First, here's the recipe. (I hate those recipe blogs where they have tons of pics and go on and on about the ordeal of cooking it first and save the actual recipe for way down the page after many scrolling's, so not doing that here.) Ingredients: 2 TB EVOO [Extra Virgin Olive Oil] 1 can White Meat Chicken, not drained (12.5 oz can) 1 medium onion, chopped 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 3/4 tsp coriander 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp rosemary 2 cans white beans, (15.

It was two years ago when I posted this: It has been quite the journey. I'm still taking classes on nutrition and adjusting my diet as I go along. I have joined groups and communities for a short time to learn more and to glean information about real life experiences from real people, not paid people on commercial ads. I admit I have really learned a lot but there seems to be so much more needed yet. The first thing I gave up was any and all carbonated beverages. That was a b

From radioactive shrimp to vodka seltzer in energy drink cans, food and beverage recalls have made headlines throughout 2025 and into 2026—and the headlines are often pretty concerning. To end the year, there was a massive recall for hundreds of foods kept at a Gold Star Distribution storage unit in Minneapolis (think: Arizona iced teas, Dole products, Haribo candies, and Kellogg’s cereals) because of contamination from rodent urine, bird feces, and salmonella. It’s not just

I have been having trouble getting my hands on artichoke hearts. I have tried multiple times and they just are not available. This is a canned good so it surprised me. I ended up doing a web search about this problem and was stunned to learn that we (we meaning the whole world) is in a huge food crisis right now. There was Cyclone Harry that caused a lot of problems over there in Italy, which I had not even heard about. And many of the artichokes we get come from there. The s

This recipe is for me, a winter recipe because it asks for the use of the oven, which I never use in the summertime. It can be modified to be done on top the stove if you want to go ahead and make it in the summer. This week's menu has a couple of oven recipes, this is one of them. I will try to get in one recipe per week per the menu for that week from now forward. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for asking. Tuscan, White Bean Artichoke over Polenta Ingredients: 2 TB EVOO 1

I have been walking around saying, geez I am eating like a Hippie. I am old enough to remember the late 60's and the early 70's. Yes, I really am. And I remember all the stuff I used to shake my head at and think, those people are definitely "far out", as in way way out there. (This, while I was walking around in my Nehru jacket). LOL Anywho, because it has occurred to me frequently of late I had to bring it to the attention of my web browser and ask about hippie diets. I'm

It's true. I have monitored the free section on Craigslist for some time now, usually looking for some little thing I need, like free 5 gallon buckets. I check Facebook Marketplace now and then. And I also check Nextdoor freebies now and then. You really can furnish an entire home for free by picking up items, free, from nearby. I am including beds, sofas, recliners, dining tables, patio tables and chairs, kitchen tables, end tables, dressers, coffee tables, hanging macrame p

Yes, you really can feed 2 adults and 2 children on only $40 per week. I am providing the menus for a week plus the grocery list for those menus below. What building in New York has the most stories? The public library. Feed 4 people on about $6 a day or $40 a week. This plan assumes you have a stocked pantry. Items not included in the grocery list are italicized (in the menus) so that you can shop for them if you need to do that.           Grocery list: Grains & Breads $4

Starting with these tips. 1. Buy in bulk. 2. Buy less convenience products. Avoid processed and packaged foods, including sodas, crackers, cookies, and candy 3. Plan your meals out. Not eating out, but planning them ahead, creating menus. 4. Choose plant-based protein sources like lentils, beans, and edamame. 5. Always take inventory of your fridge before going to store. 6. Only buy what’s on your list. 7. Shop sales and stock up. 8. Stop eating out for meals – cook at home!

I am a coffee lover. For sure. But because since I have gotten older and have developed mild hypertension (that's high blood pressure) I have had to cut down on how much coffee I drink in a day. Believe it when I tell you I could down a whole pot of coffee a day in past years. And, I am a tea-totaler, as they say. Anyways, these days I limit myself to only two cups of coffee per day. If I crave more I allow myself decaf. But for the most part I drink tea. All kinds of tea. My

I forgot 2 things, plus to answer a recipe request .... I am updating today's blog. First, add Eggplant Parmesan with Twice Potatoes to the menu list for this week. Second, Happy Birthday to you Daron. Third, the recipe for Ratatouille on Polenta: Note: If you are making your own polenta then you need to start this well ahead of time and make the polenta, get it refrigerated and ready to use. I prefer to make it a day ahead. This time I bought a tube from the store. (Italian

I am hearing a lot about "clean eating", so I thought I'd answer an inquiry about it here. It seems to be really trending right now, the idea of clean-eating. Honestly, it isn't new and it is not any different than what I have been posting about all along. So what is it? It refers to eating foods that are as close as possible to their natural state. This encourages us to make our meals from scratch to make them as “clean” as possible.  Once just a buzzword, “clean eating” is

I keep asking myself why the stuff they tell you is good for you, or at least better for you than the stuff you are already eating costs so much more? There are these apps that you can use to 'rate' your food. One, my doctor told me about, the other I found on my own. The first is called YUKA. I have probably mentioned that one before. The second is called ZOE. I have both on my phone now. So I was eating Cheerios. Supposed to be good for you. Good for cholesterol and ther

One idea is to make bread pudding. Here is a recipe straight from the AHA. (American Heart Association) Why did I pick this recipe? Because I like sweet and because I still strive for healthy stuff in spite of my sweet tooth. I liked the inclusion of apples in this recipe and the fact that it did not include any tropical oils or milks like coconut oil or coconut milk which are actually bad for you, even though it's the popular thing to do these days. Calories 131 Per Servin

Cravings can sometimes feel like a challenge when trying to maintain a healthy diet. Last week, mashed potatoes were the star of the cravings, and this week, the desire has shifted to fresh salads with a bold, tangy dressing reminiscent of Roquefort cheese. Store-bought salad dressings often contain preservatives, added sugars, and unhealthy fats, which can derail healthy eating goals. I cannot have them especially if they contain "gum-gums". Luckily, there’s a delicious home

Pretty bad. Thanksgiving often means a table full of rich, carb-heavy dishes that can leave you feeling sluggish and guilty afterward. Cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and dinner rolls are staples, but they pack a surprising amount of sugar and refined carbohydrates. If you want to enjoy the holiday feast without the carb overload or sugar crash, it’s worth exploring healthier alternatives that still capture the spirit and flavor of Thanksgiving. This post explains

Oh yes, I could rag on and on about taxes and the various thoughts I have about them but I will spare you all that dribble and angst and shoot the arrow right at the reality that the time has come to pay. My huge complaint about it (at this time) which I carry-on about every year at this time is why on earth they decided to make the taxes due just a few days before the Holiday? That's when people are selling their gifts from last year to pay for gifts to give this year and th

I wanted to help. People were working without getting paid. People were not receiving their food benefits (SNAP). Prices of everything from utilities, fuel, and food have gone up considerably making it even more difficult to stretch that budget. It has been hard enough for me to just stand by and watch certain things take place that are not okay, but to think some of our most precious people, our children, our seniors, our Veterans, might be having to choose not to have a f

I am still thinking I will order that $40 feed 10 deal for thanksgiving. I mean you get a whole turkey and 5lbs of potatoes, that's $15 right there. Then all the other stuff. But Thanksgiving is still weeks away and I plan to eat between now and then. Plus there are other things that will have to be ordered to complete the meal, like eggs for the pie. Still I think it's a good deal. If you make use of the EBT or SNAP or as I have always called them, Food Stamps, then I am ho

What is marketed in the United States as “yams” are really a variety of sweet potato, grown in the South. A true yam is a starchy edible root of the Dioscorea genus, and is generally imported to America from the Caribbean. It is rough and scaly and very low in beta carotene. Yams? Sweet Potatoes? Can you tell? “Yams,” as the industry and general public perceives them, are actually sweet potatoes with a vivid orange color and a soft moist consistency when cooked. They tend to