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12/29 Update
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
treecitystar
3 days ago2 min read


Trending now -
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
treecitystar
Dec 22, 20253 min read


Why does it cost more?
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
treecitystar
Dec 11, 20252 min read


What to do with stale bread...
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
treecitystar
Dec 10, 20252 min read


Cravings and Menus
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
treecitystar
Dec 3, 20253 min read


How badly did I cheat on Feast Day?
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
treecitystar
Nov 29, 20254 min read


Mercy me, it's tax time.
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
treecitystar
Nov 25, 20252 min read


I put it out there....
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
treecitystar
Nov 17, 20252 min read


It's still weeks away.
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
treecitystar
Nov 6, 20252 min read


Yams? Sweet Potatoes? Which is which?
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
treecitystar
Oct 31, 20252 min read


So, what do you get for $40 ?
It seems people plan for their Holiday dinner, especially Christmas dinners way ahead of time and this year is no exception. For instance, Aldi and Walmart have already rolled out their special Thanksgiving dinner deal: feed 10 people for $40. That sounds like a great bargain to me. That's only $4 per person. (Unless of course you have Uncle Argus coming to dinner, then maybe it will only feed 5 people). I was curious, what do you get for your 40 bucks? At Walmart the bundle
treecitystar
Oct 22, 20252 min read


Do You Believe?
I believe. I believe in everything. Ghosts, Unicorns, Fairies, God, Elves, Leprechauns, Gremlins, Angels, Aliens, etc. I am not a believer in Karma. Just sayin'. So, I have this other blog where I talk about God and the Universe and my thoughts about that topic. If you have an interest in that sort of thing let me know and I will give you the web address via email. TreeCityStar@outlook.com Apparently, there is a new show on Netflix called "Do You Believe". I haven't check
treecitystar
Oct 16, 20251 min read


Focus on Homemade
Okay, so this weeks menus include a lot of homemade things. The weather has changed and this means more indoor time, which means, more...
treecitystar
Oct 1, 20252 min read


Living in a Haunted House
It's that time of year. Corn mazes. Spooky costumes. Fun houses. Pumpkins everywhere - which the squirrels will commandeer. It's so...
treecitystar
Sep 27, 20252 min read


Where did that come from?
I have such a diverse variety of interests that I imagine it might be hard to keep up with me and where I might be going. Or maybe not. ...
treecitystar
Sep 25, 20252 min read


Ah, yes, Tuesdays
I am making efforts to stick to a schedule and often refer to my 'lists' to do that very thing. Yes, I admit, I am one of 'those' people...
treecitystar
Sep 23, 20252 min read


The thing about getting older - -
See, the thing is, no one tells you a lot of stuff about how it's going to be. As far as I know there has not been a book written about...
treecitystar
Sep 18, 20252 min read


Family
Family is very important to me. I am intensely loyal and feel an obligation and commitment to family. For this reason I am reaching out...
treecitystar
Sep 15, 20252 min read


Off the rails? No, off menu....
Okay, I went off menu last night and made whole wheat pancakes with sliced banana and strawberries as a topping. Keep in mind that using...
treecitystar
Sep 13, 20251 min read


I think I have decided
I love stir-fry. Just sayin'. I think I have decided on a VR system. What do you think about the Meta Quest 3 ? The difficult part is...
treecitystar
Sep 12, 20251 min read
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