by Paula D.
on February 3, 2026 6:43 pm in Food
When I’m cooking spinach, I think of my father. Strange? Well, I was a skinny kid and pale, with dark, long hair. My father called me Olive Oyl back then! You know, Popeye’s leading lady. I guess the tall feature didn’t matter to Dad. My father was right about the resemblance. I remember looking in the bathroom mirror. I had to sit cross-legged on the fake-wood countertop to see myself. I’d hop on the toilet to get up there, and I’d stare, thinking the skin under my eyes was translucent.
Dora Paskel (1872–1953) of Chester, Illinois, E.C. Segar’s hometown. The muse for Olive Oyl. And Popeye was inspired by Frank “Rocky” Fiegel. A tough, pipe-smoking sailor from the same town, who worked as a bar bouncer and got in fights all the time. What a pair!
I loved my special nickname, and it stuck for years. I learned later that Olive Oyl is a bit chaotic, a bit anxious, and headstrong, just like me! And it’s cool too, because I love olives and olive oil.
Where did her name come from? Olive Oyl is a silly little pun, and her older brothers’ names are Castor Oyl and Crude Oyl! Not as culinary appealing. “Oyl lifts” is an Olympic weightlifting exercise. She is slight, yet strong in body and will!
What I didn’t know when I first met her as a cartoon in the show, Popeye The Sailor Man, is that she started as a comic strip called Thimble Theatre, created by cartoonist E.C. Segar, in 1919, and Olive was the original main character—Popeye, Olive’s lover, didn’t show up until ten years later.
The interesting love story goes like this: Olive was engaged to a loser guy named Harold Hamgravy. He was a slacker who chased rich women and had many “get rich quick” schemes. In a later comic strip, Castor Oyl and Ham Gravy hired a sailor named Popeye to man his ship for a treasure hunt. As Popeye’s popularity went viral in 1930, Ham got ghosted by Olive Oyl, and Popeye became THE man.
The Spinach: During the Great Depression, E.C. Segar gave Popeye his famous superpower food: a can of spinach – so he can fight the bad guys! There are many theories around “why spinach.” The most believable one is: Segar was sending kids and families subliminal messages to eat more of an affordable, vitamin-packed vegetable, at a time when American diets were missing so many nutrients.
It worked! Popeye is credited with helping boost U.S. spinach consumption in the 1930s by 33%!
A lot of us grew up hearing “spinach is loaded with iron” and will help us build muscles just like Popeye the Sailor Man. My father told me exactly this. The thing is, spinach does have iron, but not in huge, superhuman amounts. The USDA says that 1 cup of spinach is about 3.7 mg of iron. Still, spinach is a nutritional gem, rich in vitamins (especially vitamin K), folate, antioxidants, and more.
I read there was a rumor that spinach’s iron count was a clerical error (a misplaced decimal point) and that’s why the cartoonist used the vegetable, but that isn’t proven. As an artist-type myself, I think Segar just needed a pop of bright green to round out his color story.
Go eat some spinach to stay strong and healthy throughout this winter!
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeye, smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/popeye
by Paula D.
on February 3, 2026 5:43 pm in Recipes
For about a year, I’ve been very into Diet Dr Pepper. I never drank it as a kid (or ever before this). My friend insisted it was delicious, and he was right. During the summer, I’d have an afternoon, icy-cold can of Diet Dr Pepper on the porch. It has to be diet. It’s way better than regular, and it’s not about the calories. The difference between the two is less of that “thick” syrup. It tastes lighter and more refreshing, and still has the deliciously different Dr Pepper Flavor.
Of cours,e the internet algorithm figured out that this is what I’m into now and started sending me a bunch of stuff: Diet Dr Pepper candles, Dr Pepper BBQ sauce, Dr Pepper beans (need all).
Then it served me a very interesting vintage ad and blurb on Instagram from the account @HistoryFeels: The story of the “winter warmer” goes like this…
“In the early 1960s, Dr Pepper had a problem—soda sales dropped sharply during the winter months. Cold drinks didn’t feel as appealing when temperatures fell, so instead of changing the product, they changed the way people were told to drink it.
The result was Hot Dr Pepper. Ads instructed people to heat the soda in a saucepan until steaming, then pour it over a slice of lemon. The campaign positioned it as a winter warmer—closer to mulled cider than a traditional soft drink. Print ads, billboards, and in-store displays pushed the idea across the U.S.
It worked. Hot Dr Pepper became a recognizable seasonal novelty and stayed in circulation for decades, lingering into the 1980s. It never replaced the cold version, but it kept the brand visible year-round and helped stabilize winter sales back when soda companies were still experimenting with consumer habits.
It even embedded itself in pop culture: in the 1999 film Blast from the Past, Christopher Walken’s character still drinks Dr Pepper hot after living underground since the Cold War—a direct nod to the once-common practice.”
Added facts: Dr Pepper was created in 1885, making it one year older than Coca-Cola. Along with the amazing, printed advertisements, there were TV commercials too, with Dick Clark! And
There’s a Dr Pepper historical museum in Waco, Texas – I want to go.
I had to try the drink, and you know what? It’s a wonderful, warm, slightly bubbly caffeinated treat. The lemon adds a nice acidic counter flavor to the sweet soda. It’s a fun drink to try, especially when friends are over. It will spark a cool, vintage conversation, and it’s perf for a cozy get-together. The recipe is simple, just be careful not to over heat, you will lose the fizz!
Dr Pepper Winter Warmer
Ingredients:
- 12oz can of Diet Dr Pepper (regular also works)
- Thin slice of fresh lemon
Instructions:
- Pour Dr Pepper into a saucepan. Heat over medium until it’s steaming hot (160 degrees). Do not let it simmer or boil. That can scorch the flavor and flatten the carbonation.
- Put a lemon slice in a mug.
- Pour the hot Dr Pepper over the lemon and sip.
- For a large batch, use a 2-liter bottle and heat in a crockpot
Optional: Experiment with cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, vanilla or other spices, but try it straight up first!
On New Year’s Day, I was invited to a cute craft party at my friend Carolin Wood’s home. We spent the afternoon sewing patches for a Rockaway community quilt—chatting and snacking. What fun!
Carolin Wood and her creative partner, Rachel Krieger-Garone, are the co-founders of Benevolent Objects, a small business creating beautifully unique aprons from vintage materials. By the end of the afternoon, there was talk of organizing something bigger—an event that could fit more community sewers and crafters. Now they’ve secured a winter location for the next sew gathering, and this one is public. All are welcome!
I asked the ladies how the inception of Benevolent Objects came together and I learned that Rachel and Carolin first met when Rachel was nannying for Carolin’s kids 9 years ago. What started as a working relationship turned into a longtime friendship. They’ve had each other’s backs through hard times, and they talk honestly about the big stuff—mental health, relationships, community, all of it.
Carolin, an artist and new mom at the time, started making and selling aprons after her kids were born (before she ever moved to Rockaway). Sewing runs in her family—skills and fabrics passed down from her mother and grandma, along with that old-school mindset of using what you’ve got to make what you need.
Rachel comes from a clothing-manufacturing family and spent years in luxury retail and the service industry, so she brings a whole other side of experience to the work.
Most of the fabric for the aprons is straight from Carolin’s family treasure chest. They also source from vintage shops and secondhand stores. And if you have cool fabrics, Carolin and Rachel also happily take fabric donations!
Rachel shares, “I think we make great partners because we come from such different backgrounds and have different skill sets. I love to bring people together, and that translates to social media as well, so I’m responsible for outreach and marketing. I have a bit of a tendency toward perfectionism, which helps in production, design, and editing. Carolin knows how to produce—the work just spills out of her. She works fast and furiously. She doesn’t hesitate. It’s truly awe-inspiring.”
“We both care deeply about this planet and the future, and with all of the chaos in the world, it feels like if we can gather people, teach them how to repair items instead of throwing them out, and create a sense of care for our environment and the community, then maybe we’re doing something good.”
And that brings us to this weekend!
This Sunday, January 18, Benevolent Objects is hosting Sew & Repair at the Arverne East Coastal Conservation Center (190 B 44th St. at the Boardwalk), overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in a beautiful new community space, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. It’s a hands-on morning of basic sewing, embroidery, and repair, plus an intro to threading and using sewing machines. Bring an item that needs fixing, or come ready to experiment with provided materials and make something new. The idea is: use your hands and hearts to make new things from old materials—and imagine a more sustainable future, as the group creates.
Benevolent Objects celebrates one year of their creative partnership and business this February—congrats, ladies!
RSVP by messaging @benevolentobjects on Instagram. The suggested donation is $20, but it’s pay-what-you-can, and no one is turned away. No experience needed. There will be light snacks and beverages (feel free to bring your own, too). Space is limited, reserve your spot!
It didn’t feel right to write about anything else this week after the heartbreaking news that Mike Honan passed away.
I’ve known The Honans for 22 years. Their family welcomed me into Rockaway and were some of the first people I met here. They treated me like family. Mike Honan, an Irishman, married Fran Chiodo, an Italian, and I remember how comforting it felt to be with them, like I wasn’t the only Italian on the peninsula. If I needed to name an example of a beautiful marriage and a strong, loving family, the Honans are it.
I’ve shared many holidays with Mike, Fran, Katie, Rosanne, and Frank—most notably their family-famous St. Patrick’s Parade breakfast party.
Mike and Fran have been longtime supporters of the Beach 91st Street Community Garden—attending events, donating food, and contributing financially. This is a small example of Mike’s big community involvement.
As you’ll read in this week’s paper, Mike was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a seaman at heart—and he never stopped serving. In May 2015, I wrote a tribute to Mike when his work with veterans was honored at City Hall. He was presented with a proclamation for his service by NYC officials.
Mike worked with an organization that ensured indigent veterans were properly buried—riding in the hearse with a stranger’s remains and bringing the folded flag home in their memory. This still touches me when I think about it. If you had free time, this is what you chose to do? Incredible.
Mike, alongside the Belle Harbor Garden Club, was involved in the inception of Memorial Circle, the park that honors 33 local World War II veterans who gave their lives for our country. He also tirelessly organized parades for WWII veterans, securing antique cars so they could ride the route in style—just a few of the many ways he gave back.
Mike’s passing was sudden, and I’m still trying to understand that he’s gone. My heart is with Fran, Katie, Roseanne, Frank, Riordan, and the rest of this family. I’m saying a prayer for Mike, and for everyone mourning him. I’m grateful for his tremendous contributions, locally and far beyond Rockaway.
When I think of Mike, I will picture him sitting in the living room of his home with his beloved dog under his arm, smiling warmly, ear to ear, and welcoming, calling for Fran to offer me something to eat.
Mike’s wife, Fran Honan, has been and always will be a Tomato Gal, contributing to the blog long before I ever wrote for the paper. I wanted to share her “secret” brownie recipe with you, because we might all need some comfort food this weekend. Whether you’re mourning Mike or carrying your own personal loss, know that there’s no timeline for grief. And it’s okay to feel all that you do.
Fran’s “Secret” Brownies
What makes them “secret”: Use a mix of different name-brand brownie mixes (not store brands). The variety creates the best taste and texture.
What you’ll need:
- Several boxes of different name-brand brownie mixes (ex, 3 boxes for one pan)
- The exact eggs, water, and oil listed on each box (you’ll be adding them up)
- pan: 20″ x 12″ (fits 3 boxes of mix)
- Spray shortening
Instructions:
- Heat oven to the temperature listed on the brownie boxes. Grease a 20″ x 12″ pan with spray shortening.
- In a very large bowl, add all the eggs, water, and oil required for all the boxes combined. Whisk until fully blended. Put the whisk away. Switch to a wooden spoon.
- Add the dry brownie mixes one box at a time, stirring after each addition just until you no longer see dry powder. Do not overmix.
- Pour batter into the pan and gently spread evenly with a spatula.
- Bake about 25 minutes, then start checking. You’re aiming for slightly underbaked: Edges firm all around, Top glossy with some cracks, Center no longer jiggly (If the center still jiggles a lot, bake 8–10 minutes more, checking as you go.)
- Cool completely before cutting. Cut into squares, place on trays, and wrap tightly with clear plastic. Serve anyone who walks through the door.
