PaulaSherwood's Reviews

Comcast High Speed Internet is just ok

Overall

Rated 3 out of 5

Don't be misled by the claims of high speed up to 12 Mbps. You might get this speed in "bursts" but it is not constant. I opted for the Economy Internet package instead, since I don't need to download a lot of movies and I don't play high graphic games on the computer.

The basic internet package is fairly reliable, although if I leave my computer for half an hour or so, the connection turns off and I have to restart it by resetting the modem. Otherwise, you're not paying too much to get internet service suitable for surfing the web, playing low graphic games, and checking e-mail. I did have to rent a cable modem from Comcast, but haven't had any issues for the past several years.

Over ...

For a great cast iron skillet, it's hard to beat Lodge!

Overall

Rated 5 out of 5

Cast iron is wonderful for searing meats, making stews, and turning out crusty cornbread and biscuits. The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet gets a lot of use in my home and out on my grill, since it retains heat very well and can easily go from stovetop to oven. As long as you keep your skillet properly seasoned and maintained (DO NOT wash in dishwasher), food releases easily.

I love making skillet cornbread, particularly in the fall when you can get roasted Hatch green chiles from New Mexico. Add a little pepper jack cheese, brush some warm butter over the top and you have a wonderful fall meal with some homemade chile con carne or a nice pot of stew. The cast iron helps develop a ...

Keurig Platinum has already saved me hundreds at the coffee shop

Overall

Rated 5 out of 5

I resisted getting one of the Keurig brewers for a while, wondering if the whole K-Cup thing would really take off and if you could get really good manufacturers to come on board. I'm now kicking myself, as I've spend so much at the coffee shop on "premium" beverages in the interim, that I could have paid for the Keurig Platinum 5 times over by now.

This machine is sleek, easy to use, and gorgeous on the countertop (I got the Midnight Black color, since everything in my kitchen is black or white, but it also comes in a dark reddish color or silver gray as well). I'm the only one who drinks coffee in my house, so brewing a whole pot has been a waste for me. Now, I can get the brands I wan...

Continental's Buffalo Jalapeno Cheddar Brats are quite tasty!

Overall

Rated 4 out of 5

If you like a medium spicy sausage, the Buffalo Jalapeno Cheddar bratwurst from Continental is a great option. This sausage is crafted from lean buffalo (and a little pork), cheddar cheese, jalapeno peppers and spices. It's locally produced in Colorado, and comes fully cooked (lightly smoked). It is wonderful grilled or simply seared in a hot pan, on a good crusty roll with some brown mustard and grilled onions. Since the cheese is included in the sausage, you get a nice snap from the casing and then a succulent, juicy bite of bratwurst with just a touch of oozy melty cheese.

I also like grilling and slicing it for little hors d'oeuvres, particularly on football weekends. Since it's no...

Barilla Napoletana Roasted Garlic Sauce is a tasty red sauce!

Overall

Rated 4 out of 5

Recently, Barilla launched several "thicker, richer taste" jarred pasta sauces.  Although the Montanara Mushroom & Garlic was not my favorite due to the lack of sufficient mushrooms in the first jar I tried, I will be trying a second jar in the near future, courtesy of the nice folks at Barilla customer service.  However, in the meantime I popped open a jar of their Napoletana Roasted Garlic Sauce, and am much more impressed!

This is a thick, rich red sauce with a pronounced garlic flavor when heated up.  It is definitely thicker than the previous version of Barilla Roasted Garlic sauce.  The ingredients are all natural and include diced tomato, tomato puree, onions, roasted garlic, sugar, ...

HP Special Edition L2000 laptop still works great after 5 years!

Overall

Rated 4 out of 5

Normally, I would expect to replace my laptop after about 3 years or so.  They depreciate so quickly that when something happens, it's not worth fixing.  However, my HP Pavilion Special Edition L2000 notebook has now passed the 5 year milestone and has never had a single problem!

Over the years, I've used a mix of Macs and PCs.  I originally purchased this HP notebook for my home office, where it averages about 4 hours of daily use.  It has an AMD Turion64 processor, 14.0" WXGA Brightview widescreen, graphics by ATI Radeon, DVD/CD-RW drive, Altec Lansing speakers, and more.  It also comes with a special Lance Armstrong graphic package, so you have some Livestrong yellow accents and Lance's ...

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture does the job!

Overall

Rated 4 out of 5

Living at altitude in Colorado, I am prone to dry skin as I spend a lot of time outdoors with the dogs. Most moisturizing lotions feel very greasy to me, don't absorb well, and are highly fragranced. However, Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture is the antithesis of those other lotions.

First, it's fragrance-free, which I really appreciate as strong scents make me sneeze (and don't really want to attract insects when I'm outside). Second, it applies very smoothly and absorbs reasonably well (not as quickly as lotions that are touted as being "quick absorbing" but definitely not tacky after about 5 minutes). Third, the moisturizing qualities last for hours, leaving my skin feelin...

Turbana Plantain Chips are a fun alternative to potato chips!

Overall

Rated 4 out of 5

Don't get me wrong, I do love a good crunchy potato chip! But every once in a while, I take a look at the "exotic chips" section to see if something catches my eye. Last week, Turbana Plantain Chips fit the bill. For those who don't know, plantains are a starchy staple in the tropics that are sometimes mistaken for bananas. Unlike bananas, you typically need to cook or process plantains before consuming them - typically by boiling/steaming and then frying.

I tried the "Natural" version of the Turbana Plantain Chips (they also come in other flavors including Chili, Lime, Sweet, Garlic, and Chili Lime). The chips are cut extremely thin, and look somewhat like a banana chip. However, the...

Barilla Montanara Mushroom & Garlic sauce has redeemed itself

Overall

Rated 4 out of 5

UPDATE: I have tried a second jar courtesy of Barilla, and have upgraded my review accordingly.

Barilla pasta sauces are often on sale along with their line of dried pastas. A couple of months ago, I saw that Barilla had launched a few "new recipe" sauces, so I picked up a couple of jars, along with some free pasta as they were having a promotion.

Normally, I like using Barilla as a quick starter sauce, as it has less sugar than other prepared sauces. This particular Montanara Mushroom & Garlic sauce promised "thicker, richer taste" and is all natural. Ingredients include diced tomato, tomato puree, mushrooms, sugar, natural flavors, olice oil, sunflower oil, salt, parsley, onions, gar...

Downy Unstopables - good smelling, poor spelling!

Overall

Rated 4 out of 5

I'm not exactly sure why Downy decided to spell the name of the product with only one "p" - but this new scent booster product really does work! I was fortunate enough to receive a free full size bottle of the "Fresh" scent of Downy Unstopables from Vocalpoint. As described, it does have a "clean, airy, crisp" smell, with perhaps just light hint of citrus. This product also comes in a "Lush" scent, described as "luxurious, relaxing, romantic." I might try this one next, because I'm betting this will do wonders for the dogs' beds and blankets!

Unstopables are tiny little white dots that you just toss into the washer at the beginning of the wash. I normally use unscented detergent and un...

This Hunter 90406 Century desk fan is sleek and powerful!

Overall

Rated 4 out of 5

I can't stand being hot, and while central air conditioning is one of the greatest inventions, it can be very expensive to run in the summer when utility rates go up. Therefore, when I'm working in my home office, the Hunter 90406 Century 12" desk fan is a lifesaver (and saves me many trips to the fridge for a cool beverage).

There are a lot of cheaper desk fans out there, but what I love about this Hunter fan is that it is built to last. It's actually made of metal, not cheaper plastic, and is very stable. This particular model has a retro antique look, and the metal finish gives the impression of a dark oil-rubbed bronze (even though I know it's not bronze). It has high, medium and lo...

Diet Coke - my least favorite Coke product of all!

Overall

Rated 2 out of 5

Before all you Diet Coke fans get on my case, please try to understand where I'm coming from. I am a Coke loyalist from way back. Way before the New Coke fiasco, and the birth of Coke Classic. However, when I decided to stop drinking sugared sodas, I tried to drink Diet Coke like every one of my friends.

Unfortunately, I could never get past the artificial sweetener taste. In a pinch, I would still opt for Diet Coke over Diet Pepsi, but I was even tempted to try other non-cola diet sodas like Diet 7-Up, Diet Dr Pepper, Diet Sunkist or even diet rootbeer just to have an option. People told me to try fountain drinks and compare them to 2 liter bottles and cans. Some said that a certain ...

Nexxus Pro-Mend Shampoo left my hair shiny and clean!

Overall

Rated 4 out of 5

I don't really have too many split ends, but during the summer my hair does take a bit more abuse from the sun as well as more frequent washing and blow drying. I had an opportunity to try a sample of Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Treatment Shampoo, and I was quite pleasantly surprised by the results!

First impressions: the shampoo is a pearlescent white, with a pleasant but not overpowering fragrance of coconut with a bit of a woodsy note (it does have coconut oil and jasmine flower/leaf extract, but thankfully doesn't smell like suntan lotion or very floral). The scent gradually fades away after about 10-12 hours.

In the shower, the shampoo lathers up quite nicely. It rinses out well, an...

Zatarain's Spanish Rice - okay, but nothing special

Overall

Rated 2 out of 5

Zatarain's make some very tasty New Orleans style products, such as Jambalaya mix. Unfortunately, their "New Orleans style" Spanish Rice was a bit of letdown, as it lacked the seasoning punch of their other products. It also doesn't have the more authentic nutty taste of home cooked Spanish rice (where the rice grains are lightly browned in olive oil, onion and garlic before adding stock to cook the rice through).

This product is made from parboiled long grain rice, flavored with soy sauce, bell pepper, onion, chili powder, garlic, cayenne pepper, and other unnamed spices. All you do is add water, boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until the rice is tender. A few minutes before the rice ...

Zatarain's Jambalaya Mix - convenient,tasty, but high in sodium!

Overall

Rated 3 out of 5

I love spicy, well-seasoned foods, but often they take a long time to cook properly if you're preparing from scratch. Therefore, Zatarain's New Orleans Style Jambalaya Mix is a convenient alternative for making a quick dinner. It's often on sale at the grocery store so it's relatively economical as well.

All you do is add the rice and spices to water, bring to a boil and simmer as directly. In the last few minutes of cooking, you can add the proteins of your choice - I prefer some andouille sausage, with a little chicken and maybe some fresh shrimp. The spices also infuse into the proteins as they cook (or warm through), making the entire dish quite flavorful. This product is also good...