Diary

Diary

Sep 13, 2026

Some Things I’ve Changed

Hi, friends! Here’s an update on some things I’ve changed. We are never too old to learn and these changes are based on my curiosity and interest in staying healthy. I’m hoping some of the new things I’m doing might resonate with others…

Pasta – I’ve switched to imported Italian pasta that is slow-dried and cut with bronze dye. The texture is noticeably different, with a rough surface which helps the pasta hold onto your sauce. It also digests more slowly than regular pasta and won’t cause a rapid increase in blood sugar. The al dente texture is just so much better than any I’ve ever had. One you have bronze cut, slow dried pasta, there’s no going back! 🇮🇹

Bread – I’m not one to ask about gluten-free recipes. “Gluten-free” sounds like removing the gluten and joy from your life! I love bread but I’ve switched to eating sourdough, primarily whole wheat. Sourdough bread is easier to digest, has a lower glycemic index than regular bread, and provides minerals and beneficial bacteria for the gut. And it doesn’t need preservatives. That’s the good part. The bad part is I’ve failed many times trying to make my own starter and I finally quit! No more. I’m moving on! I can’t do it. No way. Okay… I might try one more time but if it dies this time, I will build a tiny casket and bury it along with my homemade sourdough hopes and dreams. 🪏

Fat – For many years, I used reduced-fat cheeses and other dairy products, but I’ve switched some to full fat, like cheddar cheese and sour cream. Most reduced fat foods contain additives and thickeners that I can’t pronounce and honestly, they never taste as good, so mostly I go full fat and eat it in moderation. “Moderation? Really, Ms Jones?” That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂

Sweets – All those cake and cookie recipes on this website? I hardly ever make them anymore. We would all benefit by reducing sugar, so I now make mini cookies for desserts, mostly for my husband. For my dessert, I usually have one of my chocolate clusters or a large Medjool date. After months of reducing sugar, I really don’t have the desire for a big dessert. We recently went out for Italian food and he and I split a tiramisu. It’s his favorite dessert but I truly don’t care for this gooey concoction made from lady fingers, espresso, mascarpone cheese, eggs, sugar, and cocoa powder. It’s too much. I don’t like it. But my husband loves it and I love him, so I ate half of it to keep him from having too much dessert… a mistake that l quickly regretted. Love shouldn’t hurt but that tiramisu did. 🤢

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour – I’ve stopped using it. It’s become impossible to find and since I don’t bake as much as I used to, I stick to all purpose flour and use regular whole wheat flour when needed.

Mayo – (does anybody every actually say “mayonnaise” anymore? It takes too long and we’re all busy. I have switched to mayo made with avocado oil, a healthier choice since I enjoy potato salad, salmon salad sandwiches, and deviled eggs. I use Chosen Foods Classic Mayo, which seems available at most stores. 🥑

Vinegar – You know I love my salads. I make them all the time and always with an olive oil-based vinaigrette. Lately, most vinegars, like red wine vinegar, taste too acidic for me so I’ve switched to champagne vinegar. It’s pretty mild but has just enough zing for my taste. If acidic salad dressing bothers you, try champagne vinegar, or the even milder rice vinegar. If you use bottled dressing, look at the long list of ingredients and consider making your own, much healthier salad dressing. My ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, and spices (sometimes – Dijon mustard). Your heart will thank you. 🫒

Speaking of olive oil – I made a big change. After doing some research, I’ve switched to a high quality Greek extra virgin olive oil. Greeks have been using olive oil for centuries and my Greek stepmother, who kept a tin of it under the sink, lived to the age of 92 (just weeks away from 93!).
I keep my new olive oil under the sink too, in memory of my stepmother, Roula. 💔

The highest quality oil should be early-harvest, from a single estate, made from Koroneiki olives. Getting heart-healthy olive oil into your diet is the best reason to make salads. I know it takes work – washing, peeling, chopping, shredding… but do it. Do the work. Don’t make me come to your house! 😠

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Filed Under: Health & Beauty
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Sep 7, 2026

🍋 Here’s My Lemon Chicken Recipe 🍋

chinese-lemon-chicken-recipe

NEW RECIPE: Get the chop sticks for this fast and healthy Chinese style dinner! This is how I like my dinners lately… quick and easy, using simple ingredients. It’s another Asian style recipe that I enjoy so much. Whenever we go out for Chinese food, there’s always something! 1) Too much sauce. 2) Too salty. 3) Uncomfortable chairs. 4) Chewy beef. Why is there always at least one piece of chewy beef ?!? 5) They cook with soybean oil. 6) All the good stuff is deep fried!

Making your own Chinese food at home is always a healthier choice. Here’s how I make this delicious dinner. I start the rice first, usually jasmine rice. I clean and prep some fresh broccoli and set it aside. While the rice cooks, I make the lemon chicken. Keeping an eye on my rice timer, when there’s about 4 minutes left, I drop the broccoli on top of the rice, put the lid right back, and when the rice is done, so is the broccoli.

steam-broccoli-on-top-of-rice

I do this so many times with other recipes that have a side of rice, mostly with broccoli but sometimes with sugar snap peas. So here is my newest favorite recipe – lemon chicken with steamed broccoli. Going out for Chinese food isn’t particularly healthy, but if your other option comes with a side of fries, I’d choose any restaurant whose name includes Golden or Imperial or China or Dragon or Hunan or Jade or Garden or Noodle or Wok! 😀

For my Quick & Easy Lemon Chicken recipe, click here.

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Filed Under: Main Dishes, Quick & Easy
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Aug 17, 2026

Some Things I’ve Learned

I’ve learned a few things over the years, and some over the last few days. I thought I would share…

In the kitchen:

  • Cooking is an important life skill – everyone needs to be able to cook a healthy meal. The pandemic was proof of that.
  • Ovens turn off and on while heating up. If you hear it click off, it doesn’t mean it’s ready. An oven thermometer will always confirm when it’s ready.
  • All lettuce needs to be washed, even the ones that say they’re washed. Even if it looks clean, wash your lettuce and watch what comes out in the water.
  • The harder the cheese, the better it is for you.
  • Frozen vegetables are often healthier than fresh.
  • Extra virgin olive oil retains more health benefits if it’s not refrigerated. The containers are always dark because oils should not be exposed to light. I remember my Greek stepmother always kept a tin of olive oil under the sink. I guess she knew…
  • I’m 80 but I just learned that dates do not spike your blood sugar. My doctor told me that they are a low glycemic food. I love dates but always avoided them. They’re dessert now! 😋
  • I avoided a lot of fruit because of the sugar but it turns out berries, peaches, plums, apples, even oranges are not high glycemic. Guess what’s the highest glycemic index fruit? – Watermelon. Dang! I was hoping! But it’s basically just red, pretty, and delicious sugar water!
  • Whatever you cook or bake does not have to be perfect. As long as it’s healthy and homemade (and didn’t blow up in the oven 🚒) you will benefit by eating it. “Not perfect” is a regular occurrence in my kitchen.

In life:

  • One size does not fit all.
  • The older we get, the more we have to lose by eating unhealthy food.
  • If the answer is difficult, the answer should be no.
  • I have never regretted telling the truth. “Jenny, do I look fat in this?” “Yes… yes, you do.” It’s that easy.
  • When trying to make an important life decision, I always draw a vertical line down a blank page, with the left column for “Upside” and the right for “Downside.” When I start listing, it’s amazing how one side is substantially longer than the other.
  • We were all stupid as teenagers. When I was 14, I lectured my parents on all the things they were doing wrong. They took away my hula hoop.
  • There are two sides to every story. It doesn’t matter if it’s your best friend or your mother – there is always another, different side to the story.
  • Growing up with immigrant parents and their friends, I was surprised to learn that they always appreciate being made aware if they are mispronouncing a word or using incorrect grammar. You can’t do this with strangers, but friends and family have always said they appreciate it. Once, I remember my Polish dad asking me to explain a word that someone called another man. He said this guy was a “crip, prip, something like that. Oops. Okay, this time I lied and said I didn’t know. Thinking back, I should have said that word but I didn’t want to swear in front of my dad.
  • They say you should not hold grudges but I still do. I still have one from 1967.

Feel free to add what you have learned in the kitchen or in life. Just leave my grudges to me. It’s not the holding of grudges… it’s the waiting for karma that keeps me going. There’s still time! ⏰

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Filed Under: General, Health & Beauty
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Jul 25, 2026

I ❤️ My Toaster Oven!

I hate my big oven so much! It’s a Viking wall oven and after it’s used, the cooling fan stays on forEVER and it’s LOUD! The kitchen is supposed to be my happy, peaceful place and that’s why I’ve learned to bake almost everything in my toaster oven… my nice, quiet, less-energy-using toaster oven. Here’s what I cooked this week:

crispy apple tart

  • Crispy apple tart (in my toaster oven!)
  • Tomato soup
  • Vegetable fried rice with Asian salad
  • Chicken & spinach skillet pasta
  • Chicken salad
  • Granola bars
  • Vegetable chili
  • No knead crusty rolls (gotta have them for chili!)
  • Chocolate puddingdutch-oven-fruit-nut-bread
  • No knead whole wheat fruit & nut bread
  • Pizza with peppers, onions, and mushrooms + tomato & cucumber salad
  • Egg salad
  • Tortillas
  • Pasta fagioli
  • Pesto pasta with meatballs + salad
  • Peanut butter cookies

I woke up mad at my husband for something he did in my dream. Is that wrong? As usual, he thinks I’m overreacting. 😵‍💫

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Filed Under: What I Cooked This Week
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Jul 11, 2026

Home Cooking Is The Best

I don’t know how I’m so busy – I’m retired! But there’s always something to do. A lot of it’s grocery shopping because when you cook with so much produce, fresh is always better, plus some stores have better looking berries, while others have better looking baggers! 😀 Here’s what I cooked this week:

creamy-chicken-broccoli

  • Creamy chicken & broccoli pasta (will be posting soon…)
  • No knead crusty rolls
  • Custard pudding
  • Vegetable pizza + salad
  • Chicken noodle soup
  • Granola bars
  • Almond butter

mini-chocolate-chip-cookies

  • Mini chocolate chip cookies (he still eats two!)
  • Vegetable soup
  • Vegetable fried rice with Asian salad
  • Salmon patties & steamed vegetables (beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts & peppers)
  • Crispy apple tart
  • Taco saladbest-ribs-ever
  • Fall off the bone ribs
  • Potato Salad
  • Cole Slaw
  • Strawberry cake

The last four items (ribs, sides & cake) were all for my husband’s birthday. ❤️ He is younger than I. He says I should try to get more people to find my recipes and I had an idea. I have lot of pans: baking pans, frying pans, pizza pans, round pans, square ones, sauté pans, sheet pans… I could broaden my horizons by borrowing another social media platform idea, but mine would be called OnlyPans! 😀 Thoughts?

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Filed Under: What I Cooked This Week
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Jul 5, 2026

Bugs In My Flour!

Wait…What!?! BUGS in my FLOUR?!? I debated on sharing this, especially the picture, but I want to alert all my fellow bakers to check your flour before using it. I’ve been using organic King Arthur flour for years but yesterday, when I opened a new bag, it was crawling with bugs! I was stunned. I closed the bag up and taped it shut. I immediately called the store to ask the manager to check the other bags.Then I emailed the King Arthur company (yesterday was a holiday – the 4th) and I received an automated reply:

“Wheat, like all plants, has naturally occurring insects and other organisms present in its environment. Once the flour goes through our pest mitigation processes and leaves our milling facility, it can be difficult to determine where/when/how insects get into the flour. There are some grain insects that can chew through the bags, and even some who can work their way in through the folds of the top & bottom of the bags.”

My first thought was, ‘if they have an automated reply, how often is this happening?’ I suppose it’s always a possibility but you need to know to check your flour before routinely using it in case the bugs are not as easily visible as mine were. Mine were having a family reunion!

I wondered if organic flour might be more appealing to weevils? I also wondered if they were more common years ago and that’s why sifters were invented??  The store manager told me it does not happen often with flour but that it does happen more with dried beans. This is not to freak you out but to make you aware that this can happen. I took the picture in a hurry so it’s kind of fuzzy, but you’ll thank me for not being able to see these ugly bugs clearly.

I can’t think of anything worse than seeing bugs in your flour… except maybe ants in your pants!

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Filed Under: General
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Jun 24, 2026

👎 Ditch This / Choose That 👍

Here I am again trying to help people make better choices with some pretty easy swaps everyone can do. Most of these changes involve very little effort. Try any one of these switches and you can know you’re one step closer to better health… or one step closer to telling me to mind my own business! But here goes anyway…

Ditch chocolate bars.  Choose → homemade 70% dark chocolate clusters with nuts or a mix of nuts & raisins. I keep cashew clusters in my fridge at all times and it’s usually all I have for dessert.

Ditch soft drinks. Choose → real fruit juice mixed with sparkling water or club soda.

Ditch rotisserie chicken. Choose → skinless chicken breast, which has less salt and less saturated fat. I believe poultry fat is the worst kind.

Ditch store-bought bread. Choose → homemade bread. Store bought bread usually has too much salt and added preservatives. And homemade bread is easy to make – it’s just flour, water, yeast and salt. Try to find that ingredient list at the store!

Ditch bottled salad dressing. Choose → homemade olive oil-based dressing with vinegar or lemon juice. Olive oil is vital to good health (and skin & hair).

Ditch potato chips. Choose → home popped popcorn. I use a whirly type popper. Packaged microwave popcorn is usually made with palm oil and too much salt plus added preservatives. I pop mine in coconut oil, topped with my melted “buttermix” (mix of butter + olive oil)

Ditch fruit-flavored yogurt. Choose → plain yogurt and add fresh fruit and a little sugar if needed. I really enjoy plain yogurt with a little vanilla and sugar.

Ditch diet soda.  Choose → anything else. Diet soda is bad for the kidneys and liver and the chemical sweeteners can trick your brain into craving more sweets. It’s bad news all the way around.

Ditch peanut butter.  Choose → almond butter, preferably homemade, processed with nothing but toasted almonds. Peanuts cause inflammation and they aren’t even nuts anyway.

Ditch “fat-free” anything. Choose → foods with healthy fats, like olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, and fish. Fat is essential to your health. It’s needed to absorb certain vitamins, provide energy, and is vital for brain and heart health.

Ditch ham and salami. Choose → nitrate-free sliced turkey breast for sandwiches.

Ditch pepperoni.  Choose →…. wait a minute! Let me re-think this. Sometimes, pizza isn’t worth having without pepperoni. I know that. I mean there are times when veggie pizza just doesn’t cut it. So I’d like to walk this back and say, “Choose pepperoni but ONLY on special occasions, like a birthday, a job promotion, a gender reveal, or Friday.”

Bottom line: Look at ingredients. Too much sodium? Don’t eat it. Too much saturated fat? Don’t eat it. Too much sugar? Don’t eat it. Too many mystery ingredients? Don’t eat it. If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it. I hope this helps. And if you can’t do any of these simple swaps, feel free to send your best excuse… 😀

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Filed Under: Health & Beauty
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Jun 14, 2026

🙂 The Kitchen Is My Happy Place 🙂

It’s true, I find myself in the kitchen every time there is something I don’t want to do, like paperwork, matching my socks, or staring into my magnified lighted makeup mirror! 😱 Here’s what I cooked this week:

chicken-meatballs-jenny-can-cook

  • Turkey meatballs but with ground chicken
  • Vegetable fried rice with asian salad
  • Tortillas
  • Dark chocolate fudge brownies
  • No knead whole wheat bread
  • Spaghetti with meat sauce + salad
  • Almond butter
  • Salmon patties with steamed potatoes & beets
  • Rice pudding

orange-chicken-with-broccoli

  • Orange chicken with broccoli
  • Lemon chicken with green beans (much better than my orange chicken)
  • Oatmeal muffins
  • Egg salad
  • Breaded lemon chicken cutlets with roasted vegetables
  • Custard pudding
  • Taco salad

Thank you to everyone who wished me a Happy 80th. ❤️

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Filed Under: What I Cooked This Week
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Jun 7, 2026

🎈I’m 80 Today 🎈

I’m celebrating with dinner and a poem…

S**t happens when you get older, you’re suddenly free,
You can swear and get away with it, just like me.
We all get older, you just have to prepare,
If you want to know what’s coming, pull up a chair. 🪑

There’s a parade of horribles coming your way:
Your ears get longer and your hair turns gray.
Every problem feels like a panic attack,
Like needing a cushion with a space for your crack.

Seniors, it seems, are always feeling cold.
Losing some fat happens when you get old.
Not me. I never admit that I’m freezing at all…
OMG! I actually own a shawl!

My body is changing, it’s just not fair,
My hips are thinner, but so is my hair!
Some places on my body suffer wear and tear,
Other places – I’m afraid to look down there.

My husband tries to show how much he still loves me,
So he playfully grabs my butt where it used to be.
When I stretch, all he hears is snap, crackle and pop.
“Making popcorn?” he says. “Put some salt on the top.” 🍿

Memory is a challenge when you watch TV,
When you can’t remember… did it start with a C?
Can’t find our favorite show as hard as we try,
“Honey, let’s watch that show with that guy!” 📺

Scrolling and searching is always a dread,
When we finally find it, it’s time to go to bed.
Another thing that bothers me, it really does,
Sorry… I just can’t remember what it was.

My workouts are changing, it used to be biking,
These days, sitting down is more to my liking.
Some things are a rite of passage for little old ladies.
Do I have to crochet? Just send me to Hades! 🔥

There’s always a test – MRI’s, X-rays & scans…
Well that sucks. I was making other plans.
Fixing unexplained cuts & bruises are just routine,
My bathroom counter looks like a crime scene.

Joints are a bit stiffer – I knew they would be,
So decisions I make are important to me.
Like when I drop things, say a spoon or a cup…
Is it really worth kneeling down to pick it up?

Right now, there’s a spoon, and a tea bag on the floor,
I think l’ll wait until I drop a few more.
Then I’ll get down there – I’m sure I’ll survive,
Or maybe just stay there ‘til paramedics arrive.

I don’t care much what people think any more.
Don’t like my stretch pants? There’s the door!
Now I’m driving too slowly? Stop honking at me!
It’s not that I’m old – I just can’t see. 🤓

I’ve lived 29,221 days!
Seeing that number means healthy living pays.
If I make it to 31 thousand I’ll be 85 and thriving,
Don’t panic or anything, but I’ll be 85 and driving. 🚘

The truth is I’m actually fine and still holding up,
No issues, no problems, I just made it all up.
My sense of humor is what’s helping me thrive,
Let’s see how funny things are when I turn 85. 😀

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Filed Under: General
22 Comments
May 25, 2026

😋 My Favorite Croutons 😋

Crispy and Soft Croutons

NEW RECIPE: How do I describe these beautiful croutons? Let me just say that we now have to negotiate our croutons before dinner. HE wants to make sure I don’t get more than he does. And I need to make sure he doesn’t steal any before I toss the salad. They are that good! I will never make croutons the old way, where they are toasted through and sometimes too crunchy. These babies are crispy and toasted on the outside and still soft on the inside, basically they’re mini chunks of crusty bread.

I use my own no knead bread recipe and here’s how I do it: Once the bread has cooled, I slice and then cut the entire loaf into big cubes. I place them in a freezer bag and into the freezer. An hour before dinner, I take out some cubes (always an even number to keep everyone honest!) and let them thaw a bit or thaw them in the warming toaster oven for 5 minutes. Then into a plastic bag with the oil, salt & pepper, and then into the oven to bake. After about 15 minutes, when they’re gold and crispy, I remove and transfer them to a plate to cool down – and divide!

When we sit down to eat, his croutons are on one side of the plate and mine are on the other. We do another count and once our numbers match up, we are both free to eat. This may seem exaggerated, but this is exactly how we eat these croutons with our salads – honest and fair, kind of how life should be, don’t you think? Life lessons through croutons… 😍

Click here for the recipe.

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Filed Under: Breads/Muffins
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