordid pasts. The DHS news release targeted O'Connell by name over comments he made in early May. "What's clear today is that people who do not share our values of safety and community have the authority to cause deep community harm." Mccaul Touts Money In Trump Tax Bill To Pay Texas Back For Fighting Biden Border Policies After the arrests, O'Connell signed an executive order aimed at tracking peoples' interactions with federal immigration authorities, according to WSMV4. He said of ICE's work in his city, "It's important for us to get this right, and it's very frustrating to see a failure in the process." O'Connell also helped launch the Nashville government's nonprofit, "The Belonging Fund," to help illegal immigrants pay for urgent care needs. The fund's website states that "donations to the fund are made possible solely by individual donors and private organizations - no government dollars are included. That means no taxpayer dollars are being used in the administration or distribution of this fund." Republicans, however, have questioned whether that is true. "The recipients of these funds are untraceable, and the purpose seems crystal clear: help illegal foreigners evade the law," Ogles told Fox News Digital. "I refuse to sit back while our communities are overrun — while our neighborhoods are destroyed and our daughters are assaulted. And I doubly refuse to stay silent while blue city mayors aid and abet this invasion." O'Connell is now one of several Democratic leaders locked in an immigration fight with the Trump administration. House Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., was charged by the Justice Department with assaulting an officer after she and two other House Democrats forced their way into a Newark ICE detention center, charges McIver has dismissed as political. Fox News Digital reached out to the Nashville mayor's office for comment on the article source: SCOOP: Top congressional committees launch probe into Nashville mayor accused of blocking ICE
