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Monday, February 27, 2017

Recipes for Real People a Site Review

Recipes for Real People is a recipe and kitchen website that offers recipes and food ideas that are quick, easy, and useful for everyday meals. From Aprons to Vegetables, you will find comfort food recipes, meal ideas, and kitchen gifts for you and your family.

Why I Turn to Recipes for Real People

I can't even begin to guess the number of recipe websites on the internet. So why would I turn to Recipes for Real People? There are several reasons I look to this site for ideas. Just this morning I woke with many things on my mind. I have household chores to do, reports to write for work, and assorted things I would like to accomplish with my own website. I have to find a way to save some time today.

After unseasonably warm days, a thunderstorm rolled through last night and brought behind it a very cold and cloudy morning. I am craving comfort food and not sure what I have in the kitchen. After having spent the past few days driving around with the Jeep top open and enjoying the warm weather, I had no reason to buy ingredients to make chili or stew. But now it is very cold outside, the furnace is on, I am under the blankets, and I am craving something warm and filling. Something like stew or chili. However, to make either of those things, I'd have to run out to the store.

Thanks to a recipe found on Recipes for Real People, I have found a meal idea and won't have to go to the grocery after all.

I should clarify that I am writing this on Sunday and it will be published on Monday. On Monday I will be back at the office, hard at work - giving my time and energy to others. So I am especially thankful for time-saving ideas that allow me to spend more time on the weekends on myself.

Hamburger Vegetable Soup Recipe

Susan's Hamburger Vegetable Soup recipe is just the type of thing I am craving. Her four-ingredient recipe is easy and made from ingredients that are often found in the kitchen at any given time. I do not currently have any fresh ground beef in the fridge. But I do have ground sausage. So I will substitute the sausage for the ground beef and have a filling, warm, comfort meal and won't have to leave the apartment today! In fact, come to think of it, I have a few different cans of soup that I could use as substitutes for the vegetable soup in Susan's recipe. Perhaps I'll add the sausage to a can of creamy chicken soup. I don't know. I will decide later. But I am relieved that a trip to the grocery is something I can remove from today's full to-do list. All thanks to Recipes for Real People.

(photo by Susan)

A few more reasons I turn to Recipes for Real People

Recipes for Real People is a website owned by one of our Review This! contributors - Susan Deppner

I trust that Susan is sharing recipes that she cooks in her own home

these recipes call for few ingredients that are readily available

quick and easy prep recipes

leftovers are used in the Recipes for Real People kitchen - I am a firm believer in using leftovers

Susan's kitchen helpers are adorable

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Spring Cleaning of the Soul or Soles or Both

Creative Shoe Bench! See This & More Here

When spring is springing we get the urge to neatly place, organize and tuck

Things around the home that didn't bother us over the winter months, like piles of shoes and boots in the closet and the front door, start to get under our skin.

So we spring into action.

Typical Scenes Across the Country...

With hands on our hips, crookedly we stand in the foyer evaluating our winter clutter, thinking ... 'how did I stand this for so long' !

And before we know it, the itch to organize turns into a full blown rash and we're looking around the house trying to reshuffle pieces of furniture, repurpose dressers, and re-do closets.

Freeing ourselves of the unnecessary, we start with the basics ... we bag'em and tag'em.

We only mean to clean the house, but our soul gets spit and polished too.

What?

We don't plan for this to happen, in fact we never do. But year after year, without fail, we feel lighter.

Closets Come First...

We've jammed our closets with extra sweaters, bulky coats, mitts, hats, boots, and too many pairs of shoes. It's not right.

We know it's not right. Guilty.

But, during the holiday season we really did have bigger fish to fry ... Like cozying up to a warm fire. Overflowing closets somehow made the fire feel better. It's winter ... we're not all there. There's a name for our condition: Cabin Feveritis.

But the frequent appearance of the sun along with the disappearing biting cold begins to wake us from our tolerant coma and we're ready to make tough choices ... But where do we start? ....

We figure it out.

To clean our soul, we start with soles.

The stinky invaders come first.

Ahhhh, we've lightened up just thinking about it ....

Sorted shoes; who'da'thunk that all it took was 'sorted shoes'?

All this time we thought life was complicated. Sole ... Soul? Well my gawd, life's greatest mystery has been solved.

Moral of the story - clean your closets, organize your soles, and the future is yours! ... Not really, but at least your closets will look great while your soul floats.

Don't Stop with Shoes, Here are additional Ways You Can Organize Your Life:

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Saturday, February 25, 2017

Easy in the Kitchen: Slow Cooker to Make Homemade Beans

Programmable Slow Cooker

Yes, I admit it. I have 2 slow cookers and I use them both regularly. Easy in the kitchen is my preference and I'm going to review with you how I make things easier with my slow cookers. They aren't just for making dinners anymore. There's plenty to enjoy about slow cookers.

My two are different sizes. I have a smaller one that is a 4-quart cooker, and I have a larger programmable 6-quart size (www.kitchen-basics-small-appliances.com/programmable-slow-cookers-easy-cooking). I have made plenty of chilis, stews and soups in my slow cookers and I will continue to do so. The joy of tossing in all the ingredients, turn the thing on and come back to dinner ready to serve can't be beat. Plus, why not make enough for 2 or more dinners? That's easy in the kitchen in my book.

Homemade Beans

One of my favorite uses for my slow cookers is making my own homemade "cans" of beans. I was one of those people who would buy cans and try to force myself to use them. Sure beans are good for you, but I could never stomach the boring taste and slimy liquid canned beans were packed in. Discovering how to make my own beans made a world of difference.

Black beans
Chickpeas
Black-eyed peas
Pinto beans
Navy beans or any white bean

I start with dried beans - so much cheaper! About 1/2 cup of dried beans will equal a standard can size of cooked beans (about 1 1/2 cups). My smaller slow cooker easily handles a cup and half of dried beans, so I make 3 "cans" of beans at a time.

Dried beans need to be soaked first, so I do this in my slow cooker. Usually overnight. Then drain and rinse the beans, put them back in the slower cooker, add enough water to cover the beans with about 2 inches of water on top, and cook. I set my slow cooker on high for 4 hours and the beans are cooked to perfection. If you have a programmable slow cooker, you can set it to cook the beans when it's most convenient for you.

Packaging Homemade Beans

Freezing your cans of homemade beans is the easiest option. I use half-pint mason jars which hold about 1 1/2 cups of cooked beans - the equivalent of a standard can. Remember to label them with the date as well. Frozen beans should last about 6 months. Of course, I can't ever test that out, I use my frozen beans too fast!

Here's an easy in the kitchen trick for you. With any frozen foods, top the food with a piece of parchment paper. That will prevent ice crystals from forming and will keep freezer burn out of your food.

Choosing a Slow Cooker

If you're in the market for a slow cooker, whether your first, second or ninth, there are things to consider before you buy. The options are numerous. You'll want to think about what size you need, what features will be helpful and what your budget allows. When you have the right appliance for the right cooking needs, you will have an easier time in the kitchen.

So stop depending on store-bought cans of beans. Make your own. Flavor them to your own tastes and enjoy healthy and delicious homemade beans in your slow cooker.

Posted by: BuckHawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.

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Friday, February 24, 2017

Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm Children's Book Review

Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm is a delightful book for children written by Jonathan London and illustrated by Andrew Joyner. It is the first book in a new series featuring Duck and Hippo. Quite honestly, I look forward to reading about their next adventure together.

You may wonder why I chose to read a book for children, but I did have my reasons. First, I recently purchased a Kindle Fire and I love being able to see the pictures in color now. What better than a children's book to look at pictures, right? Second, the book was a free choice on Kindle First* in February 2017 if your are an Amazon Prime member. And last, but by no means least, I wanted to be able to review the book for Review This Reviews!

The release of this book is perfect timing! Since their day of adventure takes place in early spring, releasing the book on March 1, 2017 is consistent with the season and weather described therein.

Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm Book
Page 1

Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm

Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm
(Duck and Hippo Series Book 1) This really is a precious story about two unlikely friends, clearly a duck and a hippopotamus, who venture out together in the rain. They encounter a few mishaps with just enough intrigue and suspense that a child will be enthralled without being frightened. The illustrations help with alleviating any stress because the characters are shown smiling even in the midst of possible disaster.

As with many children's books, the pictures in this book are fabulous! I love the way the artist dressed the animals. The suit and bow tie are perfect for the more reserved hippo, while the red slicker and polka dot yellow umbrella reflect the ducks adventurous and outgoing personally. I foresee that Duck will likely dream up all kinds of ventures for the more sedate Hippo in future books.

This promises to be a great book series for children ages 3 - 7 and I would certainly recommend the delightful first book, Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm.

Children's Book on Kindle Fire

Fire Kids Edition Tablet, 7" Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB, Blue Kid-Proof CaseI am thrilled to share that there are Kindle Fires made just for children!

As an adult I wanted a Kindle that would feature the images in color for my craft books and cookbooks. After consulting with our in-house electronics expert, Susan Deppner, I selected the Kindle Fire. It was an excellent choice.

Once I received it, I couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be for children, especially at bedtime or when riding in a car. It would most certainly reduce the weight of books in a backpack too. I did a little more digging and found there is indeed a Kindle Fire made just for children. While I have no desire to replace the home library and real books, I do think Kindle Fires are fabulous when portability or weight is an issue.

*Kindle First gives Amazon Prime members the opportunity to read a new book that will be published the following month for FREE. You can check it out by clicking here!

Read More Book Reviews at
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Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm Children's Book Review Written by:

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Thursday, February 23, 2017

Bodum Chambord Coffee Press Review

French Press Coffee Makers Make the Best Coffee!

Reviewing the Bodum Chambord Coffee Press

Coffee is one of life's greatest pleasures for me. I can't wait for that first cup in the morning so I will wake up and see the world through fresh eyes again. I drink a fair amount of it too, so it's very important to me how it tastes.

I love the whole experience of making it too, and don't opt for the K cups or automatic coffee makers unless I'm having company and need a lot of it, or many flavors. No, I like to savor the experience and the flavors wafting through the house.

In my travels I had seen coffee presses being used in fancy restaurants so I went on a hunt for one. In 1984 I found a Bodum Chambord coffee press in a little gourmet coffee shop in San Diego, California and have been using it ever since. One time in the 1990's the glass carafe broke and I was able to get a new one in another coffee shop for less than $20, so it definitely was a bargain for a real gourmet coffee maker.

All stainless steel parts so it's easy to clean too. No more filters to buy either, just a one time investment so it's much less expensive in the long run than any other coffee maker.

And it's not that hard to use either. You just boil up some water, grind your coffee beans, (or use ground coffee) put them in the carafe, add the water, let it set a few minutes and press. Voila the freshest best tasting coffee ever!!

Click here to check it out and/or purchase it right now, or read on for more information.

Best French Press Coffee Maker

Of all the French press coffee makers on the market, the Bodum coffee press is the one most often mentioned in recipes and videos about making coffee using the French press method. Mine is still going strong so if longevity were the only criteria for a coffee maker then this one would definitely qualify as one of the best ones ever.

But I want way more than that from my coffee maker. I want it to make the best tasting coffee! And years later, after trying coffee from many coffee makers, I still prefer the coffee from my little Bodum Chambord coffee press to any other coffee I've ever tried, including the fancy coffee houses.

So if you like to make your own coffee, and want the freshest beans and taste, you cannot go wrong with a coffee press. This one is very well made and as you can tell from my experience, it will last you forever. Thumbs up for the Bodum Chambord Coffee Press!

Bodum Chambord Coffee Press

The following are my favorite coffee grinder and 2 of my favorite coffees from my favorite coffee company. Well, one flavor, two types of it. I buy all whole beans and grind them right before I make my coffee for the freshest flavor.

But if you don't want to do that, the already ground ones from Don Francisco are the best I've ever tried, and I've tried a lot of coffee! To read more about Don Francisco coffee, read my Don Francisco Coffee review. Or check out my summaries below.

The Coffee Grinder I Use
Braun KSM2-WH Aromatic Coffee Grinder, White

I've had my Braun Coffee Grinder for at least 20 years and it still seems new. I love how fast it grinds! And with a clear top you can see how fine you are grinding so if you don't want it fine, check every few seconds. It's fast! I see that parts are still available for very old ones too; Braun has always been a quality company who stands behind their products.

Braun KSM2-WH Aromatic Coffee Grinder, White

Don Francisco Coffee
My Favorite Coffee of All Time

Don Francisco coffee is my favorite and it usually only goes on sale once a year where I live so I used to stock up and put the bags in the freezer to keep them fresh. But Amazon sells it at a discount year round.

I have Amazon Prime so it's free shipping too. How cool is that? Now I can get it at the low price all year round and save freezer space. Meanwhile, it's way cheaper than the trendy brands which shall remain unnamed and it tastes wonderful.

Don Francisco Family Reserve
Vanilla Nut Whole Bean Coffee, 32-Ounce

The Vanilla Nut coffee pictured here is my favorite flavor. It's really strong vanilla flavored too, no wimpy wisp of a flavor, this is serious vanilla! I like it as is for desserts, but for everyday, I actually mix it with Colombian coffee. A little vanilla goes a long way.

Don Francisco's Vanilla Nut, 32oz Whole Bean Coffee Bag Family Reserve

Ground Don Francisco Vanilla Nut Coffee

If you don't have a coffee grinder, this Vanilla Nut coffee is the best you can get. Very strong vanilla flavor!

Don Francisco's Vanilla Nut, 12oz Ground Coffee Can

Make French Press Coffee

Learn how to make French Press coffee. It's really easy once you get the hang of it. And once you taste the flavor you will probably never want your coffee any other way!