Reviews by Friends of btrfly02

TheBard says "Love The Rise, the Price,and the Taste" about Krusteaz Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix

TheBard — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:48:11 GMT

Nothing goes better with BBQ ribs and baked beans than freshly baked cornbread coated in rich, creamy butter. I sometimes make my own from scratch, sometimes whip up some Jiffy, but I recently discovered the 15oz. box of Krusteaz Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix made with real honey.

My Viewpoint

The flavor of Krusteaz Honey Cornbread is not surprisingly, tasty. The honey flavor (honey powder is listed as an ingredient) is mild and not overpowering. The cornbread's texture is moist, not dry like cheaper brands, and almost cake-like. Of course I added my own ingredients to the mix: a teaspoon of nutmeg, and a hint of allspice.

Krusteaz Honey Cornbread is a simple cornbread mix making it easy to prepare. To make the basic recipe, add to the mix is 2/3 cups of milk, 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, and 1 Lg. egg. On the side and back of the box are two more recipes to spice up the cornbread and turn the mix into a full meal; Bacon & Cheddar Mini Corn Loaves anyone?

I highly recommend...

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TheBard says "These Are Seriously Delicious" about Pillsbury Grands Flaky Supreme Cinnamon Rolls

TheBard — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:58:54 GMT

It's the weekend and in the Bard's household that usually means some sort of decadent high calorie, high fat desert pastry for Saturday morning breakfast! Sometimes I pick up something fresh from the local supermarket, or sometimes I pop something into the oven. Today, that something was a fresh batch of Pillsbury Grand's Flaky Supreme Cinnamon Rolls, made with "Cinnabon" cinnamon and cream cheese icing.

My Viewpoint

I am pleased with my choice for this weekend's breakfast pasty; these cinnamon buns are seriously flaky and delicious! I prepared the cinnamon buns per package instructions; sixteen minutes in the oven at 350 degrees and they were ready to emerge; browned, hot, moist, and yummy.

The package contains a small container of cream cheese icing, which is just enough to cover the (5) cinnamon buns.

I highly recommend Pillsbury Grands Flaky Supreme Cinnamon Rolls; for about $3.79 a can (in the dairy section) they are a bargain compared to the $3.99 I would have...

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TheBard says "Delicious, not so nutritious, not so good for you, but..." about Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese Sharp Cheddar

TheBard — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:56:49 GMT

I love macaroni & cheese, but I don't always have the time to prepare a dish from scratch. In those times, when time is of the essence, I turn to Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner. Now this isn't the regular ole Kraft Mac & Cheese with the powered cheese, that tastes like it was made for children, or other without a discriminating palate, Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner comes complete with a package of real cheese, and elbow macaroni.

The Kraft brand has always been my favorite; I like the way it cooks up; fast and easy. Cut open the pouch with its four cheese blend sauce empty into the still steaming macaroni, mix and enjoy.

My Viewpoint

Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner makes a great side dish for almost any meat and vegetable, but I like to pair it with either fried of baked chicken, pork chops, or fried catfish. The 14oz package packs a fair amount of flavor, and serves up at least four.

While the product is good right out of the package I like to "doctor" it...

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TheBard says "The perfect side for almost any BBQ Meat" about Bush's Grillin' Baked Beans

TheBard — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:19:55 GMT

The side dish; what will it be tonight? That is the conundrum facing millions of cooks all over the country, nay the worlds tonight. Better still, what side will it be tonight with these fabulous BBQ ribs I just spent five hours slow-cooking? The answer: Bush's Grillin' Baked Beans.

My Viewpoint

I am pleased with Bush's Grillin' Baked Beans. There are a number of flavors (recipes) to choose from including Southern Pit Barbeque, Steakhouse Recipe, Smokehouse Tradition, and Bourbon and Brown Sugar. I have tried all four recipes and all have much to recommend them. The beans look and taste like they are made from fresh ingredients and each has a unique taste that goes well a variety of grilled meats. And each goes well with backed meats as well.

At $1.52 a can at my local Super Target (where else) I can afford to keep a can or two of Bush's Grillin' Baked Beans in the pantry ready for quick eating, no matter what is on the grill or in the oven. And the size of the can is...

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TheBard says "Another winner from Dymo!" about Dymo LabelWriter Turbo 330

TheBard — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:08:14 GMT

Bottom-Line: Over all, my users are very pleased with the performance of the Dymo LabelWriter Turbo 330; the label printer works, and works well.

Like the Dymo LabelWriter EL60 it replaces, the Dymo LabelWriter Turbo 330 is a small printer shaped like a half circle with a semi clear window in the front to view labels as they are printer. On the front of the printer is a horizontal slot from which labels are "ejected" once printed. Front panel controls are limited to one: the advance label button, used in case the label become jammed, or the printer will not print, but you need to advance the label. Also on the front of the Dymo LabelWriter Turbo 330 is a small oval yellow light indicating that the unit is powered on. On the back there is rocker switch for power, and two connections for serial and USB.

The primary differences between the Dymo LabelWriter Turbo 330 and Dymo LabelWriter EL60 is the dpi resolution (203 vs. 300); label printing speed (8 vs. 32 per minute); expanded...

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TheBard says "Not a Bad Little Smudge-Free Label Printer" about Dymo LabelWriter EL60

TheBard — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:45:00 GMT

Bottom-Line: If you are looking for a low cost, low maintenance, reliable label printer with above average output, look no further then the Dymo LabelWriter EL60.

In our current office environment, most users do not have desktop printers; that is by design. They are connected instead to series of networked black & white and color printers. But that poses its own set of problems since a fair majority of people have a need to mail vendors on a fairly consistent basis, and prefer printed mailing labels to do so. Printing labels via the network printers is problematic for obvious reasons. My desktop is sans a local printer as well and I have a pressing need to print labels to attach to workstations, network printers, servers, and other items, so I needed a label printer as well. Enter the Dymo LabelWriter EL60.

The Dymo LabelWriter EL60 is a small printer shaped like a half circle with a semi clear window in the front to view labels as they are printer. On the front of the printer...

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TheBard says "It's What For Breakfast This Weekend Anyway" about Duncan Hines Blueberry Streusel Muffins

TheBard — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:13:02 GMT

It's the weekend and in the Bard's household that usually means some sort of decadent high calorie, high fat desert pastry for Saturday morning breakfast! Sometimes I pick up something fresh from the local supermarket, or sometimes I pop something into the oven. Today, that something was a fresh batch of Duncan Hines (new) Blueberry Streusel Muffins, made with 100% whole grain and 0 grams (g) of trans fat.

My Viewpoint

I am pleased with my choice for this weekend's breakfast pasty. I prepared the muffins as I would any blueberry muffin mix. Sixteen minutes in the oven at 375 degrees and they were ready to emerge; browned, hot, moist, and yummy. But I have to say I could have done without the streusel topping. The fact that the muffins are made from whole grains is an added bonus.

I highly recommend Duncan Hines Blueberry Streusel Muffins; for about $1.79 a box they are a bargain compared to the $3.99 I would have to pay at the local Dominick's grocery store...

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TheBard says "Okay Taste, Something I Might Buy Again Even without a Coupon" about Kashi Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal (Golden Brown Maple)

TheBard — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:50:39 GMT

Bottom-Line: Not my first choice, but I am willing to give the oatmeal another try, with coupon in hand of course.

Breakfast. When you keep strange hours like I do-up and out early-eating a nutrition-laden, none-fast-food-restaurant meal can be a challenge, especially when the stomach is grumbling that it wants food! So I usually eat breakfast once I get to work in the form of a couple of boiled eggs and oatmeal, most likely Quaker.

Recently, whilst shopping at my local Super Target, I gathered up coupons for Kashi Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal (Golden Brown Maple) at a taste test stand, and decided to give it a try.

My Viewpoint

I like Kashi Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal (Golden Brown Maple). It is not the best instant oatmeal I have eaten, nor is it the worst. Checking in at 160 calories, 5g of fiber, 2g of fat, 4g of protein, and 33g of carbohydrates per packet, Kashi Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal (Golden Brown Maple) does make for a filling good-for-you breakfast.

Kashi...

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TheBard says "Just Okay, Not Something I Would Buy Again without a Coupon" about Kashi TLC granola bars

TheBard — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:59:49 GMT

Bottom-Line: Not my first choice, but I am willing to give them another try, with coupon in hand of course.

I like to snack; who doesn't? But lately I have been trying to snack more wisely and that means fruit or some form of granola bar that uses who grains and is relatively low in sugar. Recently, whilst shopping at my local Super Target, I gathered up coupons for Kashi TLC Chewy Granola Bars at a taste test stand, and decided to give them a try.

My Viewpoint

I like Kashi TLC Chewy Granola Bars, but just barely. Checking in at around 120 calories, around 4 grams of fiber, 5 grams of fat, and 5 grams of protein per bar, Kashi TLC Granola Bars do make for a light good-for-you snack, but the bars are somewhat lacking in taste. Unlike some of the varieties I have tasted from Quaker, the Kashi TLC Granola Bars failed to really satisfy my taste buds, or put a smile on my face.

The Kashi TLC Chewy Granola Bars do contain the company's trade mark "seven whole grains on a mission"...

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TheBard says "A Forgettable, Unfunny, Boring, Mess" about Sherri

TheBard — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:54:09 GMT

Sherri Shepherd (The View, Less Than Perfect) is Intellectually Challenged (stupid); no apologies it had to be said. Spend a week with the buxom nitwit on the View and you will not doubt come away with the same impression. To be fair she has her light bulb moments, but they the exception, not the rule; the woman just doesn't generate a lot of intellectual wattage! Need proof, read on:

Shepherd stated on the September 18, 2007 broadcast of The View, that she didn't "believe in evolution. Period." When Co-host Whoopi Goldberg asked her, "Is the world flat?", Shepherd first responded, "...I don't know" and expanded that she "never thought about it." Shepherd went on to explain that it was more important to her that she thought about how she was "going to feed [her] child," at which point Barbara Walters pointing out that, "You can do both." However, Shepherd then went on to quote scripture (she is deeply religious). Ms. Shepherd later referred to her shockingly ignorant statements as...

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TheBard says "It's Hard To Tear Yours Eyes Away" about Slumdog Millionaire

TheBard — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:20:18 GMT

Bottom-Line: Despite the depressing setting Slumdog Millionaire is strangely uplifting and hopeful and in the end is a movie the whole family can and most likely will enjoy.

Directed by Danny Boyle Marc Foster (The Beach, 28 Days Later, Sunshine) Slumdog Millionaire (winner of 8 Oscars including Best Picture) takes place in the world's most populace city, Mumbai (Bombay), the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Here young brothers Jamal and Salim Malik watch in horror as their mother, and scores of others, are set upon and killed for being Muslim, thus casting the brothers and another orphan, a girl named Latika adrift in the teaming slums of Mumbai.

Jamal and Latika form and instant attachment to one another that is to last throughout the film and form the basis for this love story.

My Viewpoint

Despite the brittle and often brutal edges of Slumdog Millionaire the movie is at its heart an enduring love story set against a backdrop of misery and despair. The movie was...

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TheBard says "A Very Refreshing Menthol Smell, But Still Some Ash" about Nivea for Men Cool Body Wash with Menthol

TheBard — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:00:15 GMT

Because of my dry skin, brought on in part by my diabetes my wife recently suggested that I try liquid gel soap because it is not as harsh on the skin as bar soap, even those infused with lotion and such. So I took her advice and purchased Irish Spring Body Wash with Aloe. But, I also purchased Nivea For Men Cool Body Wash as well, and I have to say I like it.

Not only does Nivea For Men Cool Body Wash-made with icy menthol-smell good and lather up richly, but it also washes away cleanly leaving my skin looking natural and feeling clean and smooth. However, although the marketing literature claims the soap contains "HydroBeads that instantly dissolve on your skin as you shower" thus helping your skin retain your skins natural moisture, there is a noticeable dryness on my skin after use.

Is it refreshing and invigorating? Not really, but then again I do not look for that sort of stimulation in my body wash I just want it to clean and perhaps moisturize a tad. I will keep...

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TheBard says "Cleans The Scalp and That's All I ask of It" about Suave Shampoo - All Varieties

TheBard — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:39:09 GMT

Bottom-Line: Suave Shampoo doesn't feel one way or another on my scalp, but it does get the area clean, and feeling fresh.

I am clean shaven, well my head anyway. It took me a while go get to this point, but after a lot of procrastination-far too much actually-I decided to start shaving my head. There were a number of reasons why I decide to start sporting a Gandhi dew, but first and foremost: I was tired of my unruly hair. So off it went and goes (about twice a week), but I still need to keep the area clean. For that I use Suave Shampoo.

I lean towards the Suave Shampoo for men, Deep Cleaning, however without hair it really doesn't matter all that much. What matters is getting my scalp clean and shinny, so I tend to use whatever Suave Shampoo happens to be on sale at my local CVS Drugs. I principally started using Suave Shampoo because, well it relatively inexpensive compared to the rest of the crop of shampoos; some time I can grab a bottle for as low as $.99 a bottle. ...

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TheBard says "A Single Roll Has Endless Possibilities" about 3M Scotch Magic Tape

TheBard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:03:32 GMT

Bottom-Line: A roll of 3M Scotch Magic Transparent Tape is several tools in one lightweight package.

Transparent Tape, it is one of the household tools you never appreciate until you don't have it around, which is why we keep plenty of 3M Scotch Magic Transparent Tape in the home office.

Why 3M Scotch Magic Transparent Tape? Because we have tried the rest and found them lacking; 3M Scotch Magic Transparent Tape is the only take that adhere correctly to almost any surface I apply it to; the store branded transparent tape has been less than stellar in this most important arena.

When you say transparent tape the holidays and wrapping presents come most readily to mind, but 3M Scotch Magic Transparent Tape can be and is used for so much more. As a binding tool for children's project of all description the tape is invaluable. Need to clean pet hair off your favorite wool jacket in a pinch, reach for 3M Scotch Magic Transparent Tape. Need to mail a package; mend a sheet of paper,...

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TheBard says "I Like That (Clean Water) Peace of Mind" about Brita Faucet Water Filtration System

TheBard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:32:26 GMT

Bottom-Line: I like the peace of mind that comes with knowing that Brita Faucet Water Filtration System is working in the background to protect me and mind.

The water that comes into our house from the local reservoir is some of the cleanest in the state, but there is always room for improvement. I mean the water tastes clean, that is there is not taste, which is the way water is supposed to, well taste, but you never know what might have been missed.

So what we bought our new house some eight years ago, we also bought our first Brita Faucet Water Filtration System for the kitchen faucet.

The 411

What is the Brita Faucet Water Filtration System? The Brita Faucet "Water-Filtration system is a base, adapters, and filter. The "system" installs without tools on household faucets to help eliminate nearly all foul tastes and odors from drinking water. Brita Faucet Water Filters do not purify unsafe drinking water, however the systems' activated charcoal filter cartridge does...

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TheBard says "Affordable, Portable Power for the Masses" about Eveready - Gold AA Size 1.5v Alkaline Batteries

TheBard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:52:37 GMT

Bottom-Line: If you need an affordable, seriously long lasting battery at an affordable price-point, you can't go wrong with the Eveready Gold AA Size 1.5v Alkaline Batteries.

Let's face it, there is an ever increasing number of gadgets and other electronic equipment that need "AA" sized batteries to operate: penlight flashlights, remotes, MP3 players, bedside clocks, wireless keyboard & mice, digital cameras, portable GPS devices. For instance at work I use Eveready Gold AA Size Alkaline Batteries for a port clock on my desk, two wireless keyboard and two wireless mice.

The 411

The Eveready Gold AA Size Alkaline Battery is a 1.5 volt alkaline battery designed to deliver dependable long lasting power for all manner of portable devices. Eveready claims that Gold AA Size Alkaline Battery claims that the batteries "last significantly longer than Eveready Super Heavy Duty Carbon Zinc Batteries. Eveready Gold Alkaline Batteries can be bought in the following sizes: AAA/AA/C/D/9V.

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TheBard says "The Little Virtual Machine" about Dell Optiplex FX-160 desktop computer

TheBard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:59:31 GMT

Virtualization is in, at least for the time being until come other "buzz" technology comes along to replace virtualization as the it technology of the moment; remember cloud computing?

Virtualization involves more than servers, however, true virtualization includes workstations as well. That is where small footprint machines like the Dell Optiplex FX-160 come into play.

The 411

The Optiplex FX-160 is a small footprint desktop computer without full-sized hard drive. In fact it is so small that a standard 3.5" SATA drive will not fit into the chassis. If you insist on installing a hard drive then the Optiplex FX-160 will accept a 2.5" SATA drive or a solid state drive of the same size.

Dell designed the Optiplex FX-160 to support either a Virtual Remote Desktop thin client environment or a On-Demand Desktop Streaming environment. The lithe workstation is built around the Intel Atom processor family, which helps reduce the power footprint of the desktop, but does not limit the...

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TheBard says "Solid Wireless Router for a Trusted Name" about Linksys WRT310N Wireless Gigabit Router

TheBard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:53:41 GMT

Most businesses shun wireless. Despite the advances in wireless security over the years, there is still a basic belief the wireless communications are prone to hacking, when in fact there are a number of ways you can mitigate the risk to your data. So when a business I do work for wants to go wireless, I recommend the Linksys WRT310N Gigabit Router, for it security features, speed, and flexibility.

The 411

The Linksys WRT310N Gigabit Router operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, and supports the following wireless protocols: 802.11b/g and (draft) 802.11n. The silver and black, or all black WRT310N can transmit and receive networking traffic in a range of 1 - 54Mbps (b/g), and provides a maximum throughput 270Mbit/s over the wireless network when used with other 802.11n devices. But the WRT310N is also a 4-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch.

The WRT310N incorporates advanced security features into its design, these include: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2 Enterprise) with up to 256-bit...

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TheBard says "The (Anti-Virus) Evolution Continues" about Symantec Endpoint Protection 11

TheBard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:53:37 GMT

Bottom-Line: Virus protection has gone from a nice-to-have utility to an absolute necessity; Symantec Endpoint Protection 11 is the anti-virus program I want in my corner.

There was a time when desktop/home computing was still in its infancy that viruses although destructive, were not a constant threat and thus not a constant worry. My, how times have changed. The explosion of network computing, email, file sharing and the Internet has given birth to a parallel phenomenon; namely the almost constant barrage of very destructive and disruptive viruses that can literally travel the world in minutes.

There are have been widely reported cases of viruses and "virus-like" worms spreading through large computer networks and the Internet causing whole companies to shut down their computer infrastructures. Most of the viruses have been more of a nuisance, but some have caused computer hard drives to eat themselves, and still others, have caused computers to repeatedly reboot themselves. ...

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TheBard says "What You Need to Clean Those Hated Glasses" about Pro-Optics Pro Lens Cleaner

TheBard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:06:47 GMT

Bottom-Line: I keep Pro Lens Cleaner handy because, you know, glasses need to be cleaned, a lot!

Glasses, I hate them! No really, I hate them, and yet I have been wearing them practically all of my life, near-sighted you know. To wear them is the clean them, quite frequently, and I hate that as well. But it is a necessary evil and so I have enlisted Pro Lens Cleaner and a soft handkerchief to help.

My Viewpoint

Pro Lens Cleaner is an anti-fog, anti-static glass, plastic, and polycarbonate lense cleaner that cleans rather well thank you. Just a spray of two will do nicely, then wipe with a dry, clean, soft, lent-free cloth.

Pro Lens Cleaner cleans without leaving scratching; dust, smudges, grime, fingerprints, all gone in a matter of seconds.

Pro Lens Cleaner comes in a 6 fluid Oz. bottle (375 sprays) for the very affordable price of $3.49 and it is worth every dime. I keep a bottle handy at home and at work, because glasses need to be cleaned everywhere; and did I mention...

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