http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/DogsWithBlackNoses Sun, 25 Nov 2007 03:06:34 GMT Reviews by DogsWithBlackNoses http://www.viewpoints.com/Waring-Waffle-Maker-review-8de31 I have had my Waring Pro Restaurant Style Thick Belgian Waffle Iron about a year and a half and still absolutely love it!  It makes the best waffles I have ever had at home--and better than some I've had at nice restaurants.  The batter pockets are nice and deep, and when sprayed with non-stick spray first (I use Mazola) I have no problem with any sticking.  Measure the batter and you generally won't have overflow or under-fill.  A measuring cup comes with the waffler. — There are 11 heat settings numbered 1-6 with marks in between.  3 to 3 1/2 gives a nice golden brown with 4 giving a crisper golden brown.  Once you figure out how you like yours, you can pretty much leave your setting and forget it.  Just flip the toggle switch to turn it on, wait for the green light and "go".  Pour in the batter and flip, then wait for the lovely smell and the beep to flip it back and get your yummy prize out.  It... Sun, 25 Nov 2007 03:06:34 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Waring-Waffle-Maker-review-8de31 DogsWithBlackNoses 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Baratza-Solis-Maestro-Plus-Grinder-review-71c10 I ordered a Baratza Solis Maestro Plus Grinder two years ago for $170.00 after an extensive search and doing a lot of comparing this coffee grinder to other brands.  I wanted a compact but powerful grinder to use for good quality coffee beans that I was ordering online and having shipped in fresh-roasted.  I felt I had done my homework and happily ordered my Baratza Solis Maestro Plus Grinder--looking forward to putting away the evil $25 blade grinder that I felt sure was ruining my wonderful beans by heating them up and bashing them around in the little cup as the blades spun around chopping the life out of them.  Now I would have a GOOD grinder--no, a GREAT grinder!  My fresh roasted special ordered FRESH beans would be gently crushed, kept cool by the big powerful motor, and would burst with flavor.  Mmmmm.  I didn't even wince at parting with the $170 plus shipping. — The grinder arrived.  Setting the grind was not as easy as... Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:32:42 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Baratza-Solis-Maestro-Plus-Grinder-review-71c10 DogsWithBlackNoses 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Chefs-Catalog-Golden-Malted-Pancake-Waffle-Mix-review-0c642 You can check out all the varieties and such (even gingerbread flavor!) on www.goldenmalted.com  Under "shop at home" you'll find "flour packs" --the jackpot for home shopping in Carbon's Golden Malted Waffle & Pancake Mix!  I usually get about 6 or 12 cans of the complete to cut the cost of shipping, but you can get combos and all sorts of other selections. — Now to the YUMMINESS!  For years and years I tried hundreds of waffle recipes trying to get the perfect waffle.  Sometimes I did pretty well, but I never could maintain a perfect consistancy and it was a lot of work just for some grilled bread.  I'd about given up.  BTW, I'd also tried about 4 or 5 different waffle makers hoping maybe THAT was the trick.  Then one day I stumbled onto the CGM website.  I noticed that they have a hotel program.  Well, I'd eaten those!  I go out of my way to stay in hotels that have the waffle program... Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:28:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Chefs-Catalog-Golden-Malted-Pancake-Waffle-Mix-review-0c642 DogsWithBlackNoses 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Lenox-Butterfly-Meadow-Mugs-review-62eb3 Yes I do... I adore these mugs!  They are my absolute favorites.  I hope, hope, hope they NEVER get discontinued EVER.  They are the perfect size and weight for a cup of coffee (in my opinion).  Sort of like a cup and a half of coffee, without the added weight of a big ol' mug.  They also have a super-smooth glaze and absolutely no little bumps or scratchy places to distract you from the wonderful enjoyment of your coffee pleasure (or tea if that's your thing.)  No scratchy stuff on bottom either, so it won't ruin your good tables (if the dogs haven't already chewed on them. :) — These are sort of delicate without being too "fru-fru".  Very pretty--several different butterfly and dragonfly designs available.  You can get them all matching or get them all different.  There are also shallow bowl type cups that match that have a ladybug inside... which I like to use as a prank on some people so they think they have a bug in their cup. :)... Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:21:04 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Lenox-Butterfly-Meadow-Mugs-review-62eb3 DogsWithBlackNoses 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Eagle-Pack-Holistic-Select-Dog-Food-Dry-Versions--24714-review-c8710 I have been very pleased with the results feeding Eagle Pack Holistic Select, both to my adult dogs and to my younger dog from puppyhood.  The working dogs we have work hard and train hard, and we do our very best to keep them in top condition.  Feeding them well is a big part of that.  With the Eagle Pack Holistic Select we don't have to give as many supplements to maintain their health, nice coats and energy level.  They see the vet regularly just for check ups several times a year due to the demands of work and training and she is always impressed with how well they're doing--says nothing she could sell us off her shelves would be as good.  We do also give them home-cooked from time-to time and baked liver, but kibble is the mainstay due to convenience and how well they've done on it thus far.  I've also been very impressed with the Eagle Pack customer service both by phone and over the internet... very helpful, even if it's just gas.  (Somebody... Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:37:40 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Eagle-Pack-Holistic-Select-Dog-Food-Dry-Versions--24714-review-c8710 DogsWithBlackNoses 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/North-American-Working-Bouvier-Association-review-f17a The newly reworked North American Working Bouvier Association website  www.nawba.biz is just jam-packed with great information for anyone interested in the Bouvier des Flandres breed, but especially those looking to know more about the history of the breed and/or interested in working with their dogs whether in sport competition or field work such as search and rescue.  It is very professionally done (by volunteers) and has hundreds of links to more information so you can seek out more in-depth information on whatever your particular interest is:  carting, herding, service dog, bite work, search & rescue, personal protection and probably many things I'm forgetting.  The Bouvier is a very versatile dog.  It's not a dog for everyone by any stretch of the imagination, but to those devoted to the breed and willing to invest the time and effort into training (and yes, grooming)... you will find the www.nawba.biz site to be a helpful addition to your list of... Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:02:46 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/North-American-Working-Bouvier-Association-review-f17a DogsWithBlackNoses 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Jolly-Pets-8-Tug-N-Toss-review-2bed1 My dogs, and one in particular, love their Jolly Balls!  We have every size but the very smallest I think.  (And we may have that one unless it's tiny.)  They're great throw toys, tugs, kick balls, water toys (though they will sink slowly after they've been chewed on a lot), and the dogs just seem to gravitate to them.  They don't cause gum bleeding like some hard rubber toys.  These are durable but not too hard--soft enough for a good bite but not so soft that they tear up right away.  We had one last through a very "chewy" German Shephard for several years though it looked rough, and about four or five now that are about 1-2 years old.  They have been used mercilessly as tug toys and held up beautifully.  These don't pop like a basketball, they just squish and then regain their shape... very nice and cost-effective.  Some have said their dogs chew off the handles, but that has not been a problem with any of our 5 dogs (now 4).  Our... Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:37:12 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Jolly-Pets-8-Tug-N-Toss-review-2bed1 DogsWithBlackNoses 5