Mini Pecan Pies A/K/A Tassies

 

As a teenager, I started helping my mom make Christmas cookies. She made (and decorated) butter cookies, Russian Teacakes, coconut macaroons, and Czechoslovakian cookies. I made mini pecan pies, likely a recipe I tweaked from a cookbook. Sometimes they are called Pecan Tassies and originate in the American South. My mom loved them so much, she asked me to make them every year. Mini pecan pies or Tassies are a 2-step process, yet still easy to make. Here is the recipe for 12 cupcake-sized pies:

Mini Pecan Pies

Ingredients for the Crust:

1/2 stick of butter, room temperature 

3 oz cream cheese, room temperature 

1 cup all-purpose flour

Directions for the Crust:

1) Combine the butter, cream cheese and all-purpose flour. 

2) Refrigerate for 15 - 20 minutes to make the dough easier to work. (While chilling, you can make the filling.)

3) Form into 12 balls of dough. 

4) Press the 12 balls of dough into 12 sections of an ungreased muffin pan. Press the dough onto the bottom and up the sides of each section. They should not stick, but you can brush the pan sections with butter and sprinkle with flour if you wish.

5) Bake at 350 degrees F in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, cool, and set aside for the filling. This extra step will stop the pies from sticking and crumbling after they are fully baked.

Ingredients for the Filling:

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter, room temperature

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Optional: A splash of Kentucky bourbon

Directions:

1) Toss the brown sugar and butter into a mixing bowl and incorporate using a fork.

2) Slightly beat the eggs and add to the mixture, along with the vanilla and salt.

3) Stir in the pecans and slash of Bourbon.

4) Fill the pecan mixture into the 12 waiting pie crusts about 3/4 full. I like to lay a few big pieces of pecans on top.

5) Return to the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 - 30 minutes.

6) Take them out of the oven, let cool down, but while the pan is still warm, remove the mini pies from the pan.

IMHO these pecan tassies are exactly the right portion of sweets and you don't need to have syrups to make them. The brown sugar, butter and pecans are delicious. Perhaps a new holiday tradition for your family. Enjoy!

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Turn to LL Bean for Unshrinkable Men's Shirts

Sometimes the superior quality of men's clothing makes one envious! LL Bean offers stellar cold weather clothes for men. If still looking for a few holiday gifts here are 3 winning possibilities:

1) Unshrinkable, Stain-resistant Tees - (↑top image) - Made of soft 100% cotton that resists wrinkles, stains, shrinking, fading, and pilling, and they keep their shape with repeated machine washings.

2) Washed Cotton Double Knitt hoodies, Crewnecks and Quarter Zip Shirts - Designed with 2 layers of heathered cotton with a touch of nylon to be ultra-soft and durable.

3) The Unskrinkable Flannel Shirt - Made of 100% brushed cotton flannel, the shirt is super soft, warm and cozy; and it will never shrink, wrinkle, or pill.

Who doesn't adore cotton? The fabric is comfortable, easy to care for and holds up over time. LL Bean is an unbeatable crafter of menswear, especially for winter. The company's tees, shirts and hoodies are soft, weighty; and attention is paid to details.

It's better to get a great gift than an on-time gift. So if you're afraid this gift will arrive after Christmas day, place the order, then print the picture of what will arrive, place the photo in a box and wrap it. Moreover, check back for the after Christmas sales. The price reductions are great too!

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Low Fat, Sugar Free Eggnog

Photo: free iStock

Nine years ago I shared a recipe for old fashioned eggnog here, but perhaps it's time to try to make eggnog healthier, a lower-calorie version that's still tasty. After all, we're all a decade older and food-wiser, no? In the effort, I omitted most of the fat and all of the sugar and still love the eggnog🎄. Hope you will too:

Low Fat Sugar-Free Eggnog

Ingredients:

4 eggs, separated

2 cups fat-free milk

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon fresh nutmeg

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons stevia graduated blend 👈 what I use

(Feel free to sweeten with 1/3 cup of sugar.)

12 oz can condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional: Bourbon or rum to taste (Mine is alcohol-free. I love the sweet, vanilla, nutmeg flavors which the bourbon hides from me!🙄)

Directions:

1) Whip the egg whites into stiff peaks with an electric mixer and set aside.

2) Toss into a blender the egg yolks, skim milk, cornstarch and, nutmeg. (I used fresh and dry nutmeg.) If using white sugar, here is where I'd add it. The cornstarch reduces the risk of cuddling when heating eggs and milk together. Blend until creamy.

My eggnog batch

3) Pour the mixture into a saucepan and whisk on medium heat until the start of a boil, but do not allow it to boil. Immediately lower the heat to the lowest setting and keep whisking for 5 minutes. During the 5 minutes is the step where I add the stevia blend.

4) Turn off the flame and let it sit for a few minutes, then whisk in the can of condensed milk, vanilla extract, and whipped egg whites. Add the optional alcohol if using.

5) Pour into a container with a lid and chill in the refrigerator before drinking.

According to the American Egg Board, "while it is possible for Salmonella to be in both the white and yolk of eggs, the white doesn't readily support bacterial growth," so there is a low risk in using them uncooked to make eggnog. In the USA the eggs sold at the supermarket have a low risk for bacteria because they ''are washed and sanitized" as reported in Forbes. Fresh or pasteurized raw whole eggs are also safe.

I'll continue to buy eggnog, but this much lighter, sugar-free and cheaper batch (104 calories a cup) is surprisingly thick and delicious, plus we know every ingredient in it!

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THE SAVVY SHOPPER CREED And 5 Skip/Buy Rules

Photo of Macy's by B. P. - Tons of sales and choice of price points.

THE SAVVY SHOPPER CREED: 

I'm an under buyer and a value shopper. More and more I'm a mindful buyer and a minimalist. Everything I need, I buy! And yet, I try not to buy more than what I need. In other words, I only need enough, not more than enough. (A tip on how you become a minimalist is: Organize your closets.) 

If an item makes my life happier, easier, or simpler, I buy it. But I don't buy pretty or beautiful yet impractical things, which don't fit my lifestyle. All of us do so younger until we realize if we can't wear or use merchandise, it's wasteful and a poor use of our resources. Not to mention the earth's resources and a slap in the face to 80% of the world's people who don't have enough!

What's more, an item must be worth the money. There are times we buy the top of the line because the article will last longer to save money over time. You won't have to rebuy it as often. There are other times, we buy cheap because it serves our immediate purpose, and we don't need it to last. You still come out ahead if you had to rebuy it. 

5 Skip & Buy Rules To Get Your Money's worth:

1) Skip fashion jewelry with luxury names like Chanel, Prada, or Burberry. You will pay top dollar for the name but get crystals, silver, and gold-plated steel metal when you could have spent the same money on fine jewelry that is real gold with precious stones. Instead ...

Buy 14k/18k gold and get the 4 precious gems: diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Usually, it's wasteful to get statement jewelry that is so fancy or big, it only gets taken out of its box once or twice a year. If you buy the right style, all your jewelry can be worn daily, as well as, to galas, rarely staying in a box. Buying jewelry that stays in a box is not worth the money. Wear it or don't buy it!

2) Skip designer shoes not made to fit a real foot. Avoid foot pain and surgery down the line. Instead ...

Buy shoes you can comfortably walk in because they support your arches and stabilize your heels. Let Alexander McQueen's 4-inch stilettos with an unstable footbed and narrow toe box rot in the shop.

3) Skip $500 luxury skincare. Instead ...

For severe acne or skin issues, see a dermatologist. And for every day...

Buy creams with scientifically proven anti-aging ingredients that work. They contain retinoid and retinol, antioxidants, glycolic aid, or peptides. Furthermore, try drugstore brands. L'Oreal, Neutrogena, Olay, Boots No 7, Cerave, Palmor's, and others have stepped up their game by hiring scientists working in skin labs to develop their formulas. These brands offer an array of products to address all skin types and needs for less.

Photo of Uniqlo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

4) Skip designer leggings, t-shirts, shorts, pajamas, and socks. With Old Navy, Uniqlo, American Eagle and T.J. Maxx you're covered in made-well casual clothing for less. There's not one sensible reason to pay more for Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, DKNY, or Lacoste. In fact, you'll find them at T.J. Maxx and get smart casual wear at Old Navy, Uniqlo and American Eagle cheap! Instead ...

Buy designer duds where it counts ... on needed fitted pieces: A good business suit, a trench or winter coat, a leather jacket, supportive leather shoes, etc. Of course, when you find them at end-of-season sales or T.J. Maxx, grab them!

Ralph Lauren's flagship store

5) Skip $4,000+ designer handbags and luggage. Ok, you can buy one purse only if it fulfills a dream, but in general, the brands are taking you to the cleaners. Don't pay the huge markup for a luxe name. Instead ...

Find similar quality bags and luggage elsewhere at fair market prices. Buy value! With use, handbags and luggage scratch. Luggage especially gets banged up.

Buy bags and luggage from retailers who have been making them forever, yet are not marketed as a luxury: Coach, Samsonite, and American Tourister are examples of manufacturers of stellar goods. Making bags or suitcases is what they do! Plus, they put them on sale, unlike those $7,000 or $40,000 luxury bags!!

A Savvy Shopper knows prices are never synonymous with quality. Sometimes you pay less for goods simply because the business model of the company is built around a lower, affordable price point. These retailers are your friends! Skip the high rollers. Instead! Buy from and support your friends!!

Pandemic wear: Crocs from T.J. Maxx paired with Express leggings and H&M socks🙂

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Home Goods As Gifts For Less

The couch, pillow and throw are online offerings.

There are no better places to buy home goods than the merchant Home Goods and its sister company T.J. Maxx. Sometimes I make the trip to the bigger Home Goods store only to find my needed item at T.J. Maxx. So consider both retailers for cookery, room accent pieces, bedding, bathroom fixtures, and major pieces of furniture. You will be surprised at what comes through T.J. Maxx. Often I browse at my local T.J. Maxx, which is within walking distance, and I've adopted the mantra, "I  don't buy pretty," to avoid temptation and clutter.

However, when you truly need something for yourself or others, you find top quality for less! Although appreciating the thought, I hate getting merchandise that serves no purpose and is so unpractical I'll never use it. Better to give someone a gift certificate at Home Goods or T.J. Maxx, or wherever they like to shop so they can fill a need. If you buy a gift card at any one, you can use it at all its sister stores.

I think T.J. Maxx especially is the perfect place to do your holiday shopping to find the best merchandise without going broke. Some folks may not know you will find some of the same articles from Home Goods at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls because they all are under the TJX Company umbrella. Online or in-store, check out the clearance sales, which include home goods. You will find bargains all year round that the retailers must move quickly for new inventory. The stock is now plush for holiday shopping!

Every item featured on the blog today is online now for less! And it's only a fraction of the vast selection. There are also pet furniture, room organizer bins and baskets, as well as, holiday decorations. Go to the T.J. Maxx website to find them. If the items sell out, give your family or friends a thoughtful store gift certificate ... because something akin always rolls back around and your friends can get exactly what they want. The ever-changing inventory at these retailers makes browsing fun!🎅 And dangerous!! Don't buy pretty!👺

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Dior 7-Piece Refillable Lipstick Set

For a makeup maven, Christian Dior is one of the Holy Grails of a luxury lipstick. And for the holidays you sometimes splurge on a gift when the rest of the year you try to save. 

Christian Dior is offering an awesome holiday 7-piece lipstick set selling for $180 but if you search retailers, you'll find deals to bring the price down to about $150. No, it's not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but a single Christian Dior lipstick costs $40, so it is a "bargain" for Dior makeup. 

    

The colors in the set are gorgeous and very wearable. It includes:

Modified case by owner

• Rouge Dior 999 satin finish
• Rouge Dior 999 matte finish
• Rouge Dior 988 satin finish
• Rouge Dior 481 matte finish
• Rouge Dior 458 satin finish
  
• Rouge Dior 772 matte finish

The 7th item in the set is what everyone is raving about: A glittering star midnight blue limited edition couture case that customers say is reuseable as a Dior evening clutch bag. This Dior keepsake case seals the deal, making the 7-piece set a fabulous splurge .... for yourself or someone special on your list. Six Dior lipsticks will last for quite a while, then you are left with a glamorous bag for special occasions! 

Dior goes the extra mile by wrapping the set in ritzy, festive packaging that is fun to give or receive. So you get lots of jazz-and-pizzaz for the buck.

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Bag Alternatives To Hermes, Chanel And Dior Part II

The lovely Lady Dior

When I wrote a blog on bags to buy that give you a Hermès or Chanel vibe for less, I didn't expect to write a part II ... yet, if you read the post, here we are. Let me toss the Lady Dior into the mix. 

The following leather bags are not replicas (illegal) nor dupes (inspired and legal). Nobody will mistake them for Hermès, Chanel or Dior ... but perhaps you're not a person who needs to fool anyone. Perhaps you don't want to pay a crazy amount of money to own a French label. You're a fashionista and bag lover, yes! Yet one who seeks quality and value with style. Keep your money in the bank, sister! Alternative bags for less you'll love include:

1) Coach Zoe Carryall (rather than a Lady Dior) - As much as I love the Lady Dior in either black with gold hardware or black with black hardware, at $4,900 for a medium, it doesn't love me back! Instead, I own a Coach Zoe Carryall. And I love it too! In lieu of lambskin with charms, the Coach Zoe Carryall has supple pebbled leather with a gold lock and key that really work. The pebbled leather is scratch-resistant and ultra durable. You don't have to baby it, a trait I like in a bag, not wishing to spend on a bag I can't use. Plus, IMO, it's much more versatile. Diana, the Princess of Wales, was one of only a few people who could take her Lady Dior to work. Frankly, Coach is my brand of choice, but for my readers who pine for the Hermès and Chanel vibes, please continue.

2) Saint Laurent Manhattan (instead of a Hermès Kelly) - Sturdy calf leather for much less moola than a Kelly and yet a customer still has a top-notch designer handbag, luxury craftsmanship included with a Kelly vibe.

3) Tuscany Leather Firenze (in lieu of a Hermès Birkin). Hammered Italian leather with pockets and zippers in several colors and gold hardware. Comes with a dust bag, as well as, almost enough savings left over to buy a car. 

4) Tory Burch has a variety of stylish quilted leather bags (which are well-made yet 3 - 4 - 5 times less than Chanel quilted bags: 4-a) the Fleming Convertible Shoulder bag and 4-b) the Fleming Quilted Leather tote are 2 of several Tory Burch styles to have a Chanel vibe. Kate Spade has a few French-vibe bags in both leather and vegan leather in her line also that are easy to google, or spot at T.J. Maxx.

Kate Spade

What are Dior, Hermès, or Chanel bags worth to you? We all want to get a lot for our money. Perhaps one of the above-featured chic leather bags {along with the cash left in your piggy bank} is fine enough. You decide~

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7 Holiday Gifts For Him

Last year I compiled a Gifts For Him blog. This year I'll begin by sharing what the editors of "Good Hunting" compiled, not their entire list, but the 3 items I like best. (The list came to me in an email):

1) Patagonia Wild Idea Work Boots - These owl brown buffalo leather boots are gorgeous and the right footwear for hiking or walking miles on city pavement. Pricey, yes ... yet well-made to last for many years so with time you get your money's worth.

2) Sam Jones' Southern Starter Kit - North Carolina barbecue pitmaster, Sam Jones, gives you (3) spice rubs for steak, pork, fish, and (1) all-purpose seasoned salt. You can't go wrong with any of his barbecue condiment pairings, so take a look and consider how much you wish to spend.

3) Billy Raid Fine Gauge Cashmere Crew - a winter wardrobe staple for men, women, or others, i.e. everybody should own one soft, warm and durable cashmere sweater. Looks great even after years of winter wear! Natural fibers rock!

Here's a look at those stylish owl brown boots in action.😍

For recommendations #4, #5 and #6 I asked Barry P., a reader of the blog, to share items on his holiday wish list. It turns out Barry has mighty fine tastes. Lucky us to have a man's point of view on what to get a man:

4) Ben Silver Royal St. George Yacht Club Tie - It is a silk tie of the highest silk material and craftsmanship. Ben Silver has a wide selection of neckties in several textures. Barry says, "Oozing with old traditions," wear one of Ben Silver's ties to be mistaken for "a member of the British regiment, an alumnus of an ivy league school, or a member of an exclusive yacht club." Barry has selected a cool theme to reflect his interest in ships and the shipping industry of which he writes about often.

5) Buffalo Trace - Kentucky Straight Bourbon with tasting notes of brown sugar and spice "that give way to oak, toffee, dark fruit, and anise." A smooth whiskey with depth and "a complex aroma of vanilla, mint and molasses." Makes even a non-bourbon drinker want a taste, doesn't it? A bottle of bourbon is useful to non-drinkers for guests, as well as, for making desserts and Hot Toddies to soothe winter sore throats. Nobody is my family drinks bourbon, but I keep a big bottle in the cupboard. It lasts for 10 years! 

6) Blanton's Straight from the Barrel - A private reserve bourbon with tasting notes of dark chocolate, caramel and undertones of walnut and hazelnut. Perhaps for a bourbon connoisseur as the Blanton's reserve is about 7 times costlier than Buffalo Trace.

🎄🐪🐑⭐

I'm adding one more item for good measure. You can find a lovely gift at every price point to fit your budget. Some of the gift ideas here are expensive, others are more affordable like the final one, starting at $29.99:

7) L.L.Bean Wrinkle-Free Pinpoint Oxford Shirt - The shirts are 100% cotton Oxford cloth. Can't beat the quality for the price. A wide selection of patterns and colors, and best of all, some of the patterns are on sale! It might be the color for your guy, the one you'd have chosen even if not on sale! If I don't know what to buy a person, male or female -- and they give me no clues -- I buy something I'd be delighted to receive ... and I'm a practical person, settling on good quality and useful like a wrinkle-free thick cotton Oxford shirt!

Well, slacker me ... it was great having help this year in curating Holiday Gifts for Him! Do you have a favorite? Or would you like to contribute more things to the list?

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4 Advent Calendars You Reuse

Vintage Santa Wooden Advent Calendar - Primitives by Kathy here also on eBay

For several years in a row, I've featured the beauty advent calendars that everybody wants ... or ones I'd love to get myself. You can go back in years on THE SAVVY SHOPPER to find the coveted brands since these beauty retailers offer their advent calendars every year. The 2020 editions are out now. Some are overpriced, and still they go fast!

This year a new idea: Consider buying a keepsake advent calendar which could become a permanent holiday decoration and family tradition. You fill it yourself with 24 (or 25) selected gifts. Some might be small material things, but others could be poems; I.O.U. notes that promise a holiday adventure together; or a sweet treat like a favorite cookie or candy. It need not be expensive, just thoughtful and pleasing!

Yes it's more work than buying a calendar already stuffed with gifts, yet over the years a reusable advent calendar should be cost-effective, more personable, and a cherished family event. Each day unwrapping a small surprise, perhaps the true gift is family anticipation and joy:

1) The Primitives by Kathy Advent Calendar (above↑) is made of wood, paper, and metal. Each countdown box measures 17.13" x 3.38" x 14.25 enough room for favorite nick-nacks or snacks!

2) A Fabric Advent Calendar made of burlap with a hoop to hang on the wall. Since it uses only vertical space, it gets the job done with a small footprint. It has 25 pockets for trinkets, candies or messages. 

3) A wooden Tree Shape Advent Calendar with 24 drawers, each covered in beautiful Japanese washi paper and coated with a gloss finish. The drawer pulls are tagged with metal numbers counting down the days to Christmas.

4) The last featured choice is perhaps the most Traditional Advent Calendar. There are no boxes to fill with little treats. Just a celebration of the holy season with a 24-day countdown until the birth of the Christ child. A beautiful gold decoration with the Star of David, 3 Wisemen, and the Holy Family.

Four reusable and unique advent calendars to suit many tastes and ages of family members. Also, a thoughtful gift for family friends who might use it year after year. 

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