good morning. $5 gas, prices on the rise at a record pace with no end in sight, threatening to smash the all-time high by memorial day. this morning, the toll that would take on the fragile economy. fanning the flames. rick santorum takes a new shot ott president obama's faith by mentioning his controversial former pastor, reverend jeremiah wright with one week to go before the primary races in michigan and arizona. and he's a college freshman with a clever way to distract basketball players. he's popping up at games across the country. guess where he is

the country. guess where he is tuesday, february 21, 2012. captions paid for by nbc-univerersal television and welcome to "today" on this tuesday morning. i'm ann curry. >> i'm david gregory in for matt. i saw the face at the knicks game last night. his mother must be so proud. look at that face! >> look him there. >> this is what i said, this is the mark he makes. we'll talk to him later. you mentioned gas prices. they have never been this high this early. it has people worried. >> the new national average is $3.57 a gallon, up six cents in a week, 40 cents higher than we paid a year ago. it could be a bargain compared to the prices we are hearing

predicted in the coming months. we'll get more on that. there is also breaking news overnight because europe agreed to a second massive bailout to save greece from bankruptcy. so the question is now what will this have as an impact on the u.s. economy. we'll look at it coming. >> we'll have new details on the trial of a man accused of murdering his wife during a honeymoon diving trip in australia. what the victim's best friend told the court about a disturbing conversation she had with the suspect at his wife's wake. and a woman who thought she met the man of her dreams on an online dating site. they had a baby but instead of building a life together kristy gaffne said the man who was already married tricked her into signing away her legal rights so he and his wife could adopt the child. first, let us begin with skyrocketing gas prices. miguel almaguer has more from los angeles on the story.

good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the price for premium has already topped $5 a gallon. while this station may not be the norm it could be an indication of what's to come this summer. across california, sticker shot at the pump. >> $96.92. >> reporter: the golden state putting people in the red. $4.03 a gallon a bargain compared to this premium station where premium tops $5. >> it's going to hurt. >> reporter: gas prices have never been so high early in the year. >> it impacts everything. it impacts how much cheerios costs, how much you pay for the 7-11 hot dog. >> reporter: california isn't the only state being drained at the pump. new york is closing in on $4 a gallon. the midwest hovering near $3.50. washington state, $3.64.

wyoming is the cheapest at $3.03 while hawaii is the most expensive at $4.23. experts say the national average could top $4.25. by summer some cities will see $5 a gallon. three reasons are driving the skyrocketing price for gas. >> the perfect storm, the juggernaut we are facing in rising gas prices is, one, the geopolitical issues in iran and elsewhere. the second would be investors and speculators who are clearly trying to buy oil and own it. third would be a number of refinery closings. >> reporter: adding to the problems, a fire at a washington state refinery friday. a key west coast supplier that drove up prices overnight. fed ex driver jermaine stevenson rethinking how to get to work. >> i'll probably ride my bike to work. >> reporter: meantime in san diego, gas station attendants have been assaulted verbally and

physically because of the pinch at the pump. >> somebody was throwing cans of soda at the person, you know, changing the sign. >> reporter: gas prices taking a toll now and predicted to soar to record highs come summer. rising gas prices translate well beyond the pump. you will pay more for food because of shipping costs and an airline ticket. it is estimated americans spend 8.5% of the budget on gas alone. >> thank you. jim krcramer is host of "mad money." >> good morning. >> is there anything to avoid $5 by memorial day? >> only if iran stops this nuclear program. >> iran accounts for 2.5% of the worl's oil exports. why is it having such a big impact on the u.s. price of gas. >> they are a gigantic exporter to europe.

they take away from ours. there is not a lot of excess supply now. >> what about the options for the administration? republicans are starting to make gas prices a campaign issue. one suggestion made by a former adviser to president obama said what about compensating people when gas prices go up? he had a proposal for that. could it help? >> congress is in no mood to give that kind of tax break after all the wrangling. the only thing i can see is a radical use of natural gas for surface fuel. the president endorsed it in january. it's got to be for trucks. they are the big users of imported oil. >> barring that impact on the economy with the rising gas prices. >> we are probably going to $5 if the trajectory continues for the price of oil. you can figure every $10 increase in the barrel translates to 25 cents at the pump. >> we have to look at what happened overnight regarding

greece. europe finally agreed to a new bailout. >> right. >> this to prevent bankruptcy. could it have a positive impact for the u.s. economy? >> yes. not as positive as the negative of higher gasoline prices but this helps the stock market. the worries of europe are going away. >> meantime you mentioned the stock market. on friday it was a big day for people who are investors. is this good only for rich people or is this good for all americans? >> 90 million households own stock either through iras or 401(k)s. any increase helps consumer spending. >> did investors who are rich win or did everyone win? >> i think if you're saving and using any part of the stock market you're a winner. >> jim, thank you for your perspective. >> thank you. >> it's a pleasure to talk to you. catch jim on "mad money" weeknights at 6:00 and 11:00 eastern time on cnbc. now here's david. >> the republican primary races

in michigan and arizona are a week away now and the contests could not be tighter between mitt romney and rick santorum. nbc's peter alexander is on the campaign trail again. this time in shelby township, michigan. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. many political insiders agree the next seven days may be the most critical week in mitt romney's political career. he's back in michigan trying to secure votes in the state where he was born and raised. rick santorum is already en route to arizona. for santorum, the stronger poll numbers mean more money and more scrutiny. >> wow. this is a big week coming up. >> reporter: just a week before the next crucial show down in michigan, rick santorum isn't backing down from what some viewed as a shot at the president's faith this weekend. >> it's about some phony ideal, some phony theology. >> reporter: hlo reporter: he m the flames when he insisted he

was not questioning his christianity. >> he went to reverend wright's church for 20 years. you can question what kind of theology reverend wright has, but it's a christian church. he's a christian. >> no, no. not god bless america! god damn america! >> reporter: he was the chicago pastor forced to resign after controversial sermons were made public during the 2008 campaign. santorum maintains comments about the president's so-called phony theology were aimed at what he calls mr. obama's radical environment allism. >> i will question what he's doing to drive up the cost of energy, destroy this economy and do so at the behest of a bunch of radical environmentalists who do want to drive up the cost of energy. >> reporter: on the campaign trail santorum repeated the sharp critique of the president's health care over haul. the father of a 3-year-old child with a genetic disorder he

argued prenatal testing promotes abortion including, he says, 90% of children with the same disorder as his daughter. >> we need a health care system that respects the dignity of every human life in america. >> reporter: facing a must win in michigan, mitt romney has shied away from engaging on hot button social issues, instead deriding rick santorum as a consummate politician. >> senator santorum calls himself a budget hawk. after he's been there a while he says he's no longer a budget hawk. i am a budget hawk. i don't want to spend more money than we take in. >> reporter: and monday on a radio show in michigan donald trump argued nominating santorum could cost republicans the race this fall. >> there is no gift, no christmas gift that could be given better than rick santorum for the democrats. they are just salivating at

that. i don't think they believe it is going to happen, but, boy, would they like it to happen because that would be an easy election. >> reporter: campaigns are required to reveal how much money they have raised each month. mitt romney raising $6.5 million but spending nearly three times that much, almost $19 million showing how critical the romney campaign views wins leading up to super tuesday. >> michigan will be important. thank you very much. >> now a check of the top stories. we have natalie morales at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning, everyone. thousands of angry afghans took to the streets of kabul this morning after hearing reports that korans and other islamic texts were improperly disposed of at bagram airfield. the commander of international troops ordered an investigation into the incident he called unintentional in which about 30

korans belonging to former detainees of the base were burned or thrown in the trash. iran is threatening preemptive strikes against perceived enemies if it feels its national interests are put in jeopardy. a news agency quoted the deputy head of armed forces as taking the newly aggressive stance as tehran appears to be placing limits on a visiting team of u.n. nuclear officials. the country's mid section is cleaning up after strong storms on monday. gusts nearly 60 miles an hour plowed through lubbock, texas, knocking 18-wheeler trucks off the road, as you see. in kansas, severe thunderstorms dumped hail and heavy rain. retired astronaut mark kelly is writing a children's book about an intr treintrepid mouse goes to space. it is inspired by mistaken to space on kelly's shuttle

mission. he collaborated on his wife about a memoir about her recovery following the shooting. a prehistoric flower is blooming again thanks to an arctic ground squirrel who buried the flower 230,000 years ago in the frozen tundra. dna experts are verifying the ice age plant. if it checks out it would be the oldest on record to be cloned and grown from ancient tissue. sounds like "jurassic park." everyone's fake anchorman returned to the news desk last night. stephen colbert explained his absence during monday night's show. >> as the hub around which the republic turns, i can understand why the machinery of this great nation ground to a halt last week when you were denied this. evidently having 11 children

makes you tough as nails. confidential to a lovely lady. >> oh! that tough as nails lovely lady is colbert's 91-year-old mother who was ailing last week. he left the report for two nights to take care of her, as a good son should. now back to ann and david. he's the baby of 11 children, by the way. >> isn't that something? >> yeah! >> having 11 children would make you tough as nails. >> that's extraordinary. >> sure thing. >> meantime, all dressed in brown, mr. roker is here with a check of the weather. >> our best wishes to the colbert mother. out west we have a big powerful storm and a lot of moisture streaming toward the pacific northwest bringing a lot of rain, a lot of wind. we've got flood watches from olympia to forks. we are expecting a lot of rain there. we have a higher risk of avalanche warnings where we have had skiers in the backcountry

killed over the weekend. look at the rainfall. we are talking anywhere from two to five. locally eight inches of rain in the pacific northwest over the next 24 hours. >> good morning. the temperatures will be a little above average this afternoon. it will be around 50 and we have a slight chance for rain shower this afternoon. and that's your latest weather. ann? >> thank you. jury selection resumes in the high profile trial of a former rutgers university student accused of using a web cam to spy on his roommate's encounter with another man. kerry sanders joins us from new

brunswick, new jersey, with more on the story. good morning. >> reporter: well, good morning, ann. just picking a jury this the case may take longer than usual because most people, including the potential jurors, think they know this case. college roommate spies on his gay roommate with a web cam and streams it on the internet for everyone to see. that roommate, tyler clemente commits suicidsuicide. but the details are different and it's the details that the experts say make the case extremely difficult for prosecutors. 18-year-old tyler clemente jumped to his death from the george washington bridge. prosecutors allege just days before his roommate had, for a second time, spied on tyler with a web cam. tyler was in their dorm room, again with a 30-year-old man, sharing an intimate gay encounter. >> we have to disspell the myth that bullying is a normal rite

of passage. >> reporter: the link between the web cam spying and tyler's suicide drew condemnations. >> he was outed on the internet and killed himself. >> reporter: the facts of the story may contradict some of the publicity. for one thing tyler's sexuality was not a secret and his suicide won't even be mentioned at trial. rabi is accused of invading his roommate's privacy with the web cam. >> this is a case of invasion of privacy for setting up a camera on a computer and taking a peek at his roommate kissing another man. that's what this is. it's not recorded. it wasn't distributed on the internet. there is not evidence that this jury will ever hear that tyler killed himself as a result of it. >> reporter: prosecutors offered a plea deal, but he turned it down. >> he's innocent. he's not guilty. that's why he rejected the plea. >> reporter: it's expected the

defense will argue that he was not targeting tyler for being gay and that the web cam, turned on twice, only for a few seconds and viewed by a handful of college kids down the hall was a college prank like a scene from the movie "american pie." >> did i miss anything? >> no. you are just in time. >> reporter: tyler's older brother james. he's also gay. >> some people think that this web cam broadcasted on the internet and posted it there for the whole world to see. you know the truth. does that difference matter? >> no. what difference could it possibly be? those people that did look at it or were intending to look at it had no business to see that. >> reporter: in the indictment, prosecutors include some texts. my roommate asked for the room until midnight. i said okay and i left. and i turned on my web cam. i saw him making out with some dude. is there any question in your

mind why your son took his own life? >> i don't know why he did what he did. >> i don't think we can get into the cause and effect of the suicide right now because of the trial. >> reporter: tyler clemente's parents and brother say they intend to be here at the courthouse every day for the trial. the one thing they say they would like to hear is an apology from their son's former roommate. as he maintains his innocence that's unlikely. if convicted, he could face ten years in prison. ann? >> kerry sanders this morning, thank you. it is 7:19. here's david. >> thanks, ann. we were talking about how mild the winter has been here. mildest in decades. it's a different story in europe where ge snowstorms and sub zero temperatures hit with deadly fury. michelle kosinski is in switzerland this morning with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: hi.

it's hard to believe people in the alps were saying, where is the snow? we need it for skiing. soon to be followed by 18 feet in some places. now that the temperatures are rising a little that's making the danger of avalanche and flooding greater. the second brutal winter for europe in a row. this winter blasted europe like a blow torch of cold. just as swaths of the continent were brought to an icy stillness the images captured seem other worldly. waves on the black sea frozen in motion. reverse seas walkable, streets skatable. record-breaking cold in europe, more snow than anyone can remember -- up to the rooftops. hundreds of people have died. tens of thousands cut off by impassable roads. in kosovo an avalanche killed all by a 5-year-old girl in a

family of nine. she was we beneath snow for more than ten hours. >> europe is the victim of a high latitude block where if the weather system in the upper levels of the atmosphere is set up over the northern latitudes somebody has to pay for what would be normally cold weather there farther south. >> reporter: the deep freeze extends east to china where the waterfalls stopped falling. in colorful tibet, whiteout. and west, rome saw its first snowfall in 25 years. babbling fountains of milan stunned silent. germany and the ski towns of austria, switzerland, france relish snow, just not upwards of a dozen feet all of a sudden where avalanches claimed the lives of more than a dozen people. on friday, the prince of the netherlands, son of the queen, was trapped in an avalanche skiing in austria. the father of two is in stable but life-threatening condition.

now finally, temperatures are breaking, but so is ice. not a good thing in belgrade this week. an the danube, giant pieces crushed boats. the force of winter won again. now the u.s. military has stepped in to help get people out and supplies in to towns in mont n mo montanegro. it looks like a swarm spring is on the way but a lot of heat will be reflected instead of absorbed. david? >> it is a beautiful scene. thank you so much, michelle kosinski in switzerland. still ahead on "today" emotional testimony from the best friend of a woman who was allegedly murdered by her own husband during their honeymoon diving trip in australia. we'll have the latest from court. first, this is "today" on nbc.

still ahead, a woman who claims she was duped into having a baby with a married man so he and his wife could have the baby. we'll speak to her coming up. >> and basketball's newest face after your local news. when you have tough pain, do you want fast relief?

try bayer advanced aspirin. it has microparticles so it enters the bloodstream fast and rushes relief to the site of your tough pain. it's proven to relieve pain twice as fast as before. bayer advanced aspirin. >> this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> i am stan stovall. 7:26. here's a look at one of our top stories. three siblings are dead and two others are hospitalized after a multi vehicle accident last night. state police said that deeply rhodaminthe preliminary investigation showed that the

chevy cavalier crossed the center line and sideswipe at toyota. no word no cost the original vehicle to cross the highway. here is sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> tracking the problem in pasadena. overturned tractor trailer, with debris over the road. if you take ritchie highway, considered 97 as your alternate. in brooklyn, we have an accident coming in. as far as delays, 23 miles per hour. once you get on to the northeast side, 26 miles per hour on average. 27 on the west side outer loop from 795 all the way down is down i-73. all of this is volume-related as you get towards the harrisburg

expressway. speaking of 83, towards parkton, york road just below the exit is where we see delays heading towards mt. carmel. tony has at check on your forecast. >> everybody is going back to work and school. nothing going on weather-wise. 29 in jarrettsville. a little chilly out there this morning. we don't expect precipitation. in little system coming in from the west. the west. there might be a

the difference between hiding my skin and showing it off? jergens ultra healing moisturizer. even my driest skin looks healthier, instantly. jergens is the difference between i'm here, and here i am. jergens®. the beautiful difference. ♪ you're as cold as ice ♪ you're willing to sacrifice >> 7:30 on a tuesday, february 21, 2012. it is very cold. we felt like we had to go back to this beautiful scene in the swiss alps. very cold there, but a stark contrast to the mild winter we are having here. 50 degrees today and 60s later in the week. this is a big reason for everyone outside as they wave to their families and friends back home. meantime inside studio 1a i'm ann curry alongside david gregory here for matt this morning. thanks for being here. >> my kids asked if they could

wear shorts to school. my son is watching now. >> hi! >> not spring until it's spring. >> that's good. jed, listen to your dad. just ahead, a fresh start for a woman who used to have the ear of the first family. >> desiree rogers was the president's social secretary who resigned in the wake of the party crashing scandal. now she's opening up in a candid interview with savannah guthrie about hr time in the white house and how she's reinventing herself now. >> and a woman who claimed she was tricked into signing away her legal rights to a child she had with a man she met online. he told her later he was married and was adopting the child. that woman is now fighting to get her daughter back. she'll be back with a live interview coming up. >> we begin with emotional testimony at the murder trial of man accused of killing his wife during their honeymoon in

australia. thanh truong is in birmingham, alabama, with details. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. this is now day seven of the trial. the prosecution continues to lay out the case against gabe watson, accusing him of drowning his newlywed wife tina during a diving adventure in australia. the defense said it was an accident but tina's best friend said she doesn't believe it. >> tina and i were best friends. she was my absolute best friend in the world. >> an emotional amanda phillips took the stand. testifying for the prosecution she painfully remembered the phone call about her best friend tina watson. >> i couldn't believe what she was telling me. she said that tina died. >> reporter: prosecutors say gabe watson drowned his 26-year-old bride during their 2003 australian honeymoon, accusing him of turning off her

air supply while scuba diving near the great barrier reef. this photo taken by another tourist shows tina at the bottom of the sea. the defense says tina panicked in strong currents and gabe tried to help but tina knocked off his scuba mask forcing him to the top. >> you see someone on the bottom of the seabed. all the equipment appeared to be in place. she had a regulator in, a mask on. >> was she interacting with you? >> no. >> were her iceyes open? >> they were open. >> reporter: prosecutors say the motive was to collect on tina's life insurance policy. shortly after the death phillips recalled a phone call with watson. >> what was the phone call about insurance. >> they talked about changing it before the wedding. >> because they were getting

married in? >> yes. >> there was discussion that for a few dollars more there could have been a larger policy? >> yes. >> reporter: the defense pointed out that the watsons didn't increase the policy. they say tina's father was the beneficiary. watson served 18 months in australia for involuntary manslaughter. he's since remarried and his second wife is at the trial. in court phillips testified about an awkward moment with gabe at tina's wake. >> we walked up to the casket and i said, she looks pretty in that outfit. he said, well, at least her breasts are perky. >> reporter: it's been almost a nine-year struggle for tina's family to get the case to birmingham where prosecutors say watson hatched the plot. the family will have to wait a few more days as the trial is expected to go into next week. if convicted watson faces life in prison. >> thanh truong, thank you very much.

savannah guthrie is "today's" legal correspondent. star jones is a former prosecutor. good morning. >> good morning. >> this is an unusual case. gabe watson has already spent time in an australian jail based on the plea he entered there. it seemed like lfs there was a resolution. how unusual is it to face trial here? >> fairlyl lyly unusual conside the death happened in australia. some say this amounts to double jeopardy, but it's two different sovereign jurisdictions and the crimes charged have different elements. he served time for involuntary manslaughter in australia which amounted to an allegation that he didn't rescue her. he failed in the duty to rescue. here he's charged with intentional killing. >> part of this, too, is whether the prosecution's case has been undermined. a key point is why. you don't have to prove motive

but everybody wants to know. he wasn't the beneficiary of the life insurance policy. it seems to be something that undermines the case. >> the argument is what he knew at the time. he didn't know he was not the beneficiary at the time is what the accusation will be. this is a death for pecuniary gain. basically he did it for the money. that's the argument with the prosecution. this defendant hatched a plot to kill his wife here in the united states and the state of alabama. that plot came to fruition in australia. >> is it something the defense has done to undermine it? >> they cross examined one of the experts yesterday. this goes to how fast did gabe watson ascend? was he in a panic to get help for his wife or did he take a leisurely trip up? there is conflicting evidence. the prosecutors have evidence of what the dive equipment said. even the prosecution expert acknowledged he was going two to three times faster potentially

than what would be considered safe. and the case could turn on details like that. >> the defendant's behavior before, during and after is what the jury will look at as to whether or not this is a dude that would commit a murder. >> one of the remarks he made based on commenting on her appearance, even in the casket, that sort of thing -- >> he comes across as a creepy guy in it for himself. but being a creepy guy isn't enough to get you convicted of murder. >> how about the picture being shown of tina watson sinking to the bottom. gabe watson ascending. the dive instructor swimming to help her. is there something we can discern from this? >> as you look at the picture you say, why isn't he, a certified diving instructor, rushing to her aid. seems like he's moving up and away from the emergency. this is a guy who was certified four different ways.

a lot of people said he overstated his experience. but he did have four certifications. he should have been going to help her. >> that's going to be a question that comes up. thank you very much. we want to get a check of the weather from al. >> thank you very much. we have friends from louisiana celebrating mardi gras, fat tuesday. all right. how about a little bit of hail? we all hail from kansas. we had rough stuff. a big storm blew through. one person killed in heavy winds. so again they had strong stuff making it through the region. as we show you what's happening for today, afternoon temperatures. we have 20s and 30s in new england. 70s in florida. a smidge of 80s in texas. 70s through southern california. the rest of the country fairly seasonal. snow through the central great lakes. snow in chicago this morning will end later on. heavy rain in the pacific

northwest. snow in the intermountain region and the cascades. the sunny skies continue through the southwest. >> good morning. we're off to a chilly start. the clouds will be thickening up. we have a chance for a rain shower t don't forget. you can always check your weather day or night on the weather channel on cable or weather.com online. david? >> al, thank you very much. coming up next, the obamas' former social secretary who resigned in the wake of the party-crashing scandal speaks out in a candid interview with savannah guthrie after this.

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back now at 7:43. it's has been two years since desiree rogers time as the social secretary at the white house came to an end. she sat down with savannah guthrie. good morning. >> good morning. a lot of people remember the obamas' eye catching, glamorous social secretary. she was forced out of the job after the infamous state dinner party crashing. she has a new job, a new life and no regrets. desiree rogers has arrived again. >> good morning. >> reporter: back on top, heading the power house johnson publishing. >> can i get the jet file? >> reporter: with a new mission to breathe life into the

legendary brands jet, ebony and fashion fair cosmetics. >> some people argue why you have a magazine focused on black america. i say why not? there are still people that whether or not it is black americans or not black americans that need and want to understand the authentic voice of black america. >> reporter: under rogers, the magazin magazines' once sagging circulation numbers are on the rise and there is a slick new website. >> it's a beloved brand. you mess with it too much and people say it's unreek niezable. >> it's a balancing act. we didn't want to change it. we wanted to revitalize it. we are proud of the work that's been done. >> reporter: rogers, too, is in the midst of her own renaissance after a public fall from her perch as social secretary of the obama white house. >> congratulations, mr. president. >> reporter: in the heady early days after inauguration rogers was the glamorous friend of michelle obama brought in to

plan 'vents at the white house while cultivating the image of the first family. you came to washington and made a splash. >> i didn't try to make a splash! >> reporter: you couldn't help it. were you surprise bid the attention? >> i was a little bit surprised. i think the team was surprised by the uh attention we got. >> reporter: rogers made waves replacing stodgy traditional white house events with more creative fare. a petery jam, star gazing and a luau. she was featured in vogue, snapped at fashion week next to anna wintour. later photographed in borrowed designer clothes and jewels for a wall street journal magazine article. there was no way you were going to come to the white house and blend in. >> i tried. it didn't work. i had my black suit on and my button down shirt and my little mini heels. it didn't work. >> reporter: rogers turned heads but soon raised eyebrows inside the white house.

the president's political advisers were worried about appearances as the nation descended into economic crisis. there seemed to develop a caricature as if you were doing things that were glamorous or tone deaf to the times, to the economic realities. >> mm-hmm. >> reporter: how do you respond to that? do you think that was unfair? >> i don't think i have to. i think anyone who knows me and knows the kind of work and creed i follow, they know better. i'm not that much of a glamour girl. >> reporter: then there was what she said in the wall street journal magazine calling the obamas the best brand on earth. the presidents' advisers were not pleased. >> i'm a business person. i'm not trying to be a politician. >> reporter: was it a matter of being straightforward and honest and maybe that doesn't go over well in washington? >> you're not going to get me to say that. >> reporter: just as it appeared she had weathered the early

growing pains. >> mr. and mrs. salahi. >> reporter: michaele and tareq salahi talked their way into the state dinner. were you in shock? >> i don't know that i would say in shock. i was disappointed. my first reaction goes to, well, how did this transpire? >> reporter: secret service acknowledged failing to properly check their identification but rogers was criticized for not stationing someone from the social office at the outer checkpoint and attending the dinner as a guest wearing a designer gown, not as a working staffer. >> do you think you took the fall for that? that you got blamed? >> it's not about me. it really isn't. the one thing i can say is everywhere i go people know that face, know that girl. that's the aftermath i have had to deal with. so that's a little bit more annoying than anything else. >> reporter: you are forever

linked with the salahis? >> everyone says, tell us what happened. not gonna! i'm not trying to prove anything. i'm a pretty secure person. i know, you know, what i know. that's all it takes. if i can sleep at night, everyone else should let it go. >> reporter: rogers designed in early 2010. white house insiders agree the salahi incident was her undoing. do you still believe the obamas are the best brand on earth? >> i do. >> reporter: have you talked to them? >> i haven't talked to them recently. >> reporter: do you feel burned by the experience? >> no. i don't waste time on silliness like that. i think when you serve your country it's about your country and not about you personally. i'm a pretty strong and tough girl. >> talking to folks who worked with rogers at the white house they feel she had an impossible job given the economic setting.

they say they respect and like her to this day. she really relishes her new position and feels it's a place she can fit in and be herself. >> thank you, savannah guthrie. still ahead, a woman allegedly tricked into giving away the rights to her baby by a man she met online. we'll talk to her exclusively coming up but first, these messages. (phone ringing) hey college girl. hey mom. i just got your package. great. yea, mom you're the best. i thought you would like it. so, how are your classes, are you enjoying them? (announcer) it's more than just that great peanut taste, choosing jif is a simple way to show someone how much you care. we can't wait to get you home. i love you mom. i love you too. we'll see you soon. choosey moms, choose jif.

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>> this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. here is sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> volume-related delays in place, and we have a handful of accidents. overturned tractor-trailer in pasadena blocking the ramp from northbound ritchie highway to recant. ritchie highway and hammonds lane, another accident. at 32, an accident coming in there, delays behind it. one is being cleared in parkton.

you can see the delays on southbound 8383 stretching back towards york road. north and south and j.f.x. filling up quickly. live view of traffic in the area of 83 in padonia road. over to a live view of traffic in the white marsh area, where we are looking at the typical backup. >> at least there is nothing going on weather-wise. temperatures of managed to drop into the 20s. 27 in taneytown. a 30 degrees at the airport. 30% chance for a couple of rain showers this afternoon. it is going to warm up nicely.

maybe a new 60 on thursday. struggle front goes through. -- strong cold front goes through. temperatures in the 40's over the weekend. the weekend.

8:00 now on a tuesday morning. it's the 21st day of february 2012 as we say a warm hello to our new friends in rockefeller plaza. it's a chilly morning. i think it's 33 degrees, if i can read that thermometer correctly. among those faces we may recognize this guy. he's a young man who gained a big following online because he has a huge picture of his own face with that expression on it for basketball games. we'll explain that story coming up. >> he likes to say, it's not about him. >> that's what you say all the time, too. >> right.

>> anyway, i'm ann curry alongside david gregory in for matt this morning and, of course, our al roker. coming up, a serious topic. a woman's nightmare. she met a man online and eventually they had a daughter. what she didn't know was the man was already married, she says, and was planning to adopt a child with his wife. so she's here this morning to talk about her story. it's a sad state of affairs. >> is another extraordinary story coming up. a teenage girl goes surfing and in the process suffers a rare spinal cord injury. doctors said she would never walk again but she refused to accept that. >> good for her. >> that's terrific. later on, david gregory and i are already part of the trend. we are on this. neon. >> oh, yeah. >> we are going to show you how to wear neon. >> look at jill. >> the lights aren't even on in

the studio. amazing. >> these are happy colors, don't you think? >> looks like she just walked through plutonium. >> i know. meantime let's get to natalie morales for a check of the top stories today. hey, natalie. >> good morning, ann, david and al. good morning, everyone. rising gas prices are hurting more than motorists. economists warn they threaten the recent improvements in the economy. a 25% jump in prices would cost the economy about $35 billion in reduced consumer spending. prices are already up more than 25 cents since january, an average of $3.57 a gallon for regular unleaded nationwide according to aaa. experts say they could reach $4.25 by late april. greece won a second massive financial bailout early today when the eurozone partners finally stitched together more than $170 billion rescue package. it is hoped the bailout will help greece avoid a disastrous

default next month and secure the euro currency. ahead of the next crucial show down for the gop candidates the two front-runners are giving republican voter as clear choice. rick santorum is hitting hard on religious and social issues while mitt romney emphasizes jobs and the economy as a can-do corporate executive. michigan and arizona hold their primaries tuesday. former international monetary fund chief dominique strauss-kahn is being questioned today by french police investigating a suspected hotel prostitution ring. some prostitutes say they had sex with strauss-kahn at parties in paris and washington, d.c. in 2010 and 2011. one of his lawyers said strauss-kahn didn't know the women were prostitutes. crowds gathered outside the rosehill primary school in oxford england hoping for a glimpse of kate middleton there to support a childhood art therapy charity. now for a look at what's

trending today our round-up of what has you talking online. bethenny frankel is a top search on google after revealing monday she suffered a miscarriage when she was 8 weeks pregnant. she tweeted her thanks to all of my beautiful, fearless fans. twitter and facebook are lighting up over today's carnivale and mardi gras celebrations. will ferrell was in the parade kicking off festivities there. he tossed goodies to the cheering crowd including toy cow bells because sometimes you just need more cow bells. this video is also going viral. it's an example of men behaving badly. it shows the finnish husband checking out a danish princess during a state dinner last month. nice try. all right. 8:04. now back to al with a check of the weather.

>> just checking out the crown jewels. hello! oh, my. well, it's your birthday. where are you from? >> north carolina. >> happy birthday. >> thank uh you so much. >> there you go. hello! let's check your weather and see what's going on. cleveland, ohio. hello, cleveland. greatest location in the nation. nbc 3, kyc. showers, windy with temperatures in the mid 40s. heavy rainmaking it into the pacific northwest. going to be nasty. we have snow in the intermountain region. avalanche for the pacific northwest. sunshine in the east. temperatures into the upper 40s here in the northeast. showers along the midatlantic coast. ♪ >> they're singing for the weather! i like it. >> good morning.

the temperatures will be a little above average this afternoon. it will be around 50 and we have a slight chance for rain shower this afternoon. and that's your latest weather. mr. gregory? >> mr. roker, thank you very much. coming up next, a woman who claims she was tricked into having a child with a married man so he and his wife could have a baby. we'll speak to her after this. [ woman ] my boyfriend and i were going on vacation, so i used my citi thank you card to pick up some accessories. a new belt. some nylons. and what girl wouldn't need new shoes? we talked about getting a diamond. but with all the thank you points i've been earning... ♪

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story. good morning. >> reporter: ann, good morning. kristy gaffney did what so many single people are doing. she tried an online dating site, met a guy and fell in love. then she said things went terribly wrong. kristy gaffney thought she'd finally found mr. perfect on a dating website. he told her his name was ed. >> together we talked about marriage. we talked about getting a house together. moving in together. you know, making a life together. >> reporter: the 29-year-old pennsylvania woman thought he was american royalty. >> he told me and my entire family that he was a dupont. told me the story of his family and the castles in delaware. >> reporter: she remembers he bragged about his elite job. >> he said he worked with the cia. >> reporter: gaffney said ed also said he was divorced and his ex-wife could not have children. after dating for about six months gaffney got pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl,

gabriella. at the time the couple lived separately. one sunday night ed took his daughter and promised to return her the next day. >> i started texting him and he stopped responding to my text messages and phone calls. so i lost it. i just went crazy. >> reporter: when she finally met him to get her daughter back kristy said he dropped a bombshell. >> he's like, i'm married. i can't divorce my wife because i'll lose everything. >> reporter: you never knew he was married? >> never. >> reporter: never had suspicions? >> i never did. >> reporter: gaffney said she also found out ed dupont was really named emmitt dippold. they were adopting gaffney's baby. >> i couldn't believe he was telling me this. it was surreal. >> reporter: kristy gaffney signed papers after gabriella was born. she said dippold told her the document allowed him to claim rights as the father. >> i was like, okay.

i had no reason not to trust him. i signed. the document was a few pages long. he gave me the signature page and said, just get this signed. >> reporter: take a close look. she actually agreed to, quote, give up permanently all rights to this child. >> i felt like someone stabbed me with a knife. i couldn't believe that he would do -- that anybody would do something so horrible. >> reporter: why didn't you read the papers? >> i did. i looked at it. i said, i don't really understand it. >> reporter: gaffney took dippold and his wife to court and argued the adoption was based on fraud. the judge agreed saying mr. dippold was engaging in a diabolical scheme from day one. there is no way she knew she was giving up her parental rights to the child. the dippolds appealed. their lawyer had this to say. >> the document was signed in its entirety before two notaries

who testified under oath in court that she signed the document. emmitt dippold has no interest in dispar rajjing the birth mother. i'm here to make a plea to this woman that it is not in the best interests of her daughter to create a media sensation about this baby. >> reporter: as all this plays out in court, 14-month-old gabriella lives with dippold and his wife. kristy gaffney vows to keep fighting for full custody. we asked emmitt dippold to speak to us for the story. his lawyer said he doesn't want it played out in the media. he wants what's best for his daughter and will abide by whatever the courts decide. >> kristy gaffney is here along with sam tartaro. good morning. welcome. >> good morning. >> why are you going public?

we heard the father of your child hopes this is not publicized. >> it's been almost a year since he took her. it hasn't gone anywhere. it was ruled upon fraud and duress, but even so that happened with the way the courts are the way they are they filed an appeal. the judge said it was the most frivolous appeal he's heard but the custody judge won't hear it until after the appeal. >> you're hopeful people -- >> i'm hopeful. and ever since i did the initial local interview i have had a lot of support which is helpful. >> you're very emotional about this. >> yeah. >> what makes it hardest for you? >> my daughter. i think she's missing out on her mother. i can't believe people could do something this horrible and be

okay with themselves. >> how often do you see your daughter? >> right now i see her every other weekend. >> every other weekend? >> yes. >> knowing she's in the care of the man who was her father. >> yes. >> and his wife. >> yes. >> do you have concerns? >> yes, i do. >> what are your concerns? >> one is obviously they were trying to take her from me and adopt her. so i don't want her to get acquainted with them, especially if i do get her back. that's just messing up her life. also, i know how these people are now. they schemed against me to get her from me. i don't want her raised like that. >> sam, how long might this go on before this is resolved? where are we legally in this case? >> the adoption judge ruled that the adoption has been dismissed e . she was induced by fraud and

duress. that's on appeal to the superior court. that could take another six months. they may appeal that decision to the supreme court which could take another year. in the meantime the custody where kristy would get her baby back, there is a stay order on that. so we won't be able to get into a custody decision for maybe a year and a half. we have appealed that decision. we haven't had a response from the superior court on that. >> if everything you're saying happened is true, people listening to it are going to say why didn't you know ahead of time? how could you have been so duped? how would you respond to that? >> he was very controlling during our relationship. i was very much in love. he was promising me marriage, everything i wanted. you know, having a family together. we constantly talked about those things. when you're with somebody and you talk to them every single day. you see them a couple times a

week at least and you're discussing the future like we were constantly, you don't think someone would do something like this to you. he met my entire family, came to family events. he met my son and he even said he wanted to adopt my son. i didn't think anybody would be capable of doing something like this. >> it's not a short relationship. it was 18 months. >> i know it's something that's a chapter and we don't know how this will end. we appreciate your spending time talking to us. thank you so much. we look forward to seeing how this develops. thank you. up next, another story which is about a 19-year-old who is learning to walk again after suffering a rare spinal injury while surfing for the first time. that's coming up after this. i can't afford to ignore our retirement savings, not in this economy. we also have zero free time, and my dad moving in. so we went to fidelity. we looked at our family's goals and some ways to help us get there. they helped me fix my economy, the one in my house.

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that's 50% off lenses, including bifocals, no-lines, even sunglasses made with your prescription. so hurry in. 50% off lenses won't last forever. lenscrafters. back now at 8:20 with the miraculous recovery of a teenager from colorado who was told she may never walk again. it all started during a family

vacation in hawaii. we're going to talk to her in a moment. first nbc's janet shamlian has the story. ♪ >> reporter: kristin was as active as an 18-year-old gets. a college volleyball player, she loved sports. when her family decided to try surfing on their hawaiian vacation, kristin was all for it. she got up on the board, but when her legs started feeling strange, kristin headed to shore. >> i started to walk up the beach. i made it about 50 yards before i couldn't make it anymore. i collapsed. >> reporter: initially everyone thought she was stung by a jellyfish but it was soon apparent the injury was more serious. >> we didn't know why there was anything wrong. she just suddenly couldn't walk. by the time we got to the hospital she was essentially paralyzed from the waist down. >> reporter: when they returned to colorado, kristin was confined to a wheelchair and struggling to navigate the family's stair-filled home.

although there was no fall kristin had suffered a spinal injury. a rare condition known as surfer's miyelopathy. >> after i heard the news -- here it goes. [ voice breaking ] >> reporter: the news kristin's mom heard that day would prove wrong. at first it was a toe wiggle. now 15 months after that fateful day, kristin is walking. >> push, push, push. >> reporter: mostly with the help of a therapist or an electronic stimulator but sometimes she can do it on her own. not far. just a dozen steps or so. considering her injury it's a marathon. what role do you think her energy and tenacity has had? >> it's everything. had i been in her position i'm sure i would have reacted differently. >> okay. we're done. >> reporter: where does she get that from? >> i wish i knew.

>> reporter: doctors cautioned that often there isn't progress after the first year. but don't tell kristin who continues to mark milestones like driving again. she believes bigger accomplishments are just down the road. for "today" janet shamlian, nbc news, loveland, colorado. >> kristin is with with us now along with nbc's chief medical editor dr. nancy snyderman. good morning to you both. >> thank you. >> your dad is so proud of you. how have you been able to keep your hopes high and your tenacity at this level? >> i think from the beginning i knew there was a reason it happened. i knew that something good could come out of it if i allowed it to be a negative thing it would be. if i allowed myself to grow from it, it would be a positive thing. >> important message. take us back to when you got the

injury and when you first started feeling pain did you think it was serious right away? >> not really. my lower back started to hurt. i just thought that i -- my muscles were sore because i wasn't used to using them or something. i had no idea it was anything serious. >> i have not heard of this before. >> i hadn't either. for first-time surfers out there, it's back pain first and then a numbness or tingling through the legs and an inability to walk. it happens to first-time surfers. you can see the symptoms that go with it. it's almost hyper flexation of the back. they are pulling their chest up. the advice is for the first time sit on your board. don't lie on it. stay in the water no longer than a half hour. this doesn't happen often. but it's because the blood vessels to the spinal cord pinch off. it's an ischemic problem, a

blood flow problem. >> you have been able to get it back because of this technology. show us how it works. >> what it does is simulates the muscle and nerve right here. it allow me to pick up hi foot when i'm walking. >> it's electric stimulation. >> it is. there are two electrodes in here. the biggest problem for me is picking up my feet. this picks up my feet for me. it's doing it. >> on its own. >> from here down to your heel. the foot pulls up. >> i didn't do any of that. >> that's a helpful start to get you up. you still need the crutches. >> yes. i do need the crutches. >> okay. >> kristin, this went from not being able to walk at all. >> i was completely paralyzed, yes.

>> remarkable. >> the future is for strokes, people with congenital problems to put the stimulators in. the interesting thing is the electrical stimulation to the muscle that allows her to pick up her heel. extraordinary. >> continued good luck as >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> let's get a final check on the morning commute with traffic pulse 11 and sarah caldwell. >> still talking some problems. trying to wrap this one up, but what about route 2, still shut down due to an overturned tractor-trailer and debris removal there. down to 11 miles per hour prior to that. southbound j.f.x. and coldspring lane, accident just in.

those delays stretch back to the beltway. washington ave and liberty road, watch for crash. we are watching an accident at york road. pedestrian involved in that. southbound 83, delays from york road to mount carmel and beyond. fire activity with howard ave at carrollton avenue. 12-minute travel time on the inner loop from 79 fight with the j.f.x.. we will update you on our cameras. j.f.x. at ruxton road, a very heavy with an accident at coldspring. will switch to a live view of traffic at 95 and white marsh. jammed conditions towards the 895 split. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> at least there's nothing going on weather-wise. it's 30 degrees at the airport. at the same thing in parkton. mixture of sunshine and clouds.

chance for a rain shower this afternoon. a hit and miss showers on wednesday and thursday. 60 degrees by thursday. >> we will have another update at 8:55.

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even my driest skin looks healthier, instantly. jergens is the difference between i'm here, and here i am. jergens®. the beautiful difference. 8:30 now on a tuesday morning, the 21st of february 2012. we have a nice crowd and a big crowd lining up in the plaza. apparently the season has begun. >> a mid winter break. >> that's right. also because it's presidents' weekend we just had. many people managing to squeeze in an extra day here.

we are happy they stopped by. i'm ann curry along with david gregory, natalie morales and al roker. matt has the morning off. meantime, coming up we'll talk about the season's hottest colors. >> we have been talking about it all morning. it's me the i don't kn ee it's me the neon of course. one of our producers has been wearing it for so long. >> stuck in the '80s. >> how do you pull off the bold look? jill martin will show us how. >> there's something for guys, too. >> and we've got "top chef"'s gail similar mons in the kitchen. she'll share some personal recipes she's collected on her path to becoming a professional cook. that looks yummy. >> oh, the chocolate! doesn't that look amazing? >> and the winter wreaks havoc

on your skin. it's the season for the dry, itchy, uncomfortable feeling. we'll show you how to get rid of it and make your skin healthy. >> before we get to that -- >> i was holding the pink bag. >> first we want to say a warm hello to jack blankenship, the college basketball fan from alabama who found a way to creatively distract opposing players. he holds up a huge photo of himself making a strange expression. what possessed you? >> well, you know -- >> sho us the face. >> at our games the university prints out pictures of random celebrities and the basketball team for everyone to hold a big photo of. i figured it would be hilarious to bring a picture of myself doing a face that, between my friends, we like to do.

>> i was at the knicks game and i saw you. i said, we'll be talking to that guy. it was linsanity. it wasn't so great. the nets were tough. but you did good work there. >> thank you. >> this has gone viral. you have over a million fans on youtube. >> that's correct. >> the big man on campus, more importantly at alabama. >> the university has been great with supporting me and, you know, even at one game they had 200 pictures of my face for the crowd to have. >> whoa. >> you also brought your face here to the "today" show a couple years ago behind me. i didn't realize it. >> do we have videotape of it? >> i think we do. >> ah-ha! you seat him in the background. >> i have to ask your mom, what does she think of the face? >> she's seen it before. she's never supported it until now. >> oh, now she's all for it.

>> there's mom. >> keep making the face, son. >> can you do the face? >> one more time with the face. >> i think you have it down pretty well. i don't know how many hours you have in front of the mirror for that one. >> you flare your nostrils, frown, raise your eyebrows and inhale. >> you'll have to practice. >> thank you so much. it's a pleasure to be on my favorite talk show. >> whoa, that was nice. >> you could take it to times square and scare people. there is another morning show there. >> let's see what's happening. we'll show you for today heavy rain for our friends in the

pacific northwest. flooding will be a problem. avalanche advisory as well. showers along the midatlantic states. tomorrow we have snowshowers around the eastern great lakes. rain in the mid mississippi and ohio river valleys. more heavy rain and wind in the pacific northwest. sunny and mild into texas. showers along the gulf coast. >> good morning. we're off to a chilly start. the clouds will be thickening up. we have a chance for a rain shower t and whether you are worried about weather on your face or

not go to weather channel day or night or weather.com online. >> al, thank you very much. coming up, neon is back. >> i know. i'm excited about it. >> i am, too. we'll get the full rundown on how to spice up your wardrobe with neon. first, this is "today" on nbc. t

back now at 8:38. this morning on "today's style," neon madness, hot pink, blues and greens are some of the hottest colors on the runways and red carpets. "today" and "us weekly" contributor jill martin is here to show us how to get it done. >> good morning. >> you almost need sunglasses. you have me wearing a nice yellow necklace now. what accounts for this trend? >> we saw it on the runway and the red carpet. when you see it on models and

celebrities it's so bright. in real life it doesn't translate. there are ways to get in on the trend for everyone at every age. >> this may be in the more muted category though it is very bright. >> we're starting with jeans. a lot of them are youthful. you could always wear a skinny jean, a longer top. these start at $59, available at bloomingdale's. they are ditto. this is a fun way to do it. >> and for the young people, the little shorts are cute. >> $68. definitely a youthful look. >> if you don't want to have your entire wardrobe or the piece you are wearing an a particular day to be so bright you can have a pop of color like jewelry. >> we put this on to pop the gray. these are bracelets you can layer and get a little black dress or something a little bit

of spice. these start at $26 from cc skye. these are great if you're on the beach even and want to dress up a little bit. these are bauble bar. >> do you know what's nice about the bright colors? i wear them a lot. it makes you happy and people who see you are happy. >> even the m & ms we were eating. everything bright brings out the happiness. >> i wonder about the makeup. what do you think about the bright colors on your eyes? >> i put a bright color on. >> it's pretty on you. >> it's fun for at night. i'm in my mid-30s and i can sort of pull it off. this is the way to do it. few forever. this is a muted pallet for the eyes. >> more muted. >> another way is the manicure and pedicure. you can get in on it that way. i have a bright color on my nails and toes. you can mix and match.

that's like an accessory. >> especially on the toes and you can hide them sometimes. obviously not when wearing flip-flops. these are fun. >> i don't suggest this trend for men but we have something at the end. for kids, too, though starting at $18 from havianas. >> one of the difficulties in buying neon, especially shoes is what do you wear them with. is it practical to buy something so bright? what's your response? >> gray, black, white. i think you pick neutral colors and go with a bright shoe. these are 9 west. a chunky shoe you can wear during the summer. these are really bright. you have to know where you're going, who you are going with and what your style is to pull this off. this is a bold move. >> if you pick the right shade you can mix and match.

maybe this and this would be pretty together. >> i'm wearing bright pink, red. the shoes are from macy's. the cork is from 9 west. everybody loves these satchels. >> especially david gregory. >> david asked if he could have the pink one. $118. you can pick it up and put it down. so it's a fun look but at work you can put it away. >> this is a way to surprise someone close to you with neon. >> this is a way to get in on it at home. hanky-panky. people are now wearing bright colors under a white t-shirt. just for a little pop of color and the subtle hint. so this is hanky-panky available at macy's. and when you go to work in the professional world you can see these are muted. but i love these. these are callet.com. put your cards in the back and

phones in the front. >> do you think this makes it less likely to lose your phone? >> or your credit card. this is great. also the blue or white are for men. >> mm-hmm. >> i think men should not get in on this trend because i think it's not stylish or manly, but speakers by ihome audio. this is the only way for men to get in on the trend. under $50. >> you can put it in the office if you want to have a little bit of color. >> or on the beach or at home. plug it into your iphone, ipad or blackberry. you can play music off them. >> i would like to see a man in a pop of color neon pocket square at a dinner party. >> okay. a pocket square is good or a skinny tie. >> very skinny. >> very, very, very skinny. >> thank you so much, jill. up next, top chef gail simmons sharing her popular recipes including chocolate cake. first, this is "today" on nbc. o

this morning on today's kitchen, what's for dinner? the personal recipes of a professional cook. gail simmons is a cook on bravo's "top chef" and host of "top chef just desserts." and she's the author of "talking with my mouth full". >> i spend a lot of time talking with my mouth full. >> what influenced you and your approach to food? >> so many things. when you start looking back at your life you realize there were so many moments where food plays an important role in the travel i did, growing up my whole life and my family life obviously around the table. so many moments that all led to me deciding i wanted to work with food professionally. >> we'll talk about a stew

influenced by your time abroad. >> when i was young i lived in spain for a year of college. i lived with a family and the woman i lived with decimated her vegetables. we would see beautiful vegetables in the morning and by lunch they were just brown and soggy. i'm redeeming her. >> tell me what i can do. >> absolutely. first of all i have onion and garlic in a pot. if you want i will grab this chorizo. if not you can totally make it vegetarian. >> or turkey sausage. >> anything. a little spicy. from here i will add a little bit of tomatoes. throw them right in. let this cook out, brown a little bit. >> is this something you can make early before you sit down to dinner because the vegetables take a while? >> that's the best thing about stew. they are even better a day later. >> chickpeas. can you do them canned? >> absolutely. you can do them dried, soak them overnight and cook them or just

use canned if you're in a pinch. this is a paprika, bay leaf. my favorite ingredient, fresh artichoke hearts. you can use canned but the fresh ones in season are -- >> i'm sorry to interrupt. you had them soaking in water. >> i did. only soak them with a little bit of lemon juice and water to keep the color or they turn brown. >> gotcha. all right. >> the chicken stock. cook it out 20 minutes. make sure it's thick. >> let's keep moving. i want to get to the banana bread at the end. >> i have fresh spinach and i serve it with tomato and garlic on grilled bread or pain tomat. you want something crusty, hearty. it's a nice country bread. there it is. >> fantastic. >> let's get to dessert. i' you're hungry.

>> before that, i love vegetables. this is a grilled zucchini. >> i also lived in israel and my mother was never one to serve mac & cheese. she always made us eat zucchini. >> that's a substitute for mac & cheese. >> my mother made us eat it when we were growing up which i didn't appreciate. this is a tribute to my mother and my time in israel. it's tahini, pomegranates and walnuts. crisp, fresh and delicious. >> and this. >> my mom's chocolate banana loaf. >> look at this. >> it's perfect for breakfast. >> fantastic. >> this is also a loaf my mother made. you make it your own. i make it with whole wheat so it's a little bit more healthy. chocolate ganache and ripe banan bananas. do you want to taste? >> i would love to. >> it's a recipe that you don't think much of when you're young and you grow up and realize it's

one of the best comfort foods of all. >> fabulous! it's great. a lot of this is in the book. >> they are in the book. i have an article in "food & wine" magazine about healthy recipes i eat on my time off. >> not including that. >> no. but other great things. it's all about talking with my mouth full. >> thank you so much. the book is "talking with my mouth full." up next, the best ways to care for your winter skin. first, this is "today" on nbc.

>> announcer: today's health is brought to you by lens crafters. >> back now at 8:52 with "today's health." this morning the best ways to take care of your skin in the winter months. dr. fusco is a dermatologist in new york city and is joining us. good morning. >> good morning. >> this is a tough time of year to have skin not itch and be dry. you say there are simple things we can do at home. >> yes. >> tell us about these ideas. >> we have had a mild winter so far but it still takes a toll. we have a humidifier here. >> that's a small one. >> it's cute and portable. you can bring it to the office. >> with a bottle of water. >> right. this delivers humidity to the

air. >> how much can this possibly fill up? it's such a small device. >> a small room or office. >> you recommend a regular size humidifier in the bedroom. >> yes. this is a nice alternative. it's hygienic. you throw out the bottle. >> what about a shower head. >> this is a special shower head. even tap water can contain chlorine which can add dryness to the skin. so this is something with a filter in it that actually filters out the chlorine. >> that's a good idea. now in terms of what we can put on our skin in general to moisturize you have something that's for the skin? >> i do. we have weleda. this product is for babies. it's eco-friendly and fragrance free. people forget babies have thin skin. they lose a lot of heat through the skin and it's important to protect it from the elements.

we have kiehl's ultra which is light, well tolerated by all skin types. it protects and hydrates. >> that's for the face? >> and neck. >> these products are considered not too expensive. >> none of them will break the bank. >> what about for the eyes? people say the skin around the eyes is more delicate. >> it is. >> so you can't use the same stuff as i do on my eyes as i do on my face. you're supposed to use something specific. >> when you can. this philosophy eye cream is great because it hydrates and has retinol to improve collagen. >> what about the feet? >> you want a rich cream like this first aid product. it works on stubborn, scaly patches. >> you also have a problem often times with redness. there are a lot of products out there that attack redness. >> many of them just camouflage.

but this particular product, the redness relief has complex in it. it actually treats the underlying inflammation which causes the redness. great for red noses in winter. >> takes it down. what about cleaning the skin? we aren't supposed to use soap? >> the more sudsy the soap is, the tougher it is on skin. use a gentle cleanser. ponds is wonderful for that. >> that's been around for a long time. >> it's a gold standard. >> also for the body. use a lighter soap. >> something suds-free. >> the hair also gets dry. >> this is awapuhi which takes away dryness and this flat iron has keratin in the plates. >> do you recommend we maybe wash our hair less often in winter. >> yes. definitely. >> and there are things we can eat that are good for us and

moisturize us from the inside? >> from the inside. >> they include -- >> oils, fatty acids. for example, the walnuts right there and the flaxseed are high in omega-3. >> you can get the flaxseeds ground up. >> right. >> dr. francesca fusco, thank you for the fresh ideas to help our skin feel better. up ahead, shopping smart, the best things to buy in february. first, your local news. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. a senate committee is expected to take up same-sex marriage legislation later today. the house passed the bill on friday.

opponents say they will take the measure to referendum. back in a minute with a check on back in a minute with a check on today' back in a minute with a check on today' wheeeeeeeeeeeee! whee! whee! wheeeeeeeee! ah heads up. wheeeeeeeeeeee! everything you love about geico, now mobile. download the new geico app today.

>> we are off to a quiet start, weather-wise. 30% chance for rain shower. most of you will have a dry day. going to get warm through the middle of the week. near 60 by thursday. >>