THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S Seven Healthy Swaps

Photo: PBS: Hasselback potatoes

A huge part of everyone's budget is food and drink. Make these seven healthy changes to your diet and get a bonus ... cash left in your wallet:

1. Swap boxed cereal for unprocessed whole grains: oats, millet, quinoa, brown rice and others. Not only are unprocessed whole grains much cheaper (especially if bought in bulk), they are easy to cook and delicious. You will eat less sugar.  Add your own raisins and honey for a nutritious breakfast. Or prepare whole grains as a savory dish.

2. Swap soda for coffee and tea to drink as hot or iced beverages. You'll save a bundle, plus reap the health benefits. Soda has harmful chemicals. Even soda with artificial sweeteners is bad for your teeth and metabolism, while coffee and tea contain anti-oxidants that are good for your heart, skin and brain. In giving up soda, you may drop a few pounds.

3. Swap canned soups for dried and canned beans. Or buy dried peas. Or lentils. Or cut up your own fresh vegetables and add leftover beef, ham or chicken to make hearty soups. Homemade soup is a convenient one pot meal to cook and freeze, and the taste is far superior to canned soups.

4. Swap frozen french fries for fresh french fries. Yes, you can have french fries as long as you make them yourself: Brush cut potatoes with olive oil and bake on an oiled baking sheet at 350 degrees F until golden brown. Salt and pepper to taste.

5. Swap potato chips for Hasselback potatoes: Cut a potato into 1/4 inch slices (thin) crosswise (without slicing the potato all the way through). Fan and brush each slice with olive oil and season it with salt, pepper, garlic and spices to taste. If you wish, you can also sprinkle it with a little cheese or crisp bacon. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 30-40 minutes. Hasselback potatoes are a cross between french fries and potato chips. 

Future goals for myself:

6) Swap the gallons of Arizona Diet Tea I buy for ice tea made from tea bags - Homemade ice tea, whether it's black, white, green  or oolong, costs pennies a glass in lieu of what I spend on ready-made tea. I'll sweeten the tea with a tiny bit of Stevia, a zero calorie sweetener, extracted from a plant.

7) Swap bottled salad dressing for homemade vinaigrette dressing, using healthy extra virgin olive oil. I have a scrumpuious recipe, but just need to implement the plan!

Make Ahead Vinaigrette Dressing

1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar (balsamic, cider or wine, etc.*)
2 teaspoons mustard (dijon, brown or yellow, etc.*)
1 tablespoon minced onion (or dried*)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (or dried*)
salt and pepper to taste

Mix, and refrigerate in a jar.

Over time you may prefer the DIY (do it yourself) dishes over the retailer prepared ones. Here's to a healthier you starting right now ... then deposit the extra savings in the bank. You will need it in your old age!

* I'm a great believer in using what you have in your cupboard. Growing up, my Mam'ma was the best cook in the world! But, she didn't consider herself a gourmet cook, and we weren't foodies. Our mindset was make healthy and tasty food, then get it on the table!! We eat every day. Who has time to be a fusspot?

You may also enjoy:
The Health Benefits of Tea   
Healthy Spices In A Well-Stocked Kitchen
Cheap Botanical Beauty For Body And Hair
Essential Oils Are A Household ... Wait For it ... Essential

What Are PYSIS?

PYSIS, pronounced Pisces (like the zodiac fish) stands for Protect Your Shoes In Style. Marketed as posh galoshes, they are rainboot covers that go on over many different styles of shoes to protect the footwear from the rain, slush or snow. 

PYSIS are designed with a flat, treaded rubber sole and innovated elastic closures to keep your feet insulated, warm and dry, as well as, your dress shoes from ruin.

They have a collapsible construction. The covers fold up in an easy-to-carry pouch that slings over your shoulder on days when it might, or might not rain.

The design also provides stability to high heel wearers. The footbed has a notch that holds the heel in place, and the sheath keeps the ankle secure.

Light and comfortable, they eliminate the need for a bulky pair of rubber boots. Look professional and polished even on stormy days. 

Protect your shoes while you stay dry in style!

You may also enjoy:
Style Your Shoes In Comfort 
A Shoe Company On A Mission
Consider The Shape Of Your Foot  
Finding Shoes For Discerning Feet

Why Is Ground Beef More Expensive?

Photo: Culinary Arts

The price of beef has gone up. The reason: Last year the midwest experienced a drought, so farmers reduced their herds of cattle and this created a beef shortage. 

Recently, I paid $4.99 (per pound) for ground round on sale! Not tenderloin, mind you, but the meat we use to make burgers! This got me wondering: How can a family stretch their beef budget? And ... what is the difference in all the types of ground beef on the market?

It turns out that some ground beef is made with the leftovers of other cuts of beef from the entire body of the cow. For ground beef to be called a specific type, such as chuck, round or sirloin, it can only come from that section of the animal. So here is what a consumer is buying:

Hamburger: Can have the trimmings from the entire cow. It can also have up to 30% of added fat. Personally, I never buy it. You have no idea what you are getting, nor do you know how many cows are used in one pound of meat.

Ground beef: Has the trimmings from the entire cow, but no extra fat can be added. The fat must come from the pieces of meat used, and it can have up to 30% fat. I don't buy this choice either.

Ground chuck: Chuck comes from the shoulder and neck sections of the cow. It is 15-20% fat. Many people like this cut to make juicy burgers and meatloaf. It is considered a flavorful cut of beef. Pieces of chuck, not ground, often get used in beef stew, or goulash, or stroganoff.

Ground round: Comes from the lean round and rump sections of the cow. It is 10-15% fat. This is a muscular section of the animal and some people consider it too dry to make burgers or meatloaf, but I prefer it. (I also use round and rump roasts ... or round pieces in beef stew. Lacking the marbling of fat, the meat is tough, but braising for a few hours will tenderize and turn it into a delicious meal. That's for a roast. Ground round isn't tough.) 

Ground sirloin: This meat comes from the sirloin section of the cow. It contains 8-10% fat and is the leanest and most expensive of the selections.

Although ground round and ground sirloin make a drier burger and meatloaf, I prefer its flavor to that of chuck, but like the white and dark meat of a chicken, it's a matter of individual taste. So decide for yourself. What's more, I can't tell much of a difference between ground round and ground sirloin, so I usually buy the one that goes on sale.

Now let's discuss how to stretch your beef budget. There are three easy ways:

1. Catch the supermaket sales. 

2. Buy larger quantities: Three pounds or more is often cheaper than lesser weights, then freeze the portions you don't use right away.

Photo: faithfulprovisions.com

3. Use less beef in your recipes: 1) Combine a can of mashed kidney beans with two pounds of ground beef to make a meatloaf {along with a diced onion, red pepper and celery! I also add a cup of oatmeal and two eggs + spices}; 2) Mix rice with a pound of ground beef to make stuffed cabbage; 3) Combine fresh vegetables with ground beef to make hobo packets, etc. These are delicious dishes. You won't miss cutting down on the beef.

I have a hard time giving up red meat altogether, but it's actually a healthy diet to eat less of it and/or to combine it with other food groups.

I'm more mindful these days about how food gets on the table. Now I consider my carbon footprint on the planet, as well as, the cruelty to animals, so I find myself eating less meat in general. However, it's so tasty and filling that I haven't given it up entirely ... not yet! 

How about you?

You may also enjoy:
The Story Of Stuff
Happy Earth Day: Think Green
Waste Not Want Not Native American Style
9 Ways  To Save Money At The Supermarket

Aboard The Underground Railroad: A Picture Book in Verse

Photo: media.rochester.k1.mi.us

THE SAVVY SHOPPER is doing something very different today in honor of Black History month, which begins on February 1st.

African Americans have contributed much to our culture: language, food and the arts. Obviously, we would not be the same country without them. Black history is American history.

In high school I wrote a poem in the form of a children's picture book about the travel to freedom Aboard The Underground Railroad. (Hopefully, I won't embarrass myself by sharing it!) Brushing up on American history, the UR was an informal network of local people -- free blacks and sympathetic whites -- who helped hide slaves along secret routes from Southern States leading to the North and Canada. It is a timeless tale of survival, as well as, the hope for a better life. 

Allow me to dust it off and publish it here for the very first time. Visualize turning the pages of a picture book as you read: 

Aboard The Underground Railroad

by Debra Turner

Thousands of slaves did not yield to their fate,
But developed secret routes to help them escape.

Away from owners and hard labor on Southern plantations,

They followed the North Star in search of salvation.

Traveling in groups, some carrying boxes and sacks,
Others proceeded on, wearing the rags on their backs.

A hazardous journey, runaways moved under moonlight,
And kept carefully concealed with freedom in sight.

A people … a race … destined to be slaves,
Born to be subservient until the end of their days.

For fugitives seeking refuge from a peculiar institution,
The Underground Railroad held the solution.

Neither underground, nor a railroad, with a loose organization,

Railroad terms became code words. Hiding places were called "stations.”

Up to the free states and Canada, passengers walked, sailed, and swam,
Over harsh paths through thick woods, river crossings and mountainous land.

Aboard boats, trains and wagons, each person rode … haunted with fear,
By the specter of recapture that always loomed near.

Free blacks and white abolitionists in both the North and the South,
Provided food, shelter and directions for slaves along the route.

The system gave black men, women and children a chance to flee.
And released souls from bondage in the land of the free.

****************************************************************
Here is a useful sidebar and glossary to flesh out history. Visualize them (below) scattered throughout the picture book (with lovely illustrations) had it been published as a picture book.

****************************************************************

Sidebar of celebrated “conductors"

Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), a runaway slave, herself, who returned to the South on 19 rescue trips to help 300 slaves escape to freedom.  She was never caught and never lost a “passenger” on any of her trips.

 Levi Coffin (1798-1877), a Quaker abolitionist, whose home in Newport (today Fountain City), Indiana was located on three major escape routes.  Called the “President of the Underground Railroad,” he helped over 3,000 runaways reach freedom.

John P. Parker (1827-1900), a black abolitionist from Ohio, who went down to Kentucky and Virginia and transported 400 or more slaves across the Ohio River by boat.

John Fairfield (d.1861?), the son of a slave holding Virginia family; he ventured into the Deep South and saved hundreds of captives by posing as a slave trader.  His abolitionist friends last heard from him in 1861. (Citing newspaper reports, Levi Coffin concluded that Fairfield was killed in Tennessee on a rescue trip.)

****************************************************************

Glossary

plantation – a large farm on which fruits, vegetables and crops like cotton were grown.

peculiar institution – a term used to describe the practice of owning African Americans as private property. The custom ended in the North by the early 1800s and in the South after the Civil War in 1865.

abolitionist – a person who worked to end slavery.

Quakers - a religious group who sympathized with slaves in their struggle to gain freedom. Many Quakers became abolitionists.

stations – railroad jargon for safe houses. 

passengers – a code word for runaway slaves.

conductors – the men and women who risked their own safety to guide slaves to the next safe house or “station.”

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 – a law passed to give slave owners the right to recapture escaped slaves anywhere in the United States and bring them back to bondage in the South. It made helping runaway slaves a crime.

Photo: PBS

Click this map of the Underground Railroad's path.

Photo: Tubman.org.

You may also enjoy:

The Story Of English, A Review 

Who Am I: Pete Townshend

Commemorating The 4th Of July   

Michael Jackson: An Artist At Work, A Review

Apple Watch 2015

Hand it over!

It is vital to keep up with technology even if you can't always afford to pay up.  

In a few weeks, Apple will launch their much anticipated Apple Watch. Starting at $350, I won't be buying one in the near future, but I'll definitely play with it on trips down to the Apple store.

Presently, I use a 2008 MacBook Pro, which could cough and die at any moment, so I am budgeting for the inevitable. Last year I bought an ipad mini to take on trips, so that is enough of a splurge for me right now.

All photos: Apple

Nevertheless, the availability of the new iwatch is super exciting! Not only can it tell time, it can pull up the weather; or maps; or your calender; or make phone calls; or send messages to the people in your network, as well as, keep track of your physical fitness. Perhaps, it's too much information, but the watch also lets you share your heartbeat with a second person, who can feel it on his iwatch! And, you'll be able to pay for coffee, groceries and other things with Apple Pay (an app) instead of pulling out a wallet.

 Oh yeah, the Apple Watch has apps! New technology makes navigating the apps on the watch's small face (i.e. screen) fast and fluid for the wearer. The device is somewhat intuitive. It detects motion when you raise your arm. The apps are designed to only require "lightweight interaction," letting you "make numble and precise adjustments." In sum, the watch and its apps are reported to be very user friendly.

The Apple Watch comes in a myriad of editions from 18k gold to aluminum and stainless steel. Some editions have metal bands, others have leather bands while still others have gel bands, and they come in a variety of band colors and fasteners.

The way we communicate with the world is changing once again. How futuristic to input, or call up important information; check email and connect with people on something as small as your watch! (Positively George Jetson-ish.) As Apple's Jony Ive, Senior VP of Design, says, their new watch is "technology designed to be worn and personal."

Why did I write about this new Apple watch? Now I want one! Don't you?

You may also enjoy:
Low Computer Ink And Battery Prices   
Save On Your Next Computer And Electronics
Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover For The iPad
A Mobile Computer Cart Instead of A Desk?

Lovely SAG Award Gowns 2015

Photos: Getty

The Screen Actor Guild Awards are taking place in Hollywood tonight. I took a glance at the red carpet arrivals and quickly selected three dresses I think are especially cute. Sophie Turner is wearing Osman, Julie Bowen has on Georges Hobeika and Camila Alves is wearing Donna Karan Atelier.

Do you have a favorite?

You may also enjoy:
Masters Of Sex, A Review
Watching Game Of Thrones   
What We Watch On TV  
Penny Dreadful, A Review

German Rice Pudding

Photo by Juan Guaman - gopixpic.com

Brrr, it's cold outside.

As temperatures drop, I start to crave my Momma's comforting rice pudding. She makes it on a stove top, and it is relatively healthy. On cold hectic days, rice pudding makes a mighty fine, one pot dinner at my table! Here is my mother's recipe:

German Rice Pudding

Ingredients:

4 cups milk (2% fat is creamy; whole milk and/or cream is creamier still! It will be thinner, but I sometimes use skim milk.)
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar, or to taste (If you can eat it with less sugar, more power to you!)
a sprinkle of sea salt
1 cup of white rice (Alternative: See directions for brown rice below.)
1 tablespoon vanilla, 0r scrape out a vanilla bean
sprinkles of cinnamon and nutmeg

Directions:

1) Pour the milk, eggs and sugar into a large saucepan and beat thoroughly while the milk is cold. Add in the sea salt and dry white rice.

*********************************************
Directions for brown rice: It's a bit trickier. Although white rice makes a creamier pudding, I sometimes substitute brown rice to make the dish even healthier. Brown rice will be slightly chewy compared to white rice. I cook the brown rice according to the directions on the package first. (One cup of dry brown rice takes 30 minutes to cook, which is the amount I use.). After it's done, I pour in the cold milk, eggs and the rest of the ingredients, except for the vanilla, then proceed to step two below.  With brown rice at the end of the cooking time, I usually must add 2 tablespons of all-purpose flour to thicken it. Let it simmer another couple of minutes after adding the flour. With white rice, the starch from the rice alone thickens into a pudding.
*********************************************

2) Turn on the flame to bring the mixture to a boil before reducing it to a simmer. Cook for about 14 minutes while stirring frequently with a spoon. (I lower the heat and put a lid on the pot, but watch it carefully. Every 3 minutes or so, I stir it with a whisk so the mixture doesn't stick or get lumpy.) Simmer and stir until the pudding thickens, and the rice is tender.
*********************************************

3) Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla. Top with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Extra tips: We like our rice pudding plain. It's about the vanilla! But you can add raisins, chopped nuts, dark chocolate shavings, or whatever you like. Some folks make the pudding without the eggs. But, my family likes the richness and extra protein that eggs give the pudding.

Serve German rice pudding warm along with your favorite fruit (peaches, pears, blueberries, strawberries) for balanced nutrition. Chill any leftover pudding in the refrigerator to eat the next day. It's tasty warm or cold.

You may also enjoy:
Eaters Beware
The Best Cookbooks Ever
9 Ways To Save Money At the Supermarket
Greenmarkets, Community Gardens And CSA's

Uniqlo's Heatteach Gear

Made with ultra fine fibers that have Camellia oil woven in for softness.

It is very cold in New York City right now. So I headed to Uniqlo to buy some Heattech long sleeve t-shirts for layering. The store is running a big blowout promotion on their entire Heattech line, therefore I picked up a lovely pair of knitted Heattech sapphire gloves too.

Uniqlo designs clothing, which lets men and women layer for warmth without bulking up. The pieces mix and match beautifully, creating a chic downtown vibe.

Their Heattech t-shirts are soft and static-free. The fabric generates and retains body heat, absorbs sweat and odor and keeps it's shape even after repeated washing.

They are perfect for layering whether you're on a ski slope, or running errands in a windy city where temperatures are plummeting. Great to take on trips!

Years ago, a good sale might have tempted me to overbuy. But not today! I purchased two Heattech t-shirts (at $9.90 each) and a single pair of Heattech gloves (at $7.90). Nowadays I tend to be an under buyer, and still wear less than 20% of what I own. How about you?

The Heattech t-shirt is a knitted-and-stretchy fabric. It runs small. So order a size up. 

There are several colors and neck styles. I bought crew necks in blue and purple to wear with black leggings and cardigans. I like adding a pop of color to neutrals.

The quality, style and prices are awesome!

You may also enjoy:
The Coziness Of Uggs
Uniqlo's Cold Weather Steals
Your Fall Wardrobe: Shop For Value
Stay Warm With A Goose Down Coat

Golden Globe Favorite Gowns 2015

The Golden Globes, the first of the major award shows, did not disappoint on glamour. Here are my two favorite dresses of the night. Dakota Johnson (left) is wearing a Chanel gown. Julianne Moore (right) has on a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci. (By the way, I would be astonished if JM didn't take home the Oscar in the best actress category in a few weeks.)

Coincidentally, both garments are silver. I love the simmer, the way the dresses drape their curves and fall to the ground. So very flattering.

Did you have a favorite?

You may also enjoy:
Vince Camuto ... Thank You!
Feast Your Eyes On Cobalt Blue
10 Women I'd Like To Meet For Tea
Favorite Red Carpet Oscar Dresses 2014

Jaclyn Smith's Anti-Aging Skin Care



Photo: Jaclyn Smith

Staying abreast of new skin care brands is smart. Not only is it good for your epidermis, it is good for your wallet.

Jaclyn Smith, with the help of medical researchers including her husband, Dr. Bradley Allen, developed her own high end products that she sells at K-Mart. Her skin care line, while not dirt cheap, is budget friendly. You will pay 3 to 4 times more for comparable products that are sold in luxe department stores. I love finding cheaper alternatives on good skin care. Since these products are used every day, the savings really add up!

What makes Jaclyn Smith's brand a contender is her serums and moisturizers contain lots of ani-aging properties. When shopping for remedies for your beauty routine be sure to look for four key anti-aging ingredients:

1) Antioxidants - Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, green tea.

2) Glycolic acid - a/k/a hydroxyacetic acid

3) Peptides

4) Retinols (over the counter) - or retinoids (prescription strength)  

Beauty experts agree that these four ingredients are top performers in slowing down the aging process by either preventing skin cell damage, speeding cell turnover or helping to rebuild collagen.

It's never too late to begin taking care of your skin. So the next time you are shopping at K-Mart, take a stroll down the personal care aisle to give the brand a browse. 

Finally, Jaclyn Smith's website gives useful tips on good skin care, as does THE SAVVY SHOPPER. Start with the links below, or enter "skin care" in the blog's search box.

You may also enjoy:
Atoxelene Line Wand
Cosmeceutical Skin Care ... Say What?
The Skinny On Face Serum ... And Skin Care
Drugstore Beauty Buys To Beat The Winter Doldrums

Q&Q SmileSolar Watch

Photo: Inhibit.com

I go through a lot of watches, not because the watches stop ticking, but the bands wear out; and I find replacing a watch band to be inconvenient (where do you go to buy them?) and expensive, so I end up just buying a new watch. Therefore, I don't like to overspend (not a penny over 30 bucks) on a watch.

The next time this happens, I plan to buy a Q&Q SmileSolar watch. Batteries aren't cheap either, and the SmileSolar watch doesn't require a battery. It is powered by fluorescent light. Ten minutes of light charges the watch for 3.5 months, while 30 minutes will last for 11 months. Can't beat that!

Made by Citizen Japan, the watch comes in a variety of appealing face and band colors. Modern and stylish, right?

The timepiece is expertly crafted from eco-friendly materials, and the company donates a portion of the profits from the sale of each watch to Table For Two, an organization dedicated to providing meals for hungry children in Asia and Africa.

With glowing customer reviews, low maintenance and a fair price, meet my next new watch!

What color should I get?

Photo: vulcanpost.com

You may also enjoy:
Watches, Tales And Sprouts
Valentine's Day Is Soon
Calling All Dog Lovers
How Much Should You Spend To Store Your Stuff?

Duck Dynasty, A Review

Photo: CBS Baltimore

Recently I watched a few full episodes and clips of Duck Dynasty on YouTube. I have never, ever watched a reality television series (outside of the contest shows). I'm sure I would not care for most of the genre, but I find Duck Dynasty very entertaining. In short, the Robertson family is hugely likable, as portrayed.

The series features Phil and Miss Kay, their four adult sons, Alan, Jase, Willie and Jep, their daughters in-law, Lisa, Missy, Korie and Jessica, plus their grandchildren, employees and friends. Perhaps, the most popular family member is Phil's brother, Uncle Si, a Vietnam veteran, who is off-beat and crazy in a good-natured way. Uncle Si is quite the storyteller. He claims his "stories are 95% true." You gotta love him for it!

The show takes place in West Monroe, Louisiana. It revolves around a family-run business, Duck Commander, which makes a duck call for duck hunters. The Robertson men are avid hunters and known for their ZZ Top-like beards and their strong Christian values. (Oldest brother, Alan, is the exception. He shaves.)

But so far, these characteristics don't bother me as a viewer. As long as people are honest, transparent and tolerant, I can accept some differences.

Duck Dynasty seems less scripted and more positive than other reality TV shows are reported to be. There is no high drama, or negativity. Ribbing, yes, but no fighting between family members. How refreshing not to have a king-or-queen of mean in a series. Watching pettiness and bad behavior gets old fast!

Despite their redneck image, Phil and sons are actually college graduates, as are the daughters-in-law. And, they have other talents. Miss Kay cooks banquet-size meals. Jase's wife, Missy, has a lovely singing voice, and Willie and Korie's daughter, Sadie Robertson, with no prior dance experience, came in second place on Dancing With With Stars. Back in the day, grandpa Phil was recruited to play pro-football, however, he turned the chance down because duck hunting was his calling. That decision seems to have worked out.

I enjoy the humor and (dare I say) sincerity of the show. A critic might compare its realism to that of Ozzie And Harriet. Romanticised ... surely, but viewers are getting the essence of who the Robertsons are. 

The family sticks together, but are also altruistic and kind. They believe in giving back and helping a neighbor.

It's not featured on the show, but various family members have overcome adversity. None of them claims to be perfect. Phil was not always a model husband, and youngest son, Jep, had to find his way before he matured, but that's what fans like about the family. They are not saints, but come across as compassionate people trying to lead purposeful lives.

Although not a hunter, myself, I am OK with it on the show. In their environment, I understand why they do it. The Robertsons were money poor before Duck Commander made them wealthy, and they were brought up to kill what they eat. Even with money, it puts food on their table. Phil doesn't want his children and grandchildren to become as he puts it, yuppie boys and girls.

The Robertsons like to laugh at themselves, and television viewers like them for it. The show is fun, down home and charming. It's also a top rated series on the E-Network.

You may also enjoy:
Another Election Done
Watching Game Of Thrones
What's On Your Playlist?
10 Woman I'd Like To Meet For Tea