Easy Recipes by Sylvestermouse Reviewed

I enjoy cooking for my family.  Like most of us, I prefer recipes that are fast and easy.  Fortunately, I am surrounded by people who appreciate my effort, my recipes and seem to sincerely like the meals placed before them. 

I readily admit that I play in the kitchen.  I play with recipes by changing the ingredients to suit my families tastes.  I play with cupcakes, cookies, desserts, etc, because I enjoy decorating the food.  I mess around with it until I get the desired effect.  

I also enjoy the company of other family members in the kitchen. So much so, that I consider us playing in the kitchen. Since I began writing articles online, I have been periodically sharing highlights of our kitchen adventures so you and your family can be encouraged to "play" in the kitchen. In this article, I will provide links to the different easy recipes and fun articles that I have published. 

I consider that my Recipe for Making Memories in the Kitchen. So, without further ado, let the games begin!   

 

My Own Personal Roast Recipe

This recipe is the result of trial and error.  I just kept playing with different ideas until I found a tasty, tender way to cook a roast in the oven. 

It has become a family favorite and I have allowed it to be published in several charity cookbooks over the last 40 years, but it is still my own original recipe.  Although I was very young when I developed this recipe, I still cook my roast the same way today.

Published on Cooking for the Holidays

 

Having Fun in the Kitchen

I started cooking when I was a child and still living at home with my parents. My sister and I both helped in the kitchen and it was not unusual for us to have real, honest to goodness food fights with the leftovers. We frequently made mashed potato balls and hurled them through the air at each other or any unsuspecting individual who entered the kitchen. We flung spaghetti noodles against the wall and said we were testing it to see if it was done. By dinnertime, there would be 10 or 12 noodles hanging from the wall on spaghetti night.

While I still enjoy throwing pasta noodles against the wall, I have found that test does not work with pasta shells. No matter how many pasta shells I have thrown against the wall, none have ever stuck. Perhaps someday one will stick. I'll just have to keep testing them.

This easy pasta recipe is also shared on Cooking for the Holidays and, if you click it, the link will take you to that website. 

Easy Pasta Recipe - A Family Favorite for Dinner or Side Dish

 

More Easy Dinner Recipes featured on CookingForTheHolidays.com

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 Easy Salmon Loaf Patties Recipe How to Bake Potatoes Chicken Enchiladas Recipe How to Bake a Turkey Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Instant Pot Recipe Homemade Barbeque Recipe for the Best BBQ Sandwiches

 

Click Here for More Dinner Recipes

 

Playing with Ingredients

Working in the kitchen with my sister was fun. We occasionally experimented with the food. Sometimes we would put a little extra pepper in one of our brothers' bowls of stew or add a little something extra to spice up their lives and the dinner table. Oddly enough, the boys consumed whatever we fed them and much to our distress, rarely noticed a difference. I only remember one brother gagging on hot barbecue sauce and believe it or not, we were not responsible.

Of course, there are the recipes from my mother and grandmother that I have never played with, never changed and never shared except on websites I own. My motto for this group of recipes is "you can't improve on perfection, so why try!" 

Directions for making the pizza pictured on right, can be found at Halloween Haven

 

Playing with Your Food Recipes 

These are some of my favorite recipes. They are really step by step instructions on decorating, so I call it playing with my food. Sometimes making these special treats can be messy, but they are always fun as you create your own original work of food art. 

Don't just make these treats alone to serve to your family. Grab your child, your husband, your sister, your mother or even your father and make these treats with your family!  

To see some of my favorite fun food articles, simply click the source link below each photo. That will take you directly to the recipe and tutorials for creating your own fun food.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 How to Decorate Panda Cupcakes How to Decorate a Snake Cake How to Make Marshmallow Flower Cupcakes 4th of July Party Flag Cake Recipe How to Decorate Snowman Cupcakes How to Make a Chocolate Halloween Ghost Castle Cake How to Make a Chocolate Halloween Ghost Train Cake How to Make a Cupcake Pumpkin Cake

 

Teaching an Old Dog, New Tricks

I am happy to say that I married a man who enjoys messing around in the kitchen too! The Breakfast Buddy featured below is his delicious creation and when I wanted to learn how to grill, I asked him to teach me. He has always made the most incredible steaks! In the article below, I share his secrets as I take you step by step through my own "grilling" education.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 Breakfast "Buddy" Sandwich How to Grill the Perfect Steaks Cooking Hamburgers on an Indoor Grill

 

Special Treat and Finger Food Recipes

My family loves fruit and chocolate so it only seems natural for me to dip fruit in chocolate. Once I started dipping fruit, it was impossible to stop! I think I dipped every type of fruit we had in the house, then ran to the grocery store for more. Of course, then I wrote an article about each one.

Here is my collection of dipped fruit recipes. Be very careful though. Chocolate dipped fruit can be very addictive!

Photo Linked to Recipe

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 Chocolate Covered Fruit DIY Recipes

Taking Care of the Cook 

Over the years, I have learned many things about cooking, about family and about fun. The most important thing I have learned, is that the three things go together. Have fun cooking with your family. 

I watched my grandmother and my mother work in the kitchen during every holiday for decades. Too often, they missed out on the fun simply because the party was happening in another room. 

I believe in bringing the party to the kitchen, enlisting help and taking care of the cook. Perhaps, I see it more clearly because now I am the cook, but I love to share ideas with others about how to have more fun with your family, instead of working alone in the kitchen. Believe me, you can create your own load of memories in the kitchen by simply letting others help in the kitchen. 

 

A Lot of Good Food and A Load of Memories 

I think it is because of my experiences and our experiments in the kitchen when I was a child, that I approach the kitchen with humor now. I still cook the old standards passed down from my great grandmother, grandmother and mother, but I enjoy creating new treats for my family too and it is even better when I get "help." 

Over the years, a lot of good food and a load of memories have been made in our kitchen! 

 

Easy Dessert Recipes 

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 Easy Strawberry Trifle Easy Blackberry Cobbler

 

Candy Recipe 

I am not going to tell you this recipe is extremely easy. It seems easy to me because I have been making it for 40+ years, but making candy takes a bit of practice to perfect. 

While I try to walk viewers through the process with photos, I know this is something that is simply learned by trial and error because the outcome when making candy depends so much on the climate of the day, as well as the altitude of a region. 

Here is my mother's Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe. I could never improve on this recipe.  It really is delicious! 

Photo Linked to Recipe

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 Peanut Butter Fudge

 

Easy Beverage Recipes

Take time to relax!  While the food is in the oven, or after all of the work is done,  sit back with your loved ones and enjoy a cup of tea, hot chocolate or perhaps a cool glass of lemonade.  These are the moments you will want to capture and hold for as long as you can.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 Spice Tea Recipe Homemade Lemonade Recipe Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

 Chocolate Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe

 

For a Complete List of All of my Published Recipes
 Click Here to Visit the House of Sylvestermouse Recipes

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Easy Recipes by Sylvestermouse Reviewed Written by:

 

 

This recipe article was originally published by me in 2011 on a different site that no longer exists.
Unless otherwise noted with the individual photo, all Photos are mine and should not be used without written permission.
© Sylvestermouse 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Reviewing Arbonne's 7-Day Fresh Start

Arbonne's 7-Day Fresh Start was developed as a way to support people who wanted to try intermittent fasting. 

I was very intrigued about trying two of the three products in the set - the Morning Matcha and the Golden Renewal Protein, but I really didn't think intermittent fasting would work for me & my lifestyle.

I decided to give it a go whilst I was on a break from both of my jobs. This meant starting my journey on December 31st 2025. 

Read on for my personal experience and my takeaways or go straight to the product and read up about it on the site - 7-Day Fresh Start.

Below is what a sample day on the 7-day fresh start should look like in Australia (in other markets there is a different probiotic supplement, but you take it at the same time as the bioticsticks).

Sample Day (Australia) on 7-Day Fresh Start

I decided that 10am -6pm as my eating window (which was the recommended one) wouldn't work the best for us so I used 11am - 7pm instead. 

I had all of my goodies ready to go, the 7-Day Fresh Start contains 3 products - Morning Matcha sachets, Golden Renewal Protein sachets and a probiotic supplement. The probiotic supplement available is different depending on the market, here in Australia we get the Biotic Sticks which I absolutely love. In the US they have OmniGut Daily Probiotic which isn't available for Australia and New Zealand.

Day One started with my Morning Matcha which I decided to made with boiling water because I have only tried a hot matcha  before. When I made this it smelt very strong and grassy. I was extremely nervous about tasting it as I've only had matcha as a matcha latte with either coconut, almond or oat milk previously. My nerves were totally unjustified as the matcha tasted great! 

I was starting to feel a little 'hangry' about half an hour before I was due to break my fast so I was over the moon when my alarm went off and I could enjoy the Golden Renewal Protein shake. I merely mixed the sachet with water and served it over some ice cubes - not a fan!

The shake gave me Chai vibes with the flavours, I enjoy a warm Chai for a cozy feeling so I'm wondering if it was simply because it was cold that I didn't like it. I do know that my taste buds thought it seemed a little harsh - lucky I was hungry!

The shake also didn't fill me up very much so I was very happy to get stuck into my lunch an hour and a half later. Lunch was a delicious leftover Christmas ham with a couple of different salads.

Another healthy meal for dinner which was supposed to be followed by my probiotic, but I forgot so took it just before bed instead.

Luckily, you can enjoy tea (no milk) while in your fasting window so I was able to enjoy my chamomile tea before bed.

Day 2 - I decided to enjoy an iced Matcha instead of a warm one - I didn't really enjoy it cold, I'm not sure if it's the taste or I have just been programmed over the years to have a hot drink in the mornings.

Mid-morning I had a Clean Tox tea which I enjoyed. I should note that you can have 1-2 Matcha's in the morning, I just enjoy my Clean Tox and it was allowed during fasting so that was my personal choice.

When it was time to enjoy my golden protein renewal shake I decided to add a few things to it as recommended by a friend.

I added the powder to water, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 tsp almond butter and some ice cubes. I blitzed it all up and I enjoyed it which was good. It was also more filling, which was a bonus.

On Day 3, my husband brought me in a cup of Arbonne's Clean Tox tea in the morning as he forgot I was having matcha in the morning. I enjoyed it and then had my matcha about 10am, by 10.30 I had a pit so I was very happy when 11 o'clock came around.

This time I made my shake with:

• almond milk
• Golden Renewal Protein powder
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 tsp almond butter
• 3 ice cubes

I blitzed this all up and decided that this was the best way to have the shake. It's the way I proceeded to have it for the remaining days.

On Day 4 I woke up and although I was up early and hadn't had as long in bed as the previous couple of nights I was feeling really energized. After checking my smart watch I saw that I had a really good deep sleep and REM sleep. I'm not sure if it was related to the 7-Day Fresh Start or not, but I was scoring in the 90s for my sleep quality from night 3 through until the end of the 7 days (I'm usually in the 80s as I don't always clock enough REM sleep).

We were out for the day so I had a matcha in the morning and made a travel mug of Clean Tox tea to take - usually we will go through a drive-thru for coffee on this trip was and as that was a no-no on the plan, I was hoping that this would keep me from missing my coffee. We also blended up the Golden Renewal protein shake and popped it in a cooler box in the car.

The clean tox tea really did the trick and I didn't even miss my coffee stop! I drank my protein shake in the car with the most amazing views as we were up in a mountain range looking out for miles.

When I woke up on Day 5 I noticed that I was feeling really slim - I hadn't realized that I'd been bloated before starting this program, but I was certainly noticing how un-bloated I was from Day 5 onwards.

My Results from the 7-Day Fresh Start

I lost 700g which wasn't a lot compared to what some people have lost, but I had eaten out a couple of times and didn't really worry about eating as well as I could have so I was impressed. I was sleeping better and, as I said previously, it removed some of my bloating. I also had more energy.

My Takeaways from the 7-Day Fresh Start

I don't think that intermittent fasting is for me (I work a couple of jobs and one of them starts quite early so I think I need to eat breakfast beforehand), but I can see why people rave about it.

What I have been doing and will continue to do is stop eating by 7pm every night

Want to try it for yourself? grab your 7-day fresh start set right here!

A note: the Morning Matcha box contains 30 serves of the matcha (which also contains MCT oil), so even if you had two a day instead of the 1 I had you would have servings left. 

I am enjoying them even though I've finished this program. I also think are even nicer with some almond milk as a latte and it's because of this product's popularity that you can now purchase it on it's own. Check out my shopfront and just search matcha.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Spice Tea Recipe Shared and Reviewed

My Award Winning Spice Tea Recipe

We could all use a moment of relaxation with a cup of spice tea, especially during the busiest time of the year. 

The holidays are often hectic and tiring, but in the end they are always filled with wonderful memories. Each year my family gathers together for the festivities. Since my siblings and their families live in different states of the US, there is a lot of travel involved, a lot of planning and a lot of cooking. My mother leads the pack and tries very hard to coordinate everyone and everything. Sometimes just finding a bed for everyone can be challenging. I am the only one of my parents' children who still lives in our hometown so I am frequently honored with guests. 

With so many people around and so much going on for days, my sister and I seek out moments to slip away from the crowd and sip tea, giggle and share the latest gossip. A pillow fight is definitely not out of the question. Occasionally our mother, my daughter or a sister-in-law will join us, but this little meeting always begins with me, my sister and a cup of tea. 

It is with this cherished time together in mind, that I wish to share our Spice Tea Recipe with you. I hope you find a few moments to slip away with a loved one and share a cup of tea. 

 

Award Winning Spice Tea Recipe

Prep Time	Ready In	Yields
10 min	10 min	Approx. 50 ~ Depends on tea strength per cup

Ingredients 

• 2 - 27 oz. Jars of Orange Drink (like Tang) 
• 12 oz. Lemonade dry mix (like Countrytime) 
• 1 cup Instant Tea 
• 2 cups Sugar 
• 1 teaspoon Cloves 
•  2 teaspoon Cinnamon 

 

Instructions 

Simply mix everything together. Add 2 teaspoons of tea mix to 1 cup of hot water for one lovely cup of hot tea. 

Just remember, if you are using a mug, it will require approx. 3 teaspoons of tea to make a tantalizing cup of tea. 

Store in an air-tight container

 

An Easy Gift 

Simply fill a canning jar, an empty jelly jar or any small container with Spice Tea. If you are using a canning jar, cut a square of material with pinking shears and cover the top of the jar. 

You may also want to include a recipe card with the recipe for the recipient.  I know I always appreciate a new recipe. 

Voila! A delicious and easy gift! 

 

 Country Time LemonadeCheck Price Tang Orange PowderedCheck Price Lipton Black TeaCheck Price McCormick Ground CinnamonCheck Price McCormick Ground ClovesCheck Price

Pretty Canning Jars 

Select a pretty jar for your Spice Tea gift. I actually really like this Bormioli Rocco Fido Latch Canning Jar, not only because it is attractive, but because it has a tight seal to seal in freshness so the spice tea will last longer.

 Bormioli Rocco Fido 17.5 Ounce Glass Storage Jars: Airtight Hinged Lid With Leak Proof Gasket, Wide Mouth Food ContainerCheck Price

 

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow 

After several days of company, we are all usually exhausted and in need of a long winters nap. I always like to send treats home with my guests and packing some of the remaining tea is just the right thing. When they get back home and have that moment to unwind, then they can fix a cup of Spice Tea and allow the fragrance of the tea to return them to the memory of our time together. 

The jar pictured on the right, is the container that held the original gift of Spice Tea given to me by my sister 35+ years ago. The tea is long since gone, but the refillable container and the memory remains.

Each year I refill this little jar and hide it as my personal reserve!

 

Contest Award  

I entered this recipe in the Squidoo Website Thanksgiving Cookoff (for Charity). It was one of the contest winners, therefore the charity I support, National Wildlife Federation's Alaska Regional Center, received $1000. 

I hope you enjoy -- and if you do, don't be shy, spread the word!

 

Acknowledgement Letter from $1000 recipient, National Wildlife Federation Alaska 

Sylvestermouse, many, many thanks from the small staff of the National Wildlife Federation Alaska office for earning us a $1,000 Squidoo donation. This is amazing! You have helped support our work in youth leadership cultivation, sustainable tourism, climate change policy, getting families outdoors, and protecting wildlife and habitat in the great State of Alaska! 
Also, BIG THANKS to Squidoo for making it all possible 
... 
Signed, Heather McGee, on behalf of our staff of 5 plus 1 AmeriCo

 

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Spice Tea Recipe Shared and Reviewed Written by:

ALL PHOTOS ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF SYLVESTERMOUSE 

This recipe article was originally published by me in 2009 on a different site that no longer exists. 

© 2009 Cynthia Sylvestermouse 

 

 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Cozy Mystery Review-Murder at Cape Costumers

In her latest book in "A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery", Maddie Day again brings together all of the interesting characters in a small Cape Cod town's book club.  The book group is dedicated to reading and discussing cozy mysteries, but when a real murder mystery happens in their small town they feel a need to help the police uncover the murderer.

Synopsis of the Book

In a charming village on Cape Cod, a Halloween murder shocks the community.  Enzo, the victim, is found dressed as a skeleton. A group of amateur sleuths from a local cozy mystery book club can't resist the urge to investigate, despite the police warning them to stay out of it.  As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of secrets and motives among the villagers, including the new owners of the costume shop, Shelly and Harini, an investment advisor, and the victim's nephew.  Can the book club solve the crime before they become the next victims?

The Book on Amazon

Maddie Days books can be found on Amazon in paperback, audible and kindle versions.  Here is a link to all 7 of the Cozy Capers Bookclub Mysteries.  Cozy Capers Book CLub

More Cozy Mystery Reviews

I always enjoy a good cozy mystery and so do many of the other writers for Review This.  Here are a few of the cozy mysteries we have reviewed.

• Murder on Cape Cod  This is another Maddie Day mystery.
  
• Tea by Sea   Wednesday Elf reviews this cozy mystery.
  
• Irish Village Mystery series  Margaret reviews a mystery series that takes place in an Irish Village.
  
• Toes on the Dash  This delightful cozy mystery series takes place in Colorado, and the main character is a high heeled tow truck driver.
  
• The Lighthouse Keeper  Lou reviews this cozy mystery that takes place by a lighthouse.
  
• Everything Bundt the Truth  This cozy mystery is one of a series that takes place around dinner parties.
  

 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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From Morning Brew to Dinner for Two

Begin your day with your favorite morning brew and end it with a delicious dinner. The contributing writers here on ReviewThis! have written a selection of reviews to help you decide which drink and dinner will nicely fill out your day. 

Your Morning Brew

No matter whether you prefer coffee, tea or cocoa, a warming drink first thing in the morning is a nice way to start off your day. 

Coffee Reviews

• A Review of Hawaiian Kona Coffee written by Wednesday Elf
• Don Francisco Coffee Review written by Heather426

Tea Reviews

• Hot Tea Recipes for Fall and Winter Reviewed, written by Sylvestermouse Cynthia
• Aveda Tea Reviewed written by Sylvestermouse Cynthia
• A Review of Twinnings Chai Tea written by Wednesday Elf
• Why Drink Peppermint Tea written by Lou16
• Reviewing Arbonne CleanTox Herbal Tea written by Lou16
• A Review of My Favorite Teas from Bigelow and Celestial Seasoning written by BarbRad
• An Unusual, Delicious Strawberry Chocolate Tea with 0 Calories written by Margaret Schindel
• Reviewing the Republic of Tea Ginger Peach written by Dawn Rae
• Review of Lifestyle Awareness Teas written by BarbRad
• Reviewing Twinings Chamomile Honey and Vanilla Tea written by Lou16
• Lipton Cold Brew Iced Black Tea Bags Reviewed written by Sylvestermouse
• Cafe Escapes Chai Latte Keurig Single Serve K-Cup Pods Reviewed written by Sylvestermouse
• Spiced Tea and Honey Nut Bread - The Perfect Snack written by Tracey Boyer

Hot Chocolate/Cocoa Reviews

• Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa K-Cups Reviewed written by Sylvestermouse
• Chocolate Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe and Review written by Sylvestermouse
• The Best Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa Bombs written by Margaret Schindel
• The Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe written by Margaret Schindel 

Dinner for Two…. or More

Recipe reviews for dinnertime, for two or for the whole family.

Main dish meals from comfort foods such as meatloaf, to casseroles, slow cooked meals, and oven baked dishes. From the kitchens of the Review This! writers. 

• Buttery Pasta and Shrimp Recipe Review written by Wednesday Elf
• Easy Sausage and Penne Pasta Bake Recipe written by Sylvestermouse
• Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Dinner Recipe written by Sylvestermouse
• Mollie’s Meatloaf Recipe written by Wednesday Elf
• 4 Ingredient Beefy Mushroom Roast - Easy Slow Cooker Meal written by Dawn Rae
• Easy Homemade Calzone Recipe written by Sam Monaco
• Extra Crispy Chicken Tenders written by Sam Monaco
• Spaghetti with Diced Tomatoes and Artichoke Hearts written by Sam Monaco
• Crock Pot Ribs Recipe Review written by Sylvestermouse

Summary

So, from morning time to dinner time, there’s a favorite drink or a delicious recipe for your eating and drinking pleasure. Try one out and enjoy. 

*Compiled from the archives of ReviewThisReviews.com

 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Bread Slicing Made Easy ~ A Product Review

Alright everyone, just in case you didn't notice, it is now October and the seasons are a changing!  It means that the daylight hours are getting shorter and our habits are changing as well.  

When it's cooler in the morning, there is something magical about nice warm bread with your morning cup of tea or coffee.

When the seasons change we just change right along with them.  Baking seems to be the one thing that my other half just enjoys so much more in the cooler months.  I guess I can't blame him. Who would want to be in a hot kitchen when it's 80 or more outside?

So now that the temperature is dropping, the oven doesn't seem like the enemy any more.

So quite often I am awakened to the smell of fresh baking bread and like a zombie, I find my way into the kitchen to see what is going on.  The oven door is open and a fresh loaf of bread is cooling on the rack.  I think I have died and gone to heaven.

Now here is the problem, both of us have issues with slicing bread nicely.  When you want a sandwich, you want some bread and some filling.  We tend to get lots of bread and a little filling.  There is no consistency to how thick or thin the slices are.  

Well leave it up to him to find a solution.  Did you know that there are bread slicing guides that can make slicing bread easier?  Well there are and they are a great solution to our problem.  With this bread slicing guide, you can have uniform thin slices or you can still have thick ones too ( if that's your choice ).

Your fingers are never too close to the blade and the crumbs just drop within the slicer so that the mess on the table or counter is minimized.  And you get bread crumbs too!  It is a win-win situation.

It has lots of slots in it so that whatever type of bread you are trying to slice, your slicing guide is adjustable to fit the loaf or baguette or bagel that you choose to cut! It is adjustable to suit whatever size loaf you put in it.  

Some of the features of this slicer is:

• dishwasher safe
• durable, made of high quality plastic
• non slip base
• easy to assemble 

So far this little helper has been a life saver for us. Now we can have our bread in nice uniform slices without any stress or guessing.  Every time we have used it, it has proven itself a winner.

You can get yours here on Amazon or you can choose another style that will suit your needs. Just know that once you have one of these, you won't go back to eyeballing how thick or thin your bread slices will be!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Reviewing Six Key Gardening Tasks To Do In Autumn

 

Autumn is one of my favourite times of year. I love the still warm yet mellow sunshine, the quieter days and slowing down of nature, the still long days but earlier nights, the sound of the rain and the slight crispness in the air. 

It all marks a transition time in the garden, there are still gorgeous vibrant autumn flowers and lots of green leaves and activity, yet we are very much leaving summer behind with every passing day. There are more seedheads and rosehips and berries in our gardens. In this time there are some key jobs we need to do now in the garden to clear, prepare and organise to get ready for winter and the spring to come. 

1. Tidying Up The Garden(with caveats.)

I usually start my autumn tasks with taking stock of what I have and what did well and what did badly. I also clear out some of the old plant material and do some cutting back. In this clearing phase I am very mindful of nature and that we do need to leave lots of cover for insects and small creatures so they can live and survive the autumn and winter. So I tend to curate the tidying up and only do what is absolutely necessary. 

I do clear out all the annuals from pots. They have grown, boomed, faded and set seed and completed their cycle. The plant itself can be discarded or put on the compost heap. I tend to tip out any loose compost onto the garden soil. Then I clean out all the pots.

With the Perennial flowers I prune them back for tidiness where needed, but leave as many seedheads and stalks for wildlife to feed on and hide in during the winter months. These can always be tidied up in the spring for a neater look.

Do be careful what you prune though, many plants and shrubs should not be pruned right now as any new growth or exposed branches may be susceptible to frost. Spring flowering shrubs should not be pruned now or you will be cutting off all the flowers.  If in doubt leave them now. 

 If I had a greenhouse I would now bring in tender plants, but instead I start getting out my fleece to cover these plants for the winter. 

All my evergreens are pruned now so that they will maintain their shape throughout winter and as they are the backbone of the garden in winter its important they look nice. 

It won't be very long before leaves start turning all their beautiful colours and then falling to the ground. I tend to leave these leaves in the borders where the worms will do their thing and take them in to the soil and above soil leaves will provide shelter for tiny insects. 

However I do clear leaves from the paths where they could become soggy in the rain and slippery underfoot. I also clear them from any gravel and the garden lawn as they are not good for the grass where they can cause fungal disease and in gravel they just look messy as they decompose. 

Flowers like forget me nots are way past their best now. Do not just cut them down though. They can be lifted and divided then replanted in new places around the garden to make a bigger better display next year. Lift the whole clump, divide it gently with your hands being careful to gather enough of the root system and replant about a foot apart in new locations.

2. Caring for Lawns and Grass

Spring and Autumn are key times for lawn care and renovation. In many ways now Autumn is a better time.

Our spring was so dry  that although i sowed new grass seed with the lack of rain it made watering a time consuming chore and then we had four heatwaves which scorched the grass and turned a large part of it brown. As we had a hosepipe ban we could not water it, but I knew that most grass recovers once it gets some rain.

So now in Autumn there is a chance to nurture the grass again and give it a better chance to recover.  I start with scarifying the soil, so raking it with a lawn rake, which gets rid of all the dead thatch.

Then I use a fork in the soil every few inches to aerate the soil. After that a lawn feed is a good idea and it sets the lawn up for a good season.

To read more about overseeding a lawn please read Reviewing Overseeding A Lawn With Grass Seed.

Autumn is also the time for a final cut of the lawn. We hardly mowed our lawn this year due to the hot sunny weather and heatwaves. However now it has had some rain and grown and greened up we can give it a light trim before winter. I prefer to use a manual lawnmower and review the drawbacks and benefits here

3. Planting Plans

Autumn/Fall is a good time to review our planting in the garden and I usually increase my stock and plant beautiful spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths during September and October. If you grow vegetables it is time to sow over wintering onions and garlic which are a good crop and useful in the kitchen. Tulips should be planted a little later during October and November. 

I love doing this as although we rapidly approach winter, it is an act of joy that soon after Spring will arrive.

We have enough established shrubs and roses now. However, if you are wanting to plant any shrubs, hedges, trees or roses, it is more economical to buy bare root varieties now and plant in Autumn so that they can establish well before the winter and then they will settle and start to grow well in the springtime.

It is also a good time to move established shrubs that need moving to a better place to give them time t establish and then grow on in Spring. Even if it is rainy do always settle them in with a good drink of water and if there are dry spells you may need to keep watering yourself for a while. Always water deeply to make sure it reaches the roots.

4. Mulching Borders

For borders it is a good idea to lay down a good mulch now to protect plants and nurture the soil. Mulch can be organic like bark or compost or inorganic like pebbles or slate compost to name a few options.

Just ensure you mulch a couple of inches deep and keep a few inches of space around the base of any shrub and trees stems or trunks. More Information On Reviewing The Benefits Of Garden Mulch 

5.Pruning Shrubs, Hedges And Roses

At this time of year I prune my tea and shrub roses, this is not the big prune but rather just a light cutting back so that they do not get caught up in the wind and suffer root rock as they sway. Therefore prune about a third off the top with secateurs or loppers. However if you like the rose hips you will need to leave them or prune very lightly

For climbers I do prune off any long whippy stems I don't want in September. This is mainly to prevent them from flying around in the wind and becoming a hazard. A little later on I will be tying in the stems I want and recreating the framework for beautiful roses next year.

For pruners nearly every gardener has their favourites and it is very personal. You need to balance grip, weight, cutting power, ease of use and comfort overall. For me I like the Fiskars and the Wolf ranges.

Hedges that could not be cut before due to birds nesting are now perfectly fine to prune back and Autumn is a good time to do it so it stays tidy all winter. 

 Fiskars Pruning Shears for Gardening, Multipurpose 8" Garden Shears with Sheath and SoftGrip HandleCheck Price

 

6. Taking Care Of Wildlife In The Garden

Looking after or caretaking wildlife to me is a crucial part of gardening. Here in UK we are losing so much natural habitat that nature is increasingly reliant on our gardens to survive.

While August is a very quiet time in our garden for birds, come September and October they start coming back into the garden. It is a great idea to have a birdbath as water is more important than most of us realise.

Birds, insects and small mammals become more reliant on our gardens for food sources. This can be food we put out in bird feeders to the berries and seeds and roots in our gardens. In UK Hedgehogs require shelters such as log piles, leaf litter or bespoke hedgehog houses to live in during the colder months.

Insects and spiders need wild areas to shelter in and hunt from. So hollow stems of flowers, seed heads, leaf litter on soil it all helps them to live. So it hugely benefits these creatures to not be too tidy in our gardens. 

For More ideas Reviewing How To Help Wildlife In our Gardens

 BACKYARD EXPRESSIONS PATIO · HOME · GARDEN 912449-WB Outdoor Garden Bird Bath- Bronze- Weather Resistant Polyresin-30 InchCheck Price

 

Garden Tools We Need In Autumn

• Lawnmower
• Brush 
• Rake
• Fork
• Spade
• Secateurs- I like my Wolf Bypass Secateurs
• Loppers
• Bulb planter
• Handheld Trowel and Fork

Some people have said to me that gardening ends in September, but for me there is such a lot to do in order to help wildlife, keep the garden looking good and healthy and safe for us.

Autumn/Fall is a lovely time to be outside, nice and cool, with often some mellow sunshine and lots of wildlife to watch and plants to find in our gardens to fascinate us.

Read More Gardening Reviews on ReviewThisGardening.com

Read Diary Of A Wild Country Garden Blog

Read More Product Reviews on ReviewThisProducts.com

Reviewing Six Key Gardening Tasks To Do In Autumn By Raintree Annie

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