Featured image: JourneyWoman’s virtual travel summit in November 2026 seeks to inspire women over 50 to travel/ Photo by Envato
Our first-ever travel conference for women over 50
At JourneyWoman, we believe that women over 50 don’t slow down — we open up. We get braver, more curious, more ourselves. And yet, so often, this stage of life is the one the world stops paying attention to.
This November, we’re changing that.
Mark your calendar for November 14–15, 2026, for “The Ageless Adventuress: Making Our Own Rules” — JourneyWoman’s first-ever virtual travel conference, created just for women over 50. We’re thrilled to share that travel icon Rick Steves is confirmed as a featured speaker, joining a growing lineup of travel industry leaders, longevity experts, and fellow JourneyWomen who’ve been exactly where you are — wondering if it’s too late, too much, or too far. (It’s not. It never was.)
Together with an extraordinary lineup of women from around the world, we’re redefining what it means to travel at every age.
This is the space we’ve always wished existed: two days dedicated entirely to why we travel, how we travel, and the incredible women doing it at every age — 50, 60, 70, 80, even 90. You’ll hear real stories, practical wisdom, and the kind of encouragement that makes you want to book the trip and go. Let’s face it: we’ve never waited for anyone’s permission and we’re not going to start now.
Registration isn’t open quite yet, but you can be the first to know when it is. Join the waitlist below and we’ll make sure you never miss a moment.
“We’re done asking to be seen or waiting for permission to live our lives fully. This event isn’t about getting approval — it’s about turning the spotlight on women who’ve already been traveling with confidence and courage, and showing through our own example what’s possible at every age. We’re not breaking stereotypes because we have something to prove — we’re breaking them because they were never true to begin with.” — Carolyn Ray, CEO, JourneyWoman
Event details: The Ageless Adventuress Virtual Summit
Cost to join: To cover speaker and operational costs, we’ll be asking for a nominal contribution to hold your spot, with proceeds going to our conference non-profit partner. Join the waitlist now and you’ll be the first in line for this event.
Keynote speaker: Rick Steves Saturday, November 14, at 1:30 pm ET
“Why We Must Travel Now, More Than Ever”
Rick in the Dolomites / Credit Rick Steves
Rick Steves is a popular public television host, a best-selling guidebook author, and an outspoken activist who encourages Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel. But above all else, Rick considers himself a teacher. He taught his first travel class at his college campus in the mid-1970s — and now, more than 40 years later, he still measures his success not by dollars earned, but by trips impacted.
Rick is the founder and owner of Rick Steves’ Europe, a travel business with a small-group tour programthat brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually. Each year, the company contributes to a portfolio of climate-smart nonprofits, essentially paying a self-imposed carbon tax. Rick supports and works closely with many advocacy groups and organizations whose missions fit his own, including Bread for the World. He has also provided $9 million in funding to build two neighborhood centers in his community and donated a 24-unit apartment building for homeless women and their children to his local YWCA.
Featured image: These books are designed for slowing down and enjoying the last stretch of summer | Photo by melis82 on Envato
Find your next dose of destination dopamine
by Jules Torti
Let’s have an extra serving of summer, sunshine and books, shall we?
This magpie cache offers a true picnic basket of options with two moving memoirs, a fictional romp through damp Newfoundland, a groovy graphic novel set during the Global Climate Strike in New York and a motivating Ayurvedic cookbook to help balance your days with Himalayan harmony.
These titles invite you to seamlessly bounce from Bolivia to India by bike and blender! Bonus: If you turn to The Healing Plate: Ayurveda for Modern Living first, there’s an appealing roster of protein-punched smoothie recipes to whirl up as a perfect accompaniment to your next uninterrupted reading escape in the shade.
The world is waiting. Where will you go first?.
Please note: We always try to support independent bookstores, however, bookshop.org is only available in the US and UK and not all books are offered, so we have included Amazon links as well. Please support our writers by buying or downloading books using our links. Thank you!
1. Food for the Journey: A Life in Travel by Elizabeth J. Haynes
Need an injection of inspiration?? Food for the Journey offers reality bites from Bolivia’s Ibare River, Santiago de Cuba, Cebu, Armenia and the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Haynes, a retired speech pathologist, shares her best lost-in-translation moments, a taste of eggplant stuffed with walnuts and pomegranate and her most life-affirming trip (to the ER) with nerve and verve.
From riding in the back of a pickup up the mountainous switchbacks to Lares (Peru) with a load of potatoes and gunnysacks of squirming guinea pigs to a bout of toxic delirium, Haynes knows how to grab a reader’s hand and pull you in for the ride. Whether she’s navigating the whitecaps of an angry Sea of Cortez, making first tracks in Colorado’s champagne powder or grinding up Cuba’s Gran Piedra with her sister, Mel, Haynes is an astute observer of all: landscape, history, flavours and the human condition.
She travels with her sisters, sibling-like friends and even her hairdresser, in full acceptance of her companions’ idiosyncrasies. Even when they eat crumbling egg salad sandwiches in her passenger seat. When she reflexively gives her kid sister a loving tap on the head with her kayak paddle, the tone is set. Haynes’ adventures are motivated by people and making meaningful connections, despite language barriers. Camping with Papacho in eastern Bolivia (A Tale of Two Tents) is a read-out-loud riot. From a Brazilian restaurant featuring a live Bee Gees radio request show to the emotional weight of a simple ham and cheese sandwich with fire-red peaches made by her father, this memoir is full of memorable passport stamps.
2. The Newfoundland Lunch Party: A Sisters of the Soil Novel With Recipes by Sonia Day
The Newfoundland Lunch Party is a sequel to The Mexico Lunch Party, but I accidentally skipped the guacamole and chips for cod cheeks and moose stew. Luckily, there’s no need to read sequentially as Day explains the lively connection of the “Titans,” eight women who first met at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens to witness the bloom of the Amorphophallus titanum (corpse flower) in 2006.
Grab a quilt, steep some tea. If you’ve been to Newfoundland or long to go, Day’s novel captures the romance of buying a saltbox house by the sea with a cast of characters as vibrant and colourful as the flowers that unite them. “The Sisters of the Soil” are as thick as weeds and unified by the gardening columns and books they each write. Day is a former Toronto Star gardening columnist (and the author of nine books), so the horticultural bits are fascinating and factual. She even sneaks in the true story of Jeanne Baret, who discovered bougainvillea and disguised herself as a man to join her botanist lover on a French sailboat in the 1700s.
Day’s turns of phrase are a pure delight from Rhodo’s semi-aloof cat (“a mute football of orange fluff”) to “hoses neatly coiled like sleeping snakes” to a “face like a crumpled brown bag.” On this particular gals’ reunion, Hannah makes a discovery outside Rhodo’s saltbox that sends the women into a tailspin of intrigue, obsession, danger and free pours of wine. Throughout, Newfoundland’s Bay Roberts shines (well, when it’s not socked in by fog), as do the locals, their expressions and the curious menu with recipes for Newfoundland classics like toutons, figgy duff, blueberry pudding and yes, moose stew.
Rhodo, Sonia Day’s scrappy protagonist, knows how to host the best kind of sleepover. The kind with lots of heart-to-hearts, big laughs, bags of chips and fancy wine.
3. The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street: A Memoir by Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho
The Mandarin word for both “home” and “family” is interchangeable, and the family’s coveted connection to each other is through the “holy” rice cooker. Home, togetherness and the nourishment within are tethered to the taste of what once was. A shared meal and household.
But how do you find your place in the world when your parents are on the opposite side of it in Taiwan? “Abandoned” in Vancouver at age 12, Wiley and her three sisters are left in the care of their oldest brother who assumes responsibility for raising his siblings, navigating a new country and following in the generational footsteps of his father and grandfather in becoming a doctor. The filial piety is all-consuming and for the precocious Wiley, it’s a seesaw between regret and remorse as she floats “between launchpad and orbit.”
Astronaut families are defined as those in which one or both parents return to their country of origin to work. The impact and isolation takes its toll on every family member. In South Korea, they are known as “geese families”; elsewhere, international students are dubbed “parachute kids.” As an untethered astronaut kid, rebellion is ripe and for Wiley, her only sense of control is found in eating (or not). She’s embarrassed by her mother’s gifts of “Polio” and “Channel” knock-offs from Taiwan. She struggles with being Asian but not Asian enough.
Despite the oceans of separation, there’s still a bedrock of love. In this geopolitical bildungsroman, Wiley revisits the undertow of her childhood, stereotypes, expectations, reverence and recoil. Stuck in generation 1.5, she grapples with family traditions that are both noble and stultifying and her emergence into adulthood is a powerful reminder of human resilience and the sacrifices families make for opportunity in Canada.
4. The Healing Plate: Ayurveda for Modern Living by Ananda in the Himalayas
Ananda in the Himalayas is an arresting holistic wellness retreat overlooking the Ganges River in the Himalayan foothills of India. The sanctuary offers specialized Women’s Health programs, personalized yoga and meditation intensives, sleep-focussed and nutritional wellness journeys. The Healing Plate allows you to bring the best of Ananda into your own home and kitchen. I felt healthier just leafing through the pages. It’s the equivalent of drinking eight glasses of water, a hot yoga session and nine hours of sleep!
Naturally, I was drawn to the feel-good recipes that radiate thoughtful and conscious eating (which can be difficult when traveling). Ananda shares Ayurvedic wisdom through easy-to-digest foundational concepts and pillars. The basic elements, bio-energy philosophies, body type definitions and seven guiding themes (from energy to immunity to sleep) are integrated into over 100 rejuvenating recipes and zero-waste cooking.
The protein-packed, plant-based recipes make for a tempting line-up that quickly reminds readers of how finding balance and restoration can be as simple as eating well. My shortlist of recipes to try includes the sunshine-bright saffron oatmeal, quinoa pancakes, cilantro pesto, jewel-like corn and pomegranate salsa; and the beetroot and goat cheese ravioli. But first, I think I’ll whip up a rose cardamom latte while I contemplate the watermelon rind curry! The ingredient lists are far from daunting and the photography is nearly edible. Treat yourself to The Healing Plate and learn more about a new satiating way of feeding your soul with an Ayurvedic mindset.
5. A Better World is Possible by Meera Subramanian with Danica Novgorodoff; illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff
This is the graphic novel my teenaged, tie-dye t-shirted, eco-rebel self would have loved. At age 51, it’s even more meaningful. The simplicity of the illustrations and graphic style shouldn’t be dismissed as a lightweight read. Environmental journalist Meera Subramanian wisely collaborated with illustrator Danica Novgorodoff to share the very true story of four youth activists who attend the Global Climate Strike in New York in September 2019. The actual event was the largest mass protest for climate action in history. The experience of participating in the momentum of the Youth for Climate Action march is told by four teen activists. A Colombian-Jewish “lesbian art nerd”, Bangladesh-born New Yorker, a Chilean-Mexican and politically-minded son of Indian immigrants find friendship and empowerment as they navigate the climate crisis together. It’s a hopeful, buoying rally cry and sneakingly educational.
Told through the teens’ research and musings, Subramanian and Novgorodoff emphasize how globally intertwined we are through our resources and consumption of them. The thoughtful and frank multicultural narration adds depth as discussions revolve around alternative energy, Indigenous teachings, religion, peaceful disobedience in a non-preachy, inspiring way. The illustrations provide a compendium of today’s trending topics: eco-grief, Indigenous cosmologies, wildfires, regenerative agriculture and the importance of community relations. The takeaway? A better world is possible and the world is better because of this book as it fearlessly addresses climate change with honesty and optimism.
Transitioning from military service to civilian life can feel daunting. Many veterans wonder how to translate their leadership, discipline, and specialized skills into a new career. The experiences of American Military (AMU) students show that education can be the bridge between service and civilian success. By choosing programs tailored to military needs and drawing on a supportive community, veterans are forging new paths that honor their service and expand their horizons.
Finding Purpose and Community
For Thyshown Esperience, a Marine Corps veteran turned deputy sheriff, the pivotal moment was discovering a program that connected his diverse experiences “from military to civilian into a cohesive educational journey.” He credits insights from classmates and professors—many with real‑world experience—for giving him clarity and renewed purpose. His story underscores how the right academic environment can help veterans reinterpret their service and apply it to new contexts.
Brandon Villanueva learned about AMU when a coworker insisted it had everything he was looking for. He found that beyond the curriculum, the “flexibility, advisor support, and faculty engagement” made it possible to pursue his degree even while deployed. Being able to complete coursework anywhere with an internet connection, whether at home or overseas, allowed him to stay on track. His experience illustrates how essential program flexibility and compassionate support are for veterans still serving or transitioning.
After a cancer diagnosis, Joseph Gray decided to pursue his passion for military history. Two military friends recommended AMU because the classes were online and military‑friendly. Joseph discovered that the flexibility allowed him to maintain a full‑time work schedule while studying. He believes that “knowledge is power,” and his degree has enabled him to advance his knowledge of history and share it with others.
Turning Military Service into Civilian Opportunity
Veterans often worry about the competitiveness of civilian job markets, yet their experiences show how education can transform military skills into new career possibilities.
After four combat deployments as a Marine, Earl Day earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Management with honors. When he applied for a position with the fire department, he was one of more than 5,000 applicants; only 70 were selected, and he credits his AMU degree with helping his application stand out.
And his professors at AMU—who are subject matter experts in the field—equipped him with knowledge he could immediately apply during fire‑department training, tying his coursework directly into his next mission.
Choosing a program that values and recognizes military experience is often the first step. Universities, like AMU, that offer transfer credits for military training and design courses that build on service‑acquired skills can help shorten the path to graduation and ensure that studies are relevant. Brandon Villanueva and Earl Day both benefited from programs that respected their service and translated it into academic credit.
Education also helps veterans refine their mission. For Thyshown Esperience and Joseph Gray, the classroom became a place to rediscover purpose.
Thyshown’s homeland security courses gave him a clearer picture of how federal, state and local systems intersect. By pursuing his passion for military history, Joseph was able to connect past experiences to new learning.
None of this happens in a vacuum. Veteran students at AMU cite the importance of using benefits such as the GI Bill® and leaning on support networks. Advisors who understand the unique pressures of military life and peers who share similar backgrounds offer encouragement when challenges arise.
The sense of community that grows in online discussion boards or group projects reminds veterans that they are not alone. Through these networks, they find camaraderie and the motivation to persevere.
By integrating their service experience into academic pursuits, leveraging available resources, and engaging with a community that “gets it,” veterans can transform their disciplined approach to problem‑solving into civilian success.
A New Chapter
The transition from uniform to civies is not the end of a mission; it’s the beginning of a new one. As these AMU students demonstrate, education can transform military skills and passions into civilian achievements. Whether you want to lead a fire department, interpret history, or protect your community, there are flexible programs and supportive communities ready to help. Pursuing higher education is a way to honor your service, invest in yourself, and continue serving others in new and meaningful ways.
Read more articles for the Veteran Community here.
Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies come from the famous “Mr. Chocolate” himself. They were featured in The New York Times’ search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. The secret is letting the dough rest before baking. It gives you crisp, buttery edges and chewy centers.
The Secrets Behind These Cookies
Famous for a Reason: Jacques Torres is known as “Mr. Chocolate,” so you know he takes the chocolate part seriously. His famous cookie became even more popular after being featured by The New York Times.
Not Too Sweet: Bittersweet chocolate and flaky sea salt balance the sweetness, so every bite tastes rich without being sugary.
Chocolate in Every Bite: Chocolate discs melt into big, gooey pools instead of staying in little chip shaped pockets.
Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients
Chocolate Discs: The original cookie uses bittersweet chocolate discs or fèves. Valrhona dark chocolate fèves are a great choice, but Guittard or Ghirardelli discs work well too. Chocolate chips will work, but they won’t create those same big pools of melted chocolate.
Cake + Bread Flour: Cake flour keeps the cookies tender, while bread flour helps give them their chewy texture.
Flaky Sea Salt: Sprinkle it on top before baking to add a little crunch and balance the sweetness.
Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
If you love my classic chocolate chip cookies or brown butter cookies, you have to try this cookie recipe! It helped inspire The New York Times’ famous search for chocolate chip cookie perfection. The ingredients are a little different, but the steps are simple. Just don’t skip that long chill!
Mix: Sift the cake flour, bread flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Cream: Add the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high for about 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
Add the Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla.
Make the Cookie Dough: Add the dry ingredients and mix on low just until combined. Scrape down the bowl to make sure everything is incorporated.
Add the Chocolate and Chill: Fold in the chocolate discs. Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 24 hours, or up to 72 hours.
Portion the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop the chilled dough into 3-ounce portions and place them at least 3 inches apart. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and bake 18–20 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers still look underbaked. Let the cookies cool on the pan for 10 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Alyssa’s Pro Tips
Give the Dough Time: Chill the dough for at least 24 hours. The famous New York Times version recommends 24–36 hours, but the dough can stay refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
Weigh the Dough: A kitchen scale gives you evenly sized cookies that bake evenly. For oversized cookies, make 3-ounce balls. For smaller cookies, use 1.5 ounce portions and bake for about 10–12 minutes.
These famous Jacques Torres cookies have crisp edges, chewy centers, rich bittersweet chocolate, and flaky sea salt.
Course cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American, French American
Keyword 72 hour cookies, Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies, michelin star chocolate chip cookies, michelin star cookies, new york times chocolate chip cookies, ny times chocolate chip cookies
1 ¼poundbittersweet chocolate discsat least 60% cocoa
flaky sea saltfor topping
Instructions
Sift 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons cake flour, 1 ⅔ cups bread flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda, and ¾ teaspoon salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.
Add 1 ¼ cup softened unsalted butter, 1 ¼ cup packed light brown sugar, and 1 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high speed for about 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
Add 2 large eggsone at a time, to the butter mixture, mixing well between each addition. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and mix well.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is combined.
Fold 1 ¼ pound bittersweet chocolate discs into the dough, then cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, or up to 72 hours.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper.
Portion the chilled dough into 3-ounce portions and place on the baking sheets, leaving at least 3 inches between them. Sprinkle the tops with flaky sea salt, then bake for 18-20 minutes, until the edges are golden brown. The center of the cookie will look quite underbaked.
Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to continue baking before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Notes
Leftover Instructions
Fridge: Store the dough covered in the refrigerator for up to 72 hours before baking. Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Freeze baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Make Ahead: Chill the dough for at least 24 hours before baking. For the best flavor and texture, let it rest for 48–72 hours.
This Mississippi Chicken is tender, juicy, and coated in a savory, buttery sauce with plenty of tangy pepperoncini flavor. This five-ingredient crockpot Mississippi chicken recipe takes about 10 minutes to prep, has no chopping, and costs only $1.74 per serving! Add everything to your slow cooker with no extra liquid, then cook on LOW for 6 hours (or HIGH for 3-4 hours if you’re in a pinch!). It’s an easy “set it and forget about it” family dinner, and I can stretch the leftovers into all sorts of meals.
Crock pot Mississippi Chicken Recipe
I’m a big fan of slow cookers! They’re great for meal prep, feeding a small army, and stretching leftovers, so you better believe I’ve put this Mississippi chicken into my regular rotation. It’s inspired by the classic Mississippi pot roast, but made even MORE budget-friendly by swapping the beef for chicken!
For my recipe, I arrange chicken breasts in one layer in my slow cooker, sprinkle them with ranch seasoning and au jus gravy mix, then add a stick of unsalted butter and some tangy pepperoncini peppers. I like to use unsalted butter here because both seasoning packets already contain plenty of sodium. And guess what? There’s no searing, stirring, water, or stock needed. The chicken releases liquid as it cooks, which combines with the melted butter and seasonings to make a rich, savory sauce. The chicken shreds easily right in the crockpot, and cleanup couldn’t be simpler! I like to pile this juicy chicken high on sandwiches, or spoon it over tortilla chips with plenty of cheese (they’re the best nachos I’ve ever had!)
Recipe Success Tips
Arrange the chicken in one even layer. Place 3 lbs. chicken breasts in a single layer in a 6-quart slow cooker rather than stacking them. This helps them cook more evenly. If your chicken breasts are smaller or you’re using a different-sized slow cooker, start checking them earlier (the internal temperature should reach 165°F). If your chicken is frozen, thaw it completely in the refrigerator before adding it to the slow cooker.
There’s no need to add extra liquid! I let the chicken create its own broth as it cooks, which combines with the melted butter and seasoning packets to make the savory sauce. Adding water or stock would dilute all that flavor!
Adjust the spice level. Jarred pepperoncini are mild, tangy pickled peppers usually found near the pickles and olives at the grocery store. To some, pepperoncini peppers can be spicy. If you’re worried about the spice level, you can reduce the number of peppers. (Or add more if you love pepperoncini peppers like me!)
Keep the lid closed. There’s no need to stir or flip this Mississippi chicken as it cooks. Opening the slow cooker releases heat and can extend the cooking time, so let it do its thing!
Check the temperature and texture. Before shredding, I check that the thickest part has reached 165°F and that the chicken separates easily with two forks. Chicken size and slow cookers can vary, so if it isn’t ready after 6 hours on LOW (or HIGH for 3-4 hours), cook it for another 20 minutes before checking again.
Add vegetables to make it a complete meal. You can add potatoes, carrots, or onions to the slow cooker with the chicken. Using our pot roast recipe as a guide, try 2 large carrots peeled and cut into large chunks, 1 large yellow onion peeled and quartered, or 1-1½ lbs. of mini potatoes (kept whole). Keep the chicken in one layer, then arrange the vegetables around and over it.
Budget-Saving Tips!
Save money by using 3 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken thighs if they’re cheaper than breasts. They work just as well, especially if you prefer dark meat or already have some on hand! Arrange the thighs evenly in the slow cooker and cook until they reach at least 165°F and shred easily. Chicken thighs release more fat than breasts, so I usually trim large pieces of visible fat first and spoon off any excess from the cooking liquid before shredding.
Also, watch your pennies and go for store-brand seasoning packets! Store-brand ranch and au jus seasoning work just as well as the name-brand options, so save some money and grab whichever is cheaper. You can also use our homemade ranch seasoning mix if you already have the ingredients in your pantry.
And on that note, if you can’t find au jus mix or regular brown gravy mix is cheaper at your store, use a packet of that instead! Jess uses a brown gravy mix in her Mississippi pot roast, and it still adds plenty of savory flavor!
*Use 3 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, which was about three very large breasts for me. Weight is more reliable than the number of breasts, so you may need more than three if your store sells smaller pieces. You can also use 3 lbs. skinless, boneless chicken thighs. Make sure frozen chicken is fully thawed before adding it to the slow cooker and it reaches a safe internal temperature of at least 165°F once cooked.
**I recommend using unsalted butter, so this dish isn’t too salty. You can always add more salt after it’s cooked, if needed.
Salt levels can vary: Seasoning packet brands vary in sodium, so check the labels and choose lower-sodium options if needed. Stick with unsalted butter, then taste the finished chicken before adding any extra salt.
how to make Mississippi Chicken Step-by-Step Photos
Gather all of your ingredients.
Season the chicken: Place 3 lbs. of chicken breasts in an even layer across the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker with as little overlap as possible. This helps the thick breasts cook at a similar rate. Evenly sprinkle the chicken with a 1-oz. packet of au jus gravy mix.
Now sprinkle 1-oz. packet of ranch seasoning evenly over the chicken, making sure there aren’t any large piles of either seasoning. The surface will look dry at this stage, but that’s expected. There’s no need to add water or stock because the chicken will release plenty of liquid as it cooks.
Add the butter and peppers: Place 1 stick of unsalted butter (½ cup or 8 Tbsp) in the center of the chicken. Arrange 8 pepperoncini peppers evenly around the slow cooker.
Cook the chicken: Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours, keeping the lid closed so the slow cooker doesn’t lose heat. If you’re short on time, cook it on HIGH for 3-4 hours and begin checking it at the 3-hour mark. When ready, the butter will be completely melted, the pepperoncini will look softened, and the chicken will be surrounded by plenty of savory cooking liquid. Check that the thickest part of each breast has reached at least 165°F.
If the chicken hasn’t reached 165°F, replace the lid and cook for another 20 minutes before checking again.
Shred and serve: Use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. It should separate easily without much resistance. Stir the shredded chicken into the buttery cooking liquid until it’s evenly coated.
Taste your Mississippi chicken before adding any salt because the seasoning packets are already well seasoned. Serve hot and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
I love serving Mississippi chicken straight from the slow cooker over mashed potatoes with steamed frozen peas on the side. Add a pepper or two from the slow cooker, then spoon plenty of that savory sauce over the chicken and potatoes. It’s delicious as-is, but a dollop of sour cream on each serving makes it creamy and helps mellow the heat from the peppers. You can also stir some softened cream cheese into the hot sauce until smooth, or finish each plate with crumbled cooked bacon for smoky, salty flavor and a little crunch.
For something different, spoon the chicken and plenty of sauce over seasoned rice so the rice can soak up all those buttery juices. It also makes a delicious slider filling piled onto split Hawaiian rolls, where the soft, slightly sweet bread pairs perfectly with the tangy chicken. Or scatter the shredded chicken over our black bean nachos with the beans and cheese, using just enough sauce to add flavor without making the chips soggy (these are so, so good!). And for dessert? It has to be a slice of Mississippi mud pie, of course!
Meal Prep it!
This Mississippi chicken is great for meal prep because it makes six generous servings (about 1 cup each). I portion the leftovers into split meal prep containers, as shown in the photo below, and usually pair the chicken with something fresh, like a crisp green salad made with whatever vegetables I have on hand or what’s in season. The separate compartments help the salad leaves stay crisp. Keep everything refrigerated and use it within 3-4 days.
I also love this chicken in sandwiches and wraps, but I store the bread separately until serving so it doesn’t turn soggy. A baked potato topped with this chicken and served with coleslaw is another delicious option! I’d keep the coleslaw separate so I can reheat the potato and chicken together.
Storage & Reheating
After the leftovers have cooled, you can store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Store the chicken with some of the cooking sauce to help keep it moist.
Reheating
Reheat individual portions in the microwave, covered, in short intervals, stirring between each one until the chicken is heated evenly. You can also warm it in a covered saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a small splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened, and heat the chicken to 165°F.
Freezing
Freeze the cooled Mississippi chicken with some of its sauce in meal-sized freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months. Press out as much air as possible to help prevent freezer burn. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat it using one of the methods above.
Try These Crockpot Shredded Chicken Recipes:
Our Pulled Chicken has a simple, versatile seasoning, making it perfect for meal prep, chicken salad, tacos, pasta, and more!
When I’m craving Tex-Mex flavors, this no-chop Crock Pot Salsa Chicken gives me a saucy filling for tacos, burritos, nachos, and bowls.
This Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken uses similar ingredients to my recipe here, with chicken breasts, ranch seasoning, and butter, but mixes in tangy hot sauce for a buffalo finish. SO GOOD.
Our Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is coated in smoky seasonings and plenty of tangy BBQ sauce, then shredded for sandwiches, nachos, baked potatoes, or pizza.
Yesterday, August 21, was National Senior Citizens Day, a good opportunity to recognize older adults and reflect on what supports healthier aging. Medication safety is an important part of that, since the benefits, risks, and burdens of medications can change as we get older.
If you’re helping an older person with health and healthcare, chances are that person is taking at least a few prescription medications, if not several.
Do you ever wonder if he or she is on the right medications? Do you worry about side-effects and interactions?
These are sensible concerns to have. Many older adults end up experiencing “polypharmacy,” which means taking more than 5 medications concurrently.
And although medications do often help maintain health and wellbeing, studies have repeatedly shown that lots of older adults end up suffering from problems related to medication.
Polypharmacy, predictably, increases the risk of problems. (Polypharmacy is usually defined as taking five or more medications concurrently.) But even older adults taking one to three daily medications can encounter problems.
So I want to share a list of common ways that medications affect the health and wellbeing of aging adults. I’ll then explain what you can do, to minimize these problems.
Six Common Medication-Related Problems in Aging Adults
Here are the most common problems that I see:
1. Side-effects affecting thinking and balance
Although all medications can cause side-effects, quite a few commonly used drugs are known to make thinking and balance worse in aging adults. These include:
Drugs in a class known as “anticholinergics,” which includes drugs for overactive bladder, itching/allergy, vertigo, nausea, and certain drugs for nerve pain or depression. Diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, is a commonly used anticholinergic that’s often included in over-the-counter sleep aids and PM-version painkillers. (Wondering how to spot these medications? I have a link to a great list of anticholinergics in this post.)
Sedatives and tranquilizers, which are often prescribed for sleep or for anxiety. Examples include zolpidem and lorazepam (brand names Ambien and Ativan, respectively).
These drugs can increase fall risk, or can provoke confusion. Geriatricians commonly recommend stopping or reducing the dosage of these drugs. For more information about four types of medication that affect memory, see here. For a list of medications that increase falls, see “10 Types of Medications to Review if You’re Concerned About Falling“.
2. Symptoms persisting despite drug treatment
Many older people are started on a drug for a certain symptom, such as pain, heartburn, incontinence, or depression. But because primary care visits tend to be busy, it’s easy for doctors — and even patients — to postpone following up on the symptom indefinitely. (Many symptoms would benefit from non-drug treatment too, but that’s another issue.)
In many cases, a “starter dose” is prescribed, but is not adjusted.
Older adults may end up with the risks and burden of taking a drug — including the cost of the drug — while not getting much benefit from the drug.
Geriatricians usually try to make sure that all drugs for symptoms are serving a useful purpose in improving well-being or quality of life.
3. Side-effects due to a strong effect of drugs on the older person
Examples of this include:
Blood pressure medications at a dose that brings blood pressure much lower than the goal blood pressure. This can result in lightheadedness, or even falls, when an older person stands. (See this post and this post for my recommendations on safer managing of blood pressure in older adults.)
Many older adults end up with several pills to take at several different times per day. At a minimum this is often a hassle; at worst it becomes a serious drain on quality of life.
Some older adults are unable to take all their medications properly. Depending on which medications are missed, this can cause serious effects on an older person’s health.
5. Cost of medications
Even with prescription drug coverage provided by Medicare Part D, the monthly costs of medications can be high. This is a burden for older adults, who often have limited financial resources.
It can also cause people to skip taking certain medications, or not fill prescriptions for more expensive medications (such as inhalers).
6. Drug interactions
This is one of the reasons polypharmacy can be so risky: some drugs tend to interact with others. A frequent source of problems in the past was the blood thinner warfarin (brand name Coumadin), which can interact with antibiotics as well as with other drugs.
Newer blood thinners have fewer drug interactions but can still cause dangerous effects when combined with certain other medications.
Many other drugs can cause interactions. You can check your medications using an online tool, such as this drug interaction checker.
There are of course many other medication-related problems that can occur, especially when hospitalizations or multiple doctors are involved. But the ones above are especially common when it comes to the primary care of aging adults.
How to avoid medication problems in aging
In an ideal world, every older adult would have access to a reliable process for reviewing medications, ensuring that the benefits outweigh the risks and burdens, and monitoring for side-effects and problems.
However, as many of you know, our healthcare system is not yet ideal for aging adults. So if you’re older — or are caring for an older person — and want to be proactive about checking on medications, here are some specific things you can do:
Learn about the Beers List of Potentially Inappropriate Medications for Older Adults, and see if your older relative is taking medications on the list. This document includes a comprehensive list of “anticholinergic” drugs, and also lists other medications that are especially risky for the elderly.
Don’t panic if you discover that an older person is taking a medication on the Beers list. Do plan on discussing with the doctor. You’ll want to understand why the benefits are likely to outweigh the burdens, and you can also ask if a lower dose is possible.
If you need help spotting risky medications, consider asking a pharmacist for assistance.
Make a comprehensive list of all medications being taken. Include prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal supplements. Then, for every drug being taken, make sure you and family understand:
The purpose of taking the drug. Ask yourselves if the drug seems to be serving its purpose. If you aren’t sure, plan to ask the doctor. If it’s a drug to manage a symptom such as pain, consider how the symptom seems to be doing. If the doctor hasn’t reassessed the symptom lately, or if the symptom is still bothersome, you’ll want to discuss with the doctor.
If there are alternatives to taking the drug. Especially when it comes to treating symptoms, there are often non-drug alternatives that can and should be considered. For instance, certain types of counseling can be effective for depression and anxiety. Physical therapy can help treat some forms of pain. Pelvic floor exercises and timed toileting can reduce incontinence.
If a lower dosage is possible. In general, the risk of side-effects and problems goes up with higher doses of medication. Consider asking if a lower dose is possible for any of the medications.
Ask your health providers about “deprescribing”. Deprescribing means reducing or stopping medications that may not be beneficial or may be causing harm. It’s second nature to geriatricians, but now other primary health providers are also being encouraged to do this with older patients, to reduce the risks associated with polypharmacy.
Randomized clinical trials have proven that giving older adults an informative brochure about their risky medications, along with a deprescribing plan to discuss with their doctor, does lead to actual deprescribing.
If you identify a potentially problematic interaction, let the doctor know as soon as possible. But don’t stop the medication on your own, as that can be dangerous too.
If cost is an issue, ask the doctor about options for reducing the medications, or at least switching to less expensive alternatives.
For instance, stopping a medication that is not working well for a symptom can help reduce drug costs.
If medication is required for a given problem, such as very high blood pressure, ask if there is a cheaper medication available.
Pharmacists may be able to offer suggestions regarding less costly alternatives, or other ways to modify the medication plan.
You can also try to switch to a different Medicare Part D plan during Open Enrollment (which runs from October to December every year).
If taking medications on schedule is an issue, ask the doctor for help simplifying and streamlining the daily medication plan.
For drugs taken several times a day, there may be a once-a-day option.
Or ask whether a drug can be stopped, and a non-drug treatment tried instead.
Pharmacists can often recommend ways to safely adjust when and how medications are taken.
An automated dispenser can also be helpful.
Keep the doctors well-informed about medications and medication use. In particular, help the doctors avoid these two common pitfalls:
Confusion as to what has been prescribed by other doctors. Most older adults see multiple doctors, and hospital stays can create additional changes to the medication list. Don’t assume that doctors have an up-to-date list. (They almost never do!) Instead, bring an up-to-date list every time you see the doctor, or better yet, bring the bottles along too. Don’t forget to include supplements and over-the-counter drugs.
Confusion as to what an older person is actually taking. If you are helping a relative and they haven’t filled a prescription due to cost, or aren’t taking a medication for any reason, be sure to let the doctor know this. This is especially important if the older person has had concerns about side-effects.
By implementing some — or ideally all — of the steps above, you can help make sure that an older person gets the most benefit from medications, while minimizing the risks and burdens.
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