Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

You would think since I went to school to be a
Chef and I also went for Hotel and Restaurant management
that I would have the "Bombest!" Kitchen on the block.
Top of the line everything and only the best. My cupboards
she should make Martha Stewart cry and my cutlery should
be of such high quality I can cut a can then a Tomato like
that old infomercial. But no, like a mechanic who's personal
car never runs right my Kitchen just doesn't cook. Oh, I
have gadgets, so many I have to store 2/3 rds of them for
I just don't have the shelf space but the sad part there is
those gadgets aren't mine. They are my sons. Since he was
2 years old and wanted an Easy Bake oven to make a
M&M cake he has been collecting them. I even did have
those knives from the commercial ( Ginsu? -can't remember)
for my Mother ( now everyone repeat with me, BAD NANA!)
bought them for Andrew when he was like 4 for he wanted them
so bad. She did explain she meant for me to hold them for
him to he was older but he was a boy and a super active one
at that and one morning I woke to find the arm of my couch
cut up and the knives were then taken from where I thought
they were safe on the top shelf in the kitchen and placed in
storage and did not survive the house fire I had a year or so
after that. Right now we have:
A bullet, a mighty whisk, a popcorn maker, a Slurpee maker,
a ice cream maker, an omelet maker and an omelet pan,
a donut maker, a puff maker, the chocolate factory, a
candy maker, the cookie kit, 2 different George Foreman grills,
oops make that three now, a griddle, a pizza oven, a smoothie
machine, a Slap Chop, a Panini maker, a grilled cheese maker and
more special pans and kitchen tools and ice cube trays and
basters and gadgets then you can shake a stick at. It is
just insane. What I don't have and have not had is good
knives. I have a steel and a sharpener so you would think I
would have something to use with them but no, I keep getting
crappy knives that barely cut butter. I tell myself over and over
again that I am going to start getting good knives and collecting them
so I have a great set and every time I go to the store I see some
kit that seems like such a deal I grab that instead. When I get
home I am thrilled and open it right away and start chopping and
almost cry for it works so well in comparison to what I was
using and I am overwhelmed by how sharp they are and smooth
they cut. For a week I start busting out all my old recipes that
you need to cut things for and go crazy, I make Chicken Scallopini
and cut my own cutlets for the knife just works perfect, I do stir fry
everything and cut veggies like they will never grow again. Cheese,
bread, fruits and everything I can find. For a week I have fresh
cheese, fruit and Veggies trays filled to the brim for easy snacking
in my fridge and become an addict. Then I grab my knife set one
day and start to cut and it isn't quiet as smooth. Not as sharp.
Alright, I get that, loads of Kitchen experience, Knives dull, no
biggie. I grab my sharpeners and go to town there and then try
it again. Still dull. Hummmmmm, I used to be pretty darn good
at sharpening, maybe I am just out of practice, try again. I am
very thorough this time. Grab a Tomato for they are more easy
to cut and maybe I need to start with easy. I cut, it mushes
for the knife is so dull I have to press down to get a cut.
I grumble and snap at the next person who walks in the
room. I had went to the store and planned on spending 50-100
bucks on a good quality knife that would last forever and instead
of getting that ONE knife I once again fell for the good deal and
bought the set that had the steak knives and Chef's knife and
utility knife and bread knife and a half a dozen more specialty
knives in the pack. Hey, I got all of them for 49.95 and
the pack had all sorts of claims on it about them lasting
forever and keeping their edge and yada yada total crap. I
would throw the knives back at them but they are such junk
even if I did hit them they wouldn't stick. Back to square one,
again!
I vowed for like the 50th time that next time I bought
a knife it would be a good quality one and I would only buy
one at a time until I had a set of Superior knives that really
would last a lifetime. To solidify it this time I researched knives
and found a brand I decided to get and this brand happened to
be a ceramic knife. Ceramic is currently the best knife you can
get. I mean best, they blow steel away. This is the difference
between a raindrop and a tsunami here with benefits such as:
1. The Hardness. The only thing harder than the material used
to make these knives is a diamond. This makes them sharp
as well and are much harder and sharper then anything steel
has to offer.
2. Weight. They are very lightweight. These knives weigh less
than half of what other knives do.
3. Durability. Ceramic knives can usually go years without
needing to be sharpened. They also last longer overall because
unlike metal they will never rust.
4. Chemically Inert. These knives are not made with metal so
therefore you will not get that "Tinny" taste you can with metal
and the food you are cutting will end up tasting like that food.
They are also easy to clean and will never stain and super
easy to maintain. I did a load of research and was hooked.
While looking for a brand of kitchen knives that I wanted to
buy I stumbled on a site that has all sorts of ceramic knifes.
www.ceramicknife.org. They have Hunting knives, Rigging,
Electrician, Pocket knives and now a Kitchen Utility knife.
I contacted them to ask some questions and got the chance
to do a review. Now I was tickled pink. I was at last going
to have a good knife in my kitchen. AT LAST!
For review I was sent the Kitchen Utility knife and he
also tossed in a Rigging knife for me to check out. When
they came I was like a kid in a candy shop and I could not
wait to try them. I cut every single thing in the house that
could be cut. All with the Utility knife. I even had a whole
filet roast in my freezer. My Mother knows Andrew and I love
steaks and for Christmas she went to the meat store and bought
us the whole Filet Roast so we could cut our own Filet Mignon
to the size we wanted. A huge Roast at that and even if I cut
2-3 inch pieces we would have enough for 20 steaks or more.
I had to freeze it for it was just too large and since my knives
were so crappy I did not want to mess with cutting it until I
absolutely had to. The first time I cut off a piece I used my
serrated knife for the knives I had that were made for cutting
cuts of meat was so crappy it would never make it through
so at least with my serrated I could saw my way through. It
is still a pain in the butt and the steaks look like heck so I
am super glad it was just for our own consumption and I didn't
have guests coming over but it got the job done, barely. With
the Ceramic knife I was a little worried for it you don't know what
a Kitchen Utility knife is, it is a small knife, maybe 2-3 inches
and used for cutting hard items where you need control or sort
of an anything goes knife as long as it is not a big sort of
anything. I was afraid I would have to cut around the outside
first to get a groove big enough for the knife to fit in and do
it that way but boy was I surprised. And a good surprise too
for the knife is so sharp it just glided right through, and I mean
glided through. This was a frozen solid hunk of meat that I
would have trouble cutting even with a "Good" sharp "Steel"
knife and this was going through this huge roast like a steak
knife through butter! I almost cried. I never enjoyed a steak
more. Now I was worried that it would dull before long like
all the other knives I had bought so what they hey, if it is
going to break my heart I might as well speed up the process
so I know sooner rather then later. I spent a whole week cutting
everything in the house, I had other meats that were bought in
bulk and I cut all of them up ( except for the filet) and that
wasn't enough so every box I got that week in the mail and
mind you guys and girls, I get 20-40 boxes a week all super
sealed and wrapped in enough tape to efficiently tape my son
to the wall so he could never get out. I used it to cut down
those boxes and cut the twine I was using to tie them up for
the dumpster and I even used the knife to cut through some
cable wire when I moved my cable box and needed a longer
piece. Then I went back to the kitchen and cut cut cut some
more. At the end of 10 full days of cutting everything I could
get my hands on I pulled out that filet Roast and was going to
try it again. In my mind, no way would it be this easy
this time. Even if I had a steel knife I had paid 100 bucks
for or a clever I did not think it could take the beating I put
it through and still cut through this roast. At the very least I
thought it would need to be sharpened first!
BOY WAS I WRONG!

Oh-My-GAWD, this knife cut just like it did the first day
I got it and I was in utter and total shock. If you spend a
lot of time in the kitchen run, don't walk to get this knife.
It is that good and ceramicknife.org has prices that I could
not find cheaper any where else and I looked like crazy,
remember I was determined way before this review to buy some
and had already done a load of research on brands and prices.
This knife is fantastic and I loveeeeeeeee ceramicknife.org. New
best friend material here!

The other knife they send was the Rigger. Once again
I had my guys at war over who would get it. I deemed it
a family item for I didn't want to hear it and didn't really know
what a Rigger is and wanted to know before I let them have it
at all. This is a pocket knife of sorts designed to cut when
you can only use one hand. It is perfect for sailors who need
to cut ropes and is so sharp it can cut through Kevlar. After
reading about it and talking it over with the guys we decided
it is also perfect for things such as hunting and fishing and
DIY work around the house and none of us could get over
how light weight it was. We compared it to the Sports knife
I bought for Andrew when he decided he wanted to take up
hunting and it just blew that knife out of the water. It is also
half the price of what I paid for that knife and while I spent
the week with my kitchen utility knife cutting everything in
sight the guys spend the week cutting everything with these.
Both of the guys used it to cut the Strings down on their
guitars, Andrews a normal guitar and Johns a Bass Guitar with
thicker strings. They also cut floor tiles and carpet and lord
knows what else for after I checked in a few times to see what
they were up to they made me nervous they would cut a hand
off ( it cuts through Kevlar for Christs Sake, whats a hand
compared to that?) and I decided it was better if I just didn't
know. It folds up and is just under 3 inches so it is legal to
carry and it works better then any pocket knife or sporting
knife you have ever seen. If you know a man who Hunts or
Fishes or just needs a knife this is your guy and ceramicknife.org
is your site. They also sell Utility blades and a sharpener and
much much more. I know for a fact now that I have tried
a ceramic knife I will never go back to steel. Now
I realize I am lucky and it might just be I found a fantastic
place to buy them from but even if that is that case I am
super lucky then for I did find these guys and remember I
already said they are my new best friends and I will never go
back to plain old boring steel!


Ceramicknife.org was not only great to me they
are great to my readers as well and one of you guys can
win your choice of either the Rigger or the Kitchen Utility
Knife. To enter just head over to their site and take a look
around then come back here and post what your favorite
knife is or something you learned. The contest will start
tonight and run to Midnight on April 19th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.


Ceramicknife.org




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


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and post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.


2. Enter any of my other contests. 1 entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.


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please post five times.


Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Mommy Tool Box and Port a Pong Contests!

Kids in the Kitchen? You Betcha! I love
to have my kids help me cook and even though
Rowan is just over 7 months I still drag her
walker or high chair into the kitchen and we
spend the time talking about what Mommy is
doing now. Not only does it foster a sense of
closeness between your child and you it also
allows them to start picking up early tips in the
kitchen and retain a level of comfort around
appliances and cooking in general that will stay
with them for the rest of their lives. Andrew started
really young, just like Rowan and by the time he
was 13 he cooked a complete Thanksgiving Dinner
by himself. And not a normal, run of the mill
Thanksgiving Dinner either but a full on Michelle
Style Holiday Meltdown Dinner. I never have just
a Turkey or a Ham or Roast for a Holiday meal
for with the hoards I feed I have all of the above
and that year I was recovering from a pretty serious
surgery I had only days before and there was no
way I could cook. I thought for sure Andrew would
just go with his Dad to an Aunt or an Uncles for
normally his Dad and Grandmother came to my
house but Andrew insisted on keeping the tradition
alive and making it himself. I didn't even have
a recipe box to help him for all mine are kept in
my head so he sat by my bed and wrote down what
I rattled off and made it all, complete with 4 pies
of different flavors, by himself. It was delicious and
quiet a feat for a 13 year old boy and there isn't a doubt
in my mind that he never would have been able to
pull it off if he had not pretty much grown up in
a kitchen. Part of the trick to get them so interested
is to offer them items to use that they can call their
own. Cookware that is made for them or if it is something
that does not offer a pint size variety, really cool to use!
Kids love to get down and dirty and would do anything to
help if you only give them a chance. Don't worry if
you are the blind leading the blind in the kitchen for it
does not matter how something tastes when you
are done it just matters that you made it together and
that fact will make it taste like a creation from the
kitchen of Cordon Bleu itself!

Recently I got a chance to do a product review
for some kitchen items that pretty much hit everything
a Kid could want. They are made for them, look cool,
fun to use and inspire a child to get up and cook!
Duralex makes dishes just for your children called Kiddishes
and Cuisipro makes some awesome tools for creating some
dishes they will just have a blast making. I was sent a complete
set for one of the Kiddishes and from Cuisipro a flour sifter
and a peanut butter and Jelly spreader. We never use
our Bread maker though Andrews Dad lives with his, better
model I think for mine is a pain, but anyway I thought it
would be pretty neat to make some bread to make an
awesome Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich to serve on the
dishes. It was a hoot! Andrew and I drug the Highchair
into the kitchen and started the bread. Now with our recipe
you don't have to shift the flour but what they hey, it is
a cool gadget and we wanted to make something for
lunch. Andrew claimed it and we had a little bit of flour
tossing going on in the kitchen for it was so much fun.
The 4 cups for the recipe went by so fast so we decided
we need desert and I grabbed some for a cream puff shell
recipe for this is what a shifter is made for, those yummy
good, knock your socks off pastry's where you need some
prefect flour and it needs to be just so. The part I want
you guys to understand it with my old sifter I hate shifting
flour and never make pasties anymore though I am certified
as a pastry chef. Some day I will give you all the details
but to be a master chef you have to go through levels and
each level takes a lot of effort and time. I went through two of
them and pastry would be one. I used to love it, when I had
the kitchen to go with it and Andrew and I have made some
really great things but as I grew older it just became a
hassle and I just bought from a bakery instead. My old shifter
was hard to use and you got quite a work out just turning
the dang handle and by the time I got around to kneading
I was already through for I was beat. Cuisipro's sifted
was like a hot knife through butter and so easy and fun I
had to beg Andy to give me a turn. I could have sat the boy
down with a hundred pound bag of flour and he would have
done it all. Once I got that away from him I wanted to
see if it was difficult to clean for that was also another
issue with my old one, wet flour turns into glue. At
a professional Kitchen you have power hoses at a dish
tank and the force there can knock anything off, at home,
no such power. With a lot of peoples water pressure you are
lucky to get a stream at all so I was a little worried, even more
since we sifted a lot and the thing was covered. Such an
easy cleanup, I just could not get over it. It was like Teflon
with the flour just falling off. Okay, Gadget one;
A blast
Easy to use
Easy to clean
Perfect for kids and parents alike!
While the bread cooked we made our puffs and
Andrew made some filling and we set the table. I love the
Kiddishes. They are just the right size for kids and stylish
too. I wish they made a Momdishes set for they were
that nice. See through, so when cleaning you know if
there is any kid goo left and also easy to clean and
the plates and cup are just the right size for young hands.
Rowan is now hooked on drinking from a cup and the only
down side to the Kiddishes is she does not want to drink
from anything but them now. I have bought 7 different kinds
of Sippy Cups for as cute as the kiddishes are she is still
to young to drink from something without a lid ( ah, let's
dump this too Mom!) and if I don't hold it for her she
will flip it. As a busy Mom I can't always sit there and hold
a glass for the baby so I need those lids. Rowan does not
agree. Rowan says make time Mom, I like the cup better
and I am a big girl now! The whole set just makes the
family feel she is apart of it and has her own place
in this world. It will not be long before she joins us
at the table and her own set of dishes screams she
is ready now to us. The fact that they are virtually unbreakable,
dishwasher safe, Microwavable and shock resistant is just
a perk on the whole package. The big sell here is they are
the right size and perfect for little eaters. That fact they are
100% recylcable is also a pretty big sell!
Back to the cooking now, the bread turned out
great and I have to say I think that is the first time
it did in our bargan basement machine. It might be
the sifter or it might be the fact Andrew has more
patience with things like that then I do but it was really
good for a change and I ate about 3 pieces before we even
broke out the spreader. Sorry, I just couldn't help mysefl,
there is nohting like fresh bakery bread! The thing that
made me mad was once we used the spreader I realized
it was worth the wait had I known how cool it would be.
Don't you hate it when you are making a PB and J and
you do the Peanut Butter first and then you are stuck
with two options:
1. Lick off the Peanut Butter, fine if you are making it
for yourself but you still need to rinse it so you are
not tossing your germs into the Jelly.
2. Wipe the Peanut Butter off on the bread. This idea
stinks, it always tears the bread and you never get it
all off and you end up getting Peanut Butter in the Jelly
all the time! YUCK!
Now there is a new option and a darn good one, the spreader
by Cuisipro works like a charm and no more Peanut Butter in
the Jelly, no more stopping mid-stream in your sandwich making
to clean off your knife and no more hassel. Peanut Butter on
one end, Jelly on the other and smiles all around! I loved it and
it is also big enough where even young children can handle
it and are able to make thier own sandwich for there are no
sharp edges and clumbsy fingers will have no problem grabbing
the thick middle and clean-up can wait to you have enjoyed
your sandwich, not before you can slather on the jelly. It is
also cute and we all know how I love things that are
cute for it is color coded, Jelly is purple and the
peanut butter is brown. If that isn't good enough for you
it is dishwasher safe and has a 25 year warrenty. I am
thinken they are pretty confedant on thier products to offer
something like that. Your Grandchildren will be making sandwiches
before the warrenty expires.
So let's recap here:
1. Andrew and I road tested some pretty cool kitchen
gadgets made by Duralex and Cuisipro.
2. We used the Flour Shifter when we made fresh bread
and it worked like a charm, easy to spin and cleans up
with no effort.
3. We used that bread to make some out of this world
Peanut Butter and Sandwiches and use our Cuisipro Spreader
to do it and decided that was one of the best kitchen inventions
ever!
4. The dishes were used to serve our feast and were
pretty much the icing on the cake! What a lovely time in
the kitchen.
Duralex and Cuisipro made for one fine time in the kitchen
at our house and a awesome review. If you have children or
even if you don't and just like to bake the items we used are
a perfect addition for any kitchen! Don't argue or get into Jam
every again, use your spreader and no more broken plates with
KidDishes! Want perfect flour for your baking? Cuisipro's Flour sifter
is the right tool for the job, Six thunbs up here!

You too can win this bevy of kitchen tools! To enter just head
over to Cuisipro or Duralex's web sites and take a look around then
come back here and post what one of their awesome kitchen
devices would work best in your house? The contest will start tonight
and run to midnight on April 8th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Cuisipro

Duralex


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Sleepy Wrap Contests!

Now I know I just did a review about
how I have too many dishes and not enough space
in my cabinets and places like my next review are
the reason why. When I find items that are not only
beautiful to behold but useful and constructed
from pure quality products and made to last a
lifetime or longer, I just can't pass them by. I
do not have my Grandmothers collection of China
and plates and heirlooms to pass on to my children
for my Mother and I never gave them a second glance
when we were younger and she took that as sign we
did not appreciate them and to be honest I guess we
didn't, so she found homes for all her items with
people she knew would love and cherish them as she
did and gave my Mom and I the cash instead. At the
time we really didn't care for she did all this
many years before she passed for she was one of
those old people who would point to everything in
her house and say, "When I die, that will be yours!"
She started around 50 for I remember her saying
that all my life and my Mother says she does too,
so pretty much whatever she said and did about
wills and what she was leaving to who we just shook
our heads and said that's nice. When it really happened
though and she was gone we both regretted that choice
for yes, I didn't really care about some Butter Dish
but as long as she had it and as much as she loved it,
the dish was no longer just a Butter Dish it was her
Butter Dish and therefore an extension of her. If I
knew who she gave items to now I would go chasing them
down but again, at the time I didn't care. What I learned
is when I see something I love to get it and cherish it
and pass on that love to my own children or at least,
the very least, imprint its importance to me on them
so someday when I say, That Bread Plate will be yours
when I am gone," they won't tune me out like I turned
Grandma out and that plate has a chance to be part of
our family history.

Now my Grandmother loved her dish collection
and Antiques to the point of obsession and even went
so far as to have my Grandfather build a room on the
back of the house for her complete with China Cabinets
built right into the walls. I am not that bad, plus
John can't build a pre-folded card board box but I
do have a cabinet and so does my mother and neither of
us started to fill ours to after she was gone but I
hope she would be proud. I have a couple of Pieces my
Grandmother still had left for China Adoptions must
be tuff with millions of pieces of china looking for
a good home, some pieces can spend their whole lives
in a group chest just waiting for adoption and she
must not have been able to place these pieces. My mother
and I split those for it didn't really matter us both
being only children and then I had Andrew and he was
an only child for 16 years it seemed History was
doomed to repeat itself for China is just a place
he once tried to dig to when he was little and he
would not know the difference from one dish to the
next and Ceramic, Porcelain and pottery mean even
less. He does have a Gold Watch that was my Grandfathers
that keeps him going! I didn't care though and started
collecting on my own and pretty much shocked even myself
when I first heard the words and if you touch my good
dishes I will break your legs come out of my mouth! I
thought I was channeling my Grandmother though no leg
breaking went on with her, just guilt trips and passive
aggressiveness. My Collection grew over the years and I
have a little bit of everything and love to find a
new Cup or plate to add. Sometimes I find items that
remind me of my Grandmother and sometimes I find items
that strike my own fancy for it seems I do have a little
bit of original taste when it comes to Pottery and
Ceramics and China. I DO have good dishes and I do
forbid the boys from touching them and like my
Grandmother who rocked at the details of Dinner parties
and Holiday Gatherings, I pull them out for such events.
I would love more then anything to get one of the Cabinet
style Chests for the dinning room. Maybe one of the
Mission styles for I can show off my dish collection
and not just store it till I have a use for it like
I do now for I just don't have room in the China
Cabinet for a complete set of Dishes. I would also
love to add more sets for as much as I love my Purple
Glass ones I would like some with a Holiday pattern,
one with a more formal pattern and one for larger
gatherings that have a more whimsical feel to them. My
Purple are beautiful but I feel they are more for an
intimate dinner then a large Dinner party and the funny
thing is when Grandma was alive I could have cared less,
clarinet was as China as I got! I think my tastes have
matured and I can't help but to want to increase my
collection when I run across places like my next review.








Emerson Creek Pottery is everything I could have
asked for and more. I know my Grandmother would have
been proud to see me looking through the patterns of
a store that carries such quality, premium, eloquent and
even fresh or contemporary designs. I enjoyed browsing
through their sections and was particularly found of
their Dragon Fly collection. Unlike my Purple dishes
they offer a complete collection and you can have
coordinating serving platters and and bake ware to make
sure your party has every finishing touch for a once
in a lifetime experience you can repeat as often as you
like. Why they also offer Bathroom accents and Lamps
as well as vases and pots for who says you have to stop
at the plates. Think of a table set for a large gathering,
complete with Salad and dinner plates and dessert, matching
salt and pepper shakers and serving items and on the
shelves and tables around the room a lamp, a vase and
maybe even a clock on the wall. In the center of the
table you have a fruit bowl on one end and a large
flower pot on the other that is filled with whatever
beautiful flower is in season. That would be my idea of
perfection for if you come to my house I have all that but
it consists of items pieced together from sales,
thrift markets, gifts and hand me downs and I just never
seemed to get around to compiling a complete collection.
I never found one I liked enough to make the investment.
Now I have and I wondered if they held up and wondered
if they were as practical as they were beautiful. I was
sent a piece for review and right away I was struck by
the weight of the plate. For it size it was quiet heavy
and solid and you could tell that it was meant to last.
The finish was impeccable and the plate was hand painted
and to have such a constant design on hand painting
patterns has always been remarkable to me. The finish
left a glow but not so glazed as where you know it
was a processed piece where the shine is just to glaring
to be created by human hands. I did a hand wash and then
just to be sure, tossed it into the microwave with some
gooey cheese then a Brillo pad and straight to the washer
for I had to be sure my Pattern would last. My greatest
fear it to find an item I love to death, like the Dragon
Fly and invest in a whole collection from top to
bottom and the first time I hit a bump in the road such
as something baked on to the point of excursion in
scrubbing to get it off the pattern comes off with the
dirt. With Emerson Creek Pottery that was not the
case. They make ceramic dinner wear that is exquisite
to behold and stylish enough to be your special set but
practical and durable enough to use every day. Though
I do not plan on using mine everyday, for there isn't
a person in the world who could create a plate that is
Andrew proof for Gravity is his vice and my feelings are
if I save it for special occasions I would not be tempting
the odds. I want my set to last several lifetimes and be
passed from me to my Daughter and then to hers. A dish set
as gorgeous as the patterns they carry deserve nothing less.
I am not even sure why I bothered to test the quality of
Emerson Creek Pottery though for when I was researching their
store and products I found out that they have been featured
in such places as Mt. Vernon, Monticello, and the Smithsonian
Institute. A recommendation like that pretty much speaks for itself!
The owners Priscilla Palmer and Jim Leavitt were inspired by
the Early American Cobalt pieces and have created and perfected
their own technique that is made from Clay they produce on site.
They are not only dishwasher, Microwave and Oven safe they are
also Lead free and hand painted by the finest artisans. They may
keep to the same pattern with their 13 designs they currently
offer but no two items are completely alike and not only do
you receive a magnificent collectible, functional piece
for your home you are purchasing something that is truly one
of a kind. My 41st birthday is in the wings and I plan on
celebrating it with two four piece dishware sets in the Dragon
Fly Pattern I have grown to love to death and for every event
after I will add an item to my collection until I have a
set I will be proud to pass on to my family for I have
some items my Grandmother brought from Ireland to give to
her girls to celebrate her heritage and I can not think of
a better way to pass on my American Heritage to my children
then with a set of dishes that represents the best America
has to offer and is a testament to the quality our country
can still manufacture. Gorgeous and stunning it will last
my Children for many generations to come. Who knows, maybe
some day my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandchildren will
be eating a Holiday meal on Mars and telling of how I
collected this all just for them. Emerson Creek Pottery
was inspired in our history but is made for the future!
Emerson Creek Pottery would like to offer one of my readers
a chance to win one of their fine pieces. One winner will
receive a Personalized Cup of their own. A wonderful item
that comes in one of their famous patterns and made just
for you. To enter just head over to their site and take
a look around then come back here and post what you like
best in a comment.The contest will start tonight and run
to Midnight on March 30th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Emerson Creek Pottery


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Posh Little Tutus contests!

We have eaten a lot of food that is good for you.
Everything from Gluten free, to dairy free and Vegan
to all Natural and Organic. Some were for review and
some were for the heck of it and some I was experimenting
with some recipes for a couple of friends and family
members. I go all out for the Holidays and also a couple
times a year I put together seasonal gift baskets of home maid
Candy's and baked goods for my Neighbors and friends and
family and I learned the hard way some of them were strict
vegan and a couple diabetics and could not eat pretty much
anything in the baskets. I found new homes for them but
felt like a heel for not asking in the first place and went
out of my way to learn some recipes they could eat and put
a basket together just for them. I have about 10 things I
make for them and they love them. Out of all the reviews
and store bought items and even the stuff I have learned
to make I have always wondered one thing.

How do people eat this stuff?

Never have I tasted something from one of those category's where
I went, "Oh, my Golly Gee Jumping Jahiminees, I can't wait to
go out and get this again!" Now the freeze dried fruit snacks
I have tried were good, I will give them that. I will keep them
in the house for I am a fruit fanatic and buy too much at one
time for you guys know how I hate the Grocery store, and most of
the fruit ends up going to waste. I just threw away a bunch of
Oranges today in fact. The dried fruit tastes pretty much the
same as the fresh and has the same nutritional value so yes,
I will most likely always have it in the house. But I don't stay
up at night and think about it. I have never once said, "Hey,
John, Andrew, you know what I really want right now? An Apple!"
They are just one of those things that are there or not. You
don't stress, you don't panic and you really don't crave. I have
never once in my life seen a person go out at 8 PM to run up to
the fruit stand and grab an Apple. I have yet to see a person
sit down an gorge on a whole bushel of them for they are so
good you just couldn't stop eating them. Birthday parties don't
end the evening with an Apple and a candle and you don't gaze
lovingly into your sweethearts eyes after a romantic dinner and
say " baby, want to share an apple with me?"
Now take that Apple and put it in a strudel or a pie and you
have a deal. Face it, people love sweets and can't get enough
of them. If it wasn't true Hostess would have stopped with
the Twinkies and not made tons of other snack cakes. Basken
Robbins would have only one flavor and Dairy Queen would
be out of business ( an Apple Stand maybe?) and Chocolate
Thunder from down under would have a whole other meaning.
We Want Cake!!
And Cookies!
And Pie!
And Candy!
And Chocolate!
We want it often and it better be good! Organic, Gluten free,
Dairy free, Egg free, Not so good! Thank you, I will take the
Apple.
I got the chance to do a review for Divvies. I always try these
places for you never know. One of these days lightening might
strike but I pretty much have given up on holding my breath. Now
I want to feed my kids and my self healthy. I do have that goal
in mind but you just can't tell your kids, hey, I know you wanted
some Jelly Beans in your Easter Basket but I thought some Tofu
Dingies would be better! You will get the glazed over stare and
Blink
Blink
"Say what Mom?"
Sometimes you have to let them have the real thing and hope some
day a person will have that magic touch and do a healthy goodie
the right way instead of cardboard with a cherry! When the Divvies
came they were in a big box and it was jammed packed full of all
sorta of treats. Cookies and Jelly Beans and Candy bars and Pop-
corn. When I say full I mean really, really full! As if that was
not enough it also came with a box with a dozen Cup Cakes you
could frost and decorate your self so they stayed super fresh.
Now if I didn't know how they were made I would have been Hyper-
ventilating just looking at them and all that Delicious chocolate
and baked goods, I am not the worlds biggest candy bar eater
but I love chocolate. I mean not like LIKE Love But LOVE LOVE
as the kids say! BUT, I knew and groaned for if it tastes like
a lot of other foods of this caliber it would end up going to
waste for even the boys won't touch it and they eat almost anything,
even those 20 cent fruit pies that taste like sawdust and wax fruit.
Egg free, Dairy free products, not even with a ten foot pole.
Andrew was the first one in the house and saw the box, he just
about started to jump up and down like he did when he was 5 and
you gave him a charm pop and then paused.
"Review?"
"Yeah"
"Of?"
"Sweets!"
"Yeah, catch?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Fat Free?"
"Nope."
Gluten free?"
"Nope."
"Taste Free?"
"Nope."
"Come on Mom, whats the," Just then he saw the folder on the table.
Before I caught on he already had it in his hands.
"No Eggs? You need eggs to make half of this stuff! Milk too!"
"Not this stuff Andy."
"I don't see you diggen in Mom. No thanks I will pass."
"Um, Andrew, we have a deal. You help me with the food reviews and
items that are for everyone and you get to keep some of the cool stuff
we review."
"I helped you with the last one like this and I can still taste it."
"You also helped with the steaks and got a really good filet I never
would have given you if we didn't have this deal."
"Come on, feed it to John, he doesn't know yet and just don't tell him."
"Look Andrew."
"Come on Mom, I really.................
Just then John walked in the Door and straight to the kitchen. I didn't
tell you but Divvies comes in a really pretty product box with the most
gorgeous bow and looks like it comes from some French Bakery and like
it would be super expensive. John walked in the kitchen and the box was
still sitting on the table. Bow and all. Filled with Goodies and that
man loves his sweets. Don't ever let him know you have anything chocolate
it you ever want to see it again.
"Is this for everyone?"
"yeah" Andrew blurted before I could speak.
"Cool." He grabbed a couple of the cookie packs and walked out.
I started to give Andrew the glare down for though he didn't lie I felt
like he had omitted the truth and he knows I hate it when he tries to
be sneaky. He was shuffling his feet, looking down. Rowan was sitting in
her high chair trying to reach the box. John came walking back into the
room before I could say something for Andrew and we both thought the
jig was up. In truth I thought he was on his way to the garbage to
toss the cookie out.
"Hey, you guys mind if I get a couple more of those before they are
gone?"
"You mean you like them?" Not me, that was Andrew.
"AH, I wouldn't say like. I like your Moms Cookies, these are gourmet
and even your mom can't compete with that."
"You mean they are that good?" I couldn't help it, I had to ask.
"UH, Yeah, why? Whats wrong with them? Were they like really day
old or something and you got a good deal on them? You better not
have paid a small fortune for them like that 25 dollar pie you
bought. Tell me I didn't just eat 100 bucks worth of cookies?"
As I was looking for a good answer Andrew was already making a mad
dash for the box. John was trying to get his hand into grab some
more cookies as Andrew was pulling out what he wanted and that
was half the box or more for the most part. I grabbed a cookie and
the packs hold two so I gave one to Rowan who the guys were totally
ignoring as they were too busy shoving their faces full. I knew by
now they had to be good for Andrew wasn't even talking, just eating and
that boy never shuts up. But I was still a little afraid to
try them. This was all the stuff I liked to eat best in the world and
I agreed with Andrew. I just do not know how you could make a cookie,
let alone a Cupcake without eggs. How could it be good? Rowan was
now lost in the same world as the boys happily munching away. I still
held the cookie in my hand. Well, I know it isn't terrible, just look
at the rest of my family. Did Andrew grunt? I could have sworn I heard
him grunt. They were really shoving it down and now the Jelly beans were
being opened. What are we, Willy Wonka here? They are getting a little
carried away.
"Mom, can we frost the cupcakes?"
I looked over and Andrew was rubbing the box like it was his new
best friend and John was shoving Jelly Beans in his mouth nodding.
"Fine." As Andrew started tearing into the packaging I took a nibble
of the cookie in my hand Rowan was straining to get.
Chew Chew Chew, Swallow.
Woah. "Let me grab the knife!"

Less then an hour later every single item in the box was gone and
we didn't even eat dinner. It was that good. Wait, it was sensational.
Not only do Divvies not taste like they are missing anything if you
were to compare them in a blind taste test with any other pre-packaged
item such as Entenmann's, Pepperidge Farm and others it would not even be
a contest. Divvies would blow them out of the water. I can't even compare
them to home maid for I have never have eaten a home maid item that was
this moist and Rich and scrumptious. TO be honest with you when I do
a review I seldom speak to the sponsor from the time we arrange delivery
to the time I post the link. I do not wish to be on friendly terms with
them no matter how much I might like them for I would not want it to
influence my review in anyway. I speak to them prior and 99.9 percent
of the sponsors I speak too are fantastic people and I would love to
keep talking to them for we all know how much I love to talk but I
need that distance for I do not want to confuse the fact that I like them
with the fact I like their product. I NEVER tell them how the review is
going until it is completed and the first time they read it is the
same time you do. I don't do affiliate programs for the same reason, my
reviews are an impartial opinion to help you decide what items to buy
without having to go through the same research process I go through. So
you get the best value for you dollar. If I were to join an affiliate
program I would profit every time you bought that item via my site and
that is throwing my impartial standing out the window so I just don't
do that either, other then Amazon for they sell everything and
not only do I shop there I offer the link for your convenience and
don't shove it down your throat. Any ways, the point is I have never
spoken to a sponsor from that conformation letter to I send them the
letter letting them know the review was posted. With Divvies and
that first night I had to rush to the computer and send them an email
for I was that flabbergasted at how spectacular they really were. Their
items are so rich and flavorful they reminded me of this Bakery right
in the heart of Greek Town where they sell fresh, handmaid confections
that are so fantastic people will drive hours to get them and
wait in an hour line at midnight on a Friday night to take
them home. Even before the Casino's hit Detroit this place was packed
from open to close and Divvies are as good as if not better then
them. Their Kettle Corn is the only thing I can give any sort of
comparison too for when Andrew was like 8 we took a road trip
through DC and then Atlantic City, New York and on the way home
through Pennsylvania we stopped at Hersey's theme park that had a
fresh Kettle Corn Kiosk complete with an old fashioned Copper Kettle
and I bought a bag on the way out for I had never had Kettle Corn
before. I was more then an hour away when I opened the bag to grab
some for Andrew had this huge sampler box of Hersey's Candy and it
was driving me nuts knowing he could eat a sweet treat and with my
perpetual diet I could not. I thought Popcorn would keep my mind
off of his darn chomping. I took one bite and turned the car
around and went back to buy more. Well people at Divvies and
readers of the Blog, turn the car around for I need more. Mouth
watering and delectable. They will leave you wondering what is
so special about eggs and milk to begin with! I wonder if I camp
out on their front lawn will they send me another box to get me
to leave. I can wear fuzzy Bunny Slippers, Hair Roller's, Long Johns
with the drop butt and bring my kids to chant, "More for Michelle,
More for Michelle," to I get one more box! Even more so, my son,
who never uses his own money for anything when he can just wait
for me to ask him to run to CVS and grab something an disappear the
change, asked me how much they cost and if he gives me the
money would I order something for him. He has never done that
in his entire life. He even manages to get the money for my own
Christmas present out of me. If  Mr. Money Hoarder is willing to
dig into his own pockets to buy Divvies you can not get a better
testimonial. That good!
Divvies knows you just can't always take one word for it, some
times it takes more. To honor that they are going to give one of
my readers a Smorg Gift Box filled with chocolate caramel popcorn;
caramel popcorn; Divvies Chocolate BingGo bar; peppermint &
chocolate BingGo bar; super stars gummy candies; blue rock candy;
and five two-packs of chocolate chip cookies. Let me know about
yours too for a lot of those we didn't get and I am dieing to try!
To enter just head over to the site and take a look around then
come back here and post something you have learned in a comment.
The contest will start tonight and run to midnight on March 27th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Divvies


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

5. Tweet about this and post the link here.
5 entries, please post 5 times!

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Costumes for Less and Happy Baby Food Contests.

Yum, FOOD! We just did a review for a George Foreman
360 grill and made some steaks to test it out. I also had
another review to do that was perfect to use during the
same demonstration. Country Bobs all Purpose sauce!
Now I am not a Steak Sauce fan, or fan of any sauce
other then BBQ on ribs, I will be honest with you. I have
also detested Heine's 51, could care less about A1 and
never in my life HAD to have anything other then steak
seasoning on my meat. I was not so sure how this would
turn out for the fact I wasn't a fan of sauce in the first place
weighed heavy on my mind. Even my son, another really
big steak fan was never into sauces even though his
Father was one of those people who if you did not have
A1 in the house would get up and walk away from any
dinner table that did not have it to go with his steak no
matter how good the cut was. Andrew and I would just
shake our heads and go right on eating as fast as we
could so we could flip for who got to eat his Dad's piece.
Sometimes, though don't tell him, we would forget the
sauce on purpose for it was a really good cut of meat!
When the sauce came in the mail I knew the 360
was on the way and didn't want to ruin the surprise
of that for Andrew so I told him I would still have to
grab some steaks to try it with and we would do it
soon. I am so glad Andy has those male genes and
never looked into the freezer to see I already had
a bunch for I had just hit a really good sale. The day
the 360 came we hooked up everything and grabbed
the sauce and were ready to go. In fact if you look at
that review you can see old Country Bob's in one of
the pictures. When our steaks were ready we were
just about drooling and I grabbed the bottle.
"Want to try it first Andrew?"
"Um, no Mom, you can do this review. I will pass and
just eat the steak. Sauces are, um, not so great."
"Now come on there, you made the deal with me, you
would help me with certain reviews if I would let you
keep some of the ones you like."
"I know." Sigh "Do I really have to do this one?"
"It isn't like you are in it alone, I am going to try to!"
"Fine, you go first though!"
With our deal struck I grabbed the bottle. Now I have
seen people who love sauce and they just pour it all over
their steaks but I was afraid I would not like it and it
would ruin this Filet I had and it is some sort of crime
to destroy a FIlet so I grabbed us a couple of little plastic
bowls to put some sauce in so we could dip it. I poured
a little in and cut off a piece of the delicious looking
piece of meat hoping and praying I was not going to regret
this.
Dip dip
Nibble nibble
Chew chew
Swallow swallow
dip DIP DIP
CHEW SWALLOW
DIP DIP
SWALLOW
POUR
CUT
CHEW,SWALLOW
"Is it any good Mom?"
Panic, "Um, not really Andrew, you don't have to do this
one. I don't want to force something you won't like on you."
I said as I grabbed the empty little plastic bowl and the bottle
and tried to leave the dining room.
"That's okay Mom, really a deal is a deal, I want to
try. Hand it here, I am hungry."
More panic, " No, it really is nasty Andrew. I am telling you
that you won't like it. Just eat your steak."
"Why are you taking the bottle into the living room?"
" Uh, on the way to the trash?"
"The trash is back that way?"
"Ah, better put this right in the dumpster." I started to make
a break for it. I knew you are supposed to refrigerate this
after you open it but I thought since it was so cold outside
if I put it by my bedroom window it would be cold enough and
I knew the bottle won't last the winter.
"Mom. You wouldn't be telling me I won't like it to keep
it to yourself would you?"
Dang kid, I never could trick him. I had to share! He poured a
little bit on the edge of his plate and dipped a tiny piece in.
Next thing I know the little brat was dumping half the bottle
over his steak. I quickly took inventory of where I put the
second bottle so I could hide it. I was not too happy with
him using so much for I thought I taught him better then
that. The rules are only take a little to everyone gets some
then if there is some left you can have more. At this rate there
will not be any left for me to have more! He didn't even notice
me glaring at him. He was to busy happily chomping away.
AND eating with his mouth open. GRRRRRRR!

As you can probably gather we loved the sauce. Okay,
maybe make that a double love or a triple love for this
sauce was incredible. We are not sauce people and in
fact when I was speaking to the Meyer Meat people for
that review not that long ago I was talking to him about the
best way to cook a steak and he said Olive Oil and sea-salt
and told me not to try Steak Sauce to I got a chance to taste
it first for his meat didn't really need it, and I laughed at the
time and even told him that was about all I used anyway for
sauces were disgusting. I had not tried this sauce when I made
that bold statement for Country Bob's is FANTASTIC! I have
decided that from this moment on I am a sauce person, well,
only if that sauce it Country Bobs. This is the best thing I have
tasted and I would not even know how to explain it to you for
words alone can not let you understand how great this is.
Tangy, zesty, sweet, sour, a little bit of spice and a whole
lot of flavor make this the sauce dreams are made of. You know
it never even dawned on me that it was gluten free to I read
it when I was writing up the review. I had forgot all about this
for how can something be this good and good for you. Every time
I try something that is supposed to be gluten free I always feel
like it is missing that certain ump, this is fantastic as it!
Country Bob's also make a BBQ sauce and a season
salt and also Country Bob's All Purpose in Spicy and if
these are just a little bit as good as the Original I am going
to rush right out and grab them for this one is truly that good.
In fact, right before I sat down to write this review I was in
the kitchen slicing onions and mushroom to saute. Andrew
walks in and asks whats for dinner and I told him that I was
making burgers with sauteed goodies and he smiles and does
the Yes arm gesture and what comes out of his mouth?
"Yes, Hello Country Bob's! " You just can't get a better
recommendation then that!
Country Bob's is also going to let two of my readers try
their spectacular sauce! To enter just head over to the site
and take a look around then come back here and post what
you have learned in a comment. The contest will start tonight
and run to midnight on March 15th!
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Country Bob's


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Pepper and Tanky and Bebe Soleil Contests!

I just bought some new plastic wear a few
days ago with Rowan in mind. These were little
lidded containers for she is well onto solid foods
now and I have to start carting snacks a long with
me where ever I go. As I was standing there waiting to
pay for my purchase and I started to wonder what I was going
to put in them. With Andrew the choice was easy for you
had no choice at all. There were Cheerios and Gold Fishes.
That was it, end of story, close the book. Now, wow, I am
undated with choices every where I go and I feel like
I am lost in a food tunnel with zillions of bite sized snack
foods taunting me and a giant finger going No, No, No,
when ever I think I am making the right choice. It is
a mad eat mad world out there and I am lost in the
middle of it.

Okay let's not forget the fact I am a busy Mom,
I do have a life outside the kitchen and hats off to
super Mom's of the past who could whip together
a 32 part meal from scratch while balancing 4 babies
and 2 loads of Hand Washed ( and Pressed, like that
would happen here) laundry and still have time for a
manicure AND wore heels while doing it all. I am not
that woman! Um, I am not even part of that woman. I am
the one screaming my feet hurt when I am wearing anything
but flats or sneakers and wearing a jogging suit and T-shirt
and tossing in a TV dinner that says it is good for you in
the microwave while turning the steam on in the shower
for I once again didn't pull my laundry out in time before
the wrinkles took hold and who knows where my iron is!
Now that is what I am working with! So here I am, an
underachiever by Donna Reed Standards, lost in a world
that is telling me 7,000 different ideas on what is good
for my kids and all I can focus on is good? That's nice,
but what is fast and fun for them to eat!
Annabel Karmel heard me scream, she must have
for she made a book filled with some great recipes for
Moms like me and also saved me from my own label
of bad food Mommy and made them good for my kids
too! I love how the book starts out with the all important
information on what is great for your child and what age
should you introduce it. The starter list is perfect for those
of us with questions and the handy reminder on what to do
for choking is extremely important. It not only lists finger
foods that could be a hazard it teaches you tips on how to
make even foods on the safe list a little bit safer yet!
Annabel takes these foods and turned them into tasty
treats even the fussiest baby is sure to enjoy. My son and
I spent some time making some of the recipes in the
book and I don't know how else to explain it then to
tell you, move over Baby, Mommy and the Brother are
Hungry! We made the French Toast with Caramelized
Bananas and this was a dream. SO Delicious I even tried
to hide the rest from my son but when went to do so I
caught him trying to do the same. I am posting that one
in the recipe section of the site for you because I really
don't want you to miss out! YUM. We also tried the Nachos
and the Potato Pizza Bites and both were also scrumptious
and perfect for a picky pallet.
Everything in the book is on the simple side to make
and each section gives an overview of not only what is
in it but helpful tips and guidelines to make it simple to
introduce and nutritional tips. Rowan is still on the little
side and I have been sticking to Pureed items and hard
biscuits and cookies but I found a recipe for the Welsh
Rabbit she loves. She didn't get to the veggie part but
did love the Cheesy Toasted English Muffin and I went
about it with the idea that even if she is too young to
eat the veggies that way if I at least show them they
are a part of a normal dinner plate she will understand
when she is old enough that they are a good thing and not
try to avoid them.The Soft boiled Eggs with Italian Soldiers
were adorable and right up her alley after Mommy ate the
ham. She had the best time dipping her bread stick into
the egg and I felt great knowing she was already on her
way to enjoying a balanced meal before she is even
off and running. Top 100 Finger Foods will not only give
you the top 100 but will leave you and your own creative
juices flowing and that 100 will turn into thousands of your
own ideas as well!

Make sure to check out the yummy French Toast
Recipe for I promise you will love it as much as your
kids and stay tuned for I promise to post more from her
book as well! Annabel Karmel and her Top 100 Finger
Foods is a must have addition to any cooking collection
and double that to serve six if you have kids! My final
review is a huge two Banana French Toast Pieces up!
YUM

Annabel Karmel

Who doesn't like to grill? I honestly can't think
of a single person out there who doesn't! Okay, for
one second set aside the taste and just go on the
other benefits alone.
1. It is healthier
2. Faster
3. Less mess. Even more so when you pair what you
are grilling with a salad or fresh veggies!
4. you don't have to heat up the house with an oven.
5. Tastes better! I don't know about you but something
about grilling food just makes it YUM!
6. It is fun! I love to cook on a grill. I always feel like
I am taking a vacation from the kitchen and it never
feels like work.
7. The word "Grill" brings out the domestic "ManDiva"
in our Boyfriends and Husbands and they often take care
of it all for us!
Since I first moved into my own home I have had a grill
and used it often. It was my first big purchase after a
Microwave and shortly after that I bought a portable then
and indoor grill for it is just so addicting. I mean really now,
there are recipe books upon recipe books filled with
items for the grill and there has to be a reason why, it
just rocks! If you don't believe me, try this little experiment:
next time your kids ask whats for dinner tell them something
you have to cook on the stove or in the oven. It doesn't matter
if you tell them you are making Cocoa van with Creme Brulee
for dessert, all you will get is a, "oh." The next time tell them
you are grilling and the first thing you get is, "Grilling, Grilling
what!!!?" Even if its only a hamburger they will skip as they
walk away. Go ahead, give it a whirl. Just only try it once or
twice though unless you have a great mop for cleaning up all
the drool gets old after a while.
One of my other favorite things is Kitchen Gadgets! I can't pass
one up. I have got to get them all! It doesn't matter if it is a Peanut
Masher and promises me the best peanut butter in only 42
easy steps, I have got to have it. No joke, my son is the same
way! Those dang Infomercials get me every time and I can not
walk past a "As seen on TV" store without getting woozy.
Now who do you think of when you think of Grilling, Kitchen
Gadgets and Commercials? There is only one man!
George Foreman!

George has been with us forever and we might as well fess
up and realize he has been here forever for a reason. He
Rocks! George Foreman Grills are the most notable "As
Seen On TV" product ever and he started the whole movement.
His products are so awesome he doesn't even have to put them
on TV anymore for he is a household name. I got my first Foreman
grill about 10 years ago now and we used that thing to death.
Literally. We had it about 4 years and used it at least 3/4 times
a week to it finally committed suicide from overuse. One of
the super neat things is my son learned to cook on our first
one for he was just to young to use an outdoor grill for I was
afraid of flair ups. He loved the grill so much and it dawned on
me since I use my Foreman grill so much why don't I teach him
on that for then he will totally have the hang of it come the
time he is old enough to use a charcoal or gas in the summer.
He was devastated when it broke and nagged me like a little
old lady to I ran out and replaced it. To this day when I pull
out something that can be grilled before I even say what
I am making with it he has already got the Foreman grill
out. I don't even get a say so, it is going on the grill.

When I got the chance to review the George Foreman 360
Grill you would have thought he was a teenage girl at a Jonas
Brother concert. I thought he was going to faint. Now I have
had a chance to review some pretty awesome stuff and the
only other time I have seen him close to this excited was when
we did the Meyers Meat Review and he pulled out a Fillet out
of the box. Now if that and this would have came on the same
day there is not a doubt in my mind I would be having to pull
out the smelling salt. The kid went nuts! Now the grill came on
a Friday and he goes to his Fathers on Friday after School so
he was gone when it actually came. I called to let him know
and had to swear under penalty of death not to open the box
to he got home. I also received a shopping list via him
for items he needed for grilling, I repeat "Needed!" for I was
under the distinct impression he might need life support had
I not bought them for him. I did not tell him it was the 360 and
not an regular George Foreman grill for I was afraid he would
start walking and his Dad lives quiet a ways.
I set the box on the table and bought his needed items
and let it sit to he came home. Apparently I, the woman who
has fed him for 16 years and well I might add, the woman
who went to 4 years of Culinary School and ran multi-
million dollar location restaurants was not qualified to
touch what he was already calling his grill. When he came
home I just pointed to the table for it was the first thing
he asked about, not even a Hi Mom, just a where is
my Grill and yes, I got a high pitched girly scream when he
saw this was not just another George Foreman Grill, he was
hoping for the Precision Grill for we have the Champ and the
Value already ( I told you we were fans) and never dreamed
it would be the 360. When he saw it was, Oh my! Then I was
yelled at. Since I didn't tell him it was the 360 he did not get
to add items for an Omelet, Pizza and Quesadilla to his
shopping list. Shame on me.

Andrew cooked dinner that night and it was awesome.
That is also another great thing about any Foreman grill,
anyone can use them for it is imposable to make something
taste bad when you use it! We had Steak Ala Andy and a
Potato and Beans and it was really really good. Being the
diet queen I am it has to be low fat as well and I can tell you
the fact it drains off the fat as you cook makes it perfect
for those on a high protein diet for you are left with the good
stuff. I don't know about you guys though, but I have a theory
that the fat makes a steak taste better and that is also a big
perk to this grill. Unlike trimming the fat away were it is
never involved in the cooking process at all, the George
Foreman melts and drains it away so you get the flavor with
out the bad parts it offers. The 360 also offers, like other
Foreman grills, cooking on both sides at the same time
so you are sealing in the juices and not loosing the
flavor there either. The George Foreman 360 Grill is
the Ultimate Grill and though I put on a brave front for
the boy I was just as excited to try it as the kid was.
It offers all the quality we have come to love from Foreman
grills and the perks such as:
George Tough nonstick coating
Signature Foreman heating elements
Preheat indicator light
Dishwasher-safe drip tray
Dishwasher-safe spatula
Patented sloped design but with a plus on the 360, you can
go flat too with an Adjustable tilt angle
The 360 takes these and perfects them and adds even more
perks such as:
106 square inch grilling surface
5 round dishwasher-safe removable grill pates
Metal extended loop handle
Temperature control slide
Plus and extra Drip tray and Spatula. The fact it can be used
for more then a grill makes it a perfect addition for any
kitchen. It is a griddle, a Pizza maker and you can make
home maid Quesadillas. One thing that appealed to the
practical side of me was space. I have a quesadilla maker
and a griddle and I could save a lot of space not having to
store those plus the pizza option. WOW, totally impressed!
I can't think of a more versatile item I have in my kitchen.
Add in the fact George Foreman Grills are perfect for eating
healthy and you end up with nutritious, great-tasting food and
you just can't go wrong with one of these in your Kitchen.
Looks like I am going to need another one for Andrew starts
his Senior Year of High School next year and if he goes off to
College I am sure this will go with him and I can not think of
a better must have item for a college dorm so I can't even
Fault him. George, you did it again!
George may look tuff and makes a heck of a tuff,
durable grill but he is really a softy at heart and they are
going to give one of my readers a chance to win a George
Foreman 360 too! All you have to do to enter is head over
to the site and take a look around then come back here
and post what grill you think would rock in your kitchen
and what you would cook first! The contest will start tonight
and run to midnight on March 14th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

George Foreman Grills
George Foreman Cooking!


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Bebe Soleil and Pepper and Tanky Contests!

Look for the George Foreman 360 Grills on my
Valentines Day Gift Guide!

Yum, Yum and even more YUM. I love snacks, I love
to eat and if you look at my waist line you know I love
to do both often. I try to keep healthy items in the house
for I really do love the taste myself but with the guys it
isn't always so easy. Junk food is the name of the game
in their world. It really doesn't matter what kind it is
either, I swear, if I were to bring home some pickled
Dandelion leaves and just tell them, "Hey, Better maid
has a new chip out, a pickled kind, thought you guys
might want to try them for I know how you like chips!"
Those guys would be all over it, just because it was a
chip. Now if I were to come home and say I found a
great new product that is also good for you it wouldn't
matter if it was Chocolate covered pizza, no way would
they touch it for I made the mistake of saying it was
good for them. Do you know how hard it is to find a
snack item that is good for you and doesn't say it is
good for you? Yes, that hard, and if you guys find one
let me know. The best thing I have came up with to
date is grab something healthy and then put it
in a serving bowl and destroy the evidence before they
see it and not say a word to them about the fact it
is healthy. Good thing my boys are easy to trick!
Sorry John.
One thing they will eat that is good for you though is
Apples. If I bring home a bag they will eat some if
they notice them. The problem is they will not eat them
fast enough and half end up going bad or even worse,
I take a good healthy snack and turn it into a naughty
dessert and make a pie out of it so I don't shed tears
watching John toss them in the trash. Why is it they will
eat an Apple a month but if it is in a pie that will be gone
in minutes? I grew weary wondering why and now I only
buy Apples when they are in season for it pains me to
pay 6 bucks for a dozen or so and watch them slowly
rot. What that means is the other 10 months of the year
they are back to junk food all the time. When I got the
chance to Review Yogavive I said sure, not really knowing
what it was and then the package came and I was surprised.
I was thinking it was going to be some sort of health guru
type snack and we would have to chant as we ate it and
boy was I surprised when I realized they were simply
Apples. Now when I say that don't get the wrong impression
here and think I am reviewing a brand of Apples for these
are not simply anything. Yoga Chips are chips for snacking
made out of Apples and not only are they Delicious they are
super healthy and good for you and are not going to go
bad in my fruit bowl. In fact no matter whatever the boys
go, or what they are doing, these are super simple to snack
on and you can just toss them in a lunch box or like I do, a
bowl for snacking in front of the TV.
Yoga Chips come in several different variety's and
though I hid the fact they were healthy from them in the
first place after they raved I felt obligated to show them
the package and I must admit I was a little bit afraid that
would be the end of them but the boys loved them so much
they didn't care. We got a chance to sample all of the flavors
and the big hits at my house were the Caramel Apple ( OH-MY-
GAWD-were these good) and the Strawberry. Even though
those two were the favorites they loved the other flavors
too and the best part is none of them hit the trash or were
turned into a pie. I had to even rush out and order some more
for I was totally amazed at how fast they went through them
and shocked at the fact they were healthy wasn't a turn off for
those guys in the least. I think they were blinded by the word
"Chips" and tuned out anything else on the pack. You know what,
you don't even have to know a thing about Yoga to enjoy them
either!

Yoga Chips come in several variety's including Apple Cinnamon,
The infamous Caramel, Strawberry and Peach and every single
one is a tasty treat. They are Organic and just as healthy as
eating a regular old Apple without the hassle of having to
eat them before they go bad. They come in easy to handle
snack packs that I found are perfect for lunches and just
the right size for a fast pick me up or sitting in front of
the tellie! I just dumped the fruit bowl and filled it with
pouches and that was that! I didn't have to run back and
check it every morning for signs of going bad for one thing
I can't stand about fresh fruit is the second it starts to turn
you have an army of fruit flies knocking on your door. Where
do they come from so fast and how come the second the
fruit is gone they disappear? Is there a fruit fly hot line that
when my Apples or Bananas start to turn one guy gets on
the horn and puts a call out to all his buddies?
"Hey, Herb! This is Stanly, those Red Delicious over
at Michelle's house have just went to pot, get over
here fast and bring the kids!"
I mean really, it is enough to drive a person mad! With
Yoga Chips Stanley is left out in the cold and Herb has
packed his bags! Plus I do not have to worry about
getting a bad batch of Apples for Yogavive makes sure
I am only using the finest ones out there. No mess, the
boys eat it like the chips grow on tree's ( oh, wait they
do!) and I know they are eating something good for them
for a change! What could be better? Oh, I see, you guys
are on to me already. A chance to win some would be
great wouldn't it?
Well guess what, Yogavive agrees and they are letting
one of my readers win an awesome prize pack. One lucky
winner will win 2 boxes of each flavor for a total of 10
boxes and a $75.00 value! Yum and Hip Hip Hooray!
You guys are going to love them. To enter just head over to
their web site and take a look around then come back here
and post what you have learned in a comment. The contest
will start tonight and run to midnight on March 8th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Yogavive


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Shred Sled and Bebe Soleil Contests!