Lifestyle

With online shopping and virtual giving at an all-time high, it’s no surprise that the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported $173 million in losses due to credit card fraud and $337 million in losses from non-payment and non-delivery scams.

The sweet and tangy flavors of orange, honey and ginger coat the chicken for a quick, savory dinner. I like to use boneless chicken thighs instead of boneless chicken breast. They remain moist while cooking and have more flavor. The colorful Red and Green Salad adds a festive touch for this time of year.

Q. I have been dating my boyfriend for two years. He has three daughters, ages 11, 8, and 4, that he shares with their mother. We are very serious, but we do not live together because it was quite confusing for the girls when their mother moved in with someone new.

Sunday Best

For the past 22 years, late November or early December has meant vacation time with a wonderful group of friends. Teresa and Ben Hefner, Cathy and Mike Lehman, and Debbie and Robert Trent all went to high school with Larry and me, and we have stayed very close over the ensuing years. We all look forward to our yearly trip after Thanksgiving to Vegas and wherever else our adventuresome spirits decide to take us. For several years we have wanted to take a side trip to the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park, as some of our group had never been there. But we’ve had to put that on hold for a while due to COVID and the limited services available at the park because of the pandemic. This year our plans finally came together, and it was off to see the beauty of my favorite spot on the earth!

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Like so many unfortunates, my home — which I had just bought and decorated as I had dreamed of — has turned into a nightmare because of a weather disaster. The building is still standing but most of the furniture had to be destroyed because of the 3 feet of floodwater filled with all sorts of pathogens, fecal matter, etc. It will be months before the interior is restored but in the meantime, I need to start thinking about refurnishing. Blessedly, we can stay with generous relatives during the rebuild. Because of the prohibitive cost of flood insurance, little of my furniture losses are covered. I no longer can afford the quality I had in my dream home so I am looking for frugal buying tips for everything from bed headboards to bureaus, appliances and couches to shelving to a desk (I worked from home) and on and on. It isn’t a big home but my list of must-have items is at 25 and growing and more are added all the time. Any shopping tips appreciated.

The days leading up to the holidays can be exhausting, what with all the visitors and shopping and general merriment over the approaching holidays. So any meal that can be whipped up with minimal effort is a reason to cheer for the busy cook.

Before I moved to western Nebraska, I thought a blizzard was a frozen milkshake with a gazillion calories. Then I experienced a storm with snow going sideways at 40 miles an hour. That was a blizzard.

Are you trying to remember which fat is the good fat to use in the kitchen?

Strep infections may be on the rise in the U.S., as they have been in the U.K., so it’s important to know the signs and symptoms, especially in children.