In ragtag crumbles or genteel chunks, feta cheese gives a frisky flavor edge to food. Its salty, sour-sweet sharpness gives a classic Greek salad its signature taste; romaine, olives, cucumbers and red onions would be just another salad without feta’s tart earthiness. Its flavors also add oomph to everything from black beans to pasta to tacos.

Feta dates back thousands of years in Greece, where it’s made with goat’s milk or sheep’s milk. Today, in America, it generally is made commercially with cow’s milk. This rindless, bed-sheet-white cheese is cured and stored in a brine made with salt and either water or its own whey (the watery liquid that separates from the curd during the cheese-making process). Brining stops the ripening process, keeping the cheese fresh and flavorful. Because of this brining procedure, it’s often dubbed “pickled cheese.” And because of the salt content of the brine, this cheese acts as a salty element in recipes, something to keep in mind when adding salt to those dishes.

At about 264 calories for a 3 1/2-ounce serving (21 grams of fat), feta hovers midway between the higher-in-fat cheddars at about 403 calories and the low-in-fat part-skim ricottas at about 138 calories. Feta can range in texture from soft to semidry, and “fetaphiles” differ in their preferences. Made in Bulgaria, France, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Romania and Italy, as well as Greece and America, products vary in texture as well as saltiness and tartness.

Feisty Feta Dip is shown served with Pita triangles. (Photo by Nick Koon, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Feisty Feta Dip

This perky dip showoffs feta in an alluring way. Serve it with triangles of pita bread (toasted or plain) and/or raw veggies. Garnish with pitted, imported black olives, such as kalamata. If you want to fancy up this dip, fry some thinly sliced prosciutto in vegetable oil until crisp. Drain on paper towels; when cool enough to handle, crumble over top of the dip. Delicious.

Yield: About 2 cups

INGREDIENTS

1 cup sour cream

3/4 cup crumbled feta (plain or flavored with tomato and basil)

3 minced green onions (include part of dark green stalks)

1 medium clove garlic, minced

3 tablespoons minced Italian parsley

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano (or generous 1/4 teaspoon dried)

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

Optional: fresh lemon juice to taste if needed

Optional garnish for dip: 2 to 3 pitted Kalamata olives

Optional garnish for plate: cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes

DIRECTIONS

1. Place ingredients in a bowl and mash with the tines of a fork. Taste and add a little lemon juice, if desired. Garnish with the dip with pitted, imported black olives, such as kalamata. If desired if you like, garnish the serving plate with either cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes.

Spinach Salad with Roasted Bell Peppers and Feta Fingers also features capers and black olives. (Photo by Nick Koon, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Spinach Salad with Roasted Bell Peppers and Feta Fingers

Spinach salad gets spunk from feta and roasted peppers. Capers and black olives add to the appealing complexity. If you decide to roast and peel the red bell peppers at home, start by lining a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, leaving some extra foil on the ends. Place the bell peppers in a single layer on the foil.  Place 6 to 8 inches below heated broiler element.  Broil until lightly charred.  Rotate peppers with tongs and char on all sides.  Remove from oven and draw up ends of foil to enclose peppers for 5 minutes. Open foil; when cool enough to handle, peel peppers and discard seeds. Resist temptation to wash skin off with water; use hands, the pepper will be more flavorful.

Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

Olive oil for greasing pan, about 2 teaspoons

8 (1- to 1 1/2-inch wide) strips of roasted and peeled red bell peppers, roast and peel at home or buy commercially prepared in jars

Block of feta cheese, cut int 2-by-1/4-by-1/4-inch rectangles

2 medium-sized garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons drained capers

2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 generous handfuls of fresh clean baby spinach

12 pitted Kalamata olives

Vinaigrette: 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, pinch dried red pepper flakes, salt to taste, freshly ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a small roasting pan or gratin dish with olive oil and place 8 (1- to 1 1/2-inch wide) strips of roasted and peeled red bell peppers in single layer. Place a rectangle of feta lengthwise in the center of each pepper strip. In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, capers, parsley and oregano; spoon the mixture atop the feta. Drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil. Bake in preheated oven 12-14 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.

2. Place handful of cleaned baby spinach in each of 4 salad bowls. Place 2 cheese-topped pepper strips on each, spooning any mixture from pan over cheese. Place Kalamata olives on top of spinach.

3. Prepare vinaigrette: Combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a bowl and whisk with a fork; taste and adjust if needed. Drizzle spinach with vinaigrette. Serve.

Marinated Feta is served atop cooked faro, but other types of pasta can be used. (Photo by Cathy Thomas)

Marinated Feta

Cubes of marinated feta cheese atop blanched green beans, cooked farro, or a bowl of cooked pasta, turn the dish into something bright and inviting with minimal effort needed. Make the marinated mix a day ahead and store it airtight in the fridge. I like to keep it in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Remove it from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes ahead of use so that the solidified olive oil liquifies.

Occasionally I add 1/2 cup coarsely chopped Castelvetrano olives to the concoction; the olives buttery flavor balances the vibrant personality of the feta and tastes delicious when using to top grains, pasta, or toasted baguette slices.

Yield: About 2 1/2 cups

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if needed

2 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons minced lemon zest (colored portion of peel)

1/8 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces firm feta cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Cook’s notes: For the photo, I used the marinated feta spooned atop cooked farro. I love the chewy texture of farro. I cook 8.8 ounces of farro according to package directions (Trader Joe’s sells Ten Minute Farro). I drain it and toss it with a little extra-virgin olive oil. Spread out on a large plate or small platter, it’s topped with the marinated feta, scooped up to include a generous amount of the herb-spiked olive oil.

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, add olive oil, parsley, oregano, zest, dried red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Stir to combine. Add feta and gently toss to coat cheese (I use a silicone spatula to the it).

2. Transfer to a jar or lidded container. Mixture should be covered with oil, if needed add more olive oil to immerse feta. Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours or up to 5 days.

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By ALBERT STUMM

Even as a kid, Alice Lovatt was always getting in trouble for being late.

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She was often embarrassed after letting down friends for her tardiness, and she was routinely stressed about arriving at school on time.

“I just don’t seem to have that clock that ticks by in my head,” said Lovatt, a musician and group-home worker in Liverpool, England.

It wasn’t until she was diagnosed with ADHD at 22 that she learned she was experiencing a symptom sometimes called “time blindness.”

Russell Barkley, a retired clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Massachusetts, is often credited with linking time impairment with people with ADHD or autism. In 1997, he called it “temporal myopia.”

But recently, time blindness has sparked a social media debate: Where is the line between a genuine condition and someone who is disorganized or just plain rude?

When arriving late means more

Time blindness is the inability to determine how long a task will take or conceptualize how much time has passed. It relates to executive function that occurs in the frontal lobes of the brain, and it is a well-documented characteristic of many people with ADHD, said Stephanie Sarkis, a psychotherapist in Tampa Bay, Florida.

“Anyone can have issues with running late, just with ADHD there’s functional impairment,” said Sarkis, author of “10 Simple Solutions to Adult ADD.” “It impacts family life and social life. It impacts work, money management, all areas of life.”

Sarkis said if a person’s chronic tardiness is “one star in the constellation of symptoms,” then it could be evidence of a treatable disorder. She cited research that stimulant medication prescribed for other ADHD symptoms, such as inattention or restlessness, is also effective at treating time blindness.

That’s not to say, however, that everyone who is chronically late has ADHD — or a built-in excuse.

FILE – Commuters ride the subway in New York on April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman, File)

Consider the reason for being late

Jeffrey Meltzer, a therapist in Bradenton, Florida, counsels people who never show up on time to examine the core issue behind their lateness.

Some people who hate small talk fear arriving early, which could point to anxiety as the underlying issue, Meltzer said. Others may feel they don’t have much control over their lives, so they try to reclaim a few minutes from responsibilities.

“It’s the same psychology concept behind revenge bedtime procrastination,” he said, referring to the urge one may have to stay up later to recoup personal time after a busy day.

In those cases, one tool is to create a small “coping card” to refer to regularly, he said. After determining a reason for chronic lateness, take an index card and write down a reframed thought about that reason and a consequence of being late.

For instance, on one side write, “Attending this meeting doesn’t mean that I lose my freedom.” On the other side, write: “Being late again will upset people at work.”

Meltzer said the hardest reason to change the habit would be something that early-arrivers often attribute to late-comers — a sense of entitlement. People who feel their time is more important than others’ time may give themselves permission to be late.

But Meltzer said those people would also exhibit entitlement in other areas, such as parking in a spot designated for people with disabilities or tending to make a grand entrance at an event.

“Maybe they’re 20, 30 minutes late, and it’s like, ‘Oh, look who is here,’” he said. “So it’s a way to kind of get attention.”

FILE – Commuters walk from the PATH rapid transit station into the World Trade Center in New York on Nov. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

What to do about it

Whether a person has ADHD or not, they’re still responsible for their actions, said Sarkis, who was also diagnosed as an adult and struggles with managing time.

The good news is that the same interventions that help people with ADHD can work for all late-arrivers.

Sarkis said using a smart watch to set alerts can help with knowing when you need to leave, although having analog clocks around also helps. Relying only on your phone to see the time creates more distractions.

She also suggested breaking tasks down into a checklist of smaller parts and resisting the urge to cram too many activities into one day.

Lovatt has learned to give herself much more time than she thinks she needs. She also uses Forest, a time management app, and another app to lock herself out of other apps on her phone to help keep track of time while concentrating.

Particularly helpful has been making granular lists of how long things take. Getting out the door in the morning felt like it took 20 minutes until Lovatt listed every step from bed to door.

“Walk downstairs, one minute. Find shoes, one minute. And I had a list that was a whole page long of literally walking between rooms,” she said.

She learned it instead took 45 minutes.

“It doesn’t work, like, 100% of the time. But generally, I am a lot more reliable now.”

Albert Stumm writes about food, travel and wellness. Find his work at https://www.albertstumm.com.

Holiday spending was expected to be tempered this year but the latest data shows Americans aren’t slowing down, even with growing debt.

The National Retail Federation said nearly 203 million U.S. shoppers went to retail stores and websites from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday — its highest in nearly nine years.

Some experts have expressed concern about growing credit card debt and burdens from other factors. U.S. household debt reached $18.59 trillion as of September, said the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a record high.

Just how bad the debt situation is for the economy is up for debate. Some economists have argued the overall economy is still strong. They point to low unemployment as a reason why debts will be paid because money is still coming in.

Question: Are Americans’ household debt levels a major concern for the economy?

Economists

Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy

YES: Household debt is a concern, especially as delinquency rates rise. Credit card and auto loan delinquencies are climbing to levels not seen since the Great Financial Crisis. The strain is concentrated among lower income households, reflecting the K-shaped economy, where the most vulnerable are falling behind. Delinquencies on big ticket items like cars are increasing especially rapidly among this group. With the job market becoming less certain, these trends point to growing economic risk.

James Hamilton, UC San Diego

NO: The latest data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that American households have added $4.4 trillion in debt since 2019. But there’s been a lot of inflation since then and our incomes today are higher. GDP increased by $9.2 trillion over those same five years. Measured as a percent of GDP, the real burden of household debt is actually the lowest it’s ever been since the New York Fed started reporting these numbers in 2003.

Norm Miller, University of San Diego

YES: Rising credit card debt at $1.23 trillion is moderately troubling, but the larger risks are the $1.73 trillion in student loans and weakened auto loan standards where delinquencies have climbed to 5%. Even more alarming, non‑bank lenders (i.e. Milo.io or Lendfriendmtg.com) are considering crypto‑backed mortgages, echoing the speculative credit that preceded the 1929 crash. As more lending shifts outside regulated banks and to volatile-priced collateral, the likelihood of another credit market meltdown increases.

Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research

YES: Discretionary spending now will be paid with interest by inflated dollars in the future, meaning future spending will be reduced by paying off debt while also paying inflated future prices for essential items. Although nominal debt is at an all-time high, adjusted for inflation, total debt remains below peaks during the 2008–2009 Global Financial Crisis. Household debt accounted for approximately 65% of nominal GDP in 2025, significantly lower than the peak of 85.8% reached in December 2008.

Alan Gin, University of San Diego

YES: The increased debt load is one result of a “K-shaped” economy. Those with high incomes are doing well; Moody’s Analytics reports that the top 20% of income earners accounted for 63% of consumer spending. Those at the lower end have been stressed by rising prices, particularly for necessities such as food and housing. That has reduced their purchasing power and forced people into increased debt. If job growth remains slow or even turns negative, many people could end up in bankruptcy.

David Ely, San Diego State University

NO: While aggregate nominal household debt is rising, so is personal income. Household debt service payments as a percent of disposable personal income is not at a worrying level and is well below rates experienced around the financial crisis, in 2005-2010. Loan delinquency rates are somewhat elevated and should be monitored. However, current household debt conditions are not so severe that they should be regarded as a major concern for the economy.

Ray Major, economist

YES: Debt is money that is spent before it is earned. Used properly, it’s not a problem. However, mounting debt on credit cards which now exceeds $1.23 trillion, is evidence that people are not able to pay their daily expenses without borrowing from their future earnings. At current levels, this is unsustainable for mid- and low-income families. Instead of building generational wealth by saving and investing money, they are mortgaging their futures.

Executives

Phil Blair, Manpower

YES: And always should be. My biggest concern is the ease and popularity of buy now and pay over many months for almost any product. It’s far too easy for impulse purchases rather than major planned buying. As with businesses in San Diego, cash/liquidity is king. Personal spending needs to be under control to protect against a potentially deteriorating employment picture and still very high interest rates.

Gary London, London Moeder Advisors

YES: The U.S. economy appears to be in decent shape, even as American debt levels are hovering high as a percent of GDP. The critical story is at the household level, and it remains statistically untold. Something is going on. There is bubbling discontent rooted in rising food, fuel and insurance costs, as well as mortgages and rents, among others. Job uncertainty is a festering factor. All of this is likely to play out in the polls next November.

Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health

YES: Americans depend too much on debt to finance lifestyles that might not be supported by their income. I am not worried as much about recent increases in debt, as those increases seem to track inflation, but I am concerned about our overall reliance on debt and the things we use it for.

Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere

YES: Americans are taking on increasing levels of household debt many cannot sustain financially. Low consumer sentiment contrasts with continued spending, revealing a disconnect that deepens financial strain and risk. With high living costs, inflation, stagnant wages and layoffs, many households face mounting stress, limited savings and uncertain retirement prospects. The so-called “resilient” consumer may ultimately reveal deep economic vulnerability and serve as a warning sign for long-term economic stability.

Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates

YES: But the household debt levels themselves are not the problem. The combination of record balances, rising delinquencies, and demographic concentration of stress among lower- and middle-income families makes this a legitimate concern for the 2026 economy. It is not a crisis; a recession is not looming, but it is a headwind. Lower interest rates and inflation, reduced tariff impacts, tax reductions and the World Cup will significantly benefit the economy. To a solid 2026!

Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth

YES: Elevated household debt and higher interest rates are squeezing budgets. Delinquencies on credit cards and auto loans are climbing. Debt payments impact categories like retail, services and discretionary spending, which are substantial growth drivers. While low unemployment and anticipated rate cuts in 2026 are staving off negative consequences, we may be in a different situation if the labor market softens, charge-offs rise, or banks tighten credit. The economy isn’t collapsing, but elevated debt is now a clear risk.

Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com. Follow me on Threads: @phillip020

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. flu infections surged over the holidays, and health officials are calling it a severe season that is likely to get worse.

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New government data posted Monday — for flu activity through the week of Christmas — showed that by some measures this season is already surpassing the flu epidemic of last winter, one of the harshest in recent history.

COVID-19 infections also have been rising, other federal data show, though they remain less common than flu.

Forty-five states were reporting high or very high flu activity during the week of Christmas, up from 30 states the week before.

The kind of flu that’s been spreading may be driving the higher numbers, public health experts say.

One type of flu virus, called A H3N2, historically has caused the most hospitalizations and deaths in older people. So far this season, that’s the type most frequently reported. Even more concerning, more than 90% of the H3N2 infections analyzed were a new version — known as the subclade K variant — that differs from the strain in this year’s flu shots.

Flu seasons often don’t peak until January or February, so it’s too early to know how big a problem that mismatch will be.

Last flu season was bad, with the overall flu hospitalization rate the highest since the H1N1 flu pandemic 15 years ago. Child flu deaths reached 288, the worst recorded for regular U.S. flu season.

Nine pediatric flu deaths have been reported so far this season. For children, the percentage of emergency department visits due to flu has already surpassed the highest mark seen during the 2024-2025 season.

The percentage of doctor’s office and medical clinic visits that were due to flu-like illness also was higher late last month than at any point during the previous flu season.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths from flu have already occurred this season.

The agency recommends that everyone 6 months and older who has not yet been vaccinated this season get an annual influenza vaccine.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.