'Cause I'm Always Cooking Up Something! : )
Archive for September, 2010
Product Review: Melitta Riviera Sunset Decaffeinated Coffee
0September 16, 2010
by Kerri
in Amazon Reviews
Product Review: Melitta Riviera Sunset Decaffeinated Coffee
Decaf Never Tasted So Good!
***** (5 Stars)
Wonderful, smooth, satisfying decaf coffee with a fabulously rich flavor. No chemical aftertaste, like many decafs I’ve tried. Apparently, the Swiss Water Process used to decaffeinate this coffee leaves flavor intact, something I’ve found terribly disappointing in other brands.
I’ve been VERY impressed by the flavor dimensions of this Riviera Sunset blend; served it to some neighbors (who simply won’t touch decaf coffee) who were pleasantly surprised to find they actually enjoyed a cup of decaf. No bitter notes; my husband, who usually complains fervently about the flavor of decaf, has been asking for a cup of this every evening, after dinner. Believe me, this alone is QUITE an endorsement!
I brew my coffee a cup at a time with an individual Melitta brown paper filter and filter cone and found that the extra fine grind imparted an unusually rich flavor. “Bloom the grounds” first (add a little hot water to the fresh coffee grounds, moistening completely, and then wait about 30 seconds before brewing) for best flavor (this goes for ANY coffee).
Enthusiastically recommended by a coffee snob! You’ll love it as is, no sweeteners or creams needed to disguise this wonderful flavor. I look forward to ordering more!
Product Review: Heininger Commuter Seat Belt Adjuster
0September 17, 2010
by Kerri
in Amazon Reviews
Product Review: Heininger Commuter Seat Mate Seat Belt Adjuster
***** (5 Stars): Elegant Simplicity
I like this SIMPLE solution to a nettlesome problem: those of us who are vertically challenged when sitting down (I’m 5’5″ but “long-legged”) sometimes get cut in the neck by our seatbelts. It happens to me all the time, especially in my VW beetle.
Enter Heineger’s Seat Belt Strap Adjuster: it takes about a minute to install on the lap belt strap and then, each time I get in the bug, I just tuck my chest strap under the strap adjuster’s plastic tab for a perfect fit every time. I can slide the adjuster right or left on the lap belt as needed to get the chest strap to lay comfortably across my shoulder instead of cutting into my carotid artery area.
The packaging says that this has been crash tested & I believe it–I tried the adjuster on my husband’s Honda Pilot & he decided he didn’t like it (small wonder–he’s 6’3″ and the shoulder strap has never been an issue for him)–it took a bit of concerted effort with a screwdriver to actually unsnap from the lap belt, which tells me this device would stay in place during a crash, which is EXACTLY what I want it to do in my beetle. Both are now installed in the VW & I use mine every day. It’s a LOT more comfortable to drive now, since this device keeps the shoulder belt in the right place–no more red seat belt stripes on my neck!
Sometimes, the most elegant solutions are the simplest; highly recommended!
Yet Another Too-Cute-To-Miss Video Clip
0September 11, 2010
No, you are NOT TOO BUSY to take a look at this one. Baby squirrel raised with a litter of kittens has learned to purr:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Cookbook Site: New Address
0It’s been a busy week; in the process of meeting yet another deadline, so I don’t have time for extensive posting today.
However, I did have a chance to migrate our American Gourmet Collection Cookbook site to a new server and new domain address over the weekend; check it out here.
Every chapter description includes a sample recipe from that chapter. There’s also a link to the book on Amazon, so you can get yours with a quick mouseclick.
Have fun and I’ll blog more here later in the week!
Wintertime Babies Share Interesting Traits
0September 2, 2010
by Kerri
in Human Behavior
Researchers find that babies born in Winter months are less healthy, have more trouble keeping up in school, earn less and don’t live as long as children born other times of the year.
Great way to start your day, eh Capricorn?
Researchers have been struggling to explain just why this phenomenon occurs, and they happened upon this surprising statistical proof: (don’t want to spoil it for you–it’s a great article & you can read it here at the Wall Street Journal all by yourself.)
Interesting to note that this article also mentions that families’ births (translation: you, your brothers and your sisters, if you have any) tend to be clustered around the same time of year. 100% accurate observation for Only Children.