Reviews by GrandmawsOpinion

GrandmawsOpinion says "Pure Vanilla Goodness " about McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT

GrandmawsOpinion — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:50:46 GMT

The holidays coming soon and it's time to pull out those favorite recipes. I do a lot of home cooking and baking - I'm always running out of extracts; the one I use and rely on the most is McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT.

I've used McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT for years. Its pure, smooth taste of vanilla is a hit every time! I made the mistake of trying a store brand vanilla and it just didn't have the same consistency as McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT. It was not as aromatic nor did it hold up in my Famous Christmas Sugar Cookie recipe. The family voted hands down that not using McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT made a big difference. A mistake I won't make again!

The ingredients are simply vanilla bean extracts in water, alcohol (35%) and corn syrup. McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT comes in sizes ranging from 1.00 ounce, 2.00 ounces, 4.00 ounces bottles. I find for the amount of baking I do the 4.00 ounce size bottle is more economical. And with the holidays...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "A Great Grill for All Seasons" about Weber One-Touch Gold 22.5 Charcoal Grill

GrandmawsOpinion — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:19:22 GMT

I love to cook, I love to eat, however my grilling skills needed help. I never seem to get the charcoals the right temperature or the cooking time correct. My husband and I wanted a small grill to practice our skills and a friend recommended the Weber One-Touch Gold 22.5 Charcoal Grill. We purchased it early spring and haven't stopped using it!

It was easy for us to assemble. Once we got it together we immediately started our grilling adventure. We also bought a booklet on how to grill. We decided to start simple; a few hot dogs and hamburgers. The booklet shows you how to position your coals for maximum grilling, what meats grill slower, longer etc. Once we mastered the basics we bumped up our menu to include chicken, steaks, veggies and seafoods; add to that my signature mango chutney BBQ sauce using Jack Daniels BBQ sauce as a base we were on the Weber One-Touch Gold 22.5 Charcoal Grill road to great grilling! We continued to grill late into the...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Riveting New TV Series on ABC" about FlashForward

GrandmawsOpinion — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:29:10 GMT

I don't watch much prime time television and when the promos for FlashForward came on I didn't want to get caught up in yet another series that gets you hooked with great commercial hype then leaves you dead in the water wondering what happened. Yes that's one heck of a run-on sentence but bear with me. I watched the first episode, remote in hand ready to switch it to a movie . . . it never happened . . . within the first five minutes I was hooked on FlashForward.

The premise is simply complex [oxymoron, indeed] the entire world goes unconscious for exactly two minute, seventeen seconds causing global chaos. When they regain consciousness they've all experienced a glimpse of their future, however, some didn't. Is it real, is it a phenomenon, aliens, U.S. government? I was skeptical but continued to watch even though I've been seduced by these types of shows before and left disappointed. FlashForward didn't disappoint; it keeps me glued to my seat from start to finish. ...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Soothing, Quick Relief and Sugar Free " about Ricola Sugar Free Lemon Mint Herb Throat Drops

GrandmawsOpinion — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:17:56 GMT

If you've ever worked with the general public or in the educational field you know that colds are a part of the job. As much as I wash my hands, add extra vitamin C to my diet, I still wind up with a terrible seasonal cold. I work part-time at Biltmore Estate and even on our slow days we have 3000-5000 guest visiting the house; most of which we personally welcome. Verbal communication with our guests is an important part of my job, so I can't afford to be stricken with a sore scratchy throat.

On my way home I picked up a package of Ricola Sugar Free Lemon Mint Herb Throat Drops. I popped one in my mouth and noticed the refreshing flavor of real lemon mint. I grew lemon mint this summer so I was pleasantly surprised by their real lemon mint flavor. Ricola Sugar Free Lemon Mint Herb Throat Drops instantly soothed my throat without the medicine-like aftertaste many throat drops leave behind. Ricola Sugar Free Lemon Mint Herb Throat Drops are now in my winter remedy first aid bag....

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GrandmawsOpinion says "A Daily Shower Cleaner I Can Live With!" about Clean Shower 32 fl oz

GrandmawsOpinion — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:16:25 GMT

I really dislike harsh, fume laden shower cleaners that require me to wear a World War II gas mask! I saw an ad for Arm & Hammer Clean Shower. It's was advertised as a fresh clean scent daily cleaner. I had my doubts but purchased it anyway.

I recently ordered a mildew resistant shower curtain and did not want to damage the treated surface. I must say that Arm & Hammer Clean Shower daily cleaner lives up to the Arm & Hammer reputation. It's gentle enough to use everyday without those horrible bleach-like fumes. I can spray it on the shower walls and curtain directly afterward and see the water beading immediately, leaving a clean surface. I also use it on our bathroom sink, toilet, etc when they need a quick freshening.

I also love Febreze products. Along with Arm & Hammer Clean Shower daily cleaner they make a great fresh cleaning combo! I'm all for anything cutting my cleaning time in half!

In my opinion, Arm & Hammer Clean Shower keeps the shower...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Kenny Chesney At His Very Best" about Greatest Hits II by Kenny Chesney

GrandmawsOpinion — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:35:54 GMT

I have to be honest when my friend gave me this CD as a gift I was not impressed. I was not a big fan of Kenny Chesney's music. Notice I said, "Was" . . . until now. I realized every cut on his new CD Kenny Chesney Greatest Hits II was a tune I sing along to in the car, while cooking in the kitchen, in the shower, okay I admit I do sing in the shower where my husband says I sound like Shania Twain or was it Mark Twain? Nevertheless, I never realized how much great music Kenny Chesney has produced over the past years.

Kenny Chesney Greatest Hits II is packed with new music like Out Last Night, I'm Alive featuring the lilting voice of another of my favorites, singer/performer Dave Matthews, and Down the Road with Mac Mcanally.

I also noticed something remarkable about Kenny Chesney - his versatility. In one song he's rocking out to Beer in Mexico, another he's reminiscing about his college days in I Go Back and Summer Time, then mellowing into maturity with There...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Tasteless" about Kashi Honey Sunshine Cereal

GrandmawsOpinion — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:21:40 GMT

From time to time I get coupons in the mail to try new products. I received one for Kashi Honey Sunshine Cereal. I don't know what's going on at Kashi but this Kashi Honey Sunshine Cereal just doesn't measure up to their standards of healthy, delicious cereals! It's tasteless, doesn't hold up to milk and has no redeeming quality at all. The dismal, mealy aftertaste is an oxymoron because it had no taste to begin with! I've been a Kashi consumer for years, however recently I've been disappointed with their new line of products.

The morning after purchasing it I served Kashi Honey Sunshine Cereal for breakfast. My husband who is ex-British military tried it and couldn't finish it. He tried it dry - even worse. This coming from a man who has eaten food from packages that were meant to have a shelf-life of 10 years! I ended up throwing the uneaten, soggy, cereal away and making him blueberry pancakes. After that ordeal I thought he deserved a breakfast...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Good Gravy this is Great Gravy" about Pioneer Brand White Country Gravy Mix

GrandmawsOpinion — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:44:43 GMT

There ain't nothing better than southern cooking! Just ask Paula Deen . . . great southern cooking usually begins with a three of four course meal and of course, gravy. I make my own brown gravy however I haven't mastered the art of white gravy. It's a delicate mix of flour and spices. I never get the same result twice. My family had a hankering for biscuit and gravy and rather than disappoint them with my pasty disaster, I made my own buscuits and bought a couple of packets of Pioneer Brand White Country Gravy Mix, sausage flavor.

It's quick and easy! The blend of spices is so unique I've added Pioneer Brand White Country Gravy Mix to my flour mixture when I fry chicken, bake pork chops and recently to coat my fried green tomatoes. Pioneer Brand White Country Gravy Mix gives crock pot recipes an extra flavor kick. What ever you cook Pioneer Brand White Country Gravy Mix makes you feel like you are eating a down home southern style country breakfast, dinner...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Lemons - The Other Yellow Fruit" about Sunkist Lemons

GrandmawsOpinion — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:44:31 GMT

Most often when we think yellow fruits we think banana. The Lemon is usually refered to as the sour fruit, that life presents to you when you're in a pickle . . . another sour reference. However, this beautiful, bright yellow fruit is a great source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 and C. With the cold and flu season upon us it's important to stock up on Lemons for that extra dose vitamin C. They're a great companion to honey in teas. Lemon tea can be a soothing relief for a scratchy throat. It's also a great salt substitute over fish, over salads, etc.

Most folks forget about this amazing little fruit once summer has come to it's end. If you've never had hot lemonade on a brisk Autumn afternoon, you don't know what you're missing! Gently heat the lemonade and toss a sprig of lemon mint and you've got a great mid-day pick-me-up. Lemons have been used as aroma-therapy providing fresh fragrance and color over the colder months and brightening a gloomy...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Strait's Twang is Still Pure Country" about Twang [8/11] * by George Strait

GrandmawsOpinion — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:24:24 GMT

George Strait - his name in itself is synonymous with outstanding country and western music. His new CD "Twang" is George Strait's 41st album. Released August 11th I pre-ordered a copy as I do with all his music. This CD is loaded with songs, sung in King George tradition, as well as new music, such as Hot Grease and Zydeco and El Rey. I must admit wasn't keen on these two particular songs, but then again, George Strait could sing my grocery shopping list and it would go platinum! I'm sure after a few more plays I'll change my mind!

On the other hand song like, Living for the Night, Beautiful Day for Goodbye, The Breath You Take make up for any short comings this CD may have. And believe me there aren't many. Like all great singers, George's voice is just beginning to show signs of age however, as an ol' cowboy friend once quoted [to me], "A little gravel in the boot don't end a man's journey." The same goes for George Strait; he will continue...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Refreshing Spring Fragrance All Year Round" about Febreze Spring & Renewal

GrandmawsOpinion — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:31:02 GMT

Febreze has been around as a great fabric freshener for quite some time and when I shop I've always reached for the original scent. On my last shopping trip I accidentally grabbed Febreze Spring & Renewal. I didn't notice until we had company last week and decided to spritz up the place. Living in the country there is always a faint smell of horse, cattle and on an occassion a whiff of skunk, eww! As usual I sprayed it on my couch pillows, lounge chair, curtains and a small area rug then realized . . . wow, this smells so much fresher! I looked at the bottle and I'd realized I'd bought a different scent - Febreze Spring & Renewal.

It's lighter that the original scent and it eliminates tough oders just as well. I love this scent so much I bought the pack of 6. I leaving one in our living room, another in the kitchen. Febreze Spring & Renewal is one of Fabreze's best products to date.

In my opinion, Febreze Spring & Renewal brings the refreshing scent...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "A Wonderful Cookbook for both Old and Young Farmers " about Kelly Braffet - The Old Farmer's Almanac Everyday Cookbook

GrandmawsOpinion — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:24:43 GMT

Short and sweet if you love to cook The Old Farmer's Almanac Everyday Cookbook is a great place to start. The recipes are tried and true, easy to follow and lots of beautiful photos of the finished products. I grow a lot of my own summer produce and their canning section is an extremely helpful reference source for preparation information, spices, general canning tips, etc. I've had my old dogged-eared cookbook for years but this year for Mother's Day my husband bought [me] the newest edition!

Unlike some "Everyday" cookbooks, The Old Farmer's Almanac Everyday Cookbook had great everyday recipes with quick prep time and serves at least 6-8 hungry folks; enough for most family dinners. One of my many favorite recipes from the book is their, "Mother's Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings!" I'm pretty dang sure it was after tasting this dish Campbell's snagged their, UMM,UMM, GOOD catch phrase. I also recommend the "Granny's Best Chicken Soup" . . . no I didn't submit...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Giving the Big Coffee Franchises a Run for their McMoney!" about McDonalds McCafe Iced Mocha Coffee

GrandmawsOpinion — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:24:41 GMT

I have to admit when I heard the hype about McDonalds taking on the big coffee franchises with their cafe-style coffees I was not prepared to change my morning jolt of java to try the new caffeine kid on the block. But I thought, "Let me try one . . . just once. How bad can they be."

It was an usually hot Western North Carolina morning so on my way to work I stopped at McDonald and ordered their McCafe Iced Mocha Coffee. Topped with whipped cream and a ribbon of dark chocolate, I was already impressed. I immediately noticed the aroma. Ah, dark roast, rich dark espresso blend. I put it in my cup holder and drove off. Half way to down the road I decided, okay let's try this coffee. I gave the ice a quick stir with my straw and took a sip. WOW, this ain't bad. I drank the entire medium sized container in just a few gulps. It was refreshingly good and to my surprise the whipped cream was not that sweet. A great combination of flavors McCafe Iced Mocha Coffee!

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Say Good Bye to Expensive Long Distance Phone Service" about Vonage

GrandmawsOpinion — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:32:31 GMT

When we moved from our home state of Pennsylvania to North Carolina I we make tons of long distances phone calls. And with family members in England and Scotland we make lots of international calls. Calling two and three times a week talking for a minimum of one hours per call those minutes added up quickly until we changed to Vonage as our primary phone service.

Our high speed cable internet delivers our calls quickly and clearly. Our friends and family haven't noticed any change in sound quality or connection. Vonage has many features that help me keep my phone calls organized. I can log into our online account and see every call we've made or received., My favorite feature is our voice mail is also sent to our email address allowing us to play our voice messages via our computer's sound system! It's a great feature to use when our kids call and we can listen to their messages together and save those precious calls from our granddaughter as a sound file. I have dozens...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Not Much Broccoli in this Broccoli Stir-Fry" about Birdseye Broccoli Stir-Fry, 1 lb

GrandmawsOpinion — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:17:51 GMT

For years Birdseye frozen vegetables have been a staple at our dinner table. I've tried many of their frozen vegetable products at one time or another and have been completely satisfied with the quality and quantity of their vegetable mix. Birdseye Broccoli Stir-Fry, 1 lb has been one of my favorites because after a long day at work, I love making quick and easy suppers and stir-fry dishes are a tasty all-in-one process.

I always keep a couple bags of Birdseye Broccoli Stir-Fry, 1 lb in my freezer to use as my base for stir-fry recipes. I've been very happy with the equal blend of vegetables until just recently they've cut back on the broccoli and doubled up on the carrots which I'm not as fond of. To my dismay Birdseye Broccoli Stir-Fry, 1 lb is [now] more like "Birdseye Carrot Stir-Fry." Percentage wise I'd say it's 1/2 carrots to 1/4 broccoli and 1/4 peppers, water chestnuts, mushrooms and onions.

To be fair this is not true of all the other Birdseye products...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Banana Nut Cheerios are "O", so good" about General Mills Banana Nut Cheerios

GrandmawsOpinion — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:25:21 GMT

Last week I received a dollar off coupon in the mail for Banana Nut Cheerios the newest addition to the well-known family of Cheerios cereals. Since childhood I've loved eating Cheerios for breakfast and as an adult I love them as an evening snack; with or without milk!

I remember Saturday mornings when my mom would carefully dole out the O's making sure we all had the same amount in our Davy Crockett cereal bowls. I would always line them up [in my bowl] with the precision of an engineer before splashing on the milk. Not obsessive-compulsive, I just liked to play with my food. . . still do, I digress.

Banana Nut Cheerios as all Cheerios products are rich in soluble fiber, easy to digest, made with whole grain oats, and have been honored with the "Heart-Healthy" logo. The banana nut flavor is subtle; not over powering like many banana flavored brands of cereals tasting more like real bananas.

In my opinion, if you love Cheerios [and who doesn't] and bananas, Banana...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Crunchy, Cinnamony, Deliciousness in a Box" about Barbara`S Bakery, Puffins, Cinnamon - 12/12 Oz

GrandmawsOpinion — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:31:17 GMT

I love cinnamon! I love the smell, the flavor, but most of the time it's mixed in with or sprinkled on things that I shouldn't eat, like cinnamon buns, coffee cakes, cookies, etc. Barbara's Bakery, Puffins, Cinnamon Cereal helps me satisfy my cinnamon craving in a single bowl. These crunchy cinnamon corn puffs look like little cinnamon pillows and hold up to milk well; they stay crunchy from start to finish.

I love to make my own trail mix snack. Adding a half cup of them to toasted nuts, raisins, and a small handful of dark chocolate chips is a healthy alternative to ready made mix. And, they're great right out of the box! With dietary fiber at 6g and sugars
6g a per serving they make a great afternoon snack for kids! Barbara's Bakery, Puffins, Cinnamon Cereal keep me satisfied without adding on the pounds.

You'll find Barbara's Bakery, Puffins, Cinnamon Cereal in the natural food section of your supermarket [I purchase mine from our local Trader Joe's]...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "I Love, Love, Love my Chicken Poop" about Simone Chickenbone Chicken Poop Lip Junk

GrandmawsOpinion — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:13:02 GMT

When I reviewed the Simone Chickenbone's website I knew I would make a purchase. I suffer from chapped lips mostly because we have a small farm I'm always outside working in the sun or cold weather. I go through tubes of chapped lip product like crazy and have a generous supply of them handy at all times.

My order of Simone Chickenbone Chicken Poop Lip Junk arrived last week and I wanted to try the product for two weeks before reviewing it. Sorry . . . I couldn't wait that long to tell you how much I love Simone Chickenbone Chicken Poop Lip Junk!

With all natural ingredients: soyean oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, lavender essential oil, and sweet orange essential oil Simone Chickenbone Chicken Poop Lip Junk smells great and feel great on my lips. I grow lavender and this product's fragrance is just as delightful as my freshly harvested lavender.

I'm not a big fan of the tuttsy-fruity lip balm products. So Simone Chickenbone Chicken Poop Lip Junk is the perfect choice...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "You Can't Resist a Resistol" about Resistol High Point Cattleman

GrandmawsOpinion — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:56:04 GMT

The cowboy hat is an iconic symbol worn by many cowboys and girls. It has come to represent hard working, hard riding men and women who work in both the cattle and horse industry, and recently in fashion and movie industry.

Resistol High Point Cattleman,Silver-belly Beaver xxx is the hat I choose to wear because of it's durable reputation and high quality craftsmanship. Its self conforming sweat band contours quickly to individualize your hat to the shape of your head for a perfect "stay put while riding" grip.

I worked a Kansas cattle ranch every summer from 2000-2006; I never left without my Resistol High Point Cattleman. I can't tell you how many times I'd left my stampede strap back at the bunk house and relied only on the sweat band to keep my hat on. My Resistol High Point Cattleman is now ten years old, still looks good and fits well!

Resistol High Point Cattleman also comes in the traditional black, which happens to be my husband's and most of...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Get rid of Bugs, Rodents and Pests with no chemicals" about Riddex Plus

GrandmawsOpinion — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:51:40 GMT

Because we live in the country we expect to see field mice, black snakes, barn rats outside, just not in our home! We live in a 100 year old farm house with lots of cracks and small spaces in our laundry area. We did see occasional mice, water bugs and spiders so I began looking into pest control products.

I'm not one to watch or purchase from 'Informercials' but this on caught my attention. It was advertising Riddex Plus. I ordered it immediately. At only $19.99 I felt it was worth the risk. And, since I purchased "Right Away" I got the special two for one deal! Riddex Plus a non-chemical pest control unit works [for me] exactly as advertised. One small unit will send electrical pulses through the entire house keeping it pest free. For additional protection I put the secondary free unit in our attic. A red light flashes to indicate when the pulse is being transmitted and stops when it's completed . . . it's that easy!

No more handling sticky traps,...

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