24/Savvy Food and Travel

I don't know about you Savvy Girls, but sliders (mini-sandwiches) have been turning up on every bar menu worth it's weight in tasty bites on the east coast for the last six months or so.  I've got nothing against them except the prices, which typically ring in at about $12 for 3 sliders.  Sure they're cute and they're meant to share, but $4 for a mini-sandwich?  That's $4 per person and I guarantee you'll still be hungry for more.

The good news is, sliders are incredibly easy and inexpensive to make at home and particularly great for Wee Savvies.  Especially when you say, "we're having sliders for dinner."  They'll think "YAY, sliders, fun!," even if they don't know what you're talking about.  The ingredients in this recipe cost about $16 and they made 16 good-sized sliders (I counted by how many packages of rolls I ended up buying), and they were about twice the size as those at our local bar.

Paninis are a delicious take on modern comfort food and easy to make whether or not you've got one of those fancy presses.  If you're lucky enough to have a panini press, don't let it be one of those appliances you never use.  Put it to work for a fast, cheap and chic dinner—you'll have food on the table in under 10 minutes.  If you don't have a panini press, don't fret!  Take your bread, fill it with one of the toppings below and put it on a skillet.  Take your heaviest pan and place it on top of the panini and cook on medium heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side.  Slice it in half and voila!  Instant panini.

It's a (savvy) British invasion!  This time, lifestyle contributor, Claire Farwell has dished up a scrumptious vegan take on classic shepherds pie.  A tasty treat perfect for rainy autumn days.

 

 

We spend a fair amount of time swilling 2 Buck Chuck at Maison Savvy Girl, but for the occasions when we're at a business meal or with our rich Uncle Vinny, it's nice to give the impression we know what we're doing when that bottle of Nuits St. Georges Premier Cru "Les Murgers"  makes the rounds.  

Trying to get Wee Savvy to gulp down the USDA recommended 5 servings of vegetables a day can be a tribulation of Sisyphean proportions, but with our savvy tips, at least you've got a fighting chance of getting that boulder up the hill.  These tips are so easy and adult-friendly—not a monkey-shaped sandwich in the bunch—they've actually become de rigueur for all of our daily cooking keeping us on the veggie-train as well.

Elements that elevate a meal from meh to mahvelous are actually fairly small; quality spices, seasonally appropriate produce, and a little extra prep time can make a huge difference in your enjoyment of meals at home if you're watching your eating out expenditures.

We've started experimenting with infused oils at Savvy Central and 'lo what a difference it has made to our dressings, marinades, sauces, sautés and salsas.  And guess how long it takes?  Almost no prep and just a couple weeks' infusion time.  Easy peasy!

"What do I need, Savvy Girl," you ask?  I'll tell ya: 1) a clean, dry glass vessel, preferably with a lid, 2) extra-virgin olive-oil and 3) a few sprigs of rosemary to start

I like to make small batches--a small jar or bottle is fine-- to make sure the oils don't go bad before we've used them.  The oil will last about 2 months, so guesstimate how much you'll use up before you begin.

It is nary a day you can walk down the street in New York City without seeing a new cupcake cafe, cupcake cart or truck, or couture cupcakes lining the windows of previously cupcake-less bakeries.

Question: What is the BIG DEAL ABOUT CUPCAKES??? I have a theory. They're like BLTS (Bites, Licks, Tastes & Sips.) Something you eat standing up, doesn't require a fork or plate, and therefore can't have that many calories. Right?

Wrong.