Versatile main dishes that showcase grains can be rich in taste and kind to your food budget. And if you are trying to eat less meat, get in line you’ve got loads of company. Many are making a concerted effort to eat more grains, vegetables and fruit while reducing meat intake.

For years, meat has been firmly entrenched in the American diets, but grain-based dishes can provide great flavors and textures. They work deliciously as a mealtime main event. And if you want to adopt the “meat-as-a-condiment” approach, add a moderate amount of cooked chicken or seafood as a garnish on the recipes that follow.

Barley and Mushroom Magic features the two titular ingredients as well as yogurt dressing, olive oil, lemon zest and capers. (Photo by Cathy Thomas)

Barley and Mushroom Magic

Barley, the grain that is featured in this dish, is one of our most nutritious grains; it contributes protein, thiamine and niacin. Barley also is a rich source of dietary fiber. For a vegan rendition use vegan yogurt and maple syrup instead of honey in the dressing and use olive oil instead of butter when sauteing the mushrooms. The dish is a main course salad and should be served at room temperature.

Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

3 cups water with a pinch of salt

12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) pearl barley

Yogurt dressing: 6 ounces (3/4 cup) whole milk yogurt (not Greek style), 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Minced zest and juice of 1 lemon

Generous handful of clean baby arugula, divided use

3 tablespoons drained capers

Optional: 1/2 small bunch fresh tarragon, leaves torn from stems, divided use

1/2 small bunch fresh dill, torn into bite-sized pieces, divided use

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons butter

15 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon fennel seeds

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves

Garnish: 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas), a few arugula leaves and a few fresh herb leaves

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring salted water to a boil on high heat in a large saucepan. Add barley and cover; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the barley is cooked through. If the water has been absorbed before the barley is cooked through, add more water and keep cooking. Drain in a colander and rinse with cool water to wash away the starch; drain and shake colander to remove water and put in a large bowl.

2. Prepare the dressing: Mix all the yogurt dressing ingredients together in a small bowl; taste and add more salt and/or pepper if needed. Set aside.

3. Add the oil to the barley along with the lemon zest and juice; toss. Add most of the arugula reserving a few leaves for a garnish, the capers, and most of the fresh herb leaves reserving some for a garnish. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss, taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

4. Put butter in a large, deep skillet and place over medium-high heat. Once the butter melts, add mushrooms and a small pinch of salt. Fry, tossing occasionally, until any liquid released in the frying process disappears and mushrooms are nicely browned. Add garlic, fennel, and thyme; cook 2 to 3 minutes (do not brown garlic). Remove from heat.

5. Transfer barley mixture to a platter and top with mushrooms. Spoon on yogurt dressing, dropping in on top of the barley mixture in spoonfuls. Top with remaining herb leaves and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Source: Adapted from “Salads Are More Than Leaves” by Elena Silcock

Vegan Black Bean Fried Rice works as a one-dish dinner. (Photo by Cathy Thomas)

Vegan Black Bean Fried Rice

When my family from Northern California visit, I love to serve this delicious dish. They are vegan, and this dish fills the bill as a one-dish dinner. Cook the rice ahead for the best results, a day ahead if possible. Allowing it to cool and dry out a little helps it to brown better.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided use, plus more if needed

2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup sliced green onions, plus more sliced green stalks for garnish

1/4 cup chopped cilantro stems, plus 1/4 cup chopped leaves, divided use; see cook’s notes

1 large red bell pepper, cored, seeded, chopped

1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot or Sriracha, plus more for serving

3 cups cooked long-grained rice, white or brown (day-old rice is best)

1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained, rinsed

Garnishes: Diced or sliced avocado, tortilla chips, hot sauce for passing at the table

Cook’s notes: If you don’t have cilantro, substitute fresh parsley. Other (drained and rinsed) beans, such as pinto beans, cannellini beans or garbanzo beans can be substituted for the black beans.

DIRECTIONS

1. Place 3 tablespoons oil in large deep skillet (preferably nonstick) on high heat. Add mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 7 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon oil, green onions, cilantro stems and bell pepper; season with salt and pepper. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Stir in hot sauce and cooked-cooled rice.

2. Spread out mixture and let cook, undisturbed, until underside crisps slightly about 5 to 6 minutes (if needed because skillet is dry, drizzle a little oil around edge of skillet). Using a spatula, flip portions of mixture over to crisp other side, letting it cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes. Add beans and toss; cook to heat up beans, about 1 minute. Fold in cilantro leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning.

3. Garnish with avocado slices, tortilla chips and sliced green onion stalks. Provide hot sauce for those that prefer a spicier dish.

This nutritious farro salad was created by the late chef-restaurateur Domenico Maurici. (Photo by Curt Norris)

Domenico Maurici’s Farro Salad

For 31 years, Domenico Maurici was the chef-owner of Il Farro in Newport Beach. Sadly, he passed away last year, but I remember his culinary talent and enthusiasm with great fondness. He joined me in my home kitchen and shared this recipe for farro salad, a scrumptious dish that can be a main dish by adding cooked shrimp, diced and sauteed pancetta, or a generous garnish of feta or goat cheese. He used semi-pearled farro, grains that are processed to retain some of their exterior bran; semi-pearled (the package often says “semi-perlato”) cooks more quickly. I remember that he took on an enthusiastic tone when touting the grain’s health benefits, its nutrients and high fiber content. He viewed farro as a delicious health food. Spending time with him felt like a delicious health-filled vacation.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

10 ounces farro, about 1 1/2 cups, cooked and cooled; see cook’s notes

1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

1 teaspoon minced  garlic, see cook’s notes

1 pound fresh cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/4 cup fresh basil (loosely packed), cut into thin strips

1/2 peeled hothouse cucumber, diced, see cook’s notes

1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted, sliced

Garnish: 1/4 cup minced parsley

Optional garnish: crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese

Dresssing: Enough extra-virgin olive oil to lightly coat the farro, fresh lemon juice to taste

Cook’s notes: I often buy farro at Trader Joe’s; it only requires 10 minutes of cooking in boiling salted water. If you buy another brand, follow the package cooking directions.

Domenico told me that you don’t have to add the garlic, but he much preferred the dish with the garlic. He zebra-ed the cucumber, using a vegetable peeler to remove strips of peel alternating with unpeeled strips.

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook farro according to package directions (it will be tender yet chewy). Drain in colander and season with salt. Allow to cool to room temperature.

2. Place farro in a medium-large bowl. Add garlic and toss. Add tomatoes, basil, cucumber, and olives. Drizzle on enough extra-virgin olive oil to coat the farro when tossed. Drizzle with fresh lemon juice to taste. Season to taste with salt. Toss. Divide between plates and garnish with parsley. If you wish, add crumbled feta as a garnish as well.

By Tim Henderson, Stateline.org

New federal guidance to reduce the number of vaccines recommended for all children from 17 vaccines down to 11 comes as states already are charting their own courses on vaccine policy.

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The new federal guidelines mention a directive issued by President Donald Trump in December calling to align the U.S. vaccination schedule with “peer” countries, including Denmark, that recommend fewer childhood vaccines — even though those countries provide more robust government-funded health systems.

At stake are requirements for attending public schools, where most states have seen lower vaccination rates since the pandemic, as well as insurance coverage that makes vaccines affordable. At least 17 states have announced they will disregard the new federal guidance.

Many have created formal alliances to share health information. The Northeast Public Health Collaborative, composed of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York state, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and New York City, announced Monday it will continue following guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“The science is clear. Vaccines remain the best protection for keeping children and communities healthy,” the collaborative said in its announcement. “The vast majority of American adults and parents believe routine childhood vaccines are important for public health.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics held a news conference this month to denounce the changed recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Literally children’s health and children’s lives are at stake,” Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the association’s committee on infectious diseases, said at the Jan. 5 event. “There’s no evidence that skipping or delaying certain vaccines is beneficial for U.S. children. What we do know is that whenever children go without recommended vaccinations, they’re at risk for these diseases that we can prevent.”

And governors of 14 states have formed another alliance to share public health information, including on vaccines. The updated CDC guidance “creates confusion and introduces unnecessary barriers for families who want to protect their children from serious illness,” said the Governors Public Health Alliance in its Jan. 6 news release. The governors are all Democrats, though the group says it is nonpartisan.

New Jersey moves

One of the states rejecting federal guidelines is New Jersey.

Jeffrey Brown, the acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, issued an executive order in December opting to keep older federal recommendations for a birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, despite changes in federal guidelines from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Brown also urged state lawmakers to pass a bill formally decoupling state recommendations from federal rules on Jan. 5, the same day the new federal guidelines were released. The legislation would allow independent action on vaccines without such orders and would also require insurers to cover the vaccines, Brown said.

The legislation “makes it very clear that the department of health can rely on expert bodies outside the ACIP when making vaccine recommendations that make sense for public health,” Brown said in his testimony before the Assembly health committee.

Novneet Sahu, the state’s deputy health commissioner, also testified and said federal changes reflect a dangerous “adoption of conspiracies and conjecture” about vaccines.

“When federal leaders fail and misinformation spreads, state policies and practices must empower New Jerseyans to receive accurate, evidence-based information about infection disease prevention tools like vaccines,” Sahu testified.

The bill, which passed in the state Senate in December, was approved by the committee in a 6-3 vote. The bill was passed by the state Assembly Jan. 12 and now heads to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk.

One of the “no” votes in the health committee was Republican Assemblyman Erik Peterson, who said at the hearing that he distrusts the state health department because of decisions about nursing homes during the pandemic.

“You have a lot of derogatory things to say about the federal government. But some of us have no faith in the health department here in the state of New Jersey,” Peterson said.

Changes elsewhere

Similar changes to vaccination policy are happening this year in the 23 states and the District of Columbia where vaccine recommendations that govern schools are tied to federal guidelines, said Andy Baker-White, senior director of state health policy at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The association is tracking the new and proposed changes in 14 states and the district.

Many are setting up their own advisory committees or task forces to make vaccine recommendations. In many states, the guidelines are tied to school vaccination requirements, insurance coverage of vaccinations and rules allowing pharmacists to give vaccinations.

Brown, the New Jersey acting health commissioner, said in his testimony that insurance requirements are an important part of the state’s bill, saying it “would make sure that people can continue to get reimbursed for vaccines even if ACIP [the federal advisory committee] removes vaccines from the schedule or changes those recommendations.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in its announcement, said there would be no changes in insurance coverage for any of the vaccines, even though some are no longer recommended for all children.

AHIP, a health insurance trade group, said there had been no coverage changes and that all vaccines recommended as of September would be covered at least until the end of this year.

Florida has held public hearings on Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal to remove a requirement that children receive the hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox) and haemophilus influenza B (Hib) vaccines in order to attend public school.

In Louisiana, there was an unannounced policy change in 2024, forbidding health workers from holding vaccination events or promoting COVID-19, flu or mpox vaccinations. That has made it hard for mothers like Crystal Rommen, director of Louisiana Families for Vaccines, an advocacy group that supports timely vaccinations.

Rommen said she had to organize other mothers of small children this year to make sure they got a COVID-19 vaccine.

“We have these policies that create more hesitation or doubt for parents,” said Rommen, a social worker with a 10-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. “I rallied my mom friends together, got a list of parents and children that wanted their child to get the COVID vaccine before my pediatrician could justify ordering enough doses. I’m kind of a bulldog. I’m gung-ho.”

The new federal guidelines continue to suggest 11 vaccines for all children, including measles, mumps and chickenpox. In announcing the guidelines, the CDC said reducing vaccinations aligns with “international consensus” while “strengthening transparency and informed consent.”

But experts said Denmark is not the right model for American policy.

Denmark has fewer undetected cases of some diseases, partly because of more access to health care and testing, so vaccinating large numbers of children doesn’t always make sense, a Danish specialist told Science magazine in a Jan. 7 article.

“The United States is not Denmark, and there is no reason to impose the Danish immunization schedule on America’s families,” Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the AAP, said in a statement.

The new guidelines have“more flexibility and choice” for six vaccines, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said, recommending them only for high-risk groups or for “shared clinical decision-making” rather than for all children: rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and B, and meningococcal disease.

That term means that doctors and parents should decide together, but it has caused confusion and reduced use in the past when applied to COVID-19 vaccines for all ages, according to a University of Pennsylvania survey.

“Expecting parents to engage in shared decision-making with health care providers about routine, thoroughly studied childhood vaccinations suggests that the public health community has doubts about the safety and efficacy of these vaccines when it does not,” said Patrick E. Jamieson, director of the university’s Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute in a statement.

Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org.

©2026 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

January is such a common time to file for divorce that it’s been long known as “divorce month” among family lawyers. It marks both the end of the holidays and the start of a new tax year, which can make it simpler to financially separate from your ex.

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A key part of navigating a divorce is deciding what to do with your home. Your property is likely among the most valuable assets in the marriage, and it’s important to take the time to understand your options. The best outcome for yourself and your family may not be the one you expect.

1. Do you want to stay in the home or sell?

“The first thing that I would ask a client is, what would you like to do with the home?” says Kenneth Glasser, an attorney who specializes in divorce and property distribution in New York City.

It’s not unusual to have a deeply personal connection to your home, and divorce can be a time when emotions run high. Maybe you don’t know yet what you want to do — in this case, a financial planner or lawyer may be able to help you reach a decision.

You could also consult a certified divorce lending professional (CDLP) to learn more about your financial position. A CDLP can model various scenarios for dividing marital debts and assets to help you understand your ability to qualify for a new mortgage or refinance. The Divorce Lending Association maintains a database of these professionals, so you can contact one local to you.

2. What’s the value of the home?

You’ll need to have the property appraised to determine a fair value. Then, consider your options for covering your ex’s share of home equity.

The most straightforward way to do this is to sell the house and divide the proceeds accordingly. If one of you wants to keep the home, you’ll need to find a way to buy out the other.

This may involve tapping your 401(k) or other retirement accounts, says Angela Zangarola, a certified divorce financial analyst and founder of Quantum Wealth Strategies in Shelby Township, Michigan.

For many couples, retirement funds are the largest asset in the marriage apart from the home. While some folks may cringe at taxes and potential early-withdrawal penalties, this could be their only resource to buy out their spouse’s equity. “You have to do what you have to do to resolve the situation,” Zangarola says. She recommends that you have a financial professional review your case, as everyone’s situation is different.

3. Can you qualify for a mortgage on your own?

If one of you wants to keep the home and there’s still a mortgage on the property, the person keeping the house will have to refinance the loan.

This is an important part of disentangling your debts, and may be necessary for the other person to be creditworthy enough to buy or rent another home. Until the home is refinanced or sold, if you’re both on the mortgage, then you’re both on the hook for payments.

Consider whether you meet lenders’ requirements for a refinance or new mortgage on your own. Even if you expect to receive child support or spousal support, a lender is unlikely to take those payments into consideration before you’ve actually started receiving them for at least six months to a year.

This long waiting period could draw out divorce proceedings, Glasser says. “Most people don’t want to resolve the case piecemeal. They want to settle the entire thing.”

According to Zangarola, one way around this may be to have your attorneys draft a child or spousal support agreement while you’re separated but not yet divorced.

If you can start collecting at least six months of payments before your divorce is finalized, you could build a stronger financial profile for yourself as a newly single mortgage applicant. Per Fannie Mae guidelines, an official separation agreement is required for a lender to consider these payments as income. State laws and lender requirements can vary.

4. Can you afford a mortgage and other homeownership costs?

Even if you can qualify for a mortgage on your own, you’ll still need to make sure that you can afford it at today’s rates. If you want to keep the home and mortgage rates have gone up since the house was purchased, you’ll now be making larger monthly payments on your own.

You’ll also need to pay closing costs, even if you’re refinancing. These are often between 2% and 6% of the loan amount.

There are also expenses beyond the mortgage that you’ll have to take into account. Do you belong to a homeowners association? Will the roof need to be replaced? Will you have to pay for upkeep expenses like snow removal or cleaning gutters? There are tons of expenses that go along with homeownership, and you’ll want to make sure that you can afford to maintain a house on your own.

5. Are your children currently living there?

If there are children living in the home, it could add another layer of complexity to the situation.

You and your ex (or the courts) could decide that it’s best for the children to remain in the home with the primary custodial parent, and that you should defer the sale of the home until the children reach a certain age. This could mean delaying the full equity payout to the other parent for years, says Glasser.

In the meantime, you’d both continue to own the home. You’ll have to delegate maintenance and expenses, and you should get the arrangement in writing as part of your divorce or separation agreement to avoid future headaches.

Buying or refinancing a home while paying child support

The cost of shelter for the children could also be a child support consideration, so the non-custodial parent may be required to contribute to mortgage expenses.

These mortgage contributions are frequently wrapped into child support payments, says Zangarola. If you pay child support and apply for a new mortgage, lenders will include this in your monthly debt obligations when evaluating your ability to repay the loan.

Buying or refinancing a home while receiving child support

If you receive child support and apply for a new mortgage, lenders will also consider the number of years that you’ll be collecting payments. Most lenders will want the payments to continue for at least three years from when you apply. So, if you receive child support for a 17-year-old, a lender may be wary of counting that income towards your ability to repay a 30-year loan.

Taking ownership of your decision

As you consider whether you should keep the home, receive a buyout from your ex or sell and split the proceeds, you’ll need to be fully informed of your financial situation before you make a choice. Review your finances, get an appraisal and check current mortgage rates before committing to a path.

Taylor Getler writes for NerdWallet. Email: tgetler@nerdwallet.com.

The article January is ‘Divorce Month’ — 5 Questions to Ask About Your Home originally appeared on NerdWallet.

By KELVIN CHAN, Associated Press Business Writer

LONDON (AP) — The CEO of Ryanair on Wednesday dismissed Elon Musk’s idea of buying the budget airline and shrugged off insults from the billionaire, in a war of words that erupted over installing Starlink systems on aircraft.

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The spat between one of the world’s richest individuals and one of Europe’s most outspoken corporate bosses has been escalating for days. Michael O’Leary said last week that the airline had ruled out putting Musk’s Starlink satellite Wi-Fi on Ryanair planes because the extra fuel drag from the system’s antennas would be too costly.

Responding to Musk’s accusations that he was “misinformed,” O’Leary told an Irish radio station that Musk he would “pay no attention whatsoever Elon Musk said, he’s an idiot.”

Musk fired back on his social media platform X, calling O’Leary an “utter idiot” and an “imbecile.” He polled his users on the idea of buying the airline, and posted, “Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?”

O’Leary told reporters in Dublin, where Ryanair is based, that non-European citizens can’t own a majority stake in a European airlines. Musk was born in South Africa and lives in the United States.

“But if he wants to invest in Ryanair, we would think it’s a very good investment. Certainly a significantly better investment than the financial returns he’s earning on X,” O’Leary said.

Musk purchased X in 2022 for $44 billion after clashing with top executives at the platform previously known as Twitter.

O’Leary, who’s known for trolling critics, thanked Musk for “additional publicity.” The airline has taken advantage of the spat to launch a seat sale with promotional material featuring a caricature of Musk.

He brushed off the billionaire’s insults.

“All I would say to Elon Musk is he would have to join the back of a very, very, very, very long queue of people” who have already insulted him, “including my four teenage children,” he said.

O’Leary said Ryanair had been in discussions with Starlink for about 12 months on installing the system,

“We like the Starlink system. It is a terrific system. It works very well,” he said, but adding it would cost the company about $250 million a year. That includes the cost of installing two antennas onto each aircraft fuselage, plus an extra 2% of aerodynamic drag that would increase the fuel bill by $200 million.

Ryanair would have to charge for Starlink but O’Leary estimated that less than 5% of passengers would want to spend a few extra euros for the service on its short-haul flights, which average about one hour and 15 minutes.

The airline is still in talks with other telecommunications providers, including Amazon, which is launching its Starlink rival Kuiper, to provide onboard internet service, “but only in a way where it will lower our costs,” O’Leary said.

He also addressed a recent controversy around Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, which is available through X and was being used to generate nonconsensual deepfake images.

“Social media, X in particular is, a cesspit,” O’Leary said. “The most recent controversy with, you know, undressing children or undressing women is frankly offensive.”