Turkey Pot Pies With Leftover Stuffing

Thanksgiving sides are delicious! They can include stuffing (called dressing when not stuffed in the bird), green beans, carrots, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and potatoes, along with cranberry sauce. It's what we ate. Although we lacked a crowd dining with us, I wouldn't dream of omitting the Turkey stuffing. This year instead of toasting bread and making a pan of cornbread which would make more stuffing than we desire, I used a box of Stove Top Turkey flavored stuffing combined with a box of Stove Top Cornbread stuffing as a starter then added small amounts of grilled sausage, ham, onion, celery, mushrooms, walnuts, hot pepper flakes and dried sage to it. It came out homemade because all you get in a box of Stove Top are the croutons and seasonings. We still had plenty of stuffing! I know just what to do with our Thanksgiving leftovers:

Turkey Pot Pie - Inspired by the recipe off the back of the stuffing box which uses premade and frozen ingredients. We can use our homemade leftovers to make a different meal without really having to cook again!:

Ingredients - already cooked: 

2 cups of leftover stuffing - Mine has tons of onion, celery and sausage.

2 cups of turkey, diced (also works with chicken)

1 cup of cauliflower or broccoli, diced

1/2 cup of green beans, bitesize

1/2 cup of carrots, sliced

2 cups leftover gravy

Directions: 

Mix the vegetables and gravy in a baking dish. Top with the stuffing. Either reheat it in the oven or microwave. If reheating in the oven, brush the bottom of the dish with cooking spray or butter. Because your food is already cooked, it should only take about 15 minutes to reheat in the oven and less time to reheat in the microwave.

Eyeball the amounts of the ingredients. The above is a guide for making 4 servings. Use more gravy if needed, or other vegetable leftovers if you made them. {During the rest of the year, it works well with either leftover chicken or 3 cans of white chicken chunks, a box of stovetop stuffing, and a 14 oz bag of frozen mixed vegetables. If using boxed stuffing, grill and toss in some diced onions and celery.}

You can also prepare the dish for one. Measure out according to appetite and what fits into your bowl, then reheat the single portion in a microwave in about 3 minutes.        

Another leftover we had on Thanksgiving was a bit of an experiment. It's a cherry tart on a digestive biscuit and applesauce crust (as opposed to a gram cracker crust). It has a cinnamon, strudel topping with bourbon-soaked pecans, a few white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, and walnuts tossed on top for good measure. (No added sugar in the crust or crumb topping and just enough butter in the topping to get a crumb texture). The only reason I made it was to use a jar of cherries I've had in my pantry for 1 1/2 years. It had to go! I baked it in the oven for about 20 minutes. The tart was sweet from the cherries yet not too sweet to make you feel sick after eating it. Like a healthy cherry Pop Tart!

Do you have a favorite recipe for using your Thanksgiving leftovers?

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Happy Thanksgiving Friends

This year I'm especially thankful for family and friends.

As a caregiver, I'm thankful my very senior mother is not bedridden but walks inside the home with a walker. She can walk to the bathroom; and for all the foods she'll no longer eat she's surprisingly healthy, strong, and doesn't require any prescription drugs to make any of her bodily functions work properly. I'm slightly in disbelief. How is this possible on such a limited diet? She is strong enough to be safely bathed in a shower chair, which is such a huge help to a caregiver. She gets a complete spa treatment of skin, hair, and nails twice a week from me. I am surprised at how fast her hair grows. A podiatrist told me that all elderly people have nail fungus, yet my mother's nails are white and strong with no nail fungus. They grow fast too, and we must cut them weekly. Her good health for her age is a blessing.

Moreover, I'm thankful for my hometown friends and neighbors who are what we tend to call good people for short. Each one is a godsend to know. They watch our backs and property and give us lots of joy with their camaraderie and kind hearts. I love spending time with them and keeping up with their families. Our bonds make life meaningful and interesting!

Additionally, I'm thankful for my Manhattan friends, one of whom moved this year to Atlanta Georgia. But we all keep in touch regularly by telephone. Luckily I see them occasionally when we're in the same place, and when out of town by phone and texting. With New York friends, spacing out in-person visits isn't uncommon even when both parties are in New York City as New Yorkers tend to lead very active lives.

This holiday season, we miss our dear friend, Sheila, who lost her battle with breast cancer in June 2023. Life is bittersweet and it makes you appreciate loved ones even more. 

I'm grateful I have hometown and New York friends who I'll know for the rest of our days. In both locations, they are good people with kind hearts whose companionship I cherish and thoroughly enjoy.

I'm also grateful for a few blogging and Facebook friends, who reach out from across the miles 🌍🌎🌏 to support me. I suppose generosity and kindness know no bounds. Readers and fellow bloggers, you touch my heart! I enjoy connecting and hearing your thoughts. A special thank you for becoming a kindred spirit!

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Types Of Potatoes

Photos courtesy of Markets at Shrewsbury: Fingerling potatoes. Click the link for more potato facts.

Although I rotate the starches I eat to include whole grains, corn, sweet potatoes, and pasta (as I do within other food groups) in an effort to consume a varied and balanced diet ... it's really white (as opposed to sweet) potatoes I love the most and could eat daily as I never get tired of them! Is my English and German ancestry the reason why?

Russet (or Idaho)

A potato is a tuber root vegetable, a perennial in the nightshade family. There are nearly 4,000 types of potatoes in nature. They are categorized by their content of starchy compounds to solid-to-water ratio and texture. Potatoes are classified as 1) starchy (i.e., mealy or floury), 2) waxy, or 3) all-purpose.  

Below are several varieties of potatoes commonly found at the supermarket: 

1) Starchy potatoes - Have high solids, amylose starch, and low moisture. Russet (a/k/a Idaho potatoes), Goldrush, and Long White are three examples of starchy potatoes. They are good baked, mashed, or fried, mm, like French fries. They pick up moisture and lose their shape when boiled. Personally, I don't think that's a bad thing in a vegetable medley as it thickens the broth! I also like to use Russet in American potato salad mish-mashed with eggs, onions, and celery.

Red potatoes

2) Waxy potatoes - Are high in moisture and sugar, but low in starch (here called amylopectin). Waxy potatoes include red potatoes, fingerlings, new potatoes, golden, and baby potatoes. They hold their shape when boiled, so they work well in soups, stews, and for making scalloped potatoes or German potato salad. Ideally in German potato salad, you slice and hope the slices hold their shape, yet in our family, we use whatever variety of potatoes, waxy or not, we have on hand. We want dishes to be delicious but aren't foodies. A foodie would use the right type of potato.:)

Blue potatoes

3) All-purpose potatoes - Are medium in starch and therefore fall between starchy and waxy potatoes. They are suitable for most recipes as they hold their shape better than starchy potatoes and are good for roasting, making potato salad, pan-frying, boiling in soups, and gratins. You can bake or mash them also, although they are less fluffy than starchy potatoes. Examples include Yukon Gold, White, Blue, and Purple potatoes.

Potatoes are rich in vitamin B6, potassium (in fact higher than bananas), and dietary fiber. What's more, like most brightly colored vegetables Blue and Purple potatoes are packed with antioxidants, containing 2 - 3 times more antioxidants than white potatoes.

Yukon Gold potatoes (left) and white potatoes (right)

Over the years I've leaned towards buying Russet potatoes, but have eaten red, golden, fingerling, white, and blue potatoes. Hey, does a bad type of potato even exist? I volunteer to try as many of the 4,00o potato varieties on earth that come my way!

Yellow potatoes

What's your favorite potato? Our family eats potatoes in one form or another with most of our dinners (over rice, corn, or pasta -- which we eat less often). How about yours?

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Macy's Black Friday Specials: 10 Awesome Gifts For $10 or Less

Bell de Mar Button Pearls

If you're a high earner it's fantastic to buy loved ones expensive gifts. How lovely for people who have the means to give generously to others. It's equally vital to remember that Christmas was once not the over-the-top commercial holiday it's become. At one time people were content to exchange inexpensive treats like fruit, chocolates, or homemade gifts. So if you're on a tight budget this year don't fret, it really is the thought based on what you can afford that counts. 

Since I promised to create gift guides this year from Macy's Early Access Black Friday Specials I'll select 10 Awesome Gifts for $10 or Less:

1) Bell de Mar Cultured Freshwater Button Pearl Earrings - A very decent size 8-9mm with sterling silver (a precious metal) posts and backs. However according to many reviewers, the backs are flimsy and loose, so plan to use alternate posts you already have in your jewelry box or enclose a few rubber backs in your gift box for your giftee, so when worn an earring won't fall out. Despite their ill-fitting backs, I still think the earrings are an amazing buy and I'd be lying if I say I don't want a pair of pink pearls for myself! I only own white pearls! The button-shaped pearls are available in ivory, pink, grey, and black. Sale price: $8.12.

2) Art+Sound True Wireless Earbuds - The earbuds have a "crystal clear" sound, a comfortable fit, and many positive reviews. Fabulous time to buy them! Sale price: $9.99

3) Art & Cook 2-Speed Immersion Blender - Often I wish I had an immersion blender so I could insert it into a pot on the stovetop instead of pouring soup into a blender to cream it. Less cleanup! At $9.99.

4) Thermal Shirts - for men or women - For layering. Winter is coming! Nice to have warmth without bulk! Sale price: $9.99

5) First Aid Ultra Repair Cream - 2 ounces - A stellar skincare brand in limited edition holiday scents with serious moisture to treat dry skin. Hand/body creams make fabulous emergency gifts if you need a hostess gift or for an extra visitor at your gathering. Sale price: $9 {In the past I've also fallen back on quality scented room candles as an emergency gift which Macy's is offering for $10. A Christmas ornament can be a winning hostess gift.}

 6) Thirstystone Printed Coaster Set - Every home dweller needs stylish coasters to protect their furniture from drips and rings from drinks. There is an assortment of brands, designs, and colors. The sale price for a set of 4: is $7.99.

7) Holiday Lane Shine Bright Collection - Ornaments start at $2.99. In the USA it's protocol for a boss to give employees holiday gifts, but employees aren't expected to reciprocate because bosses make higher salaries. It can be awkward giving a boss a gift, but you can play it safe with either a lovely ornament or homemade Christmas cookies and a festive card. This eliminates dilemmas like wondering how much to spend; is the gift too personal, or appropriate? {I once brought homemade Christmas cookies in a tin to the office that my managing editor at Time ate during Christmas week, until he said, "Oh, please don't bring any more cookies in, I can't gain more weight!" I've published my cookie recipes throughout the blog.}

8) A set of peppermint, cinnamon, and vanilla-flavored lip balm. $8.93.

9) Art & Cook Coffee and Spice Grinder - For the serious home cook or serious coffee drinker who likes to grind her/his own spices or beans. $9.99

10) R.H. Macy & Co. Chocolate Rum Cake - A premium blend of cocoa and dark rum with the flavor of butter syrup tossed in. Cheaper than a cup of coffee and a slice of gourmet cake at a cafe! 1 lb weight. Sale price: $9.99

Nobody should max out their credit cards for the holidays. Instead, give friends and family your time! With a little thought and the help of a Macy's Black Friday sale, you can find perfect gifts that are thoughtful and budget-friendly.🎄

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Macy's Black Friday Specials To Beat the Cold

Style Republic

I'm biased: Macy's is my favorite department store in New York City. It's where I go first and where I score the best bargains for designer and quality goods. I'm in heaven when browsing inside Macy's. There's always a wide selection of whatever merchandise I need. Apparel, shoes, home goods, jewelry, you name it, nobody offers better sales than Macy's. To boot, there are Last Act racks on many floors where among other articles, I got fully lined cashmere blazers for only $14!

Macy's Black Friday Specials are on. If you want to buy exceptional holiday gifts for family and friends at a fraction of the usual cost, be sure to start your shopping for big savings now. The following are 8 Black Friday Specials to Beat the Cold for under $50: (available in several colors)

1) Style Republic - 100% Pure Cashmere Women's Ribbed Cuff Beanie - Why settle for acrylic, nylon, or rayon when for the same moola you can get super soft and warm cashmere hats and scarfs? Cashmere feels so fine against the skin, it's the warmest fabric, and it lasts years longer than manmade materials.

2) Club Room Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater, Created for Macy's - Classic and practical menswear. They'll last for decades.

3) On 34th Women's Sweater Blazer, Created for Macy's - It's polyester so you can mindlessly machine wash and cool dry it. As an alternative to a sweater, a blazer is a versatile piece that can be casual or dressy while keeping you warm. At times I like to wear a blazer for its pockets especially if not wearing a jacket. 

4) Charter Club Women's Packable Hooded Puffer Coat, Created for Macy's - Puffer coats are very popular nowadays. Lightweight and machine washable, I own a jacket-length puffer coat for fall and early winter before it gets super cold, and a goose-down long puffer coat for January and February. Last year I bought a long puffer coat for my mother too. Although puffer coats weigh next to nothing, they are as toasty warm as animal furs and by far more budget-friendly. A jacket-length puffer coat is perfect to keep the chill at bay without layers before the temperatures drop to freezing. 

5) Hawke & Co. Men's Quilted Fleece-Lined Hooded Puffer Jacket - Wow a puffer jacket for men for under $40 … cheaper than the women's and boys! Once you get to Macy's you'll have choices galore to get the right price, fillings, and style for you!

6) Karen Scott Women's Zip-Up Zeroproof Fleece Jacket, Created for Macy's, 7) Karen Scott Petite Princess Seam Zeroproof Zip Front Jacket, Created for Macy's 8) Tommy Hilfiger Women's Faux Sherpa Full-Zip Hoodie - To be honest, I don't have fleece in my wardrobe, but fleece hoodies and jackets are in vogue right now. Fleece is soft, cozy, inexpensive, and easy to machine wash and dry which might explain its frenzy. Suitable for kids to wear in school or keep in a locker, or adults to take to a gym without worrying about babying it. At $15 - $18 you couldn't buy the fabric and zippers to make it yourself any cheaper!

As long as Macy's is running these amazing sales, I might do a few more of these holiday gift guide blogs! Macy's could be your one-stop retailer as it often is mine!

This blog is not sponsored. How could a Savvy Shopper, not adore Macy's! It's good I don't live next door or I might float in too often for retail therapy. When you actually need something, the telephone associates give you great advice too.♥♥♥

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Great Gifts From Macy's Black Friday Sales

I judge every gift by whether I would love it if I received it myself. Here are 5 Macy's Early Access Black Friday Specials where my answer to loving the gift as a giver or receiver is an enthusiastic yes!:

1) Macy's 25 Days Of Beauty Advent Calendar (above👆) - In years past I've featured some of the most coveted advent calendars on the market including from the London merchant Liberty, but priced at several hundred dollars, perhaps they aren't really worth the money. Macy's puts out a winning advent calendar every year containing a lovely curated assortment of top-notch makeup, skincare, and haircare goodies to pamper every recipient! The advent calendar is specially created for Macy's so you get a lot of products for your money. If I were to buy a beauty calendar for myself, I'd select it and use my savings for something more important.

2) Nike Women's Tanjun Move To Zero Casual Sneakers - Nike is the original brand that innovated support and comfort to advance the technology of making sneakers. Other retailers followed. If you need a new pair of athletic shoes you can't do better than Nike. Usually more expensive, how great to find them as an Early Black Friday Special!

3) 2 Piece Set White and Pink Cultured Freshwater Pearls (8 mm) Drop Earrings in Sterling Silver - I bought these ultra cute and classic earrings this morning as a gift for a friend, and the anticipation of surprising her ... I can't wait! I'm counting on her not reading this blog, but if she does, she won't know she's the friend getting jewelry. Ha! I love the 8mm size baroque-shaped pearls and set in sterling silver, a precious metal. Pink pearls are a color and drop earrings are a style I'm often tempted to buy for myself so I think she'll love them. The sales associate I placed my telephone order with said she now intends to buy a pair too, so today I bought a pair and sold a pair! Macy's, you're welcome!😆

Update - November 17th: My friend was totally surprised, she said overwhelmed and loves her beautiful new earrings!

4) Family Pajamas - Frankly, it's a new holiday tradition my family doesn't follow, but if you need new pajamas, why not buy them now that you can get good substantial cotton and attractive designs at a great price. Also if you don't know what in the world to buy someone, almost every person needs a warm pair of pajamas. There are also matching PJs for the family dog! These are the substantial types of night clothes I like to wear to spend the night at someone else's house so I can leave the guest bedroom or sit at the breakfast table without having to jump into my clothes too early in the morning.

5) Accessories: Scarfs, gloves, belts - Wow, a terrific selection of textiles, styles, colors, degrees of warmth, and price points. It's why I love Macy's, you always find quality to fill a need at the price you can afford. I don't think I've ever had a fashion, beauty, or home good need, traveled to Macy's, and retired home empty-handed. The Herald Square store has  9 floors and such a wide selection!

There's plenty of quality and value to be had right now during Macy's Early Access Black Friday Sale! How thrilling to give fantastic gifts without emptying a bank account.

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Senior Goods That Make Caregiving Easier

As they say in financial journalism today's subject isn't sexy. Still, I want to share a tad of wisdom I've picked up in caring for my senior mamma. It seems to me that 80% of the population are or have been caregivers for elderly family members. I meet them when I'm at the supermarket, hiring vendors, or sometimes sitting in the park, i.e., everywhere I go! I've learned a lot in the nearly 2 years I've stepped into the role. Perhaps in another blog, I'll address a more weighty part of caregiving, thoughts about our county's healthcare system. My mother is lucky, she has excellent coverage, but so many seniors don't! Meanwhile, it's the daily care we must provide so today I'll limit our discussion to --

5 Must-Have Essentials for Seniors to Make Everyday Life Easier for Your Loved One and Yourself (not listed in order of importance):

1) Ensure (as well as Walmart's brand, Equate) Protein Drinks - Although my mother's best meal is breakfast, getting her to eat lunch or dinner is dicey! Every morning she'll have 2 eggs; peanut butter on toasted multigrain bread with a drizzle of honey; a cup of milk; and coffee, which she eats in the late mornings. It's the only real food I can count on her eating. So around 1:30 PM, I give her a vanilla Ensure or Equate protein drink. They are 11 ounces with 30 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar. Usually, she refuses dinner, instead opting only to drink a cup of milk, but with a good dose of protein early in the day, I don't fret too much. Hey, I can only make food available, the rest is on her! Btw, vanilla is her favorite flavor, so it's what I order.

2) Aloe Vesta Body Wash & Shampoo or its equivalent - 8 ounces (I'd prefer 16 ounces). I squirt a dab of it into her bathwater or a basin for handwashing. It cleans and conditions her skin and scalp without drying the skin. We do raise the wash off with water, but you don't have to, if the patient is bedridden. Many hospitals use it. 

3) Assurance Adult Disposable Panties from Walmart - I realize I'm oversharing, but not only is Walmart's house brand the cheapest in price, but it's also my favorite brand of all the disposables on the market. They are strong and fit like cloth panties, not diapers. The maximum and overnight absorbencies are not bulky and fitted in the leg area. They look comfortable and are invisible under trousers, and except for the material they're made of, not like wearing disposables but real panties.

4) Target's brand, Up & Up Fresh and Clean Cloth-Like Baby Wipes - I buy the 3-pack of 100 count for $5.98. Cheap in the Target store! They come in bigger quantities, but if you are not timely in using them, they'll dry up. So how many are too many in a single purchase? I haven't figured it out yet. I love the botanicals in them, but I'd buy the best-priced wipes with safe ingredients I could find.

5) Washable Waterproof Protective Pads for Beds (or Couches) - Hospitals use these thinner polyester absorbent ones, so that's what I buy. Machine wash and dry. They look good blended into the bedding, not senior or nursing home-ist at all. They are just as absorbent as the 3-layer pads but are lighter and cheaper so I think the better choice.

Senior personal care items can be pricey, but these 5 are affordable and very useful. They're worth every penny! One piece of advice ... you can find many identical senior commodities sold in medical supply pharmacies selling for 1/3 less on Amazon. Always compare with Amazon before pulling the trigger.

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Pilfered From The Internet: Pico De Gallo & Joy Bauer's Buffalo Dip

Photo credit: All over social media - You figure it out.

Recently this recipe popped up on my Facebook feed, piquing my interest and appetite. I must eat some! The Mexican-inspired recipe is all over the internet and seems to have been around since the 1950s so I have no idea who to give credit to, and there's a debate going on that it's plain ole salsa. 

I agree with the camp who thinks the recipe needs lemon juice, salt, and pepper, so below is the recipe I'll make. Be sure to give the recipe that was on my Facebook feed below, over to the right, a glance too. It looks to be one of those dishes everyone can improvise and adjust to his/her own tastes and spice tolerance. I can also see tossing some fresh or frozen cooked corn and/or celery into the mix.

Pico De Gallo

Ingredients:

6 tomatoes - I often buy plum tomatoes so I'll likely use 10 to 12.

3 jalapeno peppers - I like hot (although they will be less hot if you remove the seeds and aren't cooking them). Also, feel free to use fewer jalapenos for milder heat. In variations of this recipe, people substitute banana peppers, poblano chiles, or serrano peppers, listed in order of their hotness. Jalapenos fall after poblano chiles in hotness on the list.

1 large onion, chopped - I'll eyeball the amount as I like onions and might use more.

1 cup cilantro, chopped

5 cloves garlic, chopped, or 1 tablespoon dried garlic

1 tablespoon cumin - I'll reduce the cumin to 1 teaspoon. I like it, but a little goes a long way.

3 lemons or limes, juiced

1 teaspoon salt to start with, then taste if more is needed.

1 teaspoon pepper = 24 turns of the peppermill (or chili powder)

Directions:

1) With a sharp knife, dice all the ingredients medium fine (eyeball them, not too big or too small) and toss them into a mixing bowl. 

2) Spice, mix, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

If you're lucky enough to have a tomato garden, this recipe is for you! You'll know exactly what to do with your abundance of tomatoes in late summer.

After making the Pico de Gallo if you desire to keep it for longer than a week, I suppose it could be tossed into a stockpot to blanch for 5 minutes to can in Mason jars. Although far from an expert, I don't see why not.

Golly, I'd love to dip my spoon into the overflowing jar at the top of the blog! It's waiting to be eaten!!!😋

🌶🍅🍽🍽🍽🍽🌶🍅🍽🍽🍽🍽🌶🍅🍽🍽🍽🍽🌶🍅🍽🍽🍽🍽🌶🍅

This weekend I made Joy Bauer's Buffalo Cottage Cheese Yogurt Dip, a healthy condiment you can use as a vegetable/chip dip, sandwich spread, or to flavor chicken. Usually, I use low-fat mayonnaise, or hummus as a sandwich spread with ham, beef, or turkey, but this is cheaper and packed with protein, so in the future, I might keep a batch of it in the refrigerator. I'll save the more costly hummus for snacking on crackers. If you're curious, Buffalo sauce derives its name from Buffalo, New York.

Buffalo Cottage Cheese Yogurt Dip

Ingredients:

1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

Photo: Joy Bauer's website

1/2 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt

3 tablespoons hot sauce

2 1/4 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Optional ingredients - what I added to Joy Bauer's original recipe: 

1 teaspoon dried garlic

1/2 of teaspoon onion powder

a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar, next time I'll use white vinegar

A sprinkle of Worscheshire sauce

A sprinkle of cayenne pepper

Extra salt to taste

Directions:

Toss all the ingredients into a food processor and blend.

I love how healthy the dip is, however, when I tasted it finished, it was too bland. The hint of heat was fine, but to give it more zest I experimented by adding the above optional ingredients. After you make the original recipe, taste and adjust it to your own liking. 

Next time I prepare the dip, I'll replace the lemon juice with white vinegar because it's traditional in real Buffalo sauce. Frankly, Joy's Buffalo dip doesn't taste as good as hummus or low-fat mayonnaise but it's certainly healthy and packed with protein. I think the dip is worth keeping and experimenting with to improve its flavor. Perhaps adding a little low-fat mayonnaise and Dijon mustard or Wasabi or American horseradish to the mix is the answer (reduce if you can't eliminate the mayonnaise).

Now that these condiment recipes are on THE SAVVY SHOPPER we can return here instead of searching all over the internet to make them time and again.

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