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I chopped 4 medium large onions, 5 cloves of garlic, and sauteed them in olive oil. I had a 3 pound bag of sweet potatoes that I needed to use. I sliced off the bad spots and chopped them up. I added 2 pounds of kale, chopped into one inch pieces, a can of peeled whole tomatoes a (large) 28 ounce can, cut the tomatoes in half, I added a generous bloop or two Chianti, and water and chicken bullion, and Adobo.
It cooked in the pressure cooker for 5 minutes and wow! It's delicious!
https://drjudyho.substack.com/p/neuroplasticity-101
Neuroplasticity is driven by what we pay attention to, repeat, practice, and emotionally engage with. It’s shaped by your habits, your thoughts, your environment—and what you choose to do with them.
When you practice a new skill or repeat a specific behavior, your brain strengthens the pathways that support that activity. If you imagine your mind as a dense forest, forming new habits is like carving a trail through the trees. The more often you walk the path, the clearer it becomes.
This is what neuroscientist Donald Hebb famously summarized as:
“Neurons that fire together, wire together.”
That includes everything from how you speak to yourself to how you respond to stress. For example, if your go-to inner dialogue is self-critical—“I never get this right”—you strengthen those pathways. But with conscious effort, you can begin to shift those patterns toward something more balanced, and over time, that becomes the new default. The result is not only psychological relief—it’s physical change in the brain.
I had a small container of my frozen leftover lentil and potato and carrot soup. I expanded it by chopping fresh kale and adding it, some frozen corn, some whole canned tomatoes, a chicken bullion cube, Chianti, olive oil and leftover cooking liquid from beans. It was colorful and delicious.
A letter to the editor from surgical oncologist Michael Baum, on how Arcadia by Tom Stoppard, who died last week at 88, inspired a valuable new hypothesis on the metastasis of breast cancer:
When pie becomes law—add cheese! For over 25 years, Vermont has proudly claimed apple pie as its official state pie, with the law explicitly stating that when serving apple pie, it should be paired with cheddar cheese. And who are we to disagree?
The Bill, passed by both House and Senate to become law 1 V.S.A. § 512, declares the state pie as apple pie and “when serving apple pie in Vermont, a “good faith” effort shall be made to meet one or more of the following conditions: (a) with a glass of cold milk (b) with a slice of cheddar cheese weighing a minimum of ½ ounce ( c) with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.”
Cabot co-op member Beth Kennett from Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester VT explained in a recent interview, “Apple pie without cheddar cheese is like a hug without a squeeze,”
3 to 4 freshly squeezed lemons to make 3/4 to a cup of lemon juice
a cup of sesame tahini
3 to 4 large fresh cloves of garlic with core removed
a pound (2 dry cups) of soaked and pressure cooked Garbanzo beans also called chick peas with liquid strained out and saved
sprinkles of ground cumin
salt to taste
I puree the cooked beans with the fresh garlic in my food processor while gradually adding some of the leftover chick pea cooking liquid. Then I mix the freshly squeezed lemon juice with the tahini and slowly pour it into the food processor combining it with the garlic, and Garbanzo bean/chick peas. I add more cooking liquid if needed. Add salt to taste and a dash of cumin.
The lemon salt and garlic make a triad a perfect balance of flavors. You will know it when you hit it!
Freshly cooked beans and freshly made lemon juice and fresh garlic make the most spectacular hummus. I prefer to make a full batch and freeze it in three small containers. It works beautifully.
serve with parboiled carrots or steamed broccoli drizzled with olive oil and adobo.
Add chipotle sauce for some spice!
You can turn things around by focusing on shifting your inner mindset, making conscious choices, and taking small but consistent actions. This involves reframing negative thoughts, finding solutions, developing resilience, and taking responsibility for your choices.
MOVE an injury versus RICE
Let’s call it MOVE:
Movement, not rest.
Options: offer other options for cross training.
Vary rehabilitation with strength, balance and agility drills.
Ease back to activity early for emotional strength.
“The unpredictable and the predetermined unfold together to make everything the way it is.”
