Fancy Shaped Diamonds

As a young girl I never dreamed of, nor planned my wedding as some women claim they did, but I always liked jewelry and when asked by schoolmates what kind of ring I'd want, without hesitation answered: a big one, Tiffany setting! That would be at least a 2 carat round diamond. At least!😍 

Well, here I am years later, and it is still my favorite setting. Perhaps it was because I saw my mother's round 1 carat setting ... only I wanted a huge rock. When dreaming, there is nothing wrong with magnifying a desire. Be true to yourself in your dreams! And go from there. Know what you want, then adjust to what you can have. (Hey I've coined a new saying and will add it on top: Be a dreamer, then a realist!😁)

Diamond shapes: round, Asscher, cushion, emerald, heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess and radiant

As it turns out, round diamonds have the most sparkle of all the shapes. Little did I know, the shape of a diamond effects price. Round diamonds are the most expensive due to popularity, higher manufacturing costs and their lovely brilliance, according to Blue Nile, as well as, other jewelers. In order to achieve the fire and brilliance of a round shaped diamond, a large portion of the rough stone must be cut away. A round shape loses the most "rough" of any of the possible shapes, and it takes more time and skill to cut a perfect round diamond, thus adding to the expense.
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All other diamonds are called fancy shaped diamonds. They include Asscher, cushion, emerald, heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess and radiant. A cutter can study a rough diamond to determine what is the best shape, manipulating the "rough" to better accommodate a fancy shape. On the other hand, a round shape is the most perfectly symmetrical, requiring more precision and skill to create it.

While round diamonds are 25% higher in price for the same quality of stones, fancy shaped diamonds are not cheap either. They, too, are beautiful, brilliant and popular engagement rings with customers. And consider this ... if you desire the brilliance of a round diamond for less, a cushion shaped diamond comes close with a lower price tag. So you can afford a bigger diamond by being a bit flexible with shape, color and clarity. Moreover, marquise and heart shaped diamonds are gorgeously different! Do you agree? And, do you have a favorite diamond shape?

The brilliance and fire of diamonds.

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Chicken Fried Dishes Using My Breadcrumbs

Chicken Fried Steak at Cracker Barrel

It's not that I don't enjoy cooking or eating, but we must do it every day! The rigmarole of buying food; putting it away; cooking; and the cleanup is time consuming. If we didn't have to eat, we'd save a heap of time each week. How would you spend it? 

Furthermore, I get tired of my own cooking! That's why I try and post new recipes on THE SAVVY SHOPPER. Like you, I can return here, myself, to see how to make them again.😁

My latest dinners are pan fried Chicken Breasts Thin Sliced and Chicken Fried Steak -- fast, delicious and easy to make, therefore worth sharing! (I won't lie, sometimes what the supermarket puts on sale inspires my week of dinners. To switch up your diet, it's as good of a system of meal planning as any other.😄🤣)

Before we start, let's make the "breadcrumbs" --

Debra's Breadcrumbs

Ingredients: 

1.5 cups of uncooked oatmeal
spices to taste. I use: Zataratin's Creole Seasoning; dried garlic, oregano, turns of the black pepper mill, parsley, rosemary, thyme, a dash of the nutmeg.

Directions:

Pulse together in a food processor.

Dump into a shallow dish to coat your meats. Feel free to use real breadcrumbs if you buy them. I don't because I'm lazy. I don't want another food item to restock, and that's the reason I started making my own ''breadcrumbs" with uncooked oatmeal, and hey, it works! (If you are one step lazier than me, you can simply season all-purpose flour as meat coating. Still edible, it works too.)

Here is how I use my oatmeal breadcrumbs:

Pan Fried Chicken Breast, Thin Sliced

Ingredients: 

3 - 4 thin chicken slices per person
spicy brown mustard
extra virgin olive oil
butter
Breadcrumbs

Photo of Chicken breast: Food Network

Directions:

1) Brush your frying pan with a coating of olive oil and a couple pads of butter. The butter is for flavor. Only a coating of oil is needed to "fry" food. I usually turn the heat on low while I prepare the chicken, then turn the heat up to let it get hot before dropping the breaded chicken slices into the pan.

2) Rub the mustard on both sides of the thin raw chicken slices; dip both sides in the breadcrumbs and lay them in a hot frying pan to brown.

3) I reduce the heat to medium, put a lid on the chicken and cook it for 3 - 5 minutes on both sides. When the chicken turns from pink to white, it's done. (While you could bake this dish in the oven, I don't since the chicken cooks in minutes on a stove top.) 

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Ground beef was also on sale at my supermarket leading to the 2nd recipe:

Chicken Fried Steak (Using Ground Beef)

Photo of chicken fried steak: Taste of Home

Ingredients:

For the "steak" --
1 lb lean ground beef
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
a dash of Creole seasoning (or just salt and pepper, your choice)
1 scrambled egg
My breadcrumbs

For the gravy --
2 - 3 tablespoons of pan drippings and all the brown ground beef bits 
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 small beef or chicken bouillon
12 turns of the black pepper mill
a dash of dried celery
a dash of dried garlic

Directions for the "steak:"

1) Combine the ground beef with Worcestershire sauce and season to taste. Form into patties.

2) Triple dip into the egg and my breadcrumbs. Shake off the excess each time before dipping again -- this will make it stick and not drop off creating bare spots while frying.

3) Lay in a hot pan brushed with olive oil. You don't need to deep fry the "steaks," just use enough olive oil to coat the pan.

4) I cover my pan with a lid and let it cook on medium heat, flipping the patties over when the first side is golden brown. Repeat on the side  side.

Directions to make the gravy:

1) Cook 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour, whisking it into the pan drippings and ground beef bits. Cook for a couple of minutes and continue stirring.

2) Add the milk and seasonings and stir the mixture until it thickens. 

Often tenderized cubed beef is used to make chicken fried steak, but lean ground beef is easy to buy, make and works. Convenience rules!

The origin of chicken fried steak is sometimes attributed to the Texas town of Lamesa, brought over by German immigrants who modified the recipe from wiener schnitzel. Although interchangeable in many restaurants with country fried steak, traditional chicken fried steak is crispy and served with a milk peppery gravy, while traditional country fried steak soaks in a pan of brown gravy and onions. Regionally, this isn't always followed. Country fried steak is sometimes also served with a milk peppery gravy. The dishes have a slight variation [i.e., more crispy with milk gravy vs. soaked in brown gravy with onions ... but often a milk gravy too] using nearly the same ingredients. Enjoy your fast, stick-to-your ribs and yet still healthy dinner!

Country fried steak at Cracker Barrel

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T-Fal Ingenio Induction Pan Set

In the world, there are Beyounce and Jay-Z, and then there are the rest of us.

Luckily I have a good amount of storage space in my kitchen, but can we ever have enough? Even in a small apartment, I need the same amount of stuff, namely cooking tools as other home cooks to make dinner.

Here are the pots and pans I'd like to own! They are pricey, yes, but they are designed to save space by nestling into one another. Plus, the handles are detachable; and they are multi-taskers. You can (1) cook and bake in them; (2) put them on the table to serve your food; and then after the meal (3) cover and store your leftovers in the refrigerator. Nice!

If I were starting out, I'd buy them. The handles of my pots and pans are spacehogs! As it is, I'm too DARN cheap to spend the nearly $200 to re-buy pots and pans when I have decent cookware. On the other hand, should you need a new set: The T-fal 13 piece set with lids and handles is available in a non-stick coating (and in the UK) stainless steel. 

The cookware sizes are: 

1 x 16 cm Saucepan 
1 x 20 cm Saucepan 

1 x 22 cm Frying pan 
1 x 28 cm Frying pan
1 x 24 cm Saute pan 1 x 26 cm Wok 
1 x 16 cm Glass lid 
1 x 20 cm Glass lid 
1 x 26 cm Glass lid 
1 x 16 cm Plastic lid 
1 x 20 cm Plastic lid 
2 x Bakelite handles

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IMHO, the sizes in the set are all you really need to prepare meals. Movever, you save a few bucks, but mostly space, by not having to buy separate serving dishes, or refrigerator storage containers.

If saving space is not your main issue, I highly recommend you buy the pots and pans you need, separately, from T. J. Maxx (as opposed to buying sets) -- where you will find professional quality cookware cheap! 

Make sure the handles of the pots an pans you select do not take up much space. As a young home cook, I didn't consider the space required by certain types of handles. Why don't all manufacturers design their cookware with compact handles? Just look at the T-Fal brand to see what is possible!


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Modest After Christmas Goodies

Usually I take advantage of the after Christmas sales. This year my needs are quite modest which is great for my wallet. I only bought 3 things and am watching to see if prices drop further on a 4th item. Here is what I bought:

1) Colored Christmas lights - (top image↑) The set I own faded in color, and they only blinked every 13 seconds this year. One day I nearly left my apartment without unplugging them as they take so long to blink I forgot they were on. Time to replace them! After Christmas sale price: $2.49 at Rite-Aide.

2) Christmas Cookie Cutters, Set of 6 - Last year I tossed out my star cutter after I got mad at it. One of its 5 corners was defective, messing up the cookies. Surprisingly buying only a star was too costly, but the set of 6 was 50% off after Christmas, and I like the size of the cookies it makes -- not too big or small, but just right! There are sets of greater quantity, but really do we need to make 30 shapes? In the best of all possible worlds, I'd have an angel instead of a snowman, but that's quibbling. $5 at Sur La Table.

3) Cashmere Scarf - This last purchase was more of a splurge than a need. Tartan patterns are trendy this winter and I liked this checkered pattern over a true Stuart tartan plaid (which was also available) because it's playful yet dressy. I have enough warm scarves already, but hey, not one with pretty fringes. Now I've joined the tartan set! T. J. Maxx, you tempted me yet again, by reducing this soft, well-made $50 cashmere scarf to $19, making it a steal!

4) Next year's Christmas Cards - This last possible purchase could go either way. I have about 25 widows and orphans --  Christmas cards leftover from boxes of cards from Christmases past. I don't know if people remember cards you've sent them before, or not, but as long as the cards are beautiful, so what if they are remembered? Oh, readers should I send out my widows and orphans next year, or not? If prices drop down to 75% off, I might be tempted to buy a fresh design. Tic, toc, tic, toc.

What are you buying this year after Christmas?

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Happy New Year 2020

Photo: Shutterstock

Finally a new decade: 2020 is here! (Although technically a new decade starts with the #1 as in 2021, but we won't get so scientistic.:)

Although I don't make New Year's resolutions per say, I'm committed to becoming an even more curated buyer of things in the future. During the last few years I've tried to simplify life by bringing fewer things into my kitchen, bathroom, home ... i.e., life, which includes food, personal care items, clothing and home goods. My goal isn't to do without necessities. It's to buy what I need; not more than what I need. 

Just a few years ago I might have purchased 6 or 8 shampoos or soap, or (fill in the blank) at a good price, usually  to qualify for free shipping. But it takes too long to finish the stash and often leads to unintended waste. So I've reformed! Now I buy one, plus a spare of most everything even at a good price. 

If I must add too many extras to get free shipping, I pass on an item. In my experience, it saves more money and lessens waste. Sales happen often enough so there's no real need to stock up as if we only get to the supermarket, or drugstore once a year. I'll be able to find noodles, condensed milk, body lotion, lipstick, bedsheets, (or you name it) on sale again after finishing my one, plus one product. I also think each of us is savvy enough to know when to make an exception to this general rule. So I'm not worried about running out, or of having to overpay for most things. 

What's more, I begin 2020 having mostly replaced processed food (examples of what I no longer buy: canned soups, boxed ready-to-eat breakfast cereals and carbonated sodas; processed food is usually found in the middle aisles of a supermarket) with real food that I bring home to prepare myself (like meat, potatoes, whole grains [oatmeal, quinoa], fruit and vegetables, coffee and tea; which is usually stocked in the side lanes of a supermarket).

With personal care items, my mission continues ... not to buy any more soap, lotions, potions, shampoos, or conditioners until I use up what I already have ... and mostly I succeed! My goal is to have no more than one shampoo in the bathroom caddy (done!) and not more than 2 hair conditioners there (I'm working on it)! Moreover, I can't recommend the beauty brands SheaMoisture (personal care goods) and The Ordinary (skin care) enough for consumers who seek the highest quality of ingredients for less. Both are game changers in the beauty industry!

For apparel, the game chargers are Uniqlo and T.J. Maxx, where fashion and quality for less are unbeatable. For furniture and home accessories (including cookware), I must give the nod to T.J. Maxx again along with its sister company, HomeGoods. You simply can't match high quality verses low price elsewhere. Of course furniture is the more complicated always requiring hours of research per need.

But money alone will never enrich a life. So on THE SAVVY SHOPPER you also get a dose of lifestyle, history, entertainment, philosophy ... and an occasional essay on some world event. And as usual, I encourage you to share your thoughts and let me know if there are subjects you wish to know more about. Thank you ♥dear readers♥ for stopping by ... xoxo!

🎊Happy New Year 2020!🎉

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Shrimp Kung Pao Noodles

Photo: Delish

There's a new Target on the Upper East Side, and the prices are ideal. Recently I bought a 1 pound bag of large frozen shrimp (30 shrimp) on sale for $7.49, then tweaked a Delish recipe to eat it. I make substitutions of similar ingredients I don't stock in my cupboard. At times I also add extra ingredients I like, such as celery and broccoli. Lately I am the Queen of making fresh one pan meals from scratch as the clean up is a breeze.👑 

Many people love food delivery services like HelloFresh™ or Plated™, but I think if you have access to a supermarket, you are paying a huge markup on meal kits for ingredients you can easily buy yourself for much, much less. For the cost, the service should come with a chef, which it does not! But after paying the 100% markup for the food, you still have to come home to cook the meal yourself. It's cheaper to buy a cookbook. So here is my one pan dish for 2:

Shrimp Kung Pao Noodles

Ingredients:

This is the Target shrimp. Looks good, right?

8 oz spaghetti
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 small onion, diced
1 teaspoon ginger, diced (If you don't have fresh ginger, use dried ginger … less of it though.)
8 oz shrimp
salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced thin
1 cup chopped broccoli (I toss in whatever vegetables I think I need to eat on a particular day: spinach, carrots, even frozen mixed or green beans I need to get rid of, etc. Chunks of vegetables are good in this dish.)
2 garlic cloves, minced (or dried garlic)
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup water
1 small chicken bouillon
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon vinegar (I use cider)
1/3 cup broken up peanuts

Directions:

1) Cook spaghetti according to directions on the box (7 minutes for al dente), drain and set aside.

2) In a large skillet, heat the sesame oil. Sautè the onion and ginger for one minute.

3) Toss in the shrimp, salt and pepper and sautè for 3 minutes. Remove from the pan. (If the frozen shrimp is already cooked, put it aside for step #6. Don't cook it for 3 minutes.)

4) Next toss the olive oil in the pan, heat and sautè the bell peppers, broccoli and celery until they are soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in the flour. Add the water and chicken bouillon, red pepper flakes, Sriracha and cider vinegar. Stir, incorporate and simmer for 1 - 2 minutes.

5) Sprinkle in dried parsley and cilantro flakes.

6) Toss back in the cooked spaghetti, shrimp and peanuts. Heat the ingredients (including the shrimp) if necessary before plating it.

Makes 2 servings. Double the recipe to use the full pound of shrimp for 4 servings.

Now you are a one pot meal Queen also!👑


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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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Gift Ideas For Him

#1 and #2 layered - multiple colors available

An interviewer asked the actress Sarah Jessica Parker what one thing would she like to give to her children. The multi-talented and savvy mother of 3 said, I'd like for them to know the pleasure of wanting things. Anticipation ... waiting for something to arrive is part of the excitement, no? And once in hand, you appreciate it all the more.

We have 4 days left until Christmas. L.L. Bean has a few cozy gifts for the men in your life and if still looking you can order the right gift ... enclose an image of it as an I.O.U. inside a glittery holiday card with a heartfelt note. Find a little box, wrap it up and tie a beautiful ribbon around it. Are you short a gift perhaps?

Here are a few more gift ideas:

1) Unshrinkable Mini-Waffle Shirt - Soft and cozy in 2 styles: Henley and crewneck. Layer it with #2

2) PrimaLoft-Lined Shirt-Jac - Part jacket, part shirt. Provides the comfort of a jacket with the feel of a button-down shirt and insulated for warmth. #1 and #2 are a winning combo!

🎄🎁🔔Here are alternative men's Woolrich wool shirts. Plus funnel, cotton and jacket shirts. Same style as L.L.Bean. Excellent quality and durable, yet pricey; and the wool shirts are not washable. I bought 2 many years ago that still look new. Their value has risen just like Chanel handbags! Woolrich blankets are first-rate also. Watch for the after Christmas sales!🎄🎁🔔

3) Washable Lambswool Sweater - Wash and wear warmth. These soft sweaters are expertly knit and designed for machine washing.

4) Stabilicers Walkers - Sturdy yet lightweight traction for winter walks on icy and snowy surfaces. Slips over most footwear.

And a bonus --

5) NYC Coffee Cups - A ceramic version of the famous NYC paper street cups. Cute coffee cups that fit neatly into a cupboard, or dashboard!

Over the last days before Christmas, you have the option of paying to expedite shipping; or keep the gifts coming after Christmas! Our family doesn't mind the 2nd less expensive option. You decide.


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