Be My Valentine

Wishing all my readers a Happy Valentine' Day. As the saying goes, "no wo/man is an island." Today we celebrate being part of an us ... i.e. relationships ... as friends, family, or partners.

Whether it's: I like you. I love you! I want to be near you. You make me happy. I'm glad you're in my life. 

A day set aside to express our fondness with hearts, cards, sweets, red wine, flowers, a lovely dinner, or jewelry. The words and deeds are up to you ... whatever makes sense in the relationship.

I want to thank my readers for stopping by or returning to THE SAVVY SHOPPER. XOXO

Happy February 14th to each of you. On this day, let's go out to shower the world in goodwill. Be kind-hearted and love ❤️ everybody.❤️ 

May Cupid's arrows find you!💌

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The Magic Of Christmas

Rockefeller Center at Christmas (Getty images via Metro-NY)

Since the beginning of time people of all cultures have had special holy days on their calendars. It's part of the human condition to think about a deeper meaning to existence. We pause to remember what gives life more purpose and to set-aside quality time to spend with our family and friends during such solemn and festive moments. 

An Upper East Side brownstone is having a lovely blue Christmas.

Our cities, towns and neighborhoods have more sparkle. The magic of Christmas appears on city streets gracing businesses and homes, and when walking along the pavement "in the air there's a feeling of Christmas."

Inside ... homes are adorned also. Tradition and glitter get pulled out of boxes. Cookies bake in ovens, sugar and butter boil into candy on stove tops; and visitors arrive to share in the merriment and treats.

May the magic of Christmas shine all over the globe. Regardless of culture or religion, we are one human family here.

Humans are more alike than different; and we can share the best of one another's traditions without compromising our own. In the spirit of the season ...

My apartment corner "Christmas tree"

Peace, joy and love to all my readers. Enjoy a day of happiness. Merry Christmas! 

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Holiday Gifts For A Family

For the holidays sometimes people give one thoughtful gift for an entire family, as opposed to, individual gifts to each family member. I like the fewer, curated gift idea. People shouldn't go broke, or allow materialism to hijack the true meaning of Christmas, Hanukkah (or Festivus for that matter. Hey, to each, his own:)! Giving friends and family hospitality, treats and time together is what they remember the most. 

If you desire and can afford to throw in one gift also, here are 5 gift ideas, perhaps items a family might not think to buy for themselves, yet will love receiving:

1) Wall Heights Ruler (see above↑) - Parents can record the heights of growing children without marking up a wall or doorway with magic markers. And parents can save the ruler without ever having to paint over the height markings (here's a pricey oak ruler version). Ideal for new parents.

2) Murder Mystery Party - A house party activity ... it's a spirited game as an alternative to the usual playing card games.

3) Corkcicle Classic Wine Chiller Cork - The cold ice in the middle keeps a bottle of wine chilled until the last glass. Ideal for wine and cheese evenings at home.

4) Crep Protect Eraser Cleaner - The eraser removes spots from suede and nubuck on leather shoes, jackets and coats. I'll take a practical gift over a glitzy useless one any ole day. It's unlikely your friends will already have a leather spot remover and will love the eraser once you introduce them to it!

5) Personalized Family Mugs - Mugs start as low as $1.70 each unpersonalized. A company with good customer reviews who personalize mugs with a name or logo for about $6 per mug. You can select the size, style, quantity and how to personalize the mugs. Ideal for families with children (who will be thrilled to see their names on the mugs); or people who simply need uniform coffee and tea mugs.

As you can see holiday gifts need not break the bank, these 5 family gifts will please, as well as, suit every budget. Which is your favorite?

  
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The Brownstone Next Door On Halloween

I don't know the neighbors who live in this brownstone, but every Halloween they put a cemetery in their front yard and all these spooky creatures ... and every year I walk over to look at their creativity.

The brownstone is 4 stories high. Every level is covered with tombstones, witches, skeletons, giant spiders🕸️, ghosts, and other ghouls.👺 

Obviously the homeowners love celebrating Halloween and since they make the effort, I decided to photograph and post it for THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S readers to see. Consider this a preview. Because tomorrow we'll walk around my neighborhood on Manhattan's Upper East Side for a look at nearby Halloween decorations!💀

Stay turned, there is much more eeriness to share. Return here tomorrow for more evil spirits! If the grim phantoms let me snap them and walk away, that is!😱🧛‍♂️

Look ... a ghost

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Happy Easter Weekend

On Easter Sunday we again celebrate hope, optimism and human perseverance. It's been quite a year, but we're still here to forge ahead.

Speaking of which, Notre Dame Cathedral's famous rose window was saved following Monday's fire. And thankfully, much of the iconic stained glass windows, art and relics are safe too! Some of these irreplaceable articles date back to the 13th century.

Let's jump back a little further in time ... do you recognize this man? 

 Photo: TwentyTwoWords.com

If a history buff, you might. He looks more Middle Eastern than how centuries of Western paintings, films and television series depict him.

The Jesus of Nazareth 1977 television movie

I grew up with the image of blue-eyed, hunky actor, Robert Powell as Jesus. (Va-va-room, I believe!🙂) However, theologians who study history say the real Jesus Christ looked more like the first image above. As a Galilean, his skin was dark, his beard (if he had one. Jews in Antiquity often didn't) and hair were coarse and cut short; and it is likely: Jesus was not long and lean, but shorter in stature. Does it matter to believers that the real Christ looked so different than how we in the West were conditioned to see him?

Enjoy this lovely holiday with family and friends. It's Passover weekend also for those who celebrate. A weekend to relax and spend in a positive way ... Muslim, Jew, Christian, or something else. Let's put Christ back into Christians and commit to treating everybody with love and respect. Strive for fairness and humanity for all. I'm pretty sure, we'll fall short sometimes, but we will hit the mark often if always striving!!!

On this Easter Sunday eat the chocolate!🍬

Happy Easter!

 - The Chi Rho is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" = Christ.

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Sweets And Treats As Holiday Gifts

Some people are difficult to buy gifts for because they really don't need anything, or we are unsure of their tastes. For these folks I select delicious treats I'd be delighted to receive. If I don't know what you want, I'll get you what I want, (and ha, maybe you'll share it with me!😋) Here are 5 additional gifts to consider:

1) Dark chocolate Belgium truffles (see above↑) would probably top my list. A special treat at Christmas when visions of sugar plums are dancing in our heads!

2) Dark chocolate is also perfection combined with a thick layer of white chocolate and pieces of peppermint. Williams-Simona offers their peppermint bark starting in November. Select dark, or milk chocolate.

A refreshing and irresistible candy; and this year you can personalize the tin, if you wish. Putting a name on the tin adds an $8 charge.

3) With cookies and sweets in abundance, a gift of deluxe nuts is a lovely change ... and healthy. This salty snack may last into the New Year.

4) A box of chocolate covered Oreos is another holiday gift idea. You can either purchase them finished; or buy Oreos, dip them into melted Baker's chocolate and box them yourself for less money, depending on how busy and industrious you are. Cheapest price/but for 5 lbs at CandyStore.com.

5) The last gift idea is a box of good ole American Russell Stover Chocolate Covered Nuts selling at your local drugstore. As a child, I often got a box for Christmas. A winning combination of milk chocolate and nuts, and the quality of the chocolate is good (which unforturnately isn't always true of American chocolate).

All are gifts people can share with family and friends during the holidays. A hostess needs refreshments to welcome extra people into a home, so thoughtful gifts, indeed!


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Kally's Kentucky Fruitcake Is The Best Ever!

All photos and recipe by Rita Mackin Fox

Ready or not, the holidays are coming. Today I'm sharing my schoolmate, Rita Mackin Fox's Kentucky (Bourbon) Fruitcake. This is not your typical yucky fruitcake. People who don't like fruitcake, agree on how scrumptious this recipe is! 

As well as her culinary skills, Rita is a talented writer with many worldwide fans. For her Romance novels, she writes under the pen name Kallypso Masters. "Like" her Facebook page to find other delicious recipes, information and entertainment. Thanks, dearest Rita (mostly for being you, and) for letting me share your mother's recipe, plus giving my readers a chance to connect with yours!

Kally's Kentucky Fruitcake 

Makes 3 regular loaves, or one 5+ pound loaf: Rita says, "It can take 6 weeks, from start to finish, so don't wait too long to start!"

Ingredients:

4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

6 large whole eggs

1/2 cup bourbon (this is just for the cake recipe, not the soaking).

4 cups pecan pieces, soaked in bourbon

1 pound candied cherries (8 oz each of the red and green)

8 ounces raisins, or Craisins, soaked in bourbon

8 ounces candied pineapple

1/2 cup orange marmalade (Rita doesn’t like citron, and this is SO much tastier.)

Extras: 

pecan halves and red/green whole cherries to decorate the top of cake(s)

cheesecloth (a package of 6-yards, cut into three relatively equal sections will do it)

1 - 1.5 litres of fine Kentucky bourbon (Rita prefers sourmash.)   

Directions:

1) At least the night before mixing and baking the cake (and even several days or a week before is okay), soak raisins/Craisins and nuts in bourbon in separate containers. Says Rita: "I just put the pecans into a quart Mason jar and the raisins/Craisins into a pint jar, cover with bourbon, and put them in the fridge until I’m ready for them. They will plump up with the liquor, so don’t overfill the jars, but try to keep the fruit and nuts covered in bourbon."

2) Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and another rack below it on the lowest spot. Put a pan of water on the lowest rack. This will add moisture to the oven when baking. Heavily butter a 10-inch tube pan or three loaf pans. Set aside.

3) Sift the flour, baking powder, and nutmeg into a medium bowl.

4) In a separate, large bowl, cream the butter and sugar, beating with a mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, blending completely after each addition.

5) Drain the bourbon from the raisins and nuts. Measure out and set aside 1/2 cup of the bourbon for later. Pour the rest into a small bowl and add the strips of cheesecloth to soak it up. We NEVER waste good Kentucky bourbon! Set aside.

6) Preheat oven to 325 F.

7) Add the flour mixture to the eggs in two additions, alternating with the 1/2 cup bourbon. Stir in the pecans, marmalade, raisins/Craisins, pineapple, and cherries.

8) Transfer the batter to the prepared pan(s). Rita sometimes decorates the top with bourbon-soaked pecan halves and red/green whole cherries, but that's optional. 

9) Bake until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. APPROXIMATE baking times (ovens vary; also consider altitude adjustments):

• coffeecake pan or tube pan: about 1-3/4 to 2 hours. (Rita’s is usually done within the 1-3/4 hour.)
• bread loaf pan: 75-90 minutes
• 5-inch gift size pans: 60-75 minutes

10) If the top of the cake begins to brown substantially before the cake is set, cover loosely with a piece of aluminum foil.

11) Remove the cake(s) from the oven and let cool 15-30 minutes on a wire rack. Run a knife down the sides to help loosen the cake from the pan. If you made a huge ring cake, before or after turning the cake out, you might want to cut it into three wedges (unless it will be given whole as a gift--and then good luck getting it out without having it break up; Rita's always brakes up). That's why she goes with wedges when she uses a ring pan.

12) When completely cool, wrap each section in a 2-yard strip of bourbon-soaked cheesecloth until covered in several layers.

13) Place the cake(s) in airtight, leak-free containers. (For a ring cake, Rita uses a large Rubbermaid or Tupperware container big enough to fit three loaf-pan sized cakes.) 

14) Liberally, but slowly (so more of it can soak in), pour bourbon over the cake(s). It's okay if liquid is swimming at the bottom a bit in the first week. If you do have a lot of liquid in the bottom, you might not need to add more. Once or twice a day, flip the cakes over so that the bourbon will run back through the cake slowly. Do this for 2-3 weeks, but when you don’t see any standing bourbon at the bottom of the container any longer, and the bottom is no longer “soggy,” you can quit turning it. After a few weeks to a month where no liquid bourbon has been visible, it should be ready to serve or gift, but the cake will keep for months (some even say years). No rush!

This is the best fruitcake you will ever eat! Unlike most, these friutcakes make wonderful gifts!

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Easter Wishes From THE SAVVY SHOPPER

Here's hoping you enjoy time with family and friends over a festive meal. Hours of catching up. Much laughter. A little reflection. Some sweets. And, a bit of rest and relaxation. 

On the holiest day of the Christan calender, thankfully, it remains a low-key holiday. No gifts to exchange and no commercialization. A quiet, yet meaningful holiday of eternal hope.

  

Easter celebrates perseverance over adversity, which is something all human beings have in common. Whether or not your faith celebrates Easter Sunday, let's all plan to enjoy the day ... and eat a piece of chocolate in solidarity! Happy spring, a joyous Passover to readers who celebrate and ...

Happy Easter Everyone!🌷

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Happy Father's Day: A Story

Photo: The Sun

I started first grade late, missing a quarter of the school year. Mom had taken me with her on a visit to Germany and wasn't as punctuational as she should've been in returning to the USA. Dad was not happy. He registered me in absentia, so I could begin school as soon as I came home.

One of the first things I noticed in attending classes was this ... students who did well received gold and silver stars on their perfect and near perfect classwork, which hung prominently in Mrs. George's classroom. But since I entered school 2 months after everybody else, I played catch up for much of the year, rarely getting those metallic stars on my papers.

Although lagging behind for months, I managed to catch up enough by year's end to be promoted to 2nd grade. Here's how this story fits into Father's Day. I remember coveting those gold and silver stars that I seldom received on my schoolwork, but have no memory of ever complaining or talking about it. But somehow my Dad knew. 

He picked me up on the last day of first grade. The next day began 3 months of summer vacation. When we got home, Dad handed me a surprise: 2 little boxes, the 1st box containing 50 gold stars, and the 2nd box having 50 silver stars, exactly like the ones I spend the year seeing attached to the perfect and near perfect papers belonging to the "smart" kids at school.

All summer long I drew pictures, colored pages in coloring books and wrote words on writing paper; and when finished, I delighted in affixing gold and silver stars all over my own papers!😊 Despite having to take matters into my own hands, it was very rewarding. 

Now how did my Dad know to get me those stars? Lucky me, he was the smart one.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Happy Father's Day to all Fathers ... and thanks!

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