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Monday, November 23, 2020

Review: Liven Up Your Zoom Background With A Green Chromakey Backdrop

Have you ever wondered how it seems everyone in a virtual meeting has THE perfect office as seen from the background of the camera. The perfect bookshelves, the perfectly clean office, the perfectly arranged room which shines from behind on the computer screen.

It is an illusion. An illusion provided by a green chromakey backdrop ala the green screen we are used to seeing in the creation of movies with special effects. The green screen is now available for online meetings and the ZOOM platform does make it very easy to switch in and out your favorite background.

As working at home is the new normal for many or for seasoned virtual workers, the Chromakey Green Backdrop is a great gift or stocking stuffer! This is the gift any virtual employee will appreciate and may not want to buy, but will love receiving.

A gift certificate to iron (see below!) and install the backdrop would be an added bonus!

How To Hang The Backdrop

What is key for this backdrop is your iron! Yes, I am not a fan of ironing. But as noted by many of the over 2,000 reviews the backdrop must be free of wrinkles to work properly. Have you ever been in a ZOOM meeting where one person seems to fade in and out of their background? A wrinkle is probably to blame.

The illusion is slightly ruined when a face starts dropping in and out of the gorgeous window we thought?! was in the office. After the ironing is complete the installation of the Green Backdrop is very easy.

Installation Tips

Avoid breezes, fans, air ducts and heat return ducts! Air flow will create the same effect as a wrinkle. Viewers will suddenly find yourself in your actual room instead of the virtual background of your choice when the air conditioning or heat turns on.

My green backdrop is now hung with an inexpensive curtain rod at the top of the wall. If you'd like to try out the backdrop first before investing in a hardware or putting holes in the wall then the backdrop can be adhered to a blank wall with painters tape. Again, the backdrop still needs to be ironed.

The permanent but portable solution is to purchase a backdrop frame on wheels. This looks similar to a rolling luggage rack and allows the backdrop to be easily moved from room to room or from desktop to a laptop in a different room. The backdrop does come with hanging clips for the installment option which works best for your virtual office.

Where To Find Fun And Free Zoom Backgrounds

Once your backdrop is ironed and ready to go then the fun can begin with shopping for backgrounds. A multitude of free resources exist to download backgrounds. Travel from the artic to the tropics to the office you wish you had! with the click of a download.

A few favorites to shop for ZOOM backgrounds:

Unsplash Sleek and modern

Pexels Huge variety from all parts of the world!

Good Housekeeping (Hallmark fan alert, there are Hallmark backgrounds!)

and ZOOM

Shop around the web and find the background to make your virtual meeting just a little more interesting!

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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Sunday, November 22, 2020

5 Health Related Gift Ideas

Review of 5 Health-Related Gift Ideas

Especially during Covid times, health-related gifts are something to consider.

Some people may have had enough thinking about Covid and prefer not to be reminded of it via gifts. However, these items are practical beyond this crazy time.

Here's a List of Health-Related Gift Ideas

Product Page Featuring the Items Listed Below Is Here

1. A Pulse Oximeter

We recently bought a pulse oximeter; it's similar to this one. Ours requires two AAA batteries. After watching endless news reports on how tracking your oxygen levels with Covid is wise, I decided we needed to have one on hand. According to medical experts, Covid may cause your oxygen levels to drop quickly, so tracking is important. Fortunately, so far we've avoided the Covid nightmare here (knock-on-wood), but just to be safe, I ordered one.

2. A Blood Pressure Device

Several people in my family have one of these on hand. I decided, yep, time for us to get with the program. I have the blood-pressure monitor app on my phone; however, it's a bit awkward. The Health App is handy when you're on the road, but an actual blood pressure device is nice to have in the home. On the above product page, you'll notice they range in price from lower to higher.

3. Face Masks

One year ago, would we have ever considered face-masks as a gift-thing? The world is slipping off its axis or something. Most of us have masks now, but a lovely gift idea is personalizing it to the user's taste. I would love something that fits my personality and likes. I'm too busy to hunt for them or make them; I need someone else to do it for me, lol.

4. Air Purifiers & Humidifiers

Not just during Covid times, but all year round, an air purifier serves a valuable purpose; it cleans the air. Since most of us resist purchasing what we consider 'extras,' this item makes both a thoughtful and practical gift. Who wouldn't love to get one of these? When you visit the product page (link is above), you'll notice they can be a bit expensive depending on the one you choose. When pooling resources, this makes a quality gift.

If an air purifier is out of the price range, consider a small table-top humidifier. They're especially useful for apartment dwellers. We purchased several a few years ago and gave them out as gifts. They were very much appreciated.

5. Adjustable Thermostats

We have one, as most people do. If a loved one or friend doesn't happen to have an adjustable thermostat, consider it a practical gift. Check out the Google Nest Auto Learning Thermostat as well. Ours is a different brand and not self-learning, but we use it for both heat and air conditioning. I have various times of the day stored at different temperatures. Very handy. Highly recommended.

Build a Personalized Health-Related Gift Basket
Consider making a health gift basket with cold and flu products, a thermometer, masks, healthy juices, boost, bandaids, vitamins, candles, creams, and lotions - throw in a book or two.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas <3

P.S. - I'm not a doctor or medical professional - These recommendations are strictly my personal suggestions.

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Saturday, November 21, 2020

Reviewing Regional Thanksgiving Dinners

Thanksgiving dinners in America, and the dishes we serve, may seem to be the traditional dinner everyone eats on this most thankful day of the year. Not so. What each family considers to be the perfect dishes on this 'turkey day' may be completely different to someone living in a different part of the country. What is traditional for you depends on where you live and also the culture you grew up in. Let's explore a few different regions and see what is commonly served for Thanksgiving dinner.

*A few recipe links are sprinkled throughout the following food descriptions if you want to try adding them to your Thanksgiving menu.

Turkey or Other Main Meats

Baked turkey with stuffing is the traditional Thanksgiving Day main dish.
Fried turkey is popular in the South, especially in Texas.
Ham is often served in addition to turkey, especially for large gatherings.

Stuffing

Image Source: Pixabay

The South prefers cornbread stuffing with their turkey
In the New England states you will find clams or oysters mixed with the breadcrumbs in the stuffing.
In the Northeast, the stuffing is made with sausage.
The Southwest is known for their Tex-Mex style stuffing due to their large Latino population. A favorite one is Blue Cornmeal Chorizo Stuffing, which includes Chorizo sausage and serrano peppers in the blue corn bread crumbs.

Side Dishes

Image Sources: Pixabay & AllRecipes

Creamed onions made with pearl onions and heavy cream is a tradition in New England.
Saurkraut is a staple for Thanksgiving dinner in Maryland, particularly in Baltimore due to their large German-American population. And Maryland crab cakes and corn-on-the-cob is often served.
Italian-Americans in New Jersey & parts of New York State traditionally serve Manicotti (ricotta-stuffed crepe pasta topped with marinara sauce) before the turkey is served. Or lasagna and baked ziti with meatballs are known to grace the table as well.
The Northeastern quadrant of the country insists on homemade cranberry relish or sauce with this holiday dinner.
The West and Southwest states serve a sweetened, fruity pasta salad which is made with pasta, pineapples, mandarin oranges, Cool Whip, and marshmallow topping. It's called Frog Eye Salad.
In Utah, Jell-O salad is an important side dish for Thanksgiving dinner.
The most traditional side dish in the Midwest is Green Bean Casserole.
In the upper Midwest, German Potato Salad is a favorite side dish.
In Minnesota and Wisconsin, wild rice casserole is a tradition. Ingredients include mushrooms, pecans, and onions, and other variations.

Desserts

Image Source: Pixabay

Pumpkin pie always seems to be the traditional Thanksgiving dessert, but this is actually a mainly Northeastern states dessert.
The South is famous for their Sweet Potato Pie.
New England is known for it's Hasty Pudding (originally known as Indian Pudding), a delicious and simple dessert made with cornmeal, molasses, brown sugar, and spices. It's usually topped with whipped cream or scoop of ice cream.
The Midwest Region favors Cherry Pie over Pumpkin.

Other Regional T-Day Dinner Traditions

Source: Pixabay

In New Mexico and other Southwestern states, the food word is 'spicy'. It's popular to add chile to everything, gravy, stuffing, and even a chile-rub for the turkey.
Southern traditions include a large variety of foods for the Thanksgiving table, including several types of macaroni and cheese, okra pickles, cornbread, and sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping. And, of course, lots of collard greens.

Happy Thanksgiving

What is your favorite dish or combination of dishes for Thanksgiving Dinner?

Whatever your Thanksgiving menu includes, the contributors of ReviewThisReviews wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

More Thanksgiving Holiday Recipes and Reviews on ReviewThisReviews

*Regional Thanksgiving Dinners written by (c) Wednesday Elf (11/21/2020)

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Friday, November 20, 2020

White Turkey Serving Platter for the Holidays Reviewed

One of the first gifts my husband's grandmother gave me, was a large white turkey platter. At the time, I had no idea what a treasure this one serving tray would become to our family. It is now a part of our holiday tradition.

Thirty-five years ago, my mother hosted Thanksgiving in her home and we all gathered at my grandmother's home for Christmas. Both women cooked a lot for the holidays, but my mother always cooked the turkey for both celebrations. Clearly, I didn't have a need for the large turkey platter when I first received it, but I still loved having it.

Over the years, responsibilities have shifted as needed. Mom & I prepare the holiday food together, but we moved the cooking to my home for convenience when my children were younger. The hosting house of the day of the actual meal varies and is determined by the number in attendance or convenience. I don't remember exactly when it happened, but baking the turkey became my primary responsibility when cooking for the holidays, and that large turkey platter became a necessity.

Since my Christmas china platters are not large enough for a turkey, I use the large white turkey platter at Christmas too. Because it is white, it is the perfect compliment for my Christmas china.

HIC Turkey Oversized Serving PlatterCheck Price

White Turkey Platter

There are several beautifully colored turkey platters, but I prefer my white turkey platter. It coordinates with almost any china and looks pretty in any room regardless of the table settings or wall colors.

The embossed (raised) fruit pattern around the edge adds a touch of elegance to Mr. Turkey and is perfect for the holiday season.

The porcelain platter on the right, which is similar to my platter, is microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher safe, which makes using it a lot more pleasurable.

It is 17½" wide, large enough for a a whole turkey if desired. We usually slice our turkey before serving.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Breath - Book Review

Dear Nose,

I am so sorry. I didn't realize how much I was taking you for granted. I should have appreciated you more. Now that I finally know how much I need you—how much you mean to me—I hope it is not too late to make a new start. Will you forgive me? I promise to make it up to you.

Love, Me

Yeah. So okay. That was long overdue. It wasn't until I read Breath, by James Nestor, that I discovered the error of my ways. It's like missing a truth that is staring you right in the face. How is it that we miss the things that are right in front of us every day?

I must say Breath is, by far, one of the most stunning books I have ever read. As a lifelong athlete, and former coach, I thought I knew quite a bit about proper breathing. Wrong!

This book was a journey of discovery... a revelation. After the first few pages, I lost count of the epiphanies I was having—or that were having me. The author had me at this:

the greatest indicator of life span wasn't genetics, diet, or the amount of daily exercise, as many had suspected. It was lung capacity.

And, it turns out, we can increase our lung capacity by 30-40 percent just by knowing how to breathe right. If that is the case, why wouldn't we want to learn how to do so? Who doesn't want to live longer and with greater wellness?

This book blends the author's personal quest to find solutions to his own health crises while seeking out other "pulmonauts" who are finding new, and old, ways of helping their patients address any number of serious medical conditions: immune disorders, high blood pressure, weight challenges, anxiety, asthma, sleep apnea, dental issues, and so much more.

We learn that 90 percent of us do not breathe correctly. Also, those who are least healthy among us are overbreathing. Overbreathing? Did we ever imagine too much breathing could be bad? Or that too little carbon dioxide was harming us? How much is too much or too little? What is the right amount? How do we achieve that balance? What is the proper breathing rhythm? How can we attain that?

And then there is mouthbreathing vs. nosebreathing. The negatives of mouthbreathing, as illustrated by the author's own clinical experimentation, should be more than enough to make every single one of us avoid it like the plague. Who knew just how bad the effects could be?

But wait, there's more: left nostril vs. right nostril breathing. Ever thought about that? No? Neither had I. Breathe through the left, lower body temperature and blood pressure—reduce anxiety. Breathe through the right, speed up circulation, heat up your body, and increase your heart rate.

Which brings us to this: What is the deal about the erectile tissue in the nose? Um, I'll let you read about that for yourself. That was probably my first big shock while reading Breath.

There is so much more that will astound you when you read Breath. This book is filled with wonder. It left me with a completely new sense of awe for my body and how everything is so intricately, and beautifully, connected to my breathing. I gained renewed hope in discovering just how resilient and malleable our organs, and vital systems, can be when we know how to take simple health-reversing actions.

Throughout my life, whenever asked what part of my body I disliked the most, I always said it was my nose. I'll never feel that way again after learning the truth about the magnificence of my nose. It is so much more than the first line of defense against the invaders that would cause me harm. I have gained such a tremendous respect and appreciation for what my nose does for me every second of every day.

In a single breath, more molecules of air will pass through your nose than all the grains of sand on all the world's beaches—trillions and trillions of them. As they make their way toward you, they'll twist and spool like the stars in a Van Gogh sky...

There is something to be gained by everyone who delves into the mystery we call breathing. Every 3.3 seconds we have the opportunity for transformation. Breathe it in... and be the brilliance of that Van Gogh sky.

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Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Flippy Tablet, Kindle, Phone, and Book Stand Lap Pillow Review

Today, I'm sharing my product review of the innovative Flippy lap pillow stand, which is one of my favorite recent purchases, With just a flip of the wrist, you can change from the viewing angle of this versatile, multi-function media holder that can alternate duties as a tablet stand, Kindle or other e-reader stand, mobile phone stand, and book stand.

Flippy Tablet Stand Lap Pillow With 3 Viewing Angles

My spiffy Flippy tablet stand pillow can hold my Fire HD 10 tablet, Kindle Paperwhite e-reader, iPhone, or printed books at three different viewing angles, in portrait or landscape orientation.

During this year's special two-day Amazon Prime Day event, my husband and scored some terrific products at significant discounts. Our two splurges were a 2020 model Toshiba 32-inch Smart HD Fire TV edition to replace the ancient, bulky, and very heavy cathode-ray-tube (CRT) set in our bedroom, and a new 10-inch Amazon Fire HD tablet to replace my entry-level 2013 Apple iPad Mini tablet (whose iOS operating system, browsers, and apps can't be updated with currently supported software versions). Even my husband, who got himself an 8-inch Fire HD tablet during last year's Prime Day event, was extremely impressed with how much better the picture quality was and how much larger the display area was compared to his Fire HD 8 tablet.

Tip: Prime Day deals are just one of many valuable perks for Amazon Prime members only. If you haven't yet joined the program, you can sign up for the generous free 30-day Amazon Prime trial membership offer to experience the many exclusive, members-only contents, deals, and other benefits, so you can determine if they're worth more to you than the annual membership fee.

Meet Flippy, the Multi-Viewing-Angle Pillow Stand for Tablets, eReaders, Smartphone, Books and Magazines

As soon as I ordered my new 9th generation Fire HD 10 tablet, I started searching for an attractive and well-made tablet cover that was designed specifically for that model, and that had an auto sleep/wake feature and a built-in stand that offered multiple viewing angles and worked in both portrait and landscape orientations. I purchased one of the few that met all those criteria, the Grifobes Fire HD 10 tablet cover, even after reading reviews about the limited range of viewing angles. The only real downside was the lack of a 45- to 50-degree viewing angle option One of the reviewers recommended getting a pillow stand, which I had never heard of, as a workaround. That led me to do an Amazon search for pillow tablet stands. That's how I discovered the Flippy Multi-Angle Soft Pillow Lap Stand for Tablets, eReaders, Smartphones, Books, Magazines.

The Flippy was unlike anything I had seen before. It appeared to be an elongated, triangular pillow whose sides met at three different angles, with each apex curving down over the adjacent side, like a cresting wave. Even after reading the product title twice and looking at the photo in the search results, I still had no idea how a "multi angle soft pillow lap stand" was used or how to change the viewing angle.

To change the viewing angle of your Flippy pillow stand,
just flip it so one of the other two long sides is facing you.

Still, I was intrigued by the unusual shape, soft materials and cushioned construction that made the Flippy so different from any of the other tablet or smartphone stand models I had seen. The impressive average 4.7-star customer rating from nearly 6,000 Amazon reviewers made me even more curious about the advantages of this lap pillow style, multi-angle tablet, Kindle, and smartphone stand over more traditional mobile device stands or tablet covers with built-in stands and multiple viewing angles. I also noticed that other companies were selling knock-offs of the original Flippy multi-angle tablet stand lap pillow, further strengthened my sense that there was something special about it that made it worthy of a closer look.

Three Sides of Different Heights Provide Three Distinctly Different Viewing Angles

By flipping this triangular pillow lap stand on its horizontal axis to change which side of the Flippy is facing toward you allows you to move through the following three options, in order, and choose the one that best suits your position and viewing angle preference:

8.5” tall, 49° viewing angle
6.6” tall, 61° viewing angle
7.9” tall, 70° viewing angle

Comparison of Viewing Angle Choices

Side-by-side comparison diagram of Flippy tablet pillow stand's 70°, 61°, and 49° viewing angles

Each side of the Flippy lap pillow table stand provides a different choice of viewing angle

If you want your tablet, your ebook reader, or mobile phone screen to be at the 49° viewing angle, which I prefer when I have the stand sitting in my lap (or resting on my outstretched legs while I'm sitting up in bed), browsing my Amazon Prime Video watchlist in portrait orientation or watching a movie, TV show or YouTube video in landscape view.

Flippy tablet pillow stand on a leather recliner, holding a Fire HD 10 in portrait orientation

Checking out my Amazon Prime Video watchlist in portrait orientation on my new
Kindle Fire HD 10. You can tell that the tablet is set to a 49° viewing angle
because the embroidered Flippy logo is level and reads from left to right.

Flippy pillow stand on woman's lap, holding a Fire HD 10 tablet in landscape orientation

Watching a YouTube video on my Fire HD 10 tablet hands-free. The viewing angle
hasn't changed (the logo isn't visible in this reverse-angle shot, but this time
the Flippy is sitting comfortably in my lap (or, in this case, closer to my knees).

When I'm making a recipe from a digital cookbook, I prefer to view it at the more vertical, 70° angle, so the Flippy sits on my kitchen counter with the embroidered logo on the right and perpendicular to the work surface.

Flippy pillow stand on a kitchen counter, holding a 10-inch tablet displaying a recipe in a vertical orientation

When the logo is at right angles to the surface it's resting on,
the tablet, Kindle, or phone screen will be at the 71° viewing angle.

When you want to view your screen at 60° angle, just turn your pillow stand so that the embroidered Flippy logo is upside-down and on the diagonal, with the "F" toward the bottom.

Samsung Galaxy smartphone at a 60-degree viewing angle on a Flippy pillow stand

When he's sitting up in bed and playing a game or checking email
on his Samsung Galaxy phone, my husband prefers the 60° viewing angle.

The Flippy Multi-Angle Soft Pillow Lap Stand Would Make a Great Gift for Anyone (Including Yourself!)

It works with a wide range of mobile devices from nearly every technology brand.
It can help reduce (or, with luck, prevent) painful "text neck," an increasingly common health challenge as people spend more and more time looking down at their screens. Unlike the vast majority of other phone, Kindle, or tablet stands, the Flippy pillow was specifically designs to balance it easily and comfortably on a person's lap or thighs, when they're sitting up, reclining, or stretched out on a coach or in bed.
It can support their smartphone, Kindle or tablet while keeping the screen at their choice of three viewing angles (49°, 60°, or 71°), and switch between viewing angles in less than a second, just by flipping triangular pillow stand to one of the two sides.
This durable foam pillow lap stand is covered in a yummy, soft, faux suede fabric that won't scratch your favorite geek's ~~beloved tech toys~~ valuable mobile devices.
Even low-tech family member, friends, and colleagues might enjoy using this lap pillow stand when they're reading a paperback book, magazine, or letter, reviewing (and, perhaps, grading) homework assignments, or perusing a mail-order catalog (especially during the holiday shopping season).
At the time this review was published, the Original Flippy pillow stand was being offered on Amazon.com in 18 color and pattern choices to appeal to a wide variety of styles. So, finding at least one of them that will suit someone's individual preferences and taste shouldn't be a problem.
This well designed, attractive, high quality multi-angle mobile device stand is a gift that will quickly earn a valued place in recipients will likely use and appreciate every day, throughout the day, This is the type of product that the people you give it to might not even have known about, or is something that interests them but they wouldn't have bought for themselves, but one they receive it as a gift turns out to be one of their constant companions.
The Original Flippy Multi-Angle Soft Pillow Lap Stand for iPads, Tablets, eReaders, Smartphones, Books and Magazines one of the best affordable gifts under $30. As of this writing, you can buy it on Amazon.com for $29.98, with free shipping!.
There are also a model with a slightly higher price tag that has a hidden storage compartment, as well as a smaller model designed for kids called the Flippy Jr.

Comparing the Three Flippy Pillow Stand Styles

The Flippy Multi-Angle Soft Pillow Lap Stand for Tablets, eReaders, Smartphones, Books, Magazines is the model I purchased for myself last month, primarily to use with my new Kindle Fire HD 10 tablet. This original Flippy pillow stand design, which has been the primary focus of this review, is also the foundation of the brand's entire product line, which now includes two other variations.

the focus of this product review. It's also the original Flippy design, and the one on which the two other variations are based. I decided to order mine in a bright, true red shade called Super Red.

A word to the wise: There can sometimes be a disconnect between the color name and the actual color. The color names can sometimes be misleading, so make sure to click the thumbnail for For some reason, a few of the color names seem to bear little resemblance to the colors displayed in the corresponding product photos. As an example, I recently clicked on one of thumbnail images to see the full-size photo of the product to I recently clicked the thumbnail I clicked on the thumbnail of one of the color choices to view the product phot at full size , when I clicked on a thumbnail of one of the colors I liked a lot to view the photo of that color choice product photo in that shade. the color of cover fabric shown in the to view image to view the product photo full size in a color I liked, even though the color in the photo was a cross between Emerald Green and Bright Jade Green. (As always, of course, the color of any digital image will always appear slightly different on different devices with differently calibrated displays.

The Flippy with New Storage Cubby Multi-Angle Soft Pillow Lap Stand for iPads, Tablets, eReaders, Smartphones, Books, Magazines has the same dimensions, viewing angles, and soft, plush fabric exterior as the original version. The main difference is that it offers buyers the option to spend $5 more for a Flippy lap stand with a hollow section inside the center of the foam pillow, that has been lined with mesh fabric and opens and closes with a drawstring, secured with a cord lock toggle closure. The company calls this interior storage compartment its "New Storage Cubby," and says it's a place where you can "Keep your reading glasses, tissues, ear phones, snacks and anything else you like handy."

The Flippy Jr, Multi-Angle Soft Pillow Lap Stand for Mini iPads, Tablets, eReaders, Smartphones, Books, as it name suggests, is narrower that either of the two previous models. It's also geared more toward kids, teens, and college students (which is why this version includes small stash pocket for headphones and a built-in carabiner for clipping the Flippy Jr. onto a backpack or suitcase). The other differences between the Flippy Jr. and its older siblings are much more noteworthy.

The smaller Flippy Jr. cannot be purchased individually; it is sold only in sets of two.
The choice of colors and patterns is extremely limited, compared to the range of options for the Original Flippy and Flippy with the New Storage Cubby. And as far as I know, they don't offer the option to choose your own color or pattern combos in each set of two Flippy Jr. pillow lap stands.
Many adults find that the Flippy Jr. works fine for their needs, and it's a much better value.
You can buy a set of two Flippy Jr. mini-tablet stands for the same price as a single Original Flippy.

Give Yourself or Someone Else You Love the Gift of Self-Care

I'll bet there are several people on your birthday and holiday gift list who would love to receive a Flippy.

If you spent more than 30 minutes a day total on your mobile devices, I also encourage you to order yourself to one of these high quality, practical, and extremely affordable Original Flippy multi-angle pillow stands, in your favorite color or pattern. This versatile, low-tech, high-touch, $30 pillow stand can help reduce the daily, repetitive strain on your eyes, wrists, and hands by holding your device at the most comfortable viewing angle, leaving your hands free to knit, crochet, or simply relax in your lap. It's a small price to pay for the gift of daily self-care!

Another option to consider is to spend that $30 on a set of two Flippy Jr., stands, so you can keep one for yourself and share the other with a family member, friend, or colleague.

Flippy Tablet, Kindle, Phone, and Book Stand Lap Pillow Review by Margaret Schindel

Looking for even more great gift ideas and inspiration? Check out our extensive collection of helpful reviews at ReviewThisGifts.com.

You'll also find many other unbiased product reviews from our Contributors at ReviewThisProductReviews.com.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Keto Cheddar Cheese Biscuits Recipe With Chives

Today, I'm pleased to share my review of my quick and easy low carb cheddar cheese and chive biscuits recipe, whose not-so-secret ingredient is HighKey Keto Buttermilk Biscuit Mix.

I've enjoyed putting my own spin on my baked goods ever since I was a kid, whether I'm making them from scratch or using a high quality packaged mix as a shortcut. So, when HighKey Snacks, one of my favorite keto food brands, came out with a delicious keto-friendly buttermilk biscuit baking mix, I couldn’t wait to start playing around with my own ingredient add-ins. One of my favorite variations so far is this quick and easy, 5-ingredient recipe for keto cheddar cheese buttermilk biscuits with chives. They're so buttery and delicious, everyone in your family will ask for more, and they'll never guess these treats are keto-friendly. This is now one of my go-to low carb recipes, and I usually bake a dozen every two or three weeks, depending on whether my omnivorous husband is in the mood for some.

Keto & Low Carb Cheddar-Chive Buttermilk Biscuits

Tender, flavorful, cheddar cheese keto biscuits with chives, ready in 30 minutes or less

Enjoy Big, Buttery Drop Biscuits, Even on a Keto or Low Carb Diet

I have tried—and loved—every baking mix in HighKey’s keto-friendly, low carb product line. So, I was really excited when the company announced it was coming out with a new keto buttermilk biscuit mix. I was confident that it, too, would be a winner, and I wasn’t disappointed!

Since making a traditional flaky biscuit requires using wheat flour or other another grain, the texture of those made with HighKey’s buttermilk biscuit baking mix makes them more similar to traditional drop biscuits. Just add eggs, They’re extremely versatile and taste great, whether you eat them plain, toasted and buttered, or in sweet or savory dishes, from keto strawberry shortcake (with fresh berries and whipped cream) to sweet or savory low carb sandwiches.

Even though this biscuit mix has great buttermilk flavor, I was surprised to learn that it contains no buttermilk. In fact, it’s dairy free and soy free, and has no added sugar or artificial ingredients, so it’s a great option for people with those dietary restrictions, regardless of whether they’re following a ketogenic or low carb diet.

Two baking pans of freshly baked keto cheddar-chive biscuits

Tender, low carb, keto-friendly cheddar cheese biscuits with chives, just out of the oven

My Quick and Easy Keto Cheddar Cheese and Chive Biscuits Variation

Using HighKey Buttermilk Biscuit Baking Mix

Variety is the spice of life, especially when your food choices aren’t free of limitations. Both my husband and I are huge fans of cheddar cheese bread. These days, however, the yummy, carbohydrate-laden cheese bread we used to buy from our local bakery is now off-limits (for me, at least). My husband also loves chives. So, one of the first ideas I had for varying the original HighKey buttermilk biscuit mix recipe was to add sharp cheddar cheese and chives.

I had to experiment with the proportions bit to get the prominent cheddar flavor I was looking for. Increasing the amount of cheese also made the biscuits somewhat less crumbly, which means I can also use them as hamburger buns. And, while I love having a slice of hot, gooey, melted cheese on my burgers, using these cheddar-chive keto biscuits as a bun gives me that great cheeseburger flavor even if I don’t add any additional cheese.

I usually prefer to use fresh chives in my dishes. For this recipe, however, I decided to go with freeze-dried chives, since I would need only a small quantity, and I no longer eat mashed potatoes (which I always make with plenty of fresh chives) now that I follow a ketogenic diet. Fortunately, freeze-dried chives work fine for these cheddar cheese biscuits.

One of My Favorite Keto Bread Options

With or without chives, these cheddar cheese biscuits are not only delicious but also versatile. Even though they are moist, rich, and yummy just as is, I also I love using them to add extra flavor to a sandwich or burger, as a filling side dish to turn a soup or salad into a satisfying, high-protein, low carb meal, or just sliced, toasted, and buttered for breakfast (or a hearty snack).

Just be aware that you may want your burger with a knife and fork if you serve it in one of these tender biscuits.

Hamburger on a keto cheddar cheese biscuit

Last night's dinner: this juicy burger on a keto cheddar-chive biscuit,
served with a big, colorful, pretty and nutritious salad

Low Carb Keto Cheddar Cheese and Chive Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe

These quick and easy keto biscuits are sure to become one of your favorite low carb recipes.

Prep Time:

15 minutes

Cook Time:

15 minutes

Total Time:

30 minutes

Recipe Yield:

12 large biscuits

Calories:

257 kcal

Ingredients

1 10-ounce package HighKey Buttermilk Biscuit Mix
1 ounce sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 to 2 tablespoons freeze-dried chives, or to taste
½ cup butter, very well chilled and cut into ¼-inch cubes
4 large eggs, lightly beaten

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 ℉. Line one or two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the baking mix, shredded cheese, and chives.
Stir in the chilled butter cubes, then cut in the butter with a pastry blender until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Stir in the eggs to form a soft, sticky dough.
Scoop the dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheet(s) in 12 equal mounds, spacing them well apart to allow for spreading.
Bake for 14–15 minutes, until the tops and edges of the biscuits are a light golden brown.
Let them cool for a minute or two, then remove them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts

If you're on a keto diet and counting your macros, here's what the Carb Manager app calculated. Although it's based on the specific brand of extra-sharp aged cheddar cheese (and eggs and butter) I used, the calories and macros should be very similar, regardless of the brands of ingredients you use.

These big, delicious cheese biscuits are extremely filling. Each contains 2.6 net carbs, 257 calories, and just over 23 grams of fat, 9 grams of protein, and 6 grams of dietary fiber.

Helpful Baking Tips for Making Keto Cheddar and Chive Buttermilk Biscuits

Make the Entire Package of HighKey Buttermilk Biscuit Mix at a Time (and Freeze Any Extra Biscuits)

The first time I prepared a bag of HighKey Buttermilk Biscuit Mix, I measured out 1-1/3 cups of the dry mix and combined it with 1/4 cup of butter and two eggs to make 6 biscuits as directed on the package. Unfortunately, when I started making my next batch, I discovered that there was only about a cup of leftover dry mix in the package! Subsequently, I have seen comments on Facebook and Amazon from people who had the same experience after following the package directions. Now, I always make a dozen buttermilk biscuits at a time, using the entire bag of mix. Fortunately, like most baked goods, these biscuits freeze beautifully, and thaw quickly at room temperature.

Use a Pastry Blender to Cut in the Butter

When I was a girl, my grandmother taught me to cut fat into dry ingredients by scissoring it into the flour mixture with two sharp knives. That experience definitely has made me appreciate the ease and efficiency of using a pastry blender instead. In addition, this handy tool, also called a pastry cutter or dough blender, creates more uniform bits of butter for more even distribution throughout the dough. It's also possible to use a fork, but that tends to mash the butter into the flour, rather than chopping it into nice little individual flour-coated bits. So, although the HighKey Buttermilk Biscuit Mix package directions give you the choice of using a pastry cutter or a fork, I strongly recommend using the former.

Spring Chef Dough Blender on Amazon

I recently replaced my dull, 40-year-old pastry blender with a Spring Chef Dough Blender, and it turned out to be a major upgrade! It has sturdier and much sharper stainless steel blades, as well as a wide, comfortable, soft-grip handle. Both these features make it a pleasure to use, especially since this high quality, heavy-duty cutter doesn't feel heavy in my hand. In addition to cutting butter or other fat into dry ingredients, I also love using it for other cooking and baking tasks that my previous pastry blender would not have been up to, such as chopping nuts and making salsa and guacamole.

Use a #14 Scoop to Portion the Dough Evenly

Dividing any dough or batter evenly into equal-size portions is always desirable, since it enables all the biscuits, cookies, etc., to finish baking at the same time with the same degree of doneness. If you are baking for yourself or others who are monitoring their food intake, whether tracking macros on a low carb or keto diet or counting calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, or other nutrients for a medical, health, or weight loss reason, portioning equal servings of a recipe becomes even more important. Over time, I have assembled a collection of high quality Norpro stainless steel scoops in several different sizes, the largest of which is the 4-tablespoon (#16) Norpro scoop with a comfortable, soft-grip handle, none had the right capacity to measure out 1/12 portions of this keto buttermilk biscuit dough, with or without added cheese. Guesstimating how much to overfill the #16 size always left me with too much or two little dough for the last few portions, and I was spending more time weighing each mound and shuffling around bits of dough to equalize the portion sizes than I did preparing it in the first place.

Eventually, I managed to find a #14 stainless steel scoop with a capacity of 4-3/4 tablespoons, which turned out to be the perfect size for portioning this keto biscuit dough into twelfths. It's a huge time-saver, makes nice, rounded mounds, and has a sturdy spring-action mechanism for the scraper blade.

Don't Skip the Baking Parchment Paper

These drop biscuits will likely stick, and stick badly, to the baking pan if you try to grease it instead of using baking parchment. I prefer using unbleached, precut sheets of parchment paper, which are less toxic than bleached baking parchment and don't curl like paper sold in rolls. If you are trying to cut down on single-use disposable products, a reusable silicone nonstick baking mat is a great alternative.

Consider Making Them With Extra-Sharp Cheddar

The first time I made these, I used regular sharp cheddar, and only half an ounce. (I also left out the chives.) They tasted good, but weren't as cheesy or tangy as I had hoped. So, for the next batch, I not only doubled the amount of cheese, and used aged, extra-sharp cheddar. It made a huge difference! So, if you enjoy the taste of extra-sharp cheddar, I encourage you to try using it in these biscuits.

My Favorite Brands of High Quality, Low Carb and Keto Baking Mix Products

One of the keys to my successful keto diet journey, which helped me lose nearly 60 pounds and, more importantly, has enabled me to maintain that weight loss, has been finding keto-friendly versions of my favorite baked goods.

Although I’ve always loved to bake (and still do), I also wanted to spend less time thinking about food, which meant spending less time cooking and baking, especially during the first six months of my new, healthy eating lifestyle after switching to a ketogenic diet. So, while I absolutely love using the recipes in Carolyn Ketchum’s The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking (my keto baking bible) and my go-to low carb and keto blogs and websites, more often than not I’ve been using the excellent baking mixes from HighKey Snacks, Good Dee’s, and Keto and Co, which not only taste great but are also made with wholesome (and, for the most part, minimally processed) ingredients. You can learn more about these brands’ high-quality baking mixes in my review of homemade low carb keto cupcakes and muffins.