Autumn – Sweater Weather

Sunlight filters through tall trees in a lush green forest.

Today is Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day. Monday is Cyber Monday. Tuesday is Giving Tuesday. Spending v. saving v generosity.

Wild Cooking Women  11/28/25

 

 

Spill The Tea…

 

Senator Jim Justice, a Republican and former governor of West Virginia, has agreed to pay over $5m in long-overdue taxes, just hours after being sued by US tax authorities.

 

 

Wicked: For Good star Cynthia Erivo appeared in New York City on Thursday, Nov. 27, to celebrate Thanksgiving Day by opening up the parade. 

 

Why is gas cheaper at Costco?

 

 

Some parts of the world are happy to assist if it means attracting skilled labor, with added benefits for the wider local economy and community. These seven countries offer financial incentives to relocate.

 

 

 

 

Do you have someone in your life who is not nearby and lives alone? Are you going on vacation? Here are free ways to help check on them while you are gone.

  • https://buddyhelp.org/     Offers free emotional support through volunteer listeners and also provides access to professional online therapy.
  • https://www.snugsafe.com/    A free app that sends daily check-in reminders. If you don’t respond, your emergency contacts are notified.
  • https://checkinbee.com/     Sends daily text messages asking for a simple reply. If no response, designated contacts are notified.

 

 

 

According to Dotsie Bausch, Olympic silver medalist in cycling and executive director at Switch4Good, there are two great reasons why chair exercises are a fan-favorite workout for many. They’re convenient to do wherever you happen to be—and they deliver real results. “When you pair these exercises with a dairy-free, anti-inflammatory diet, you create the perfect environment for belly fat loss: lower bloating, more efficient digestion, improved hormone balance, and better metabolic function,” Bausch adds. Watch the videos HERE.

 

 

 

Julia Child’s shredded potato gratin is the fancy-ish potato dish you need in your life.

Julia’s Shredded Potato Gratin Recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
  2. Sauté 1/2 cup minced onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat for 5 minutes or so, until tender but not browned.
  3. Beat 4 large eggs in a mixing bowl with 1/2 clove crushed garlic, 2 tablespoons minced parsley, 2/3 cup (3 ounces) grated Swiss cheese, 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, a pinch of black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon fine salt.
  4. Stir the softened onions into the egg mixture.
  5. Peel 3 medium russet potatoes and grate them on the large holes of a box grater. A handful at a time, squeeze out any excess water from the potatoes. Stir the potatoes into the egg mixture.
  6. Place 2 tablespoons butter in an 11- to 12-inch baking dish or skillet and put the dish in the oven until the butter is melted. Pour the potato-egg mixture into the baking dish and dot with a final 1/2 tablespoon butter cut into pea-sized pieces.
  7. Set the baking dish in the upper third of the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the top is nicely browned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAKER’S GERMAN’S Sweet Chocolate Cake

Ingredients for cake

  • 4 ounces BAKER’s GERMAN’s Sweet Chocolate
  • ½ cup Water
  • 4 Eggs  (separated)
  • 2 cups Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup  Butter  (softened)
  • 2 cups Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1 cup Buttermilk

 

Instructions for cake

  1.  Preheat oven to 350ºF.
  2. Melt chocolate in water, cool. 
  3. Cream butter and sugar. 
  4. Beat in egg yolks. 
  5. Stir in vanilla and chocolate. 
  6. Mix flour, soda, and salt. 
  7. Beat in flour mixture, alternately with buttermilk. 
  8. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. 
  9. Pour batter into three 9-inch layer pans, lined on bottoms with waxed paper. 
  10. Bake for 30 minutes or until cake springs bake when lightly pressed in the center. 
  11. Cool 15 minutes; remove and cool on rack.

 

Ingredients for coconut pecan frosting

  • 2 cups chopped pecans
  • 1 (12-oz.) can evaporated milk
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 
  • 3/4 cups butter 
  • 6 large egg yolks, lightly beaten 
  • 2 – 2 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut 
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

 

Coconut pecan frosting instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Cool completely (about 20 minutes).

Cook evaporated milk, sugar, butter, and egg yolks in a heavy 3-qt. saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, 3 to 4 minutes or until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cook, stirring constantly, 12 to 14 minutes or until mixture becomes a light caramel color, is bubbling, and reaches a pudding-like thickness.

Remove pan from heat; stir in coconut, vanilla, and pecans. Transfer mixture to a bowl. Let stand, stirring occasionally, 45 minutes or until cooled and spreading consistency.

 

 

 

 

I watched the entirety of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution, two episodes at a time. Worth every minute.  New recipes in holiday recipes. Support NPR and PBS. Check out 1440.com.  More political mess. (I’m so tired of having to say that.)  How can a lame duck have so much influence? How are people with no money supposed to cook a Thanksgiving dinner gift basket if they don’t have gas or electricity?  Check out Books We’ve Loved from NPR. Can you imagine having a 50-year mortgage? If you don’t have any income, you may not be able to get health insurance! The ACA requires a minimum income, and states that did not expand their coverage leave out huge numbers of needy folks. If you feel obligated to spend money on holiday gifts, books (including audiobooks), art/craft supplies, and experiences are some of the best choices.

Wild Cooking Woman 11/24/25

 

 

Giving Tuesday is December 2, 2025. GivingTuesday is an inclusive and pluralistic community of millions of givers, with activity in every country on every continent. Learn more about Giving Tuesday, why you should participate, and how to participate here. (The video was made in 2019)

It seems that moviegoers had one goal over the weekend: to catch a showing of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked For Good, the sequel to 2024’s blockbuster hit Wicked. According to People, the film brought in $150 million in the US and $226 million worldwide so far in its first weekend at theaters. 

 

As health insurers increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to process claims, denials have been on the rise. Now, AI is being used to help patients fight back.  Ali Rogin speaks with Indiana University law professor Jennifer Oliva for more.

 

The Second Annual Gullah Convening, a dynamic evening of food, culture, and conversation to honor the enduring resilience of the Gullah Geechee people. Spend the black-tie evening with us on Saturday, December 27, 2025, from 5:00-9:00 pm at The Grand, 81 Mary Street, Charleston, SC.   Buy your tickets here.

 

 

 

 

 

Books make the best gifts!

Here are some of my favorites for kids of all ages:

  • Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
  • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  • But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton
  • The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    Last Stop on Market Street by  Matt de la Peña  
  • Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
  • Story Boat by Kyo Maclear
  • Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
  • The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by Virginia Hamilton
  • Henry and Mudge: The First Book by Cynthia Rylant
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
  • The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
  • Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day
  • Harlem by Walter Dean Myers
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban
  • The House At Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

 

 

 

 

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