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White Bean and Kale Soup with Chicken
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.
treecitystar
1 day ago2 min read


When you hit that 'I am old enough' age.....
When you graduate high school, you might be thinking to yourself, now I can move into my own place and start 'adulting'. Maybe you have waited until you have graduated college. Maybe you just feel like you are ready to 'get out there' on your own. Here's a checklist for you to use to determine if you are really ready for that. Moving Out Readiness Checklist (Ages 18–19 +) Financial Readiness Do I have a steady, reliable source of income? Can I cover rent + utilities + food +
treecitystar
2 days ago3 min read


2 years ago
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
treecitystar
Mar 122 min read


Recalls - So many!
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
treecitystar
Mar 93 min read


Oh my. I am a hippie. A flower child. In the flesh.
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
treecitystar
Feb 253 min read


4th post Healthy Eating on a Budget
Here is the last post for now on this Series. Keep in mind that the initial cost for items will make the meal cost more than it will next time you make it as well as make other meals cost less. It's up to you if you feel that meal is worth the extra expense and it's also okay to leave out some ingredients. Substitutions are always an option. This is another of my favorite meals. I don't serve this one often because it does cost a little more per serving than many of my other
treecitystar
Feb 32 min read


3rd post for Healthy Eating on a Budget
Hi. This is going to sound like it's expensive, but once you purchase the initial pantry items it is actually budget friendly. What would you consider to be cost effective per serving? $4 ? $2 ? Cooking and eating at home is going to be cheaper no matter what, so start there. If you spend $4 per serving for 4 people that's $16 for one meal. If you do that three times a day that is going to turn out to be $48 per day. And that IS expensive. It's what most people spend current
treecitystar
Feb 23 min read


Feed 4 on $40 per week. 2nd post for eating healthy on a budget.
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
treecitystar
Jan 315 min read


Here we go. First post for Healthy Eating on a Budget.
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!
treecitystar
Jan 304 min read


This weeks menus and hair foibles.
I think I might be back on schedule here. Getting my groceries delivered on Thursday again. So here is this weeks menus: Turkey Dinner. (I had frozen turkey from Thanksgiving that I needed to use I was thinking). So stuffing, gravy and green beans with that. Instead of cranberry sauce which is loaded with corn syrup and sugar I'll be using 'warm' mixed berries. Red Lentil Chili. (The red lentils seem to cook faster so watch your pot) with corn muffins. The Tofu pu
treecitystar
Jan 293 min read


Ok, I had to ask!!
Freckles and spots on older people's hands, often referred to as age spots or liver spots, are primarily caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, which leads to an overproduction of melanin in the skin. These spots typically appear on areas that have received the most sun exposure over the years, such as the hands, face, and arms. So I should not get natural Vitamin D via the sun. Huh. Anything else? Ultraviolet (UV) Light: Prolonged exposure to
treecitystar
Jan 282 min read


Checking emails
Trying to stick to a schedule here. On Mondays I am supposed to check emails and respond. That can be a bit tedious some days. Not complaining, just saying, I think I need a cup of something. Tea? Decaf? Plain Water? I got a Vegan recipe for BBQ Tofu, pulled pork mimic. I plan to try it out. I'll let you know how it goes. I may look for another recipe out there on the internet because the one I have requires that I make homemade BBQ sauce and also homemade BBQ rub. I guess I
treecitystar
Jan 263 min read


Did you say budget? LOL
Yeah well, if you are like me you have been trying but it's not been easy. Not with the utilities, not with the insurance, and not with the groceries. I am a frugal person. No doubt about that. But it's getting increasingly hard to buy food that you normally buy, to stock up when things are on sale, and to stick inside the confines of a realistic budget. I am spending more than I used to spend for sure. True, I have started buying things that I did not buy a decade ago in my
treecitystar
Jan 252 min read


Never thought I'd ever eat Tofu, but....
The Okinawa diet has gained attention worldwide for its association with longevity and vibrant health. One ingredient that often surprises newcomers to this diet is tofu. If you never thought you would eat tofu, the Okinawa diet might just change your mind. This plant-based protein plays a key role in the traditional eating habits of Okinawa, Japan, and offers many health benefits worth exploring. The Okinawa diet stands out because it emphasizes whole, minimally processed fo
treecitystar
Jan 235 min read


Bills, Schedules, Grocery Orders, and I see Dead People
Working on trying to stick to a schedule of sorts. I have changed it a few times, AFTER printing it out of course. It being the first part of the month there are bills to pay and there is stock up to do on the inventory for the pantries. (If you read pantries as panties then you have a gnat in your eye like me. LOL ) How on earth do people really get bored? There is always so much to do. I think it's really that are tired, too tired to get up and do the stuff that needs to g
treecitystar
Jan 132 min read


Beware. Do your research.
So they have turned the food pyramid upside down. What used to be a pyramid is now a...what....an upside down triangle? I do agree with some of it and think it's a good idea on those notes, but be careful of following it in it's entirety. Let me break that down to be clearer. On January 7, 2026, the U.S. government introduced a new food pyramid as part of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This marks a significant shift in federal nutrition policy, emphasizing a
treecitystar
Jan 83 min read


Coffee, Tea, and Me
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
treecitystar
Jan 43 min read


This week...the last week of the year
I have gotten off schedule a bit and that's okay, nothing is written in concrete. I still have one meal to cook from the last menu, which is Rosemary Dijon Chicken. For the rest of the coming week: Ratatouille on Polenta Tilapia and Rice Medley Pasta and Chicken in a Pumpkin Sauce Gnocchi N Brussels Sprouts Last night was baked potatoes with leftover Awesome Sauce and cauliflower florets. That was not on the menu. It was a spur of the moment suggestion and it was quite go
treecitystar
Dec 29, 20252 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


Menus/ Nature? Nurture?
Here's this weeks menus. Homemade Pizza with yogurt crust. Black Bean Cheese Burgers with the fixins. (Have to use up the rest of the batter). Greek Zucchini Rotini Chicken Burritos and Fruit Salad And of course Friday Fish with Baked Potatoes and Green Beans It might not sound like a healthy menu to some, especially if you just say cheese-burgers, pizza, burritos and pasta. As you can see, it really is better than it looks because of the ingredients and the preparation.
treecitystar
Dec 17, 20253 min read
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