The Weekly Bean - January 15, 2026 by yourwestcentral

W EEKLY

PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

Dangerous Drink

-- A 38-year-old man named Sergei who was taking part in a corporate holiday party at the Igra Stolov “Game of Tables” cooking studio in Moscow was rushed to surgery after drinking a cocktail that ruptured his stomach, Metro UK reported on Dec. 25. The liquid nitrogen-infused drink was part of a “cryo-show” being put on by one of the culinary school’s chefs. Liquid nitrogen is used by chefs and mixologists to flash-chill drinks and provide dramatic effects, but because the liquid expands rapidly into a gas when exposed to room temperatures, it’s critical that the drinks are not consumed before the nitrogen has had a chance to fully evaporate. Witnesses at the Moscow event claimed they were given no warnings by the chef or staff of the danger the cocktail presented. Sergei underwent surgery and remained in serious condition at the time of the report.

Shoes on Shore

-- Residents of Ogmore-by-Sea, Wales, were understandably puzzled when hundreds of small, hobnailed shoes began washing up on the local beach, the BBC reported on Dec. 23. The mystery only grew deeper when expert analysis revealed that the shoes were from the Victorian era. The working theory is that an Italian cargo ship from that time, known to have sunk just off the coast, has finally decayed enough to release some of its valuables to the ocean currents. The small size of the footwear is likely due to the fact that “people had much smaller feet in those days,” said lo-

cal mudlarker Lara Maiklem. (The hobby of mudlarking involves scouring riverbanks for historical artifacts.)

Facing the Music

-- At least he left an entertaining note. Buzzy Levine, owner of Lark Street Music in New Jersey, enlisted the help of the public by posting surveillance video of a theft that took place in his store on Dec. 22, but it turns out, he needn’t have bothered. WABC-7 NY reported on Dec. 29 that the shoplifter, seen in the video stuffing two mandolins (worth about $4,000 apiece) into his parka and exiting the store, returned the instruments four days later, along with a box of chocolates and a handwritten note that read, “SORRY, I BEEN DRUNK, MERRY CHRISTMAS You are a good man.” “I suspect that a friend of his or his mom said, ‘Hey,’” Levine said. Police are looking for the suspect and still plan to press charges.

Naughty Plates

-- After denying requests for a number of vanity license plates on the grounds that the requested tags were obscene or inflammatory, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias created a YouTube video in which he read off some of his favorites, including “IBPOOPN,” “SNDNUDZ,” “BDASMOM” and “ICUP.” WBEZ Chicago reported that while Giannoulias and his staff appreciate the creativity of the state’s drivers, he advises them to “keep it clean and avoid ending up on the naughty list.”

Edge’s safety glasses and safety sunglasses deliver peace of mind, comfort, and bold style. Our safety glasses are made with lightweight, shatter-resistant polycarbonate, designed to defend your vision with its natural strength.

If you’re looking for the best safety glasses and protective sunglasses, look no further.

ALSASK

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17

• Ukrainian New Year Celebration. Kaiser tournament at 1:00 PM. $5/person entry. Cash prize. Supper served 5-9 PM featuring homemade perogies, sausage and veggies for $25/ plate or $10 (under 10). Help support the Alsask Drop-Inn Centre (206 Main St). Contact Dave at 306-463-0169 for more info.

EATONIA

- Every Thursday from 11:30 AM -1:30 PM come to the Eatonia Library for puzzles, visiting and grab your books for the week!

- Check out our TOPS Chapter … it’s free to try! Every Wednesday. Weigh in: 5:45 PM. Meeting: 6:00 PM at Corcoran Place. Contact Cora Knuttila 306-460-9047.

- The Lions Club meets on the last Tuesday of each month.

- The Rec Board meets the second Monday of each month 7:00 PM at the Town Office.

ESTON

- Wheatland Centre Potluck Supper fourth Friday of each month 6:00 PM. $5.00. Bring your own utensils. Coffee & tea provided.

- Wheatland Centre Bingo - 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month 7:00 PM. Regular Bingo plus Bonanza, 50/50 Draw. Must be 14 years of age. Call 306-962-7117 (ask for Linda) for more info.

- Every Monday - Adult Exercise Program 10:0011:00 AM at the AGT Community Centre

- Make sure to check the AGT Community Centre recreation calendar on eston.ca for ice schedule.

- Drop in Bowling Sundays 1:00-4:00 PM. $5 bowling. No need to book, just drop in.

KERROBERT

- MS Support Group at Kerrobert Health Centre Meeting Room every 3rd Saturday 2:00-

4:00 PM. Contact Gail Wiebe for more information 306-834-7068.

- Walk This Way Group Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30-11:30 AM

- Walk This Way with Lao Thursdays at the PCC from 9:30-10:30 AM. Everyone is welcome and it’s FREE.

- Shuffle Club Mondays at the PCC 1:30-3:00 PM

- Winter Wear Drive ongoing until March. Drop off at the Seniors Hall Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30-11:00 AM. Contact Yvonne at 306-834-8292 if you need an item.

KINDERSLEY

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24

• Kindersley Screen Arts presents “Deliver Me From Nowhere” (Bruce Springsteen) 4:00 PM at the Sunset Theatre. $10 cash at the door. Wine & Beer available for purchase.

- Parkinson’s Support Group Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month 1:30 PM at 401 - 4th Ave West (New Life Church). Everyone welcome! For more info call Nancy at 306-4634514.

- Monday Night Jam Sessions at the Norman Ritchie Community Centre. Doors open at 6:30 to set-up, then the fun begins at 7-11 PM. Call Keith 306-460-8633.

- Interested in a support group for weight management? TOPS meetings; every Monday at 6:00 PM in the Kindersley Senior Centre OR contact Jill at 306-463-4210.

- Pickleball meets Sunday & Wednesday evenings 7:00 PM at Elizabeth School for the indoor season. Cost is $50 for the season or $5 drop in. Our club is a part of Pathway To Wellness. More info call Teresa Knight 306460-7304.

- Fit Fighter Group Class. Helping individuals with Parkinson Disease, Fibromyalgia, MS, Ar-

thritis and mobility issues. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1:00 PM at Anytime Fitness. Call Karen 463-3607 for more info.

- 365 Kindersley Air Cadets meet Thursday evenings at the Kindersley Museum. No charge to be a member, youth ages 12-18, must be a Canadian resident. Contact Ian Kehrer via text at 306-460-0057 or Sheila Kehrer via text 306604-9044. Come Fly With Us!

• Every Tuesday: Community Badminton 6:30

- 9:00 PM at Westberry School. Everybody welcome.

LEADER

- Make sure to check out the G3 Iceplex Arena Schedule online at leader.ca

- Community Walking Club Monday - Thursday 7:00-8:00 PM at Leader Composite School (Use student parking lot door). You must pre-register at the Town Office.

- Community Badminton SUNDAY evenings 6:00-8:00 PM. $2/Sunday at the LCS Gymnasium (use student parking lot door). Under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Racquets and shuttles available.

LUSELAND

- The Luseland Homecoming Hall will be available for indoor walking on TUESDAY & THURSDAY mornings. Please pick up the key at the Town Office to unlock the door. Silver collection at the door.

- The Luseland Library Art Gallery has a new exhibit on display: A Collection of Sketches featuring Local Artists.

Recurring events at The Luseland Pioneers Club Members

- Monday-Saturday 8:30 AM - Noon, Coffee, Pool, Visiting, Cards

- Cards are played several days of the week

- Third Friday of the month Birthday Lunch at noon

KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, 300 W. STREET, 15th FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY

Welcome Home!

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. CELEBRITY EXTRA #12345_20260112

Are you new to Kindersley? Would you like the Welcome Wagon to visit your home?

Contact Marge Bailey with Better Together at 306-500-1173

RELEASE JAN. 12, 2026

Jackson

Credit: Courtesy of Searchlight

Caption: Mickey Rourke in “The (2008)

Celebrity EXTRA

What ever happened to Mickey Rourke? He appeared to be making a comeback in the movie where he played a wrestler, but I haven’t seen him in anything since. — D.S.

A:It’s hard to believe, but Mickey Rourke is now 73 years old. However, his career actually isn’t slowing down. It peaked in the ’80s with starring roles in movies like “9 1/2 Weeks” and “Angel Heart.” He made a comeback in 2008 with “The Wrestler,” which even earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination. During the decades between these two time periods, he acted in dozens of projects.

Now it’s 2026, and again, if you look at his resume, he’s staying busy. In the early 2000s, he had roles in hit films like “Sin City” and “Iron Man 2.” Most recently, he’s starred in little-known films like “Jade” and “The Roaring Game,” but unfortunately these don’t appear to be paying the rent, as he was recently served with an eviction notice for $60,000 in unpaid rent.

Rourke has six upcoming projects, however, including the horror film “3 Days Rising” with Peter Greene, who passed away last month. ***

When is the new series about the NFL with William H. Macy coming out? I need something to watch after football season ends. — B.T.

A:While a premiere date hasn’t been announced yet, we do have more information about the series thanks to one of its stars, William H. Macy, who shared a few details on the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards. Currently, we know its title is “The Land” and that Macy plays the owner of the Cleveland Browns, but it’s not a biopic. The Browns are the featured team “nominally” only, as Macy put it, and the scripts are “brilliant.” He expanded on this by saying, “They’re Shakespearean. It’s about football, but oh, my lord, the plots are so profound, and I’m having the time of my life.”

The series is created by Dan Fogelman (“This Is Us” and “Paradise”), who knows a thing or two about family

By Dana Jackson

dramas. Christopher Meloni (“Law & Order: SVU”) will play the head coach, with Sam Corlett (“Vikings: Valhalla”) and Tanner Zagarino (“Shrinking”) cast as his sons. Mandy Moore (“This Is Us”) and Chloe Bennet (“Dave”) will play Macy’s daughters. Chace Crawford (“The Boys”) will play the Browns’ general manager.

Q:I read that Evangeline Lilly has brain damage from a concussion. Was it something that happened recently or while she was on “Lost”? — T.D.

A:The “Lost” star Evangeline Lilly suffered a serious concussion after fainting earlier this year in Hawaii. She was on the beach when she passed out and hit her head on a boulder. She recently shared on Instagram that almost every area of her brain is “functioning at a decreased capacity” since the accident.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the actress has suffered from fainting spells throughout her life, but no medical cause has been found. She’s come to accept them and believes that the “‘checking out’ is a result of [her] little soul reaching her limit.”

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.

Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (2008)

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Taylor

Photo by Amy Anderson

Toasting to Toast!

EGG IN A HOLE

cookie turns a light brown color. While you wait, let your kids be “writers” and compose lines for 21/2 by 1/2-inch strips of paper.

Create memorable family traditions with your kids and grandkids, starting at breakfast with this whimsical presentation of eggs and toast. Some families call it “Toad in the Hole” or “Bird in a Nest” -- the list goes on. It’s really nothing more than an egg cooked in the cutout center of a piece of pan-made toast, but it’s the off-kilter presentation that fancies it up.

Here’s how to make one “Egg in a Hole”: Use a 2-inch circle biscuit cutter or a similar sized metal cookie cutter to cut out the center of a slice of bread.

“I’d like to make a toast!” said my friend at a happy family celebration. Without missing a beat, her nephew burst out, “Don’t we need to get the toaster first?”

Good Fortune (Cookies) Ahead

With all the toasting to 2026, I thought that I’d get literal and stretch the meaning, just like that spontaneous child, and welcome this new year with two recipes using toast. So, “here’s a toast to toast!”

AVOCADO TOAST

Don’t put away your holiday baking supplies yet. Start 2026 with your own homemade fortune cookies complete with a special message or prediction hidden inside. They’re fun party favors for a New Year’s celebration or a unique dessert for a weekend meal.

For 6-8 cookies, you will need:

1/4 cup flour

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

I keep a stash of avocados in different stages of ripeness on my kitchen counter, never knowing when I’ll need one to slice on a bed of fresh greens or mash, season and spread on toast for a tasty morning energy boost. I’ve been making the latter for years, so no wonder I was surprised while whiling away time on Instagram to find that avocado toast is “on trend,” with multiple ways to enjoy it.

2 tablespoons cooking oil

1 egg white at room temperature

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 teaspoon water

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

When the cookie is done, an adult should remove it from the oven. Quickly loosen cookie with a spatula and place on a clean kitchen towel. Set a fortune strip across the center with an end hanging out the side. Wearing potholders, fold the cookie in half to make a semi circle with the curved edge upward. Press edge together for a few seconds until it seals.

In a well-buttered pan, toast one side of the slice and cut-out piece for about 1 1/2 minutes. Flip. Add more butter to the pan.

Crack egg in the open center of the slice. Cover pan and cook slowly until whites are set and yoke thickens, about 3 1/2 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the toasted cutout. Pair with bacon or sausage.

While the cookie is still pliable, immediately grasp the pointed ends of cookie with both hands and pull them together to crease. At this point it should be cool enough for your child to hold in place for about 20-30 sec-

Donna Erickson creates relationships and community through food and fun. Find more to nourish and delight you at www.donnaerickson. com.

Here’s how to prepare “Avocado Toast” for two: Peel and pit a ripe avocado. Mash in a bowl with a fork, leaving some chunks. Add a pinch of sea salt and juice from half of a lemon. Toast two slices of your favourite bread. Spread half of the mixture on each slice, and garnish with some red pepper flakes and a drizzle of good olive oil (optional).

Cook’s Tips:

In medium bowl, combine sifted flour, cornstarch, sugar and salt. Stir in oil. Add egg white, vanilla and water and stir until smooth.

Get creative by topping the spread mixture with chopped, cooked bacon, goat cheese, salsa, and crushed tortilla chips -- or cracked pepper, sliced cherry tomatoes, and basil.

Pour 1 tablespoon of the batter onto a greased baking sheet. Spread with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to form a 3-4 inch circle. Make 2 more rounds of dough on the sheet, although I suggest you bake one at a time at first until you get the hang of the folding technique which follows. Bake about 10-12 minutes or until

onds until the cookie is crisp and keeps

Set cookies in mini muffin tins to hold their shape until completely cool.

TIPS: Use 1/3 cup batter for each cookie and bake for 2-3 minutes longer to create giant fortune cookies.

* On Jan. 19, 1977, First Lady and ERA supporter Betty Ford, on a whim and on her final day as a resident of the White House, jumped on the Cabinet Room table and struck a pose. At that time, just three women had ever sat at that table as presidential cabinet members.

* On Jan. 20, 2001, Donald Rumsfeld, who in 1975 was America’s youngest Secretary of Defense at age 43 when he served under Gerald Ford, became the oldest Secretary of Defense when he was appointed to that job 26 years later by George W. Bush.

* On Jan. 21, 2009, after more than 70 years as the world’s largest automaker, General Motors finally lost the title when it announced worldwide sales of 8.36 million cars and trucks in 2008, compared with Toyota’s 8.97 million vehicle sales that same year.

* On Jan. 22, 1779, famed Tory outlaw Claudius Smith met his maker at the end of a rope in Goshen, New York, giving patriot civilians of the American Revolution hope for relief from guerrilla warfare in upstate New York.

* On Jan. 23, 1960, the first two humans to reach the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench descended 36,000 feet in a submersible to the deepest part of the ocean -- more than a mile deeper than the height of Mt. Everest -- fortified with 15 chocolate bars for the trip.

* On Jan. 24, 1922, Christian K. Nelson was inspired by a boy who came into his confectionery shop and couldn’t decide between chocolate and ice cream. He combined the sweet treats and received a patent for the Eskimo bar, originally marketed as the “I-Scream” bar.

* On Jan. 25, 1968, the Israeli submarine Dakar, carrying 69 sailors, disappeared. Built at the peak of World War II in Great Britain and commissioned by the British navy in 1943, it would remain missing until its wreckage was finally located in 1999 between the islands of Cyprus and Crete at a depth of some 9,800 feet. While there was speculation that the submarine was deliberately sunk, the exact cause remains unclear.

Manage your health, mobility or begin your Wellness Journey in a safe and monitored environment or join a class all led by our Exercise Therapist! PROGRAMS

1:1 APPOINTMENTS AQUAFIT ADULT/CHILD POOL TIME SNOWSHOEING SKATING PICKLEBALL WELLNESS PROGRAMS EQUIPMENT EXERCISE BIKES HAND BIKES SEATED ELLIPTICAL CABLE MACHINES FREE WEIGHTS

See Absolutely Eyes for your Ray Ban Meta Sunglasses

Mondays. Open Tue.- Fri. 9 AM - 5:30 PM absolutelyeyes.com Dr. Jackie Hagens & Associates 107

Shrinkflation strikes again

By Brian Zinchuk

I didn’t realize ice melter salt needed a padding of air like potato chips in a bag.

After all, it’s salt. So you should be able to pack it right full, devoid of air, right? After all, that’s what they do when you buy it in bags. But maybe not, at least when you buy it in buckets.

You see, Trudeau’s #shrinkflation remains at work.

A few days ago I opened a new bucket of Alaskan ice melter salt and wondered why it was four or five inches from the top. (I measured – it was 4.5 inches)

Then it became clear to me. This year’s bucket is 13.5 kg and last year’s, seen below, was 15 kg, for same price, as near as I can recall.

So when you put this year’s bucket beside last year’s bucket, you get 10 per cent less by weight. And when you measure the internal height of the bucket – 13 inches – you find that one third of that – 4.5 inches, as shown by my triangle, is air.

Now, Alaskan could have shrunken the size of its buckets and saved themselves a lot of shipping costs by reducing the volume by a third. But instead, they are keeping up appearances by shortchanging the customer, and hoping they don’t notice.

Such is the pattern of “shrinkflation.” Sell less product for the same price and hope the customer doesn’t notice and get choked about it.

Two days earlier I stopped at the local Co-op. There, near the front door was a display of pop, from Pepsi and Coke. Pepsi had it’s usual 24 packs of cans, known in this country as a “2-4” when referring to beer, at least. But low and behold, there’s a new package for the Coke – a “2-0.” Twenty cans in a case instead of 24. And I didn’t notice an appreciable reduction in price.

I bought $215 of groceries and only used the top

basket in the No Frills cart.

In April, 2025, I discovered this:

On the left, 650 mL Classico pasta sauce purchased a month previous. On the right, 600 mL purchased that day. The new purchase was $5.29, for what used to consistently be around $4 a few years ago and often on sale for $2. I immediately noticed the change in shape because I like to keep these mason jars to use for water glasses. Welcome to 2025 Canada. Maybe they’ll do another round of shrinking bacon packaging next? You know, when a pound of bacon (454 grams) became 375 grams?

Shrinkflation is the son of inflation.

Inflation is the thief that makes everyone poorer. Trudeau’s inflationary monetary policy flooded the economy with dollars out of thin air, and his enormous budget deficits, including before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, only served to worsen things.

And since companies are loathe to increase prices, they are instead providing less product for the same price.

Indeed, here’s their chart, found here:

I did a little math. Using Jan. 1, 2020 as a starting point, and compounding the Consumer Price Index inflation rate, prices should have gone up 20.9 per cent by the end of November, 2025.

That might be what Ottawa says, but from everything I’ve seen, food prices are up more like 40 per cent in that time period. So I don’t trust Ottawa’s numbers one bit. I trust my worn out debit card, and what my bank statement tells me.

So now that we’ve had a renowned banker for a prime minister since Trudeau’s departure, what have we seen to combat inflation? Oh, right, another massive budget deficit.

Expect more shrinkflation in 2026, and pony up the bucks to compensate.

Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@pipelineonline.ca.

One of these jugs is not like the other. On the left – last year’s ice melter, with 15 kg of salt. On the right – this year’s, with 13.5 kg – a 10 per cent reduction.

Photo by Brian Zinchuk

ARIES (March 21 to April 19)

Romantic aspects are high at this time for single Lambs who are looking for love. Warm and fuzzy feelings are also at enhanced levels for Rams and Ewes who are in paired relationships.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) This week favors what Taureans dote on — namely, love and money. Look for more meaningful relationships for both singles and pairs, as well as an improved financial outlook.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) All lingering shreds of a recent bout with boredom are dissipated as you eagerly accept a challenging offer. Your positive mood persuades others to join you in this venture.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You might need validation for a possible solution to a situation that involves someone close to you. Consider asking a trusted friend or relative to help you with this problem.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Investigate carefully before agreeing to assist a friend or colleague with a personal problem. There might be hidden factors that could emerge later on, which will create problems for you.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your decision to work with an associate rather than go it alone, as you first proposed, brings an unexpected bonus. Be careful not to be judgmental. Allow for free and open discussion.

LIBRA (September 23 to October

22) A loved one’s health problem could, once again, make demands on your time and attention. But this time, make some demands of your own, and insist that others pitch in and help.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) This is a good time for the traditionally staid Scorpion to plan adjustments in your day-to-day schedules. Be more flexible and allow for more impromptu, off-the-cuff actions.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Avoid creating unnecessary fuss over a situation that you don’t approve of. If it’s going to work, it will do so despite your objections. If it fails, it will do so without a push from you.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Working with a trusted colleague could open your mind to exploring some considerations that you previously dismissed. Meanwhile, the weekend brings news from a loved one.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Resolving a recent problem leaves you in a good position to strengthen your influence on how things get done. But continue to encourage ideas and suggestions from others.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A new friend suggests an interesting opportunity, but check it out before you snap at it. It might be a good deal for some people, but it might not work in helping you reach your goals.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a way of helping people solve their problems, making you a respected counselor and trusted friend.

2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

Owens & Sweitzer (1972) Ltd., in Eston, Saskatchewan is looking to fill the following positions:

Parts Service Supervisor

This is a full-time permanent position, 40 hours per week. Salary is $30/hr

Duties may include but not limited to:

• Oversee operational logistics of the organization

• Plan and organize operational logistics of the organization

• Co-ordinate activities with other work units of departments

• Prepare and submit reports

• Ensure smooth operation of computer equipment and machinery

• Arrange for maintenance and repair work

• Resolve work problems, provide technical advice and recommend measures to improve productivity and product quality

• Arrange training for staff

• Requisition or order materials, equipment and supplies

Marketing Director / I.T. Person

This position is a permanent position that could be considered on a full-time, part-time or flexible schedule pending the individual and agreed duties scheduled. Base salary starts at $22/hr with additional salary dependent on experience and duties that the individual can take on. Owens & Sweitzer offers a comprehensive benefits package and pension program.

Apply in person with resume to Cordell Goheen. 124 Railway Ave. Eston, SK • 306-962-3637 cordell@owensandsweitzer.com

* Giraffes have no vocal cords but can still communicate with low-frequency sounds.

* In 1926, Clyde Barrow, of Bonnie and Clyde fame, was arrested with his older brother Buck for possession of a truckload of stolen turkeys.

* The first recorded cookbook was written in cuneiform on tablets in ancient Babylon around 1700 B.C.

* Gioachino Rossini’s aria “Di tanti palpiti” was known throughout Europe as “the rice aria,” since it was composed while he waited in a Venice restaurant for his risotto to cook.

* Sunsets on Mars are blue.

* Studies have suggested that the average human attention span is now about nine seconds - shorter than that of a goldfish.

* In 1820, Missouri imposed a $1 bachelor tax on unmarried men ages 21-50. The short-lived law was designed to encourage marriage, population growth and family establishment in the new state.

* A Russian safari park became famous after a tiger named Amur didn’t eat a goat that had been placed in its enclosure as live food.

* Detachable heads were used on Roman statues.

* The first U.S. submarine was a hand-cranked, pedal-powered wooden craft from the Revolutionary War dubbed “the Turtle.”

* Astronauts sent to space can experience a kind of motion sickness known as space adaptation syndrome, or space sickness, with the most notable case inflicting former senator Jake Garn, whose bout was so disabling that his name became used as an informal measurement for the illness.

* Great Sand Dunes National Park allows visitors to race down all its dunes on custom-made sand boards and sleds.

* Incas believed that sunflowers were the physical manifestation of their sun god, Inti, on Earth, adorning temples and priestesses with them.

Thought for the Day:

“Do

not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.” - Matsuo Basho

The Regal Recipe to Carry You from Christmas to the New Year

Why a Pot of Vegetable Soup is the Best January Reset

Does last week already feel like a month ago? We often begin the new year with the best of intentions, and the trick is making them sustainable. I’ve learned that real life rarely responds well to extremes, but it does respond to support.

The gentlest and most effective reset doesn’t come from cutting things out; it comes from putting the right things in. A pot of nourishing soup simmering on the stove is a simple, steady way to care for yourself and the people you love, one meal at a time.

After the whirlwind of Christmas cooking, I like to glide into the last week of the year with recipes that practically make themselves. This is the stretch when time feels wobbly, leftovers rule the fridge and we’re all leaning toward lighter meals that don’t require much effort. Let me introduce you to an old classic: Coronation Chicken Salad, the makeahead marvel we all need right now. If you’ve ever enjoyed English tea sandwiches, you’ve likely met this jewel of a recipe. Created in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation luncheon, it has been gracing tea tables and ladies’ luncheons ever since. Think of it as chicken salad that went to finishing school but still knows how to have fun.

A colourful, vegetable-rich soup offers more than comfort. Different colours provide different plant compounds that reduce inflammation, support immunity and overall wellbeing, which is why “eating the rainbow” matters. Plant-forward meals also give digestion a welcome break from heavier animal proteins, allowing the gut to settle after a season of indulgence.

This is an ideal “between holidays” dish. It can be made ahead, improves overnight and waits patiently in the fridge until hunger strikes.

The magic comes from a creamy dressing kissed with curry, a bit of fruit for sweetness, a squeeze of lemon for brightness and toasted almonds for crunch. It’s comforting yet fresh, transforming humble chicken into something fit for a celebration.

My trick for deeply flavorful vegetable soup is building layers of flavor before adding any liquid. I start with a classic mirepoix of onion, carrot and celery, sauteed slowly until soft and lightly browned. That browning brings out the vegetables’ natural sweetness. Once the base is fragrant and sweet, I add the remaining vegetables and saute them too.

Below is the classic version,

chicken is a perfectly acceptable shortcut.

A note on mango chutney: Many traditional recipes call for Major Grey’s mango chutney. It does add subtle depth, but not enough to justify buying a whole jar for just a few tablespoons, unless you plan to make this often or already enjoy chutney.

To help everything brown and boost flavor, I toss the vegetables with seasoned vegetable soup base (Better Than Bouillon) loosened with a tablespoon of olive oil. This coats the vegetables, deepens the flavor and replaces the need for cartons of vegetable broth. It’s an ingredient that costs more upfront but saves money over time, making it a smart, frugal staple in my kitchen.

CORONATION CHICKEN SALAD

Yield: 8 servings

Seasonal Vegetables

Total Time: 50 minutes

1 1/4 pounds (4 cups) cooked chicken, diced (all breasts or a mix)

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

3/4 cup mayonnaise, plus more as needed

1/2 cup sour cream or plain unsweetened Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon curry powder, plus more to taste

This is a flexible, clean-out-the-crisper soup. Use whatever vegetables are in season, ripe in your garden or priced to move at the store. In spring, think peas, asparagus or leeks. Summer welcomes corn, tomatoes and bell peppers. Fall is perfect for squash and cabbage. In winter, use sturdy vegetables like potatoes, peppers and kale. The method stays the same. The vegetables change with the season and the sales.

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

GENTLE RESET VEGETABLE SOUP

1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

Yield: 16 cups

1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

3/4 cup diced celery

Total Time: 1 hour

1/2 cup finely sliced shallots, green onions or scallions (I used a mix)

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 teaspoon fine sea salt, to taste

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, to taste

• 1 large, sweet or white onion, chopped

• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup diced dried apricots and/or dried mango (I used half of each)

• 3 celery stalks, chopped

1/4 cup golden raisins

• 2 tablespoons vegetable soup base

Optional - 2 tablespoons mango chutney

• 4 cups seasonal vegetables, chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes

• 8 cups water

• 1 (15.5 ounce) can great northern beans, drained

• 2 cups leafy greens like kale, chopped (thick ribs removed)

• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Shred or cut the chicken into small, evenly sized pieces (about 1/2-inch).

In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt, curry powder, ginger, lemon juice and sugar. Add celery, onions, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Fold in the chicken, almonds and dried fruit. Add a little more mayo if it looks dry.ing: with additional salt and pepper, more curry for warmth, more lemon for zing.

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the vegetable soup base with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Allow the salad to rest in the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving. The flavors bloom over time, and it keeps beautifully for up to four days.

Serving Ideas:

• Spoon onto crackers for an instant snack.

Add the seasonal vegetables to the pot, followed by the soup base mixture, stirring to coat. Add the garlic and thyme and saute until the vegetables are lightly browned and fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes.

• Serve over mixed greens for a lighter lunch.

• Serve with basmati rice.

• Make tea sandwiches or mini croissants for a New Year’s brunch board.

Stir in the diced tomatoes with their juices and the water, scraping up any flavorful bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil, then partially cover, reduce heat and simmer gently for about 15 minutes.

• Roll into lettuce cups to balance out a month of cookies.

Uncover and add the beans and chopped greens. Simmer until the greens are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the vinegar and season generously with black pepper and salt to taste. Serve hot with crusty bread.

As we wrap up one year and step (thankfully) into the next, here’s a recipe that makes it all feel easier. A little sweet, a little savory and a whole lot of comfort. And that, my friends, feels like the right way to start 2026. Happy New Year from Divas On A Dime!

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime -- Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime — Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime. com