Friday, March 20, 2026

You Rock Joy Bauer

All photos and recipes courtesy of Joy Bauer
Nowadays, I must snack more mindfully because I don’t want to weigh 300 pounds. To a certain extent, I’ve always been a healthy eater, never fasting and never starving myself with unhealthy, unbalanced diets, but when I was younger, I could get away with eating more calories. Not anymore. Yet, one thing remains the same: I will not starve myself!

Today I was very impressed watching nutritionist, Joy Bauer (whose recipes I often like), prepare 3 snacks on The Today Show. She lightened up tasty treats you could make for family or party guests, using healthy ingredients with a good dose of protein. I’ll post Joy’s recipes below, i.e., on my electronic recipe box (with a link back to her) so Savvy Shoppers and savvy eaters (including me) can for sure find them time and again. (I never know what will disappear from the internet):

In general, I don’t like chicken on my pizza, but this recipe is really barbecue chicken on pizza crust. I'll use a combination of mozzarella and extra-sharp cheddar. Joy’s original recipe follows:

Barbecue Chicken Pizza -recipe #1


INGREDIENTS

Dough

¼ cup whole wheat flour, white-whole wheat flour, or 1:1 gluten-free flour½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch kosher salt
¼ cup nonfat Greek yogurt

Toppings:

2 tablespoons BBQ sauce**
¼ cup packed shredded chicken mixed with 1 to 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
A few thin slices of red onion
2 to 4 tablespoon 2% shredded sharp cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
Optional chopped cilantro and hot sauce for garnish

INGREDIENT DETAILS TO KNOW 
*Pour off liquid before measuring**For gluten-free, choose a gluten-free brand of BBQ sauce.

INSTRUCTIONS
 

    1) Preheat oven to 450º degrees. Mist a baking sheet with oil spray and set aside.
    2) In a small bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and seasonings. Mix to combine everything. Add the yogurt and stir until you have a crumbled mixture.
    3) Using your hands, press and fold the flour into the yogurt until all of the pieces come together to form an elastic dough. While at first the dough will be fussy and crumbly, after about a minute of pressing and folding it will come together. Form one ball about the size of a baseball.
    4) Place the ball on the prepared baking sheet and flatten with your palm. Roll it out into a thin circle using a rolling pin or a soup can until it has about a 7-inch diameter. Your shape can be somewhat artisanal or you can make it perfectly circular by pinching the outside perimeters with your fingers.
    5) Place in oven on the middle rack for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and add the BBQ sauce on the crust and spread it out evenly. Add the saucy chicken, red onion slices, and sprinkle on the cheese.
    6) Place back in the oven for another 5 to 8 minutes until the cheese is melty and the crust is crispy and browned around the edges. Garnish with optional chopped cilantro.
Mini Corn Dog Muffins - recipe #2



INGREDIENTS

1 cup white whole-wheat flour, or all-purpose flour*
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1½ teaspoons kosher salt1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn, drained (or 1½ cups frozen
corn, thawed)
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup nonfat or low-fat vanilla yogurt
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons milk or water
8 pre-cooked chicken or turkey sausages, each cut into 5 pieces (about 40 pieces total)

Optional Toppings and Dips: Honey, hot honey, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce

INGREDIENT DETAILS TO KNOW

* For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of the white whole-wheat flour.If you’re making these gluten-free, double-check that your sausage brand is gluten-free too.


INSTRUCTIONS


1) Preheat the oven and prep the pans. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly coat two mini muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray.

2) Mix the dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.

3) Add the wet ingredients. Add the corn, melted butter, eggs, yogurt, honey, and milk or water. Stir until everything is combined and the batter is smooth. Be careful not to overmix—the batter should be thick and scoopable.

4) Fill the muffin cups. Spoon about 1 heaping tablespoon of batter into each mini muffin cup. Press one sausage piece into the center of each cup, gently pushing it down so the batter rises around it and partially covers the sides.

5) Bake and serve. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and the cornbread is set. Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes, then carefully remove them. Serve warm with honey, hot honey, ketchup, mustard, or BBQ sauce.

Caramelized Onion Dip - recipe #3

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 medium onions, thinly sliced (~6 cups worth)
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 cup lite sour cream, or nonfat or 2% Greek yogurt
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

INGREDIENT DETAILS TO KNOW 

*You can use nonfat or 2% plain Greek yogurt or light sour cream. Pour off any liquid that may have settled on top of the container before measuring. You can also half the sour cream or yogurt with light mayo.

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Add the oil to a large skillet and warm over medium heat. Add the onions with ½ tsp salt. Allow them to cook, stirring often, for about 60 minutes, until they’re nicely browned and fragrant. If the onions start to burn, lower the heat to low. 

2) Also, if the onions become too dry at any point, add a tablespoon of water to the pan. The onions will reduce in size to yield about 1 cup when they’re caramelized.

3) When the onions are done cooking, let them slightly cool. Lay them on a cutting board and chop into tiny pieces. Alternatively, you can use a pair of kitchen scissors and snip them into small pieces right in the skillet.

4) In a mixing bowl, blend the sour cream, remaining salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix in the onions. Taste and season with extra salt, pepper and minced herbs. 

5) Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. If it becomes thicker than you’d like, simply mix in a few extra tablespoons of yogurt or sour cream.

NOTES

• Caramelizing such a large amount of onions in one pan will take some time, about 60 minutes over medium heat. While a smaller amount of onions (just one or two) will caramelize more quickly, you’ll need this full amount for the addictive, onion-y flavor. Trust me on this. Use the largest and widest skillet you have on hand. Once your onions get started, I suggest putting on some great music and multitasking while they cook; you can dance, tend to other food items that need prepping, or catch up on a juicy episode of whatever you’re currently watching. You’ll need to stir them occasionally, so don’t stray too far from the kitchen!

• You can opt to caramelize the onions ahead of time and store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months.

• I use 3 medium yellow onions (~6 cups worth of slices), which will cook all the way down to just about 1 cup, if you can believe. You can use any onion but I recommend using yellow or sweet onions.

• If using nonfat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, 2 tablespoons provide about 35 calories, 2g fat, and 2g protein.

🍅🍴🧅🍴🌽🍴🍅🍴🧅🍴🌽🍴🍅🍴🧅🍴🌽🍴🍅🍴🧅🍴🌽

Even as a teenager, I skipped dips as empty calories, empty nutrition. With Joy’s low-fat, protein-dense onion dip using Greek yogurt, I get to experience what I missed! If you make all 3 snacks for a gathering, you’ve got meat, whole grains, and vegetables. Pour a glass of wine and add strawberries and blueberries for dessert. That’s a complete meal in my book! Hat’s off to Joy Bauer!👏

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Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Admiring 2 Harry Winston Diamond Rings

Another day, another eye candy blog. Let's browse: Here are 2 gorgeous Harry Winston diamond rings average wage earners can admire, yet likely not afford to buy. Even if consumers have the money in the bank, it would be unwise to spend it on luxury items like high-end jewelry rather than on necessities, emergencies, or retirement. But looking, ooing, and ahhing are free. So here we go!

The first ring is crafted in platinum; set with a 12.55-carat step-cut emerald, in a D-color that is internally flawless. The main diamond is flanked by 2 tapered baguette diamonds. The cost depends on the carats, color, and clarity a customer selects if buying it directly from Harry Winston. Both rings are available, with consumers choosing their center diamond.

Ring number 2 is crafted in platinum; set with a 6.01-carat pear brilliant-cut diamond, with E color and VS2 clarity; and it is also flanked by two baguette-cut diamonds. Once again, it’s available and customizable at Harry Winston’s, but Fortuna auctioned this 6.01-carat diamond ring for $187,000.

Oh, what if an average earner loves, loves, loves these beautiful diamonds as much as I do, but could never justify a Harry Winston purchase?

As I always say, "First a dreamer, then a realist!" Use the Harry Winston rings as inspiration and be willing to make some compromises to fit your budget! So what is a practical person who isn’t one of the new billionaires in our country to do?

Consder lab grown diamonds costing considerable less!
Lab-grown gemstones are physically, chemically, and optically the same as gemstones that form over billions of years in the Earth's mantle. Be flexible on carat size, color, and clarity, and switch from platinum to 18k or 14k gold to lower costs. The benefit of gold over platinum is that the ring can be resized to fit a changing finger size over time. The 👆lab-grown pear-shaped diamond on the left is 2 carats in 18k gold, priced at $2,424.10, and it, too, is gorgeous!

For the emerald cut ring, this lab-grown diamond ring to the right👉 is without the side baguettes for $1,979.25. Still, if you yearn to dupe the Harry Winston design at a higher price, another option is here. Research all sellers thoroughly before making any purchases.

On a jewelry budget, perhaps rings are the best splurge, because you can admire their beauty while you wear them, unlike a necklace that requires standing in front of a mirror. You catch the sparkles of a ring as you toss your hand around!

Angara
Although much less than Harry Winston, $2,000+ for jewelry isn’t exactly cheap either, is it? If you’re simply looking for bling to wear without investing weeks of salary, there are yet more compromises you could make. You could buy lab-grown white sapphires, which are inexpensive and crafted in 925 sterling silver, which is still categorized as fine jewelry. Sterling silver is softer than gold, so you wouldn’t want a sterling silver engagement ring
 that you might wear daily, banging it around. Do. Not. Accept. That fiancée of yours must work a little harder! Sterling silver is a fine metal for necklaces, earrings, and rings you wear mindfully when you have few chances of banging it. Moreover, it's wise to take lower-priced jewelry that you can afford to replace on vacation.
Italo rings
Italo is one of several jewelry companies making lab-grown white sapphires in 925 sterling silver. With its ongoing deals, a buyer can score Harry Winston dupe rings at $70 - $100. Decent quality for the price.

Even so, I’m thinking if my ☆・*Fairy Godmother☆・* were to ever appear, she’d procure those 2 Harry Winston rings for me. I know she would, and I’m waiting! Are those fast twinkling lights I see, you know, the kind when a body holding a wand👤👗 materializes out of thin air?😛

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Sunday, March 15, 2026

Oscar Dress Picks 2026

Every year for fun, I select my favorite Oscar gowns. IMHO this year, not only are Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka, the best-dressed couple of the evening, but Amanda is wearing my overall favorite Oscar dress of the evening. I love its shimmer, the classy, revealing-yet-not-too-revealing skirt of the gown. It flatters her curves and is ultra glamorous from head to toe. 

At the Academy Awards, black dresses were worn in abundance with other neutrals and not much color. The individuality was in the details of the frocks.

Alana Haim in Louis Vuittron (most daring!), EJAE in Dior, Rose Byrne in Dior

Alana Haim’s dress from the front angle is modern and cosmopolitan sans the huge side slits, which I didn’t notice right away. I wonder if it comes with a silk underlayer? I’m thinking, brrrr, air conditioning.

Teyana Taylor in Chanel, Demi Moore in Gucci, Emma Sands in Louis Vuitton


Zoe Saldana in St. Laurent, Gwyneth Paltrow in Giorgio Armani Privè, Anna Cathcart in Jenny Packham.

The last 3 are simple yet elegant dresses. I also love Zoe Saldana’s Cartier and Gwyneth Paltrow’s and Teyanna Taylor’s Tiffany necklaces. (Click the photos to enlarge.)

The overall look of Oscar night was sophisticated and grown-up.  

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Thursday, March 12, 2026

Old Navy Fragrances Are Lovely

Old Navy has a collection of hair and body mists that smell amazing, more clean than perfumy. In launching them, the clothing retailer partnered with Sol de Janeiro, one of the fragrance industry’s hottest brands. I love pampering my senior Mom by spraying her hair and arms with them. The fragrances are pleasant without an artificial or overpowering scent, and the mists have corresponding body lotions and body washes.

The 5 scents are: 

1) Gourmand Thrill - described as sweet and delicious with notes of toasted pistachio, creamy coconut, and salted amber. 

2) Fresh Splash - described as crisp and aquatic with notes of juicy pear, salty beachwood, and white wood.

3) Vanilla Crush - described as warm and woody with notes of seductive vanilla, tonko bean, and warm woods.

4) Floral Sweet - described as juicy and bright with notes of crushed raspberries, sensuous amber, and white potchouti.

5) Amber Vibe - described as sensuous and smoky with notes of Italian mandarin, golden oud, and sundried amber.

I discovered the lineup at my local Old Navy. They are available in 150 stores with plans to expand further in 2026. Made without parabens, sulfates, or animal testing, the products cost between $7.99 and $16.99. My local Old Navy sectioned off an area of the store with a curated selection of skin, body, and hair care items, which seem to focus on good, clean ingredients. I picked up a set of moisturizing, hair repair shampoo and conditioner!

These Old Navy fragrances are closer to nature's toiletries of flower oils, salt-kissed air, and sweet spices. If you gravitate towards botanicals over aromas such as Chanel No.5 or Dior Eau de Parfum, I highly recommend them! Try them.

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Wednesday, March 11, 2026

#Shorts: Old Navy Dress Alert!

What a darling summer dress the Old Navy Fit & Flare Mini Dress is! 100% cotton in the floral pattern I like best, the dress comes in a total of 8 colors and patterns. With a sweetheart neckline, wide straps, fitted top and a flared skirt, this little number is machine washable. Oooo, look, you get side pockets too!

Although customers are reporting the length isn’t too mini, um short, I’d likely order it in tall. Love summer dresses that are above the knee, yet I’ll no longer wear super short dresses like I could get away with in my younger years. Moreover, a bit of extra length gives a summer dress more versitility.

Last year Old Navy’s mini dresses were not too short or as mini as one would think, and the only way to know about this year’s dress styles is to go into the brick-and-mortar store and try one on! If only the dress came with a lovely yet unhealthy bronze tan and a bright sunny day!

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