When You Don't Want To Waste Wine - Single Glass Solutions

This morning I watched a segment on the Today Show about an entrepreneur who shares a dilemma I often have. Occasionally I make a dinner that requires a glass of wine, and I don't want to open and waste a whole bottle of wine to drink a glass of wine so I go without. This entrepreneur produces single-serving wine -- 5 fluid ounces bottled, and all the morning news correspondents acted like she just reinvented the wheel. I thought nobody is saying what this brand's single glass of wine costs. I decided not to mention the brand because a Google search revealed that sure enough, at $6.99 - $8.99 a glass, consumers are paying the same price for a glass of wine as they would for a bottle of good Spanish, South American, or California wine so in reality what problem is being solved? Like bottled water, it's also creating more packaging waste for the environment, no?

Photo: iStock

THE SAVVY SHOPPER came up with a simple more cost-effective solution a few years back: 1) Open the bottle, 2) enjoy your single glass with dinner (or two if you're cooking for two), 3) re-cork the wine, and 4) sometime later on, turn the remainder of the bottle of wine into sangria. Use my recipe or yours! If the wine has gone flat the sangria will still taste delicious.

Even if you didn't finish the wine as sangria, you could use the leftover wine to make gravy for beef/chicken dinners.

Pass on buying one glass of wine at a time unless your company is paying for a mini bar in a hotel or the cost is less and not the same as an entire bottle of wine.

For frequent wine drinkers, there is an innovative gadget on the market, the Coravin, that (1) pierces the cork of a wine bottle, adding argon gas, (2) lets you pour a glass, (3) you remove the Caravin to reseal the cork, and (4) the rest of the wine stays good to drink months later as no air can get into the bottle to flatten the flavor of the wine. The Coravin is an expensive device and therefore an investment that only pays off if you drink enough wine. Unfortunately, the solution for drinking in moderation and not wasting wine doesn't come cheap. This leaves the door open for another clever entrepreneur to start cracking on a truer cost-efficient and eco-friendly solution! We'll wait ...

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Healthy Fast Food

A skillet stew I make

If you're too busy or tired to cook dinner because your active life doesn't let you enjoy preparing meals anymore, here are 11 foods to have in your pantry at all times so you don't have to eat processed, unhealthy food or overspend on eating out. You'll have to have a few extra items in your pantry such as spices, fresh celery and onions, or soy sauce to flavor my list of 11 main go-to foods:

1) Bags of baby carrots - It took me years to make the swap from whole carrots that I had to clean, scrape, and dice to the bags of baby carrots. Yes, I know whole carrots last longer and cost less, but if already clean, cut, and easy to grab, you'll toss them into whatever other vegetables you're preparing for dinner.

2) A 5 lb bag of potatoes - I scrub and dry them then store them in the crisper drawer of my refrigerator. Food experts tell us not to refrigerate potatoes, but they last far longer refrigerated, and don't turn a poisonous green. I'm much more likely to grab a washed potato to bake, microwave, or toss into a stew.

3) Top-round London broil steak - It's very lean and requires braising to tenderize. Lately, I'll cube one-pound packages and freeze them to make a quick one-pot stew ready to eat in about 2 hours. Leftovers can be portioned and frozen for microwaving.

4) Frozen mixed vegetables -  Good in the stew, as well as, a variety of meals. Additionally, I want manufacturers to return lima beans to the mix. Who decided to remove them and why?!?

5) Good rustic grainy bread - Lucky me, I live near Fairway supermarket in NYC.

6) Your favorite cheese - I love most cheeses, but I always return to extra sharp New York cheddar. Another tip is to always keep a few good bottles of red wine in your home so if you have guests but don't have time to cook a whole dinner, you can still offer them filling and delicious food and drink.

7) I also keep a crisper drawer of fresh fruit - Apples, grapes, blueberries, pears, oranges, sometimes peaches, strawberries, or plums. Add the fruit to the wine, bread, and cheese along with nuts if you have them.

8) Skim milk - A staple in our house. Along with ...

9) Eggs - I buy 2 dozen eggs at a time.

10) Canned salmon and/or tuna - Another cupboard staple. In a can, each fish is fully cooked. You can turn salmon or tuna into sandwiches and the salmon into grilled patties -- one of the reasons stocking eggs is a must!

11) A 5 lb bag of all-purpose unbleached flour - To thicken a gravy or make a batch of biscuits, or pancakes, or French toast! 

These inexpensive foods make good snacks and fast meals. Fast food should always be real food. It doesn't have to be unhealthy, mean empty calories, or require a lot of work.

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Happiness Hormones And How To Get Them

This chart came to me by way of Facebook. One of my savvy classmates uploaded it. The graph is a reminder of the importance of friendships to your well-being. You'll be in good mental health, your most productive self, and have the energy to give of yourself to other people. In fact, healthy relationships with family, friends, and neighbors give you an abundance of happy hormones, namely dopamine, oxytocin, endorphin, and serotonin to keep you mentally balanced and active. Decades of studies show that people who have "social ties" live longer lives.

Several things might also put a bounce in your step like reading a good book, wearing the clothes in your closet that make you feel like a million bucks, or filling a vase with pretty flowers. Eat a treat too, whether you're in the mood for an ice cream cone, a bowl of guacamole, or a glass of wine. Your choice is ____?

Enjoy your 3-day weekend by spending time with the folks and things you value! See you on the other side.

❤️📘🌹🌻📚❤️👗🌹🌻📚💎❤️

The Health Benefits Of Mushooms

Photo: Getty

Today I will paraphrase an interesting health article I read in Life Extention - The Science of a Healthier Life - July/August 2024 ...

Mushrooms have an amino acid known as L-ergothioneine. Our bodies can't make it yet the compound is so essential to human health that our cell membranes have special transporters to deliver it into our cells.

In a 2021 population study, scientists noticed some interesting findings in people who ate mushrooms. Consumers who regularly ate one serving of mushrooms (a fungus) had a 16% lower risk of death. People who refrained from red meat and ate a serving of mushrooms daily had an astonishing 35% decrease in all-cause mortality. The scientists attribute the health benefits to one compound, namely this L-ergothioneine amino acid.

What's more, in observational studies, scientists connected L-ergothioneine to specific health benefits: L-ergothioneine may promote healthy aging by fighting oxidative stress and decreasing the rate of telomere shortening that inherently occurs as we age. Our eyes, brain, and red blood cells suffer the most from oxidation stress. These tissues have high concentrations of L-ergothioneine transporters which points to the important role the compound plays in protecting them. Telomeres are the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, and unfortunately, they naturally shorten as we age.

L-ergothioneine also appears to act as a sunscreen for DNA, protecting against skin cancer and boosting DNA repair.

As it happens, L-ergothioneine and its transporter are present throughout the brain. Several studies have linked L-ergothioneine to preserving brain function in the areas of learning and memory. In a trial of adults, 5 mg of L-ergothioneine daily significantly improved brain function enough to make scientists take notice.

In the observational study, L-ergothioneine levels in the body were associated with better heart health lowering cardiovascular mortality by 21%. 

So in summary: Mushrooms contain a potent amino acid called L-ergothioneine. Scientists think it is responsible for many key health benefits: (1) combating oxidative stress, (2) slowing the rate of telomere shortening, (3) preserving cardiovascular health, as well as, (4) cognitive function, and (5) supporting DNA repair. In a population study, people who ate mushrooms bore these 5 benefits and lived longer than those who didn't eat mushrooms.

Mushrooms are rich in vitamin D and good sources of vitamins A, B6, and C. They also contain iron, phosphorus, copper, potassium, selenium, and fiber.

Finally here's my recipe for Salisbury Steak, a favorite, it has plenty of onions and those mega-healthy mushrooms. After writing today's blog, I'll be shopping for mushrooms. What about you?

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Extra recipe: A simple way to sautè mushrooms as a side dish:

Ingredients: 

8 ounces mushrooms

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoons wine

Photo: foodandwine

1 sprinkle of thyme

Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

1) Toss all the ingredients into a skillet and simmer on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes until all the liquid is gone.

I won't waste a bottle of wine just to remove 1 tablespoon. If I have no open wine, I flavor the mushrooms with soy sauce, dried rosemary, Cajun spice (instead of salt and pepper), and organic cider vinegar.  Feel free to spice as you like.

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Summer Eats

Fresh summer tomatoes are the best! Photo: HuffPost 

I post more recipes in summer on THE SAVVY SHOPPER than at other times of the year. Why? I have more time to cook and play. In summer, real food -- not junk food -- that doesn't take hours to prepare or cook also catches my eye. I slap it up here if I wish to share or find it again myself.

Fresh food I don't have to cook is one of the many things I love about summer. Last night I cut up an avocado, tomato, and onion, tossed them into a bowl, and seasoned them with cider vinegar (a friend gave me cider vinegar with a "mother" in it), salt, pepper, garlic and parsley. Mmm!

If you mash the ingredients, you'll have guacamole, more traditionally made with lime, but I prefer good vinegar.

In summer I love a late-night dinner of red wine and extra-sharp cheddar cheese on grainy rye bread. It's umami tasty! I could eat it as a supper 7 days a week, but I don't let myself! Only one day a week is my rule. I add cruditès of raw vegetables and fruit to balance out the meal. Another summer love is it stays daylight until 9 PM!

When you don't cook a meal what is your favorite at-home summer dinner? If reading this blog, you're looking at mine.

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The Atlantic Diet Explained

Image: USA Today

Not all doctors are on board with the Mediterranean Diet, but they seem to approve of its cousin, The Atlantic Diet. 

Summed up from USA Today and the Today Show, the Atlantic Diet consists of eating:

• 
  Plenty of unprocessed fruits and vegetables
  
• Lean meat and fish - singling out beef, pork, and cod
• Eggs, milk, and cheese
• Called "Pulses" - beans, dried peas, lentils and chickpeas
• Olive oil and nuts - especially almonds, walnuts, chestnuts and hazelnuts
• Lots of bread, potatoes, rice and cereal
• Red or white wine in moderation

The Atlantic Diet focuses on eating fresh whole foods and is less restrictive than the Mediterranean Diet by allowing you to consume a generous amount of carbohydrates. On the Atlantic Diet, you can have starches 6 - 8 times a day. Still like its cousin, it lowers the risks of heart disease.

The Atlantic Diet seems balanced, doable, sensible, and delicious! No wonder doctors support following it.

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One Pot Enchilada

Photo: Betty Crocker Even on Super Bowl Sunday, we're not a chicken wings family, we like to eat easy, yet balanced, nutritious meals. One-pot/pan dishes are fabulous for dining with the family or entertaining guests. Healthy and flavorful, you spend more time engaging with your guests than disappearing into the kitchen to fuss over a hot stove of individual appetizers. A balanced dinner without tons of cleanup after the meal is also a plus! More and more I'm turning into the Queen of one-pan dinners! Below is how I make a delicious Tex-Mex dish using all the good stuff without having to wrap separate sloppy bites of ingredients:). One Pan Enchilada Ingredients: Photo: Betty Crocker 1 large onion, (or you can use green onion), chopped 1 large red pepper, chopped 2 stalks of celery with leaves, chopped 1 cup corn, fresh, frozen, or canned 1 can 15 ounces of black beans 1 can of 15 ounces of diced tomatoes 1 can 10-ounce enchilada sauce (or make it) 4 cups water 3 cups uncooked penne, curly or small shell pasta (I used whole wheat penne) 1 large bouillion cube, any flavor. 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (store-bought or make it) 8 ounces of extra sharp cheddar cheese, sliced or shredded Chopped cilantro leaves, fresh chopped tomatoes, onions, and a squeeze of fresh lime Optional: Toss in leftover ground beef, shredded beef, shredded chicken, or diced ham in step 1, if you are a meat eater. About 8 ounces as a guide. If you don't have corn, feel free to substitute frozen mixed vegetables. It works too. Directions: 1) In a large skillet or pot grill the celery, bell peppers, and onion before adding the corn, beans, tomatoes, bouillon, enchilada sauce, and spices. 2) Bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered on a stovetop on medium heat on low medium heat for 5 - 10 minutes. 3) Add the pasta and simmer until al dente and the sauce has thickened. About 12 - 15 minutes.  4) Next top with the cheddar cheese and let it melt. 5) Crown with the chopped cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and a squeeze of lime. Serve after the top layer of cheddar cheese melts. If you still want a wrap, warm it in a microwave and eat it as a side piece of bread. Open a bottle of wine and add a side salad with a vinegarette dressing and you're all set to watch the game. You may also enjoy: The Voice Premieres On NBC Healthy Oscar Night Munchies #Shorts: A Red Wine Boldness Chart R.I.P. Prince (June 7, 1958 - April 21, 2016)

Ghouls Visit Gotham City On Halloween

 

All photos: By Debra Turner of the Upper East Side's Lenox Hill and Yorkville neighborhoods

The undead have come to Gotham City for the shindig of the year.

Witches, ghosts, and ghouls are very near,💀  

Waiting for darkness to fall to start the Monster's Ball.

On the Upper East Side, behold a sinister sight!🕷

Spreading the Fright all day and all night!

What has convened but a howling scene!

👇Bart the Bartender (at 86th Street Wine) is back! With a new friend, Jack.👇🍷

Among the mainstream, there's a break of routine. 

Bizarre ventures umpteen that have never been seen!

There's a gateway from the spirit world to Manhattan, it's clear,

Heads to roll and evil to flow, they're hereee!

'Tis a rush to the bloodstream,🐺

A peek at the team behind this horrific scene at a brownstone on East 72nd Street. Let's hope you don't meet!

Why, it must be Halloween!🎃

Here's where your chilling tour of the Upper East Side ends.

Happy Halloween to all Spirits & Friends!

On 2nd Avenue in front of Crumbly Bakery*, see Jack stand. Walk by to hear him talk, or shake his hand. *{between East 89th and East 90th Streets}

👹👻🎃💀🧹🐺👹👻🎃💀🧹🐺👹👻🎃💀🧹🐺👹👻🎃💀🧹🐺👹👻

4 Bonus Upper East Side Brownstones to see: If you pass them on foot, be ready to flee!🩸

Click photos to unveil the gory details.👀 Nothing to fear, no charge to enlarge!🔪🧛‍♂️🎃

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