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Photo: alwaysorderdessert  - I'm using this image so you can see the raspberry preserves dripping between the layers of cake. Skip to the bottom for an easy-breezy way to make ganache. When I see this cake the lyrics of "My Fair Lady" come to mind:"I feel pretty, Oh so pretty! ... I feel pretty ... and witty and bright!" Indeed. Moreover, as my long time readers know, I like the addition of nuts in a pastry to add extra oomph! Nuts are a tasty balance to the sweetness of sugar, adding a bit of protein too.  Almond paste gives a rainbow cake a sweet nutty flavor. Although you can buy almond paste in a tin, homemade is cheaper, so let's begin with a how to recipe. Almond paste and Marzipan are similar. Here's the difference: Marzipan is equal parts almonds and confectionery sugar with a touch of corn syrup, It is often rolled out and used as fondant for cakes or shaped into candy. On the other hand, almond paste is 2 parts almonds to 1 part sugar. Almond p...

Photo: Dreamtime So, it's getting to be too much. I get more robo/scam/telemarketing calls these days than personal calls; and, it's beginning to disrupt my home life. I've stepped out of the shower; paused an activity that needs my full attention; and interrupted food preparation to go answer a robocall. All for nothing! What I mind the most about all these pesky calls is I've gone from being open, accessible and trusting to someone who feels hounded, a person who is now reluctant to answer the phone in my own home! And I no longer automatically pick up if I don't recognize the number calling. I resent the intrusion! It also makes my life more hurried, or frantic then it needs to be. It's time to fight back! Silver Stars Communications Today I called the Federal Trade Commission to ask what is the best way to stop these unwanted, in bad-faith callers from calling me. 1) The FTC said it's best not to answer the calls. Answering tells robocallers they have r...

Photo of Dude by Rebecca Winters Keegan - Dude began life by having to stay off the bed. If you're thinking about getting a family dog and wonder if there are products to keep him off your furniture ... yes, they exist. But. My advice is to forget about it! Your dog likes resting on your couch and sleeping in your bed as much as you do. Perhaps, more! If you can't share, forget about having a family pet.  Save yourself and your animal the stress, the grief and ultimately, the futility of training him to stay off the couch, or sleeping on top of an unoccupied bed. He's too smart for that! He'll just wait until you leave home and jump up on them anyway. Telling him to stay off the bed is an utter waste of your and your pet's time. Years ago our family dog was not allowed on a brand new couch, but at 7 am, when the alarm clock sounded, the next sound we heard were his feet hitting the living room floor ... that is unless he was sleeping at the foot of our bed. I mean,...

Le Vian designed for Macy's Ever hear of Chrome diopside ? Me either ... until recently. It's a beautiful deep forest green color that rivals an emerald. The color comes from traces of the element chromium. Before a large mineable deposit of the gem was discovered in Siberia in 1988, the supply was far too limited to be brought to market.  Chrome diopside forms at the entry of diamond mines.  Before the discovery, mainly jewel collectors owned it.  Unlike many other stones, such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds, the color of chrome diopside is natural without the standard (and acceptable) industry practice of heat treatment to make the stores transparent. The deep green color, along with its clarity give the stone its value. Photo: Ebay - Russian Diopside Sterling Silver Necklace Why would you buy chrome diopside in lieu of emeralds if drawn to the rich green hue? Because they are as beautiful as emeralds and cheaper since the demand is not yet as high. Some jew...

Photo: Bigstock Well, here we are ... another Father's Day to remember a man who is dearly missed! A real family man, I recall his calm, steady presence. He made every situation better by being a part of it. Always had our backs, while giving us the freedom to figure out things for ourselves. He provided plenty of guidance and boundaries, but didn't sweat the small stuff. Dad's favorite saying was, "Learn from other people's mistakes. Life is too short to make them all yourself." Photo: Compassion When I was a teenager still living at home, I passed a widow to see my sedulous Father petering around in the backyard ... fully engaged in figuring out creative ways of whipping into manicured shape the grass; our magnolia tree; and the tomato and green pepper plants he set out. Sometimes he planted cucumber, curled parsley (in a flower pot) and several rows of chives also. Just a little garden: A small rectangle section of the yard was roped off with cotton str...

Photo: Time Out/Victoria Secret Show 'Tis prime time in New York City for tourists, and I'm beginning to see the out-of-towners walking around sightseeing. Welcome all to the city that never sleeps! I'll write a few blogs of fun things both natives and guests could miss unless someone tells you about them.  All the fashionestas should walk up 5th Avenue beginning at about 47th Street to the Upper East Side to look at the display windows, as well as, enter the boutiques of interest, then walk back down Madison Avenue doing the same. Don't rush. Stop for coffee along the way at  Ladurée (864 Madison Avenue)  or Nespresso (935 Madison Avenue). Photo: TimeOut  Victoria's Secret,  the flagship store (at 640 5th Avenue) has a secret! There's a lingerie museum hidden inside the shop. It's up on the 3rd floor. On display are the giant wings and sexy attire (including a $3 million bra) worn by the Angels for the yearly Victoria's Secret Fashion Show , which ...

Photo: Serious Eats - Vicky Wasik Food is a serious topic on THE SAVVY SHOPPER because as my Mama says, "We have to eat every day!" Hence, food is a huge part of everyone's budget , not to mention everyone's time and a source of entertainment and staying healthy. We all gotta eat!  Tonight I made skillet cornbread. It is so moist and delicious, I will share the recipe so that I, too, can return here to make it again over the summer. Eat it with anything you like, soup, chili, fried chicken or pork chops. Southerners snack on cornbread washed down with a glass of buttermilk. Summer Skillet Cornbread Ingredients: 1/2 can (1 cup) whole corn (including 1/2 the juice in the can) 1 cup corn meal 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 2 large eggs 1/2 cup buttermilk ( I add a little bit more if the batter seems dry.) Optional: spices 1 teaspoon garlic 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 6 turns of the black pepper m...

A few days ago, we had fun Oooing and Ahhing over some of Diana, Princess of Wales' stunning sapphire jewelry. Now let's look on the flip side of life. But this too is an uplifting blog, for there exists a  shoe company making a difference. If looking for a good cause, you can join them. People get inspired to help others in need around Christmas, during Lent, or anytime simply because they can.   Do you know that 3 billion people live in poverty  -- nearly half the world's population? Moreover, 1/3 of a billion people are extremely poor living on less than $1.25 a day.  However for the millions of children who can't afford shoes, a non-profit has stepped up to help fill the basic need. Not having shoes is an enormous hurdle. Not only do shoes save children from cuts and infections from wounds, they stop  podoconioisis from getting into their bloodstreams through the soles of their feet, leading to serious health problems. Furthermore, many undeveloped co...

From the Saudi Arabian set: sapphire and diamond necklace with earrings. Diana, the Princess of Wales and I share something in common ... our mutual love of blue sapphires . Reportedly, Diana favored the gems because they matched her eyes, whereas, I adore all things blue and sparkly. Sapphires (like rubies are corundums and the 2nd hardest stones after diamonds (which btw are crystalline forms of pure carbon). Whereas, tons of diamonds exist in the world, sapphires are rare (followed by rubies, then emeralds).  It takes Mother Nature thousands of years to form the precious stones. The intense blue color of the sapphire is caused by the addition of titaniun and iron to the mineral corundum.  A sapphire's color is the single most important characteristic in determining its value. More vital than it's clarity, since unlike diamonds, there are few clean natural sapphires  ( or  rubies)  in nature. While sapphires are mined all over the world, the top quality ones ...