By KATIE WORKMAN, Associated Press

Perhaps you’re one of those people who are very thoughtful and assiduous about planning the Big Holiday meals. You’re on top of the appetizers, entrée, the sides, the dessert. Maybe you even iron your linen napkins.

But then you slap your proverbial forehead when you realize you didn’t think about what you (and maybe some houseguests?) are going to have for breakfast the day after.

Scones are the answer. So simple to make, fairly quick to bake, and if you want to make the dough and pat it out into a circle the night before, you can pop them into the oven in the morning while you make a cup of coffee and stare at the pots soaking in the sink.

Scone tips

A recipe for dried cherry scones is displayed in New York on July 5, 2018. (Cheyenne M. Cohen via AP)

The dough for these scones is fairly sticky, so it benefits from a period of chilling in the fridge, at least two hours. If you’re in a rush, it can also hang out for 30 minutes in the freezer before baking. This allows the butter to remain very cold, and as it melts while baking, small air pockets form which give the scones a light, somewhat flaky texture. The chilling also firms up the dough and prevents it from spreading. Finally, this resting period allows the gluten in the flour to relax, resulting in a more tender product.

Since refrigerator or freezer space is often tight this time of year, you can chill the dough on a parchment-lined plate, since baking sheets are big and cumbersome.

If you don’t have a food processor, or just want to do this by hand, you can also cut the butter into the flour mixture using two knives, a pastry cutter, or your fingers if you work quickly.

I love dried cherries and use them often in dishes both savory and sweet. They can be pricy though, so feel free to substitute other chopped or tiny dried fruit. Try these with dried cranberries or blueberries, or chopped dried apricots.

These scones are best eaten the day they are made, but you can store them for one or two days in an airtight container at room temperature. Warming them in a 300°F oven for a few minutes will refresh the texture and flavor.

Dried Cherry Scones

Servings: Makes 8 scones

A recipe for dried cherry scones is displayed in New York on July 5, 2018. (Cheyenne M. Cohen via AP)

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring the work surface

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

3/4 cup dried cherries

1 cup half and half, plus more for brushing the scones

1 large egg yolk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

To serve:

Butter, jam or jelly, clotted cream, and/or lemon curd

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Directions

1. In the bowl of a food processor, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together. Add the butter and pulse to blend until the biggest pieces of butter are pea-size but the mixture is not blended — you want it to be unevenly crumbly, with some little bits of cold butter throughout. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the dried cherries.

2. Mix together the half and half, egg yolk and vanilla in a small bowl until well blended. Slowly add the liquid to the dry ingredients, stirring with a fork just until it comes together into a very soft, very sticky dough.

3. Very lightly flour a piece of parchment paper at least 12-by-12 inches and place it on a baking sheet or a large flat plate. (This will be going into your refrigerator, so choose whatever will fit). Turn the dough onto the floured surface, getting all of it out of the bowl. Lightly flour your hands and pat the dough into a 1-inch thick round. Chill the unbaked dough round in the refrigerator for at least two hours, or up to 12, or place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

4. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

5. Use a sharp knife to score the top of the dough (this means cut into it only about 1/4-inch deep, creating a line, but not cutting through the dough.) You want to create 8 even wedges (think of cutting a pizza pie). Brush the tops of the scones lightly with half and half. Bake for about 24 to 28 minutes until the top is golden brown and the scones are baked though.

6. Cool the scones on the baking sheet until warm or room temperature. Serve with the condiments of your choice.

Katie Workman writes regularly about food for The Associated Press. She has written two cookbooks focused on family-friendly cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.” She blogs at https://themom100.com/. She can be reached at Katie@themom100.com.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s not unusual for a 20-something to text Mom in a panic from the doctor’s office, seeking help answering a question. And patients of any age can struggle to recall all their medicines — or forget to mention a concern.

Getting the most out of a doctor’s visit requires some advance preparation. Even the professionals plan ahead.

“It is really hard — even for me as a doctor going to see my own family doctor — to remember the things that I wanted to bring up,” said Dr. Sarah Nosal, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “The worst is when you’ve had that moment with your doctor” only to recall another problem after walking out, she said. “You’ve lost that time.”

Her top tip: Bring a list of symptoms and questions to show at the start of the visit. The first item should be your top concern, but seeing the full list helps your doctor prioritize what’s most medically urgent.

“I’m actually going to be able to see, is there a red flag?” explained Nosal, who has some advice about prepping for a typical primary care visit.

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Your primary care doctor monitors your overall health

Some illnesses require specialists like a cardiologist or rheumatologist. But regardless of your age or how healthy you are, research has long shown that a relationship with a primary care provider is important for overall health. It might be a family physician like Nosal, who cares for all ages, or an internist. Some patients choose gynecologists, geriatricians, or have a primary care team that includes nurse practitioners or physician assistants.

Primary care is more than preventive checkups to help avoid illness, such as vaccinations, cancer screenings or health advice. It also includes detecting and treating common problems like high blood pressure, and helping to find and coordinate specialty care.

“That ongoing relationship also helps me know your ‘normal,’” Nosal explained. “If something’s different or changes or you feel off, when you tell me that information and I also have known you over time, we can really figure out together what’s going on.”

Quiz your family before the appointment

Young adults navigating health care on their own for the first time may need help filling out forms with their personal medical history. Have you ever had general anesthesia? Is your tetanus shot up to date?

If you still have access to the patient portal at your former pediatrician’s office, you can see records of vaccinations and prior illnesses, or you may have to request them or quiz parents.

For all ages, family medical history is critical — and needs regular updating. Ask what diseases your close relatives have had and how they fared. For example, if Type 2 diabetes runs in the family, or Grandma had a stroke, or someone had cancer at a young age, that information could help tailor your preventive care, Nosal said.

Fill out your paperwork ahead of the visit

Filling out paperwork from home makes it easier to check medicine bottles for the name and dose. Include both prescription and over-the-counter medicines, pills or creams — and don’t forget vitamins and supplements.

Why are the latter important? Some can interact with prescription medicines. Nosal cited some patients whose longtime treatments quit working after they started taking turmeric, a spice also sold as a supplement.

Also before your visit, check if the doctor received records of recent lab tests, hospitalizations or visits to other health providers, since electronic medical records aren’t always automatically shared.

Keep a running list of questions before a doctor visit

Some symptoms are bad enough to prompt an urgent visit. But if you’ve got a checkup coming, whether it’s routine or to follow up on health problems, start a list of questions in advance.

Notice a pain when you move a certain way? Or chatting with a friend who just got a colonoscopy and wonder if you’re due? Pop those on your list right away, before you forget — and be specific in describing symptoms.

Nosal keeps a running list on her phone and, ahead of visits with her own doctor, sends it as a heads-up through her patient portal. Patients also can include their list on visit check-in forms.

The idea is to address the most urgent questions first, rather than patients running out of time before raising a key concern. Nosal said questions about mental or sexual health and wellness especially tend to come up at the last minute.

Whatever the medium, “please bring that list,” she said. “That’s the most critical of all pieces.”

It’s OK to ask again

People may know to ask questions about treatments, such as how well they work and what side effects to expect. But it’s also important to understand why a doctor makes a particular diagnosis or, conversely, isn’t as worried about a symptom as you might be.

Don’t hesitate to say, “Explain to me what else could be going on,” Nosal advised. “What would be the next step? How would you evaluate that for me, to know if it’s this or that?”

Most health advocacy groups also advise bringing along a friend or relative, especially if you have serious or multiple health problems. They can help ask questions and take notes.

“Whether you are 20 or you are 85, you will not remember everything from your medical visit,” Nosal said.

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.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are off to a mixed start on Wall Street as traders return from the Christmas holiday.

The S&P 500 edged up 0.1% in the early going Friday. The index is holding on to a modest gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%, helped by gains in several Big Tech stocks like Nvidia. Crude oil fell, while gold and silver continued to rise.

Trading was expected to be light at the end of the holiday-shortened week. European markets were mostly closed, as were several Asian markets.

Japan’s Nikkei climbed 0.7%.

By Katie Kelton, CCC, Bankrate.com

When Whitney Catalano filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2022, she was self-employed, living in an apartment she couldn’t afford and carrying $60,000 in credit card and personal loan debt. For her, bankruptcy looked like freedom.

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“I felt very overwhelmed by money,” she says. “I wanted to clear myself of this chapter and really restart from a clean slate.”

Catalano is one voice in a chorus of TikTok accounts lauding bankruptcy. It goes something like this: People in their 20s and 30s film their stories of filing for bankruptcy, calling it the best decision they ever made. Or in modern meme talk: “‘You look happier.’ Thanks, I filed for bankruptcy.”

Now 32 years old, Catalano says she’s built a good credit score and been able to secure apartments and new credit cards that she pays off. She owes no debt.

Bankruptcy might sound like a golden ticket out of debt, but there are consequences. And TikTok certainly shouldn’t be your primary source of financial advice. I talked to a lawyer and a credit counselor to learn about alternatives to bankruptcy and what to know before filing.

Bankruptcy filings are on the rise

Data shows the TikTok trend is indeed playing out in real life.

While the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts reports overall bankruptcy filings are much lower today than in the early 2000s — for example, around 310,600 Chapter 7 filings in 2024 versus 1,139,600 in 2010 — numbers are up since the Fed raised rates in 2022.

Student loan payments are due again. Inflation remains stubbornly high and holiday spending is around the corner. The job market is cooling. Housing costs are up.

Janet Swope, credit counselor of 30 years, runs an agency that offers a state-approved course for people considering bankruptcy. Her client list grows each year, and that includes a recent uptick in younger clients.

This bankruptcy lawyer offers alternatives to filing

Bankruptcy isn’t to be taken lightly. Even though it’s Michael DuPont’s job to help clients file for bankruptcy, he starts by going over alternatives.

A LegalShield provider attorney at Wagner, Falconer & Judd, Ltd, DuPont saw more reluctance to file bankruptcy when he started practicing law 35 years ago. “It is more socially acceptable today,” he says. Still, here’s what he suggests trying before filing.

You might be able to negotiate debt settlement with your lender, either by yourself or with the help of a credit counselor or debt settlement company. There are even AI tools that will negotiate for you. Negotiation can lead to a smaller lump-sum payment, lower interest rate or forbearance.

Or, you could get a lower interest rate and relief from debt collectors with a debt management plan through a credit counseling agency. In this situation, a credit counselor will negotiate with your lenders for you. Then, you’ll make a single monthly payment to the credit counseling agency, who will repay the lenders on your behalf.

These solutions can be quicker, less expensive and have less impact on your credit.

Bankruptcy doesn’t come without risks

Bankruptcy can offer short-term relief with long-term aftermath.

First off, it might cost more than you think to file. The filing fee starts at $313, but hiring an attorney can cost $1,000 to more than $5,000. You also might have to pay for the required education courses.

The two types of bankruptcy for individuals are Chapter 7 and 13. Chapter 7 requires you to sell certain property to pay off creditors, before wiping away the remainder of your unsecured debt. Chapter 13 lets you make a single monthly payment to a trustee under a new repayment plan lasting 3 to 5 years. And you get to keep your property.

Then there’s the matter of credit. Catalano says her credit score increased after filing when her debts were cleared and credit utilization dropped. But a Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your credit report for up to 10 years, and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy for up to 7 years. That means any time you apply for an apartment lease, new credit card, car loan or mortgage, the lender may ask about the mark or deny you automatically. And even if you get approved, you might end up with a very high interest rate or other suboptimal loan terms.

Your assets can also be at risk, depending on which type of bankruptcy you file. Chapter 7 requires you to sell non-exempt assets for cash to repay lenders. Exemptions vary by state, but your home, car and belongings could all be fair game. Chapter 13 lets you keep your assets as long as you make the payments decided on in court.

Finally, know that certain types of debt like child support, taxes and student loans can’t be discharged in bankruptcy.

To file or not to file, that is the question

Friends, TikTokers and even credit counselors can’t tell you whether or not to file for bankruptcy. For legal advice, talking to a lawyer is your best bet.

If you’ve considered alternative options but bankruptcy is what’s left on the table, here’s how DuPont suggests proceeding.

First, consider the type of debt you have. Unsecured debt, like credit cards and medical bills, can be eliminated with Chapter 7. But secured debt, like a mortgage or car loan, means your assets can be taken away unless you work out a new repayment plan with Chapter 13.

Then there’s the means test. If your income is below the state’s median income for your household size or your expenses leave you with little disposable income, you can qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you fail the test, you’d need to consider Chapter 13.

Here are a couple examples from DuPont of when bankruptcy could make sense:

— Chapter 7: You don’t have many secured assets, like a home, and you have large medical or credit card bills on which the lender’s unwilling to negotiate.

— Chapter 13: You bought a home at a rate you can’t afford and are now faced with foreclosure.

Don’t feel guilty, says a credit counselor

Swope says there’s one thing her bankruptcy clients have in common — remorse.

During the first consultation, clients want to apologize for their debt spiral or mortgage foreclosure. “I try to get people to understand there’s no guilt,” she says. “Things happen.” Swope tells me the common culprits of bankruptcy are medical debt, job loss, divorce and credit card debt from basic expenses that income can’t cover.

Swope helps clients know their rights and crunch their numbers. Most don’t have a complete picture of their income compared to expenses and total debt. Her clients’ credit reports are also usually in bad shape.

“They need to rebuild somewhere,” she explains. “So are they going to [file] a bankruptcy and rebuild, or are they going to rebuild the credit report that’s already really damaged?”

A look at life after bankruptcy

Catalano decided the consequences of bankruptcy were worth it for her. “I couldn’t see myself spending the next 3 to 5 years still in the debt cycle, trying to pay it down,” she says.

After filing, she says she was able to rent from a private landlord by explaining her situation and showing her positive history of rent payments. And she was approved for a credit card from her bank, which allowed her to start rebuilding credit.

In the meantime, Catalano’s working full-time again and has adopted new habits to stay out of debt. She tracks her budget monthly. She plans ahead for large purchases. And after cutting expenses while filing for bankruptcy, she’s kept her costs low. “My spending and saving always perfectly fit in my income,” she says.

If you decide to file, you’ll need to rebuild credit after bankruptcy. Be prepared to make future credit card and loan repayments on time and in full, and stick to a budget to avoid racking up more debt.

But remember, “Time takes care of things,” Swope says. The further away you get from filing, the less it hurts your future.

So no, bankruptcy isn’t a get out of jail free card. There are monetary and opportunity costs to weigh against the relief of a $0 debt balance. For some young people, bankruptcy may be the first step toward a fresh start. For others, it may be only one of several better options. Only you — and a legal professional — can decide what’s right for your financial future.

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.