Author: deannaandcompany

Recipes

Hoppin’ John

deannaandcompany

“Hoppin’ John” is a popular New Year’s Day tradition. Some say this savory black-eyed peas dish brings you good luck and fortune if you eat it on January 1st. Because this version has sausage, it’s great on its own; kind of like a jambalaya. We’ve seen it served with smoked meats, rotisserie chicken, and recently had it with blackened catfish – which was a very tasty combo.

This is how DeAnna makes it!

 

Ingredients:

1 cup – Long Grain Rice

2 tablespoons – Olive Oil

1 large – Clove of Garlic

1 medium – Onion, chopped

1 medium – Green Pepper, cut into 1/4″ pieces

1 – Jalapeño, sliced thin

2 – 15oz. cans of Black Eyed Peas

6 oz. – Andouille Sausage, sliced into half moons

3 cups – Baby Spinach

Directions:

  1. Cook the rice according to package.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a large pan and cook sausage over medium-high heat until browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer sausage to a bowl.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the same pan you cooked the sausage in. Add onions. Cover and cook for 4 minutes.
  4. Add green pepper and stir occasionally until the vegetables are softened. About 5 minutes.
  5. Add garlic and jalapeño and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  6. Add black eyed peas and 1/2 cup of water. Cook until heated through.
  7. Add sausage back to the pan.
  8. Add spinach to the pan and cook until the spinach is wilted. About 2 minutes.
  9. Serve over rice.
Home Hack

How to Save $$$ Without a BUDGET

deannaandcompany

Time to get a jump on Spring Cleaning by starting with our bank accounts! There are likely SEVERAL ways you are losing hard earned cash every month. The good news is; most of the items outlined below just require a closer look at your spending than sticking to a dreaded “budget.”

TV Streaming Services

If you are like us, you have so many streaming services you forget they are even there. Cable, this app, that app plus; chances are you do not need them ALL. UNSUBSCRIBE to the streaming services you rarely access. Don’t even go in and explore the app to make your decision; if you haven’t watched it in the last month or more, get it out of here. (Don’t worry, you can always reinstate your account in the future.)

  • Make sure you go into whatever settings and actually hit “unsubscribe.” Deleting the app does not stop it from charging you.

“FREE TRIAL!”

Many apps; like music, sports, audio books, certain cable channels; offer *so many months free,* then start charging you. If you ever took the free trial on anything, it’s time to see if you accidentally became a paying subscriber!

Cable Providers

Unfortunately, most of us need cable for the internet. That’s how they keep us from being completely cable-free, but many cable companies have accepted our streaming ways and offer streaming-only options that are lower in cost. They don’t usually talk about these plans, you have to inquire about them.

If you signed up for x amount of dollars a month and think cable keeps it that way forever; they don’t. Check your account to see how much you think you are paying versus what you are actually paying now that they “discontinued” your deal.

Ask for a deal. Sometimes, if you tell the cable companies you simply cannot afford to keep paying this high of rate, they will give you a discount for a period of time – but they never just offer it up, you have to tell them the bill is too high and ASK if you qualify for any discounts. This is especially true if you live in an area with multiple cable providers.

Shop around! Cable companies compete with each other, see if one will give you a better deal for longer by switching providers.

Your Cell Phone Carrier

Your mobile phone subscription might have freebies already included in your plan! Inquire with an agent to see what streaming apps might be free with your cell phone plan. For example, Apple TV+ was included with our new iPhone purchase, and Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ were included with many Verizon unlimited subscriptions.

This sounds odd, but check to see if your CABLE PROVIDER offers CELL PHONE SERVICE. Yep, you read that right, most major cable companies offer cell phone service now. In our experience, bundling our cell phone plan with our cable provider brought the bill down to less than 1/4 of the normal cost. The only catch is you have to remain their cable customer and live within their service area to qualify for their cell phone plans and service.

Streaming Music

If you have streaming radio, be sure to check the bill. They sneakily raise the subscription, sometimes MORE THAN DOUBLE, after a period of time. However, if you call and tell them you cannot afford to keep paying that rate they will often give you another deal for a certain amount of months. Then, you call again.

Stored Credit Cards and Saved Passwords

Go through a month of charges to see what charges are going to where for what. Check the apps you share with family to make sure nothing is a wry. Uber, Amazon, Walmart, Grub Hub, even Taco Bell has an app. If your card is stored in it, if you ever shared the password to it, chances are someone could be using it without you knowing or accounting for the extra costs from it.

Amazon

If you have children and family members who you have given access to your Amazon account, consider going in and tightening up those purse strings. We have a friend who, unbeknownst to her, was ordering over $200 of Amazon orders a month… only it wasn’t her, it was her teenagers treating it like a free shopping market and video store because they had total access to the account with the password.

  • Start by changing the password and see who comes a knocking.
  • You can share “Prime” with your family without sharing your password and credit cards.
  • Services like two factor authentication on your credit cards often sends a text or email to you to ensure you approve any cards trying to be added to apps or stored online. Check with your credit card provider for what safety measures are offered with your exact card.

Other Subscriptions

Especially as a small business owner, there were a few subscriptions I was unaware of were recurring. When you sign up for something for the year to get free or reduced shipping is a good place to start investigating.

Food Delivery Services

The services that run and pick up food for you and deliver it to your door cost a LOT of money. Even worse, they actually TAKE a lot of money from the restaurants you love. Often menu prices are inflated to cover the expense, then add on the fees and tip and you’ve turned a burrito into the cost of fine dining. You’ll be surprised how much money can be saved by simply calling or visiting your local restaurants for take out.

Dining Out

Now, we all love a good meal at our favorite spot. Things are more expensive theses days and continuous dining out costs A LOT. We’re talking new car payment “a lot.” It’s not just meals, it’s drinks, coffees, cocktails, desserts too. Daily cheap Fast Food off of the value menus cost us more in our overall health. Set a monthly dining out budget and try to stick to it. If you stop for coffee 7 days a week, try only 5, then 3, etc. etc.

“But I love restaurant meals!!!” Try a meal subscription service like Every Plate or Hello Fresh. It’s restaurant quality meals that you make at home, for less. Makes sticking to the budget easier too!

“For just the cost of a cup of coffee a day…”

This phrase is buried in our subconscious equating coffee with “inexpensive.” That’s because back in the day, plain coffee was about seventy-five cents. Now days a custom coffee order can easily reach $6 to $7 dollars for the MEDIUM. (This just happened to me!) Switch to cheaper coffee experiences. For example, opt for McCafe instead of Starbucks more often. Order a simple cup of coffee from your favorite place instead of lattes and mochachino-frappe-what-ies. Try to make coffee at home more enjoyable. Even office coffee can be delicious when you bring your own coffee making supplies like flavored creamers and/or syrups. Many major coffee chains even have grocery store options of their products that will make it easier to enjoy what you love for less money at home.

Shop Around for Insurance Providers

It is a time consuming task, but take the time to compare rates at different insurance agencies (for auto, home, renters, business, etc.). When shopping, it’s important to make sure you are getting the SAME COVERAGE and with a reputable agency. We have found significant savings just by shopping our policies around.

D&CO. wishes you a prosperous 2023!

Curb Appeal, Home Hack

Shop Small!

deannaandcompany

Here are a few of our favorite places for SHOPPING SMALL and LOCAL in Central Florida this holiday season!

CLERMONT AREA 

  • Kim’s Cabbage Patch – Local produce, plants, and specialty items.
  • The Winter Garden Farmer’s Market – Local vendors, food, crafts, and artists. Saturday mornings.
  • Sunshine Book Company – An independent book store with goods from creative vendors.
  • South Lake Animal League Thrift Shop – Find some gifts and help animals at the same time.
  • Gray Bridal Boutique – Not just for weddings. They have a great selection of non-bridal jewelry and clothing.
  • McKenley Rae Boutique – Fashion, sunglasses, and jewelry.
  • Sugar Mama’s Candy Bar – “A sweet experience” candy store with retro favorites and holiday finds, but check out their handmade candy-inspired beverage counter. Their “coolers” are Instagram-worthy drink creations!
  • Ritter’s Frozen Custard – Stop in for burgers, frozen custards, but also whole frozen custard cakes and pies for holiday meals and parties. 

 NEAR APOPKA 

  • Kasheta Farms, Inc. – Live Christmas trees, a farmer’s market, with a small vendors fair on the weekends. 
  • Deb’s Garden Shop at the Liner Patch – Plants and pottery.
  • Aunt Gingibread’s Bakery – Delicious cakes, pies, and GINGERBREAD!
  • Yalaha Bakery – Breads, rolls, soft pretzels, cookies, desserts.
  • Yalaha Bootlegging Company – If gifting alcohol is your thing: this is a local Craft Distillery. They also sell AMAZING PIES!
  • Maters & Taters Produce – Local produce.
  • Trader Mae’s – Local vendors with all kinds of goods, candles, jams, antiques, furniture, and handmade merchandise too.
  • Porky’s BBQ – If you’re hosting a holiday party, Porky’s smoked ribs, pork, chicken, or brisket by the pound are a crowd pleaser.
  • Sweet Memories Cookie Co. – Our favorite custom cookie maker in Lady Lake!

 Just incase you need to REST from all that shopping in Apopka: 

 MOUNT DORA 

  • Stroll down 5th Avenue or Donnelly. Most shops in downtown Mount Dora are small businesses, and this town KNOWS HOW TO SHOW IT’S HOLIDAY CHEER! Lights and decorations everywhere!
  • Maggie’s Attic – A great single-bottle beer and wine selection – often with many seasonal and celebratory flavors. Drink them there or bag bottles to go.

 ORLANDO-ISH 

  • The Southern Home Bakery – Sugar cookies that are as beautiful as they are absolutely DELICIOUS! Makes great gifts! (Edgewater)
  • Petty’s – Gourmet meats, cheeses, and more. (Longwood)
  • The Winter Park Farmer’s Market – Local produce, handmade goods, food, plants, and more. Saturday mornings in the park near the train station.
  • Light on the Sugar – Light and airy pastry desserts (Winter Park)
  • The East End Market – Small business food vendors (desserts, breads, cheeses, cured meats). Also vendors with gift-worthy goods too. (Main level and upstairs.) They also host outdoor pop-up events with local art/craft/handmade/artisan vendors outside too. (Audubon Park)

Home Hack

Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas?

deannaandcompany

Merry Christmas AND Happy Holidays!

Here at D&CO. we LOVE Christmastime, and we fully embrace the “Happy Holidays” greeting. When we wish someone Happy Holidays, we’re not rejecting the notion of Christmas, but wishing others to celebrate whatever holiday or traditions they embrace during this wonderful time of year.

For us that means, “Christmas!”

For others it may be:

Hanukkah – Sunday December 18th to Monday December 26, 2022

“Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah. … Hanukkah festivities include singing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods.” (Read more about Hanukkah from this article on Wikipedia)

Kwanzaa – Monday December 26th to Sunday January 1, 2023

“During the Civil Rights Movement, Kwanzaa founder Maulana Karenga, PhD, professor and chairman of Black studies at California State University, Long Beach, was determined to find a way to bring the African American community together to persevere through hardship. And that’s how the week-long cultural celebration highlighting family, friends, and community was born.” (Read more about Kwanzaa from this article in Cosmopolitan)

Winter Solstice – Wednesday December 21, 2022

Winter solstice is the longest night of the year and is observed in many cultures around the world. One of the most popular things to do for this observance is appreciate the natural world. Many give back to nature on the day by spreading some birdseed for wildlife. (Read more ways to celebrate the Winter Solstice from this article in Sunset Magazine.)

 

Boxing Day – Monday December 26, 2022

“Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It originated in Great Britain and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. The attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place on 28 December if necessary to ensure it falls on a weekday. Boxing Day is also concurrent with the Catholic holiday Saint Stephen’s Day.” (Read more about Boxing Day from this article on Wikipedia.)

Not everyone celebrates Christmas, and no two families celebrate any holiday exactly alike – but that is how traditions are created, after all. The common thread we see among all of these holidays and traditions seems to carry a message about caring for one another. Cheers to embracing others’ happiness during all of the holidays that fall in this most magical time of year!

D&CO. Wishes you and yours a very Happy Holiday of your own tradition, and a Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate it!

Recipes

Holiday Ambrosia

deannaandcompany

This easy tropical fruit salad is a slight twist on the 50’s classic. It makes a festive holiday side, that is quick and simple enough that children can help make it.

Click the links below if you’re looking for our other holiday recipes:

Ingredients:

  • 1 – 14oz. can of Pineapple Tidbits in JUICE (we use Dole)
  • 1 – 14oz. can of Mandarin Oranges in JUICE
  • 1 – 16oz. jar of Maraschino Cherries (no stems)
  • 5 oz. of Sweetened Shredded Coconut (about 3/4 of a small bag)
  • 1 tub of Cool Whip, thawed (can add more if extra whip is your thing!)
  • 1 5 oz. container of Black Cherry (Fruit on the Bottom) Greek Yogurt (we use Choibani Black Cherry greek yogurt with fruit on the bottom, Mixed Berry could also work.)
  • 1 cup of Green Grapes (we leave them whole, but you can half them if desired.)
  • 1 tablespoon of Strawberry flavored instant Jello
  • 5 oz. (1/2 bag) of mini Marshmallows

Directions:

  1. Drain both the mandarin oranges and pineapple well and place in large bowl.
  2. Add in shredded coconut, grapes, and yogurt. Mix to incorporate all ingredients.
  3. Add Cool Whip to the bowl, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the instant Jello. Mix well.
  4. Reserving the juices, (we’ll use some of it in a moment) add the cherries to the salad.
  5. Use the remaining cherry juice to sparingly tint and flavor the fruit mixture to your tasting. Only add a tablespoon or two of cherry juice at a time and stir until it is light pink in color.
  6. Add marshmallows and stir.
  7. Cover and return Ambrosia to fridge for at least an hour before serving.

NOTE: Too much liquid makes this salad runny. It should be fluffy. If you find you’ve added too much juice, add some more Cool Whip to help counter.

Curb Appeal

Choosing the Perfect Christmas Tree!

deannaandcompany

Does shopping for a tree leave you confused? We’ve got our tried and true tips for picking the perfect tree whether it’s artificial or real.

Artificial vs. Real Trees? Which is better?

It’s really up to you, there is no one option that is “better” than the other. This is really a question of your personal aesthetics. Modern artificial trees are pretty convincing in look and feel, yet there is also something magical about the smell and look of a real tree.

If you still can’t decide, consider your home’s storage space:

  • If you have space to store it, an artificial tree is typically less maintenance because it doesn’t have to be watered.
  • If you are short on space, a real tree is great because you get rid of it at the end of the holiday season. Note: real trees are more maintenance because they need regular watering to stay green and not turn into a fire hazard.

Think of a real tree as a giant bouquet of flowers,

no water = no longevity.

Start with the basics, know your numbers:

    • How tall are the ceilings in the space where the Christmas tree will be displayed? Ideally, your tree should have at least a foot or two of space over the top of it. No one wants a smooshed angel.
    • How wide is the area?
    • Bring a tape measure with you to verify your selection. Don’t end up like the Griswold’s. 😅
    • Trees on the lot are usually LARGER than you think. Trees bought online or in a box are often SMALLER than you think. (We’ll get into why below.)

How to choose an artificial tree:

  • If shopping online, or by an unopened box, trees are often smaller than we think. They are measured from the tallest point on the tree, which is usually a long stick to hold the tree topper. I bought a 3′ tree online, and it seems much smaller than that in person, but when I measured it, it is exactly 3′ to the tip top, and that top stick is about 7″ on it’s own.
  • Pre-lit trees are beautiful, but don’t count on it lasting forever. The lights on these go out as often as a string of lights would. However, they do make it much easier to concentrate on the fun parts of decorating, rather than untangling strings of lights. Just know at some point, you will probably need to supplement pre-lit trees with string lights.
    • You can extend the life of the tree and lights by storing the tree in a cooler place like a closet, rather than a garage or attic.
    • Keep the box. Follow breakdown and set up instructions for optimal performance.
    • Look for tree options with LED lights, as they often have a longer shelf life and cost less to operate.

How to choose a real tree:

  • Shop at a tree lot, where the trees have been sustainably harvested – ideally from a Christmas tree farm. Trees that are harvested properly, shaped, and cared for often last longer.
  • Look for green needles. A healthy tree will have springy needles on somewhat flexible branches. If the needles immediately fall off and the branches are brittle, the tree is too dry.
  • Be cautious with festive “colorful” trees: sometimes the vibrantly colored trees can be hiding imperfections or a withering tree.
  • Remember: trees on the lot or farm will always LOOK smaller than they actually are because there is so much open space above and around them. Be sure to measure.
  • Timing is everything: The trees are usually freshest and most maintained at the start of the holiday season. The longer trees are sitting on the lot (especially in the Florida heat) the more dried out they become.

Live tree care is pretty simple:

  • If the x-mas tree lot has the service or if you are confident doing it yourself, cut an inch or so off of the trunk to assure the tree is drawing enough fresh water to sustain itself.
  • Top off the water often, we do it daily – you’d be surprised how much water a tree drinks!

The best kind of stands for live trees:

After trying every kind of stand on the market, the ones that are a wide solid base are the best. (Like these options found on Amazon, shown above.) The water stays inside, the stands don’t tip, there’s no assembly required, and the screws make it possible to hold varying sizes of tree trunks. (Even uneven trunks.)

If you’re choosing between trees that have already been wrapped up:

Sometimes big box stores like Walmart sell trees that are already wrapped up. These are a little trickier to choose from, but:

  • Inspect the top of the tree area to ensure it is full all they way up to the tallest point.
  • Look for an even body of the package. If it sinks in on one side, that side is less full.
  • Look at the trunk where it is cut, it should look fresh and light brown.
  • Again, look for green needles. A healthy tree will have springy needles on somewhat flexible branches. If the needles immediately fall off and the branches are brittle, the tree is too dry.
  • If there are ones sitting in water, and ones laying out on a fence – start with the ones in the water. They have been kept hydrated.
  • When you unbundle your tree, don’t panic if it looks smooshed. It takes a little while for the branches to fall into place.
    • Set the tree in it’s stand with water, unwrap and gently train the branches.
    • Leave the tree to hydrate in the stand for an hour or longer before decorating. The tree should be settled by then.

Christmas trees might be our absolute favorite thing about the holiday season!

Share your tree designs and tips with us on our social!

Tag @DeAnnaAndCompany on Facebook or Instagram.

Home Hack

Ultimate Thanksgiving Leftovers

deannaandcompany

We love Thanksgiving leftovers more than Thanksgiving Dinner itself! We’ve rounded up all of our favorite ways to dish up those day-after helpings.

Note: These links are from various cooking blogs we found on the internet. We have no association or affiliation with any of these sites, we just love the recipes! Links open in a separate window.

Make Quiches!

Green Bean Casserole Quiche

We found this idea using left over green bean casserole here. They suggested using a basic quiche recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction here. Then, they augmented the quiche to be Thanksgiving-focused:

“Here’s a tip: Buy an extra frozen deep-dish pie crust before Thanksgiving, then bring it out over the weekend to whip up a quick quiche with the rest of your green bean casserole.

Follow the basic quiche ratio of 4 large eggs, 1 cup dairy (whole milk, half-and-half or cream), 1 cup shredded cheese and 2 cups vegetables or other mix-ins to fill your pie crust.

Pre-bake the pie crust shell according to package directions, then fill and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes, until the quiche no longer jiggles in the center. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing.”

Delicious Pull Apart Sammies:

To be honest, we make these with turkey or ham all year! https://bestrecipebox.com/thanksgiving-leftovers-pull-apart-sliders/ 

Munch with Crunch:

Do we love Crunchwraps? YES. Do we love Thanksgiving Crunchwraps? ABSOLUTELY! https://cookingwithjanica.com/thanksgiving-leftovers-crunchwrap/ 

Thanksgiving Pizza:

It’s not your ordinary pizza, it’s holiday pizza! Mmm… https://www.landolakes.com/recipe/20559/thanksgiving-leftovers-pizza/ 

Holiday Sandwich:

A sandwich never tasted so good! https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a25103566/thanksgiving-sandwich-recipe/

Leftovers Rigatoni:

Creamy, rustic, rigatoni deliciousness! https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a29429290/turkey-pasta-casserole-recipe/ 

Potato Leek Soup using leftover mashed potatoes:

Give those mashed potatoes a longer shelf life! https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/easy/a29428925/potato-leek-soup-recipe/ 

Cranberry Hand Pies using leftover cranberry sauce:

Turn leftover cranberry sauces and jellies into a flaky pastry dessert! https://www.oliveandmango.com/cranberry-hand-pies/ 

Turkey Black Bean Enchiladas:

Great for those wanting a completely different taste profile for their Thanksgiving surplus. https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/turkey_enchiladas/ 

Waffles using leftover stuffing:

Waffles? Good. Stuffing? Goooood. https://www.justataste.com/thanksgiving-leftover-stuffing-waffles-recipe/ 

Save those Potato Skins:

Turn those normally tossed potato skins into this twist on the classic. Perfect for munching on while watching all of the games! https://www.threeolivesbranch.com/thanksgiving-leftovers-potato-skins/ 

Do you have a favorite way to refresh your Thanksgiving feasts?

Share your favorite recipes with us on our Instagram or Facebook posts this month!  @DeAnnaAndCompany

Recipes

Caramel Butter Bar Cookies

deannaandcompany

These rich Caramel Butter Bar Cookies are our fall favorite! Because these cookies are dense and flavorful, they make decadent single serving gifts that friends and family will LOVE. Just slip a square into a decorative wax or cellophane bag with a little ribbon or sticker to close.

Ingredients

  • Flour – 2 cups
  • Sugar – 1/2 cup
  • Vanilla – 1/4 teaspoon
  • Soft Caramel Squares – 25 pieces
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk – 1 can
  • Butter – 2 sticks, at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.
  • Salt – 1/8 teaspoon
  • OPTIONAL – Chocolate for melting

Note: this is a small batch cookie. If you like thicker bars, or want to make a larger order, double the dough/crust part but use the same amount of caramel from the original recipe.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.

  1. Beat butter with hand mixer until fluffy.
  2. Add sugar and salt, beat again.
  3. Scrape down bowl with spatula, mix in flour on low speed.
  4. Press 3/4 of the crust into a small ungreased cookie sheet.
  5. Place caramels in microwaveable bowl with the sweetened condensed milk. Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring every minute until it is all melted and combined.
  6. Add vanilla to caramel mixture.
  7. Pour caramel over the crust.
  8. Drop remaining crust in small amounts onto top of caramel.
  9. Bake about 20 minutes or until edges are semi golden.
  10. Allow to cool on countertop and then move to fridge to set.
  11. Cut into 4″ squares to package or serve.

OPTIONAL:

Add a layer of chocolate to make these bars even fancier. Drizzle melted chocolate on top, or after the bars have chilled in the fridge, smooth a layer of chocolate over the top of the bars and return to the fridge to chill. After they have completely hardened, cut into squares.