Reviews by NattScatt

NattScatt says "A Show About Cats For Those Of Us Who Like Cats" about Cats: 101

NattScatt — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:04:29 GMT

I have a cat named Que Sera. She is about a year old. She is a love. I also collect cats. Cat figurines, glasswear, knick-knacks etc. I think this qualifies me as a cat lover. I just think they are so pretty. So funny and mysterious. Since I work ful time and Que Sera is often left alone, I switch on a TV to the Animal Planet and turn the volume down on my way out the door. I don't think the cat watches this, mind you, but I feel better thinking I left her with entertainment.

One evening when I came home, I sat petting Que Sera while absently watching whatever show that was on Animal Planet at that time. I saw a commercial for a show called Cats: 101. It said it was a new series about cat breeds, their origins, habits, health and how well they would work in certain families. I immediately set up a series recording for the show and then turned the channel and went to take a shower.

The first episode of Cats: 101 I caught was about three different cat breeds. ...

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NattScatt says "Exactly What I Would Expect From Paula Deen....Yall" about Paula Deen Baked Goods - Original Gooey Butter Cake

NattScatt — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:01:37 GMT

I never thought I'd see the day when a piece of cake would make my eyes roll. Well not only did I see the day(s), I'm looking forward to seeing more and more, and more of the same. I'm normally not a cake eater. I'd much rather have a nice juicy steak or a mound of pasta with homemade sauce. Ever since I discovered Original Gooey Butter Cake from Paula Deen Baked goods, I can no longer say " I don't care much for cake."

Original Gooey Butter Cake is everything I would expect from Paula Deen, also known as the Butter Queen. The package says it is a sweet yellow cake crust with melt -in your-mouth cream cheese filling, but to me it brings back memories of my childhood. Without dating myself too much, does anyone remember when "penny candy" was actually a penny? There were Mary Janes and Squirrel Nut Zippers, among others. And there were also little candies that melted in your mouth that had brown and white wrappers with pictures of cows on them. Well those "cow" candies...

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NattScatt says "Not What I Expected For A Turkey Burger, Seasoned Just Right" about Jennie-O Savory Seasoned Turkey Burgers

NattScatt — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:35:33 GMT

I usually shy away from pre-made burgers of any kind. I am afraid of what may be in them. I usually make my own. I also usually use ground beef instead of turkey because turkey is so bland. Since trying Jennie-O Seasoned Turkey Burgers, I have changed my tune.

Jennie-O Seasoned Turkey Burgers taste really good. I was surprised at how much I liked them. They are seasoned just right with spices, tomatoes, peppers and cheese. They boot the bland turkey myth right out the window. These burgers have ingredients you not only can pronounce, you also know what each one is without having to look it up in the dictionary. They contain nothing to be afraid of.

Jennie-O Seasoned Turkey Burgers come in boxes frozen in vacuum sealed two packs. This is convenient for families. You don't have to thaw the whole box. This comes in handy even for those who live alone. Cook two patties: eat one for dinner and pack the other for lunch tomorrow. They also are a quick after school...

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NattScatt says "A Flavorful Coating: Food Is Crunchy Outside, Moist Inside" about Old Bay Better Batter Seasoned Batter Mix

NattScatt — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:48:26 GMT

Even though I know they aren't good for me, I enjoy fried foods as much as the next person. I love fried chicken, fish and other seafood. I have my own recipe for coating and batter for my famous fried chicken, but could'nt come up with one that was just right for all the seafood that I liked to fry until I found Old Bay Better Batter Seasoned Batter Mix.

Yeah, that's right, Old Bay. They make a seafood seasoning and a dry coating mix so why not a batter mix? They do and it is great. A 9 ounce can is only $1.99 at my local store. Old Bay Better Batter is a Seasoned Batter mix that comes in dry form and is supposed to be mixed with water. You are then to dip the food in the batter and pan or deep fry it. It is really easy and turns out well, regardless which food you use.

The instructions on the package are really simple and it also tells what foods to use it on. There is fish, shrimp, chicken, onion rings and veggie bites. I've used it on everything except the...

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NattScatt says "A Box of Cardboard Flavored, Just-Add-Water Dinner Mix With Meat" about Banquet Homestyle Bakes

NattScatt — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:11:34 GMT

My "I Am" tags describe me as an open minded woman who is all about easy, has a sense of humor, likes to try different foods and will taste almost anything. Some of the "different" foods I've tried have left me with lasting impressions, not all of them good. Thank goodness I have a sense of humor, if not , after trying this product, I may not try any new and/or different foods ever again.

After seeing Banquet Homestyle Bakes in my local grocery store on sale for $3.50 a box, I picked up several and gave some to my two daughters and kept the Cheesy Ham and Hash Browns flavor for my own house. I figured I'd throw it in the pantry and use it one day when I didn't feel like preparing a big meal. It is, after all, a boxed convenience meal. It claims to be six servings and has a prep time of five minutes. It even says it can be made in the oven or on the stove-top. All you have to do is add water. It comes with everything else, the potatoes, sauce, cheese, topping and even...

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NattScatt says "A Bunch of Flavor Packed into Bun Sized Sausages" about Benetino's Bistro Sensations Fully Cooked Chicken Sausagc

NattScatt — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:37:44 GMT

I love a good hot sausage. The hotter the better. But most sausages are full of fat and not much flavor outside of being HOT. Whenever I come across a new or different flavor, I try it. This time I was not disappointed.

Benetino's Bistro Sensations are fully cooked chicken sausages that come in a variety of flavors. I bought Habanero with Monterey Jack Cheese, though I saw that there were several other flavors including Italian Sausage and Artichoke Spinach. They are absolutely wonderful. Not only are they a pleasing blend of seasonings and flavors, they smell great while on the grill.

Though the package says they are fully cooked, it also suggests that you grill, bake, saute or microwave them for a certain time period. I grilled mine and served them to friends at a get-together. They just couldn't give enough compliments. One person even suggested that I must have made them myself because he had never had a store bought sausage with so much flavor.

When you...

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NattScatt says "Not at all onion flavored, tastes like chemicals" about Herr's - Onion Flavored Rings

NattScatt — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:42:55 GMT

I like junk food and snacks just as much as the next person. I love to try new things and have an open mind when it comes to new and different flavors in food and snacks. I also admit to being someone who will taste almost anything. This last bit is what got me into trouble with Herr's Onion Flavored Rings.

While shopping for a bottle of wine for an upcoming dinner party, I happened to see a snack bag that was new to me on the rack in my local liquor store. Going closer to investigate, I saw that it was Herr's brand Onion Flavored Rings. I grabbed a bag and added it to my purchase. After all, it was only 35 cents and it was from a brand I know and trust. It couldn't be that bad, right? WRONG!

I didn't open it right away, but when I did, the first thing that assaulted me was the smell. I sniffed the opened bag and it not only didn't smell like onion, it smelled like something I've never smelled before. I immediately looked at the date on the package to see if I...

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NattScatt says "Adding these cubes cuts down on a lot of dicing and mincing" about Knorr MiniCubes Seasoning

NattScatt — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:39:49 GMT

As a person who loves to cook but has limited time, I have grown accustomed to cooking from scratch when I can and using shortcuts when time doesn't permit. Knorr MiniCube Seasonings have helped me continue to make some of my favorite dishes while saving me a little time and effort.

Knorr MiniCube Seasonings are small cubes of concentrated flavor. There are garlic, onion, chipotle and cilantro flavored cubes. There may be others that haven't gotten to my area yet. Though these are all vegetable flavors, the cubes themselves are likened to bouillon cubes as in their richly intense flavors and the fact that they contain salt. Adding these cubes to your dishes such as soups, sauces, rice dishes and stews drastically cuts down on the amount of time spent chopping onions, garlic, cilantro and chipotle peppers while adding the same flavor. For example, one onion cube equals one teaspoon of chopped onion and one chipotle cube equals one small chipotle pepper.

Knorr MiniCubes...

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NattScatt says "Tastes like a cross between fried onions and potato chips" about Pringles Restaurant Cravers Onion Blossom and Cheeseburger

NattScatt — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:57:31 GMT

I've always liked Pringles brand Potato Crisps. Something about the distinct potato flavor, unique shape and the fact that they come stacked in tubes instead of crunched up in a bag that cannot be resealed. Another reason I've always liked them was because they come in a lot of flavors and are not afraid to push the envelope to find new and different flavor combinations.

Though I've tried and didn't care much for some of the flavors such as dill pickle, cheeseburger and pizza, I have to say that Pringles hit the mark with Restaurant Cravers Onion Blossom. I bought this flavor along with two others and was surprised by the taste. Onion Blossom is the perfect combination of onion flavor, salt and spices. They taste like a cross between fried onions and potato chips. What a wonderful balance of two treats in one can.

Not only are Pringles Restaurant Cravers Onion Blossom Potato Crisps deliciously flavorful as a snack, they taste good crushed and sprinkled on top of salads. ...

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NattScatt says "Flavor too strong for a meat sliced so thin" about Hillshire Farm Deli Select Ultra Thin Cracked Black Pepper Turkey Breast

NattScatt — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:23:15 GMT

Hillshire Farm has done it again. They've come up with another product that is both convenient and flavorful. This new line of pre-sliced, packaged lunchmeats is a really good find for those of us who either have to tote lunch ourselves or pack lunches for kids or spouses. Not only are the meats pre-sliced, they also come packaged in Gladware containers that can be used again as storage containers or added to the lunchbox with veggies or fruit.

Hillshire Farm Deli Select Ultra Thin pre-sliced cold cuts had been on sale at my local store for $3.00. I bought several including Cracked Black Pepper Turkey Breast. My son and I liked all of them and used them on sandwiches and in salads. I was impressed with the packaging because I now had another container to use for salad or soup to go along with the sandwiches. All of the varieties were flavorful, whether they were honey roasted, smoked or just plain oven roasted. I bought ham, beef and turkey.

The Hillshire Farm Deli...

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NattScatt says "An interesting buffet of various cuisines, food for every taste." about Sharon Zheng - English Creek, NJ

NattScatt — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:15:50 GMT

Reasonably priced, lunch and dinner buffet. Clean and fairly quiet. We go every chance we get....

NattScatt says "A waste of money, I was disappointed in the Glory Foods name" about Glory Foods Cut, washed, ready to Cook Collard, Mustard, Turnip. Southern Blend

NattScatt — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:11:07 GMT

I usually buy fresh produce when it's on sale. Living where I do, I have access to locally grown fruits and vegetables being sold at stands and in stores for lower prices. I take advantage of the bounty of Cumberland County whenever possible, but just like most people, I like to try new, easier products from time to time.

There's nothing like fresh greens. Collards, Kale, Mustard or Turnip greens are at their peak during the late fall and early winter. My family and friends cook them for the holidays. I usually get mine fresh and spend the extra time cleaning, cutting and cooking them my own special way. I received a coupon for a bag of Glory Foods packaged greens and figured I'd use it to prepare them for a regular weeknight meal. Pre-cut, pre-washed, ready to cook greens seemed like a great idea. Until I went to cook them.

Glory Foods cut, washed, ready to cook Southern Blend greens were not at all what I expected. Granted, I had never bought pre-packaged greens...

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NattScatt says "Fresh Baked Bread Ready When You Get Home From Work" about Magic Chef Automatic 1.5 lb. Breadmaker

NattScatt — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:45:16 GMT

There's nothing like the taste and aroma of freshly baked bread, especially during the winter months and throughout the holiday season. I remember my Grandmom making bread and doing everything from scratch. It was basically an all day job, mixing, kneading and letting the dough rise. Then it still had to bake. I get the same results, now, with much less work, thanks to my Magic Chef Automatic1.5 lb. Bread-maker. I've had it for several years and use it alot. I even use it sometimes in the summer.

The Magic Chef Automatic 1.5 lb. Bread-maker is great for us busy people who like to have fresh bread along with our regular week-night meals. We not only don't have time to make bread from scratch, we are multi-taskers who would rather cook and shop or cook and clean at the same time. We want to be able to live our busy lives while still serving fresh, home-made meals to our families. This machine helps make it possible.

With eight cycles and a timer, you can make any...

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NattScatt says "AromaSand: Fragrance of a Candle Without the Risk of Fire" about JerseyLite Candle AromaSand

NattScatt — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:14:01 GMT

If you are a person who likes scented candles, sprays and plug-ins, you will love AromaSand from JerseyLite Candle. I, personally, like scented candles because the fragrances are not overpowering and the scent lasts for a long time. I have several candles in my favorite scents. I am leery of using them because I'm afraid they may get knocked over or that my Grandchildren may try to touch the hot glass or the flame itself. I used plug-ins for the same effect, until I received an email showing how they can cause fires. Sprays are usually strong, let alone bad for the environment. During a fund-raiser at work, I found the perfect alternative.

AromaSand is exactly that: sand with aroma added. It is made by a company that sells scented candles. This scented sand comes in a pack and in many different fragrances. All you have to do is pour it into a non-porous container and stir it every three or four days, and the scent will stay for thirty days. I now use AromaSand...

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NattScatt says "A Quick & Easy Way to Serve Gourmet Pasta Sauce At Home" about Plentiful Pantry Pasta Partners Gourmet Pasta Sauce Blend

NattScatt — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:56:11 GMT

While visiting one of my favorite stores,Old Farmer's Almanac General Store, I came across a line of pasta sauce mixes that I had never seen before. There were several different flavors and from the instructions, the prep seemed easy so I decided to try some. I'm glad I did.

Pasta Partners Gourmet Pasta Sauce Blend is a unique mixture of seasonings and spices in a little envelope that allows you to make a gourmet pasta meal in your own home. I bought the Creamy Tomato Basil and the Creamy Garlic Alfredo flavors. Both were very easy to make since I only had to add butter and milk. Both had all the intense flavors of sauces either made by someone's Italian Grandmother or in a five star Italian restaurant. There was the flavors of cheese, and spices along with visible bits of dehydrated tomato and basil and garlic, respectively. I just had to cook my pasta according to directions and pour the simmered sauce over it.

The Creamy Tomato Basil sauce was great on it's own,...

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NattScatt says "Weird, True and Freaky is worth the watch." about Weird, True And Freaky

NattScatt — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:46:43 GMT

While channel surfing, I came across a new show on Animal Planet. It's called Weird, True and Freaky. The name describes the content to a tee. It shows different things pertaining to animals that are weird, true and freaky.

I've watched several episodes and all were very interesting and informative. They show you things that animals do, are used for and how humans use and breed animals for different things. The episodes I've seen showed some of the biggest fish caught, how some animal species are cannibalistic, and how humans have been genetically altering animal species for science purposes. I saw different animals being used as medical treatments as well as different countries where the natives eat animals and insects we wouldn't think of eating.

The show is only 30 minutes long and they count down from seven to one. Before the commercials, they have little quizzes about animals. The ask a question and give A, B and C answers. You get to guess your choice while...

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NattScatt says "So funny, I didn't laugh once, I didn't laugh at all." about World's Funniest Moments

NattScatt — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:42:29 GMT

I usually watch America's Funniest Home Videos (AFV) on Wednesday nights with my family. We usually all sit down in front of the TV and laugh together because the show is so funny. After seeing a show with a similar name on the on-screen guide, we decided to watch something different. What a bad decision that was.

We turned to World's Funniest Moments on PHL 17. Wow, what a striking contrast to the show it apparently copied. This program shows video clips from all over the world. There are clips from the Internet as well as videos sent in by viewers. The clips are supposed to be funny. It is hosted by Arsenio Hall, who I used to find funny in his own right, and has a studio audience, some of whom are incorporated into the show. Well, let me tell you the real story.

First of all, none of the clips were outright funny. A few were cute and in a couple it looked like the people really got hurt. The rest were either plain stupid, or so-so to say the least. ...

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NattScatt says "Enhances the flavor of raw, steamed or grilled vegetables." about Goya Salad and Vegetable Seasoning

NattScatt — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:09:14 GMT

Goya Salad and Vegetable Seasoning is exactly what you need for any vegetable you eat. This delicious powdered seasoning enhances the flavor of any veggie. It can be used on raw veggies, in salads, on grilled and steamed vegetables. It adds a very nice flavor, without adding calories or fat. There is salt, garlic and pepper in it, but it doesn't overpower the veggies.

I use Goya Salad and Vegetable Seasoning whenever I use veggies. There is not a more convenient mix that can be sprinkled on or mixed into veggies. I've used it on asparagus to zucchini, beets, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. I use it in tossed salads, Cole slaw and fresh veggies cut for dips. I've added it to frozen and canned veggies as well. Each time I used it, I was completely satisfied. People have even complemented me on certain vegetable dishes, thinking I used some special spice. Of course, when I told them what it was, they all said they were going to buy it.

It comes in a box of eight...

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NattScatt says "The perfect food for Siamese Fighting Fish" about Tetra BettaMin Tropical Medley

NattScatt — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:37:39 GMT

BettaMin is the perfect food for the Siamese Fighting Fish that come in a bowl with a plant growing above it. It contains the right amount of vitamins, minerals and healthy fat that these fish need. It also contains color enhancers so your beautiful fish will stay that way....

NattScatt says "Smells so clean, I almost want to use it as an air freshener." about Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel

NattScatt — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:47:42 GMT

I got a coupon in the mail for Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel and bought one when they were on sale at my local supermarket. I'm not usually one to go for new-fangled toilet bowl cleaners because I clean mine the old fashioned way. I'm also leery about leaving anything inside the bowl because I have small Grandchildren who may try to make "soup" there. (Yes, it has happened before).

When I got home and opened the package, I immediately plopped a disk of gel just below the rim of the toilet and flushed. WOW! The clean fragrance was fantastic. It wafted through not only the bathroom, but out into the hallway and prompted positive comments from my daughter. She thought I had sprayed some sort of air freshener. She even suggested that I flush again, just to distribute more of the scent.

We normally leave the toilet lid down to discourage little hands, but now I try to leave it up as much as possible to keep the scent in the air. It smells like the entire bathroom...

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