Chef Frankie Celenza's Cinnamon Roll Casserole

All photos: Struggle Meals

I have a delicious recipe for Cinnamon rolls, but sometimes I don't think to start it the night before in order to eat them for breakfast. That's where this recipe from Chef Frankie Celenza of Struggle Meals comes in as a delicious alternative! His recipe takes less time to render a delicious hot gooey cinnamon pastry with cream cheese frosting. Instead of making homemade dough that rises overnight, then again in the morning, day old bread is cubed and baked crispy, then you cook a simple vanilla custard to pour on top and bake it in a cast iron skillet until bubbly and brown in the oven. Following is Frankie's recipe with my tweaks in blue lightening it up a tad. (I never have cream or cooking spray, so I make the substitutions typed in blue):

Ingredients:

12 ounces leftover bread (about 8 cups), cut into 1-inch cubes 3 cups whole milk - I substitute skim milk. 2 cups heavy cream - I substitute condensed milk. 1 cup light brown sugar - I use 1/2 cup brown sugar since you drizzle frosting on top at the end, it is sweet enough. 3 butter packets I omit the butter. Instead I butter the cast iron skillet for the butter taste. 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

5 large eggs

1/2 tsp salt 1 cup powdered sugar

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 butter packets - I omit the butter, don't miss it in frosting drizzle. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 tablespoons whole milk - I use skim milk.

Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Spray a 12 inch cast iron skillet with non stick spray. I substitute butter to grease the pan. 2. Add bread cubes to the sheet pan and toast in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove and set aside. Turn the oven up to 350 degrees F.

3. Heat milk, cream, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, salt and vanilla in a large saucepan on low, stirring until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

4. Transfer bread cubes to the prepared cast iron skillet. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Slowly drizzle the milk and cream mixture into the eggs, continuously whisking to temper the eggs so they don't coagulate. Pour the mixture over the bread. Press down on the bread to make sure it’s fully soaking in the liquid. Soak for 20 minutes.

5. Bake until the top is golden and pudding is set, 1 hour and 25-30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

6. Combine the powdered sugar and cream cheese to a large bowl and stir well with a rubber spatula. Add the butter, vanilla, and whole milk and stir until smooth.

There are 8 servings, and the recipe can easily be halved for smaller gatherings.

 

As I confessed previously, sometimes I'll share a recipe on THE SAVVY SHOPPER so I, too, can return here to make it again. Simpler than my bread pudding. Thank you, Chef Frankie Celenza, for this keeper! Readers, I linked Struggle Meals on this blog's sidebar for other tasty Chef Frankie dishes.

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Leather From Your Favorite Brands Explained

Photo: The Shoe Lady of the classic Doc Martens 1460 boots in Smooth Leather

Consumer choice is fabulous, isn't it? You get to choose and personalize what to buy to fit your budget, likes and needs.

Have you ever shopped at a famous retailer only to be confused by the many types of leather offered? I created a cheat sheet of 4 popular brands for you, using the leather terms as used by each one below. My cheat sheet doesn't include every textile the 4 merchants sell, but lists the most common types of leather skins/treatments in their collections. So without further ado:

Coach bags

1) Glovetanned💎 - It's the same type of leather used to make baseball gloves. The leather is rich and substantial and can take lots of abuse. It softens and acquires a worn-in charm with wear.

2) Crossgrain💎 - is leather embossed of imperfections at very high heat, it is structured, or stiff, sturdy and lightweight. Both scratch and water resistant and very easy to wipe clean.

3) Pebble💎 - Also strong and substantial, but pebble leather is supple and gets softer with use. It has a raised, refined bumpy texture from the tanning and doesn't show scratches easily.

4) Suede - Dressy and elegant, it is a brushed, more delicate leather. You must take care of it.

👜👜👜👜👜

Hermès bags

Although I have examined and touched the bags often, I don't own one, so can't offer any personal anecdotes. The leathers include:

1) Clemence - Comes from the hide of a baby bull, the leather is grainy, flat, matted and scratch resistant. While durable, it is not water-resistant and will blister over time if exposed to water. Said to be a great every day leather, not withstanding rain.

2) Epsom💎 - Finer grains of leather than Clemence, it's extremely light and scratch resistant and water-resistant. An easy to clean leather.

3) Varanus/Lizard - Comes in matte (smooth) and lisse (shinny), the material can dry out. Falls under Hermès exotic leather category.

4) Togo💎 - Tanned from baby calf hide, it's a thicker, heavier leather with a soft pebbled finish that softens and tends to slouch more than the structured Epsom leather.

5) Ostrich - The leather has noticeable pores that run evenly throughout the surface. It's the most durable of Hermès exotic leathers.

6) Alligator and Crocodile - Available in matte (smooth) or lisse (shinier). The alligator is farmed in Florida, the crocodile comes from the Nile region of Zimbabwe. Both are considered delicate leathers, especially Alligator and are more expensive. Oddly enough after being turned into bags, they need to avoid water!

7) Rarer calf leathers include: Bernie Natural; Box Calf; and Chamonix. (Go here for detailed information on all of Hermès leathers.) Often those leathers come up for sell as vintage Hermès bags.

Buffalo Skipper Leather

8) Buffalo Skipper💎 - Made from water buffalo. The leather is water resistant.

9) Vache Liegee💎 - Cowhide, stiff, structured and lasting, it's Hermès thickest leather.

10) Fjord💎 - Flat-grained, matte cowhide that is soft yet heavy and durable, also scratch resistant and water resistant. You can see lines or veins in the leather.

11) 2 Goat leathers💎 - They are called Chevre de Coromandel and Chevre Mysore.

12) Doblis Suede - a soft, brushed, delicate leather.

 

Interesting fact: Suede and nubuck look similar but are different: Suede "is crafted by sanding or rubbing the inside layer of the leather hide. Nubuck is crafted from the sanded outside layer of the leather hide. The outside layer of the leather hide tends to be much thicker, sturdier, and durable," according to theshoelady website which I linked above. Wow, this sure explains why my "suede" all-weather mocs are weatherproof!😉

👜👜👜👜👜

Classic Chanel bags

With Chanel, I'm assuming you are a beginner. If you own the classics, you aren't splitting hairs anymore and don't need a cheat sheet. I own an inspired Chanel 2.55 flap (not an illegal replica) jumbo bag in lambskin, and I wish I had bought a medium -- a size more suitable for gala events. The Chanel SAs always think it's a real Chanel bag when I enter their shops, so it gets me offers of bottled water and cups of tea. I take the water, not the tea. I think accepting the tea is dishonest. Every-thirsty-body deserves water. :)

1) Caviar💎 - is calf leather, scratch resistant, and more durable.

2) Lambskin - is a softer, delicate leather that is rich and buttery but scratches easily so it must be handled with more care than caviar leather.

🥾👢🥾👢🥾

Doc Martens Boots

1) Smooth Leather💎 - Famously stiff and must be broken in, Smooth Leather is the classic choice that forms to your feet. Once broken in, the boots are comfortable and durable.

2) Patent Lamper💎 - A fine grain leather coated with a high glossy finish, it is a tad stiffer than the smooth leather.

3) Nappa and Virginia - Supple leathers with a pliable feel and matte appearance. The leathers are comfortable to wear straight out of the box.

4) Arcadia - A smooth and glossy leather designed to tarnish with wear. "Over time, it’s two-tone 'rub-off' surface reveals a lighter contrast color underneath," especially "in the toe and heel areas."

From this list of 4 brands we have a rule of thumb to extend to the leather goods of other retailers. Leathers that come from the hides of cows and goats are stronger than lambskin or reptile leathers. Smooth cow leather tends to be stiffer and more durable than Nappa, or suede leather (unless specially treated). Suede or Nappa leather tends to be a dressier (buttery), yet more delicate leather. Patent leather is another dressy, stiff -- yet durable leather. 

For value shoppers, I put a diamond💎 by the most durable leathers offered by each brand. (I could've marked all the Doc Martens boots with a 💎. All are durable and affordable!) When it comes to real life purchases, however, your budget, lifestyle and likes determine what you should buy.

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Biden Inauguration Fashion

Photo: NBC News

The Biden/Harris era has began; and every 4 years I love watching the peaceful transition of power with all 3 branches of government of both parties present and watching.

But let's get superficial here, after all this is a lifestyle and shopping blog. The Inauguration must be one difficult occasion to dress for: First of all, January in Washington, D.C. is usually cold and windy. Our 9th US President William Henry Harrison caught a cold at his inauguration and died one month later; so don't layer for warmth at your own peril! And yet, bulk up like an Eskimo and people criticize your lack of polish and style!👀

Photo: Google user content and People

So secondly, the 1st impression the country has of the new President and First Lady matters. Everybody and her mother and cousins have an opinion, especially foes! A bad first impression is hard to walk back.

Thirdly, it's best on this day of great patriotism to wear American designers to support the fashion industry; and finally let's not pretend otherwise, a man's suit is not what catches our eye. A well-made fitted suit for a man literally fits the bill. Check, blink, and next!

Photo: thedailymail.co.uk - When Michelle Obama stood at Arlington with her stature and coat, she looked gorgeous. No stills do how she looked justice. This was the best I could find.

It's the attire of the women we notice and remember. Yesterday all the Former First Ladies, as well as, members of government branches looked appropriate, i.e., clean, put together and in their Sunday best!👗

IMHO the following attendees excelled: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Madame Vice President Kamala Harris, and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Their bright colors, warmth and practicality, as well as, the flow of the outfits as they walked and stood during the ceremony were sensational! 

Photo: Us Magazine

Not everybody has money for designer clothes. What public figures do is inspire. Public servants try to look accessible but usually can afford the expense of tailored clothes designed by big fashion houses. The rest of us do what we can with ready to wear off the rack garb. The motivation and inspiration is the same ... to show enough respect to clean up and dress for the occasion.

See close up photos here (with designer information).

Let's all wish the new administration success for the good of the country and our world.

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Pretty Hearts For Her

 

Sometimes I think Valentine's Day exists to bridge the gap between New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. It's such a long stretch, there needs to be something to celebrate. And what's more, here on the Western hemisphere, it's winter. Everything has died! We need the vibrance of red and the warmth of love to recharge us ... Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to wear  red, sparkles and hearts. The following are adorable heart necklaces that would make festive Valentine' Day jewelry ... perhaps a gift for a lucky someone:

1) 14K White Gold Ruby Pavè Heart Pendent - (See the above image ↑.) I've been looking at this heart pendent for ages because it's gorgeous and a generous size. You won't need your eye glasses to see its loveliness! It has 6 1/2 carats of rubies and 1/2 carat of diamonds in 14k white gold. I cannot lie, the one disappoint is true of so many pendents nowadays, namely the chain it hangs on so so slight, customers will need to replace it with another more substantial chain. For the money, it shouldn't be so flimsy, but with the high price of gold these day, it nearly always is!

2) Ruby 2 1/4 ct and Dimond Accent Heart Pendent Necklace in Serling Silver - I would fawn over this neckless if I hadn't set my sights on choice #1. The heart is smaller, yet still pretty and also comes in pink sapphires, or blue sapphires. The silver metal in lieu of gold makes it a more budget-friendly alternative.

3) Silver With Rubies (2 1/2 carats) and Diamonds (1/5 carat) Necklace. - A slanted heart orbited by the sparkle of diamonds pendent. Cute and different!

I thought I'd show you a throwback diamond heart necklace. The late stage actress Arlene Francis was a 25 year panelist of the game show, What's My Line. Ms. Francis popularized diamond heart necklaces by wearing hers daily and on the show. It was a gift given to her by her husband, Hollywood actor-producer, Martin Gabel on their one year wedding anniversary in the 1940s. Sadly 40+ years later in 1988, the heart pendent was ripped off her neck by a mugger in Manhattan as she exited a taxi, a heartbreaking loss for her since Martin had died.😢🖤 

Martin Gabel was the son of a Philadelphia jeweler and what a big, gorgeous, diamond heart it was! It's the perfect size for me! 😁 I want one, but alas, who could afford the huge diamond heart pendent in today's dollars!?! Looking, ogling and admiring is free, I always say. So let's stare at it for awhile.😍 First a dreamer, then a realist ... that would be me!

The ruby and diamond heart necklaces I curated above are more affordable ... and go on sale often!♥

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Tree Of Life Skin Serums

There's a vitamin C serum on the market that tops a number of beauty editor's lists {namely, Skin Ceuticals}.  It sells for $166 for 1 ounce, and frankly, the endorsements annoy me since regular people (Raise your hand!) can't afford to use it every day. So what good is the expensive recommendation?! That's when I decided to find equivalent brands of skincare backed by science for less money. I've got your back, readers!🙂

In my quest for cheap without compromise skincare, I've found another brand I like called Tree of Life, a plant based, cruelty-free, non-toxic line founded by biologist, Ellyn Davis.

Tree of Life offers top-notch ingredients in the right combinations to address every skin concern. The company takes care of its customers in a myriad of ways. A peruse of its website teaches you about proper skincare. You learn about ingredients in the serums and how to use the products correctly. Once you identify what you want your skincare to do, it's easy to know what to buy. The trio featured at the top is a useful, basic set of serums (vitamin C - for daytime, retinol for nighttime and hyaluronic acid for day or night moisture). The beauty line also offers a money-back guarantee.

Plus Tree of Life cares about you by not asking you to deplete your savings to buy their scrubs, serums or moisturizers. The cost of 1-once bottles averages from $7 - $11 (with one multi-ingredient formula going for $18)... super affordable for proven ingredients and lacking fillers! The brand keeps costs low with simply packaging and by not advertising. Money is spent where it counts on product development and its clean, potent ingredients. 

Combo packs knock already low prices down more, and the retailer offers VIP Rewards which I recommend always signing up for, as extra savings go to repeat customers.

Available on their website, Amazon, Walmart and eBay. Tree of Life ... I'm your newest customer!

Readers, are you feed up with overpriced skincare???

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How To Layer In Winter

All images courtesy of LL Bean - usually I must hunt for photos, but LL Bean did the work for me for this blog.

Due to global warming, Manhattanites haven't had long, frigid winters in about a decade. Oddly enough, sometimes we have a 22 degree F day followed by a 52 degree F day in the same week. In the 1980s Upper East Side women wore mink coats from December through April. (I used to shiver as I walked by in my wool coat and scarf! Stylish as it was, I was cold!) The mink has been replaced with goose down coats ... yet more often than not, with wool or goose down jackets! But in places still experiencing polar winds and arctic temperatures, people need to master the art of layering to stay warm and comfortable ... and it's good information for all of us who live in a winter climate.

In researching the topic I learned an interesting fact: Your biggest problem isn't getting cold, it's staying dry ... i.e., not getting too hot and sweaty, which in extreme cold can be a symptom of hypothermia, a life-threatening condition that can strike in 5 minutes as your body temperature falls too low. If you start sweating in extreme cold, you need to quickly shed layers to survive. I didn't know this!😳

So let's learn from the experts the correct way to layer to keep hypothermia at bay. According to LL Bean (and confirmed by other sources), when temperatures hit subzero wear a: 

1) Base layer - made of silk, wool or polyester - The 1st layer is designed to keep your skin dry, which helps keep you warm. The base layer wicks (or moves) moisture (sweat) away from your skin as you engage in activity (i.e., move, walk, climb).

2) Middle layer - This is your insulating layer to hold in the heat generated by your body. Select wool, midweight fleece or synthetic fabrics like polyester.

3) Outer Layer - Keeps wind and water out and body heat in. A nylon shell or jacket to fit over your base and middle layers will do the job. Nowadays people tend to wear a puffer coat of goose down feathers with a nylon or polyester shell -- as it works.

LL Bean is headquartered in Maine, and I'm featuring them for this topic because winter wear is their business. Likewise for competitors, Landsend and newer budget-friendly Uniqlo. I think you should always buy products from merchants who specialize the product area, not designers who branched into the market, unless they take the time to truly learn it.

Fortunately, I live in relatively mild winters, or I would have died by now since I have never before researched the right way to layer for winter. Now I realize years ago I didn't wear a nylon 3rd layer ... and that's why I froze! Knowing what each layer does makes keeping warm and comfortable a certainty!⛄

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Wear Rubber Earring Backs

If our global pandemic wasn't stressful enough ... early on I had an additional scare. After an afternoon of running errands I returned home to notice the metal back of one of my earrings was missing with the now loose earring dangling and ready to fall out of my ear. While running from place to place, the elastic the goes around my ears to hold my face mask on had pulled on the earring enough to yank its back out of my ear ... and in another beat, gravity would have claimed the earring too. What a fright!😱

I don't wear fashion earrings and hope to keep the few real gold ones I own over a lifetime. And, I stopped wearing earrings that week out of fear ... but then I thought of a solution to secure those earrings. Heck, these days due to wearing face masks, I'm not wearing makeup. Must I give up earrings too!?! No way, it's all too much.😎🙂

So here's the solution: For $5 - $6 you can buy more rubber earring backs than you'll ever need. So snug, they secure your earrings better than the metal backings that come with many earrings. You can either leave the metal backs off, or double secure your earrings with both the metal and rubber tube backs. Almost nothing will then yank your earrings out of your ears! 

I feel lucky to only lose a backing (it was a sterling silver earring lift) and not the gold earring, itself -- so a 2nd chance to find and share a solution! Keep a few rubber backs in your jewelry box to secure all your earrings! And, if they come free with the earrings you buy, don't toss them out! They are much too valuable!!

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Umami: A Sense of Taste

Step into my kitchen, friends😋.

Umami is one of the 5 basic tastes scientists agree humans have. (We may have a 6th sense of taste, yet 5 is the universal consensus.) The other 4 are sweet, bitter, salty, and sour. [Kikunae is the name of the 6th sense of taste - a richness or roundness that heightens and prolongs the other 5. Example slow roasted meat vs microwaved meat.] The word "umami" is Japanese, and it literally means "deliciousness."  It is best described as ''a pleasant savory taste" and is common in Asian cuisines. The taste comes from glutamic acid -- a common amino acid in vegetable and animal proteins. (Source: Healthline)

It turns out I love umami (in fact, since childhood over "sweet" before I knew its name). Fortunately, many foods with an umami flavor are healthy choices. They include miso and seaweed, aged cheeses, kimchi (the Korean pickled cabbage), seafood, mushrooms, and in lesser amounts: green peas, tomatoes, corn, garlic, and potatoes. I love all of these foods! A favorite snack of mine [from childhood] is extra sharp cheddar cheese on saltine crackers or pumpernickel bread ... and I could eat them until they come out of my ears.🙂

A couple of New Years ago I blogged about my aim to replace canned soup with homemade soup. This I do, and now canned soups taste bland to me!

Moreover, sometimes we need a quick meal, so I have a recipe for fast homemade soup made on the spot without forethought or the luxury of time -- jazzed up umami flavored miso soup!

Nowadays most supermarkets carry tubs of miso paste for about $6 - $7 per pound or kilo. It gives family cooks the same convenience as opening a can of soup. And below is how I make it:

Debra's Miso Soup

Ingredients:

Water, about 2 cups

Dried seaweed, a handful

Frozen mixed vegetables (green beans, corn, lima beans, carrots and peas), a handful

If I feel like it, I also toss in a fresh diced carrot, celery, garlic, and onion

1 - 1.5 tablespoons miso paste (i.e., to taste)

Directions:

1) I fill a big soup bowl to about 3/4 full with cold water. Sprinkle in some dried seaweed, as well as, frozen and/or fresh vegetables.

2) Microwave the mixture for 10 - 12 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

areas of taste

3) Remove from the microwave and dissolve 1 - 1.5 tablespoons of miso paste into the mixture. The reason you wait to add the miso paste is you don't want to kill off the probiotics in miso by cooking it in the microwave. Miso paste doesn't need cooking, but easily dissolves in hot water.

Voilà tasty homemade umami flavored soup in minutes ... about as fast as canned soup! If you have leftover cooked chicken, beef, or wish to dice up tofu ... you can add protein to your soup. Or, make a meat, cheese, or peanut butter sandwich for a soup and sandwich dinner on fast-food night. Enjoy!

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ArtNaturals Beauty Serums Plus

Starts affordable before a promotion.

As previously mentioned, I aim to find more science-based skincare for less money. When we use skincare every single day (which we should!), we need them to work without breaking the bank. Lately drugstores have really stepped up their game making my quest a lot easier. You'll find some amazing beauty lotions and potions in the aisles that are potent enough to go toe to toe with their pricey luxury counterparts. And I'm featuring one of them here today.

ArtNaturals is formulated to free beauty from high prices and toxic chemicals, as well as, offer the right combinations and concentrations of high-quality anti-aging ingredients that have proven to be effective time and again.

This "natural" beauty line includes skincare, haircare, beauty tools, and vitamins for men and women. I recommend starting with their Age Defying Serum Trio set. The price is unbeatable as you will have to pay 3 - 4 - 5 times more for the equivalent ingredients elsewhere. 

The serum set includes everything a face needs for glowing skin:

1) Hyaluronic Serum - for intense moisture (good for daytime use).

2) 2.5% Retinol  Serum - to fight fine lines and wrinkles (best for nighttime use).

3) Vitamin C Serum - brightens and corrects/protects the skin from the sun and free radicals. It also contains vitamin E and Ferulic Acid which is said to make Vitamin C work better (good for daytime use and some folks use it at night with moisturizers but never with retinol).

ArtNaturals is sold at drugstores, Target, Walmart, and Ultra which means you will sometimes find the products under $10 a bottle, thereby saving even more by shopping around and watching for sales.

[Ultra sells The Ordinary line of skincare -- also under $15 a product. I'm a big fan of The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% ($5.80); Buffet - a combination of anti-aging peptics ($14.80); and its Retinols in Squalane ($5.80). If using The Ordinary line, you must know what skin issues you're trying to prevent or fix in order to select the right items for you. But. Choice is always awesome for folks on a budget. It opens the door to savings.]

Top-notch skincare you can afford to use daily!

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Happy New Year 2021

On Facebook a post read, "I'm staying up this year to make sure 2020 goes!" In a similar vein, I'll definitely open champagne tonight to welcome 2021. 

It's been a rough two years. First in 2019, my upstairs hookah smoking neighbor burned her apartment up and displaced all of us below her. It took us nearly a year to repair the damage and replace furniture only to be followed in 2020 by a global pandemic that shut down life and killed lots of people. A year like no other! Who could have predicted it?

As difficult as both years were, I still feel lucky compared to past generations who went through tougher times that included famines; diseases without science; and long, drawn-out wars. 

Nobody in my family has COVID yet. In fact, we have a measure of control, food to eat, a developed vaccine, as well as, the warmth and comfort of home to ride this COVID pandemic out. We also have the technology to keep in touch with the family and friends we cannot see. So although we're stressed living in a new normal, we're extremely fortunate.

I don't think life can always be happy ... or easy. But it's certainly not meant to be mostly gloom and doom either! We will have to wear our masks; wash our hands; and avoid large gatherings for a bit longer, probably until next July/August, 2021. And yet, the future looks bright. And it starts right now on the 1st day of the new year!

In the year ahead, let's strive to be positive, embrace happiness, and look out for one another! Thank you for stopping by and supporting THE SAVVY SHOPPER! As always, let me know if there are topics you wish to address.

Wishing all my readers and friends continued safety, security, and a Happy New Year 2021! xoxo💋to all!!

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