Product review: OXO Good Grips Large Wooden Spoon, Soup Spoon

 

I bought an OXO soup spoon to replace an old, well-used wooden spoon. The OXO spoon looked nice, but I discovered that I did not like how it felt once I began using it. It had a very rough finish, which I felt on my lips when I tasted sauce or soup. The OXO soup spoons are made out of beech wood with a natural finish, but they have a rough factory finish that is not smooth or polished, like high end or well-used spoons.

With some elbow grease, I turned this disappointing spoon into a great spoon that is a pleasure to use. I started by sanding it with 400-grit sandpaper. I could see how it took off a lot of rough tiny pieces that landed on my work table. Then I switched to 1000-grit sandpaper, sanding with the grain, not across it. After about 10-15 minutes of polishing, I washed it and let it dry. The water raised the grain a bit, and I took advantage of this to sand it again with 1000-grit sandpaper. After another 10-15 minutes of sanding, I saw the wood acquired a shine. It began feeling smooth and pleasant to touch. It had a polished feel. After wiping off the dust, I applied a thin layer of mineral oil wood conditioner that I use on my cutting boards, Poppyella Sunshine food-safe wood balm. After an overnight rest, I buffed the spoon with a cotton cloth. Now, it feels like a different spoon, nice and polished. I am grateful that the OXO spoon had a natural finish that could be fixed with a little bit of elbow grease.

Review of Oxo Soup Spoon

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Alfalfa Seeds – Non-GMO Organic Sprout for Growing, Resealable Bag, Homegrown Sprouting Seeds

 

 

I bought this bag of alfalfa seeds for my home sprout-growing kit. I have grown three batches so far, and the seeds have been doing great. I do not see any seeds that have not germinated.

I use one tablespoon of seeds and follow the instructions I found on the internet for growing sprouts: one overnight soak, followed by three days of twice-a-day rinsing while keeping the jar covered, followed by 2-3 days of keeping the jar uncovered but out of direct sun, with twice-a-day rinsing.

Once the sprouts are ready, I dry them and store them in the refrigerator in a covered plastic box lined with a paper towel to absorb any moisture. They remain fresh and crisp for a week.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Nature Jims Alfalfa Seeds  

Product review: Seed Sprouting Jar Kit. Jars with 316 Stainless Steel Lids, Drip Tray and Stand (video review)

 

I have been using this kit for about a month and have harvested 3 sprout crops. I selected 316 steel because it stands up to rust best, and I also wanted a kit with blackout sleeves.

I purchased the alfalfa seeds separately. I use one tablespoon of seeds and follow the instructions I found on the internet for growing sprouts: one overnight soak, followed by three days of twice-a-day rinsing while keeping the jar covered, followed by 2-3 days of keeping the jar uncovered but out of direct sun, with twice-a-day rinsing.

Once the sprouts are ready, I dry them and store them in the refrigerator in a covered plastic box lined with a paper towel to absorb any moisture. They remain fresh and crisp for a week.

I found that I actually do not need two jars. I use one jar and start growing the next batch when I know I am close to finishing the previous batch.

Everything fits and works perfectly. I have only one minor complaint: the neoprene sleeve has a smell, which I can still smell a month later despite washing the sleeves several times.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of SBMKK Seed Sprouting Jar Kit

Product review: Kitchen Aid Blender Repair Kit - Coupler replacement

 

My trusty KitchenAid blender was still running strong, but the coupler on the base had worn out and crumbled. Instead of buying a new blender, I found a replacement kit that came with two couplers and a thin wrench. This kit worked perfectly!

To replace the part, I first had to remove the old coupler. I used the skinny wrench included in the kit to hold the old coupler in place and I used a 10-inch pipe wrench to grip the metal base and turned it clockwise to loosen and remove it. The channel lock wrench did not open wide enough to do the job, but the pipe wrench made it much easier.

Installing the new coupler was a breeze. I placed the new part on the post and turned it counter-clockwise to tighten it. I used the pipe wrench to finish tightening, but was careful not to over-tighten. My blender is now working like new!

9704230 Blender Coupler with Spanner Kit Replacement Parts Compatible with KitchenAid KSB5WH KSB5 KSB3 Driver available on Amazon for under $8!
You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★



Review of Kitchen Aid Blender Repair Kit

Product review: Square Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids, 32 oz, 4 pack

 

I’ve been using these containers for two months now, and they’ve proven to be highly effective. Their square shape makes them ideal for efficient storage in the freezer, maximizing space with ease. The 32-ounce capacity is perfect for my needs, and the set of four containers is just right for storing leftover soup from my Dutch oven. I love that they’re made of glass. It feels safe for food storage, lets me see what’s inside at a glance, and allows me to reheat the soup directly in the container.

Ali Julia review of Square Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Book review: Cookbook The French Slow Cooker by Michele Scicolone

 

This is a very good cookbook with a lot of flavorful recipes.

I purchased a used cookbook on Amazon for the first time. The book arrived in good condition, but I was surprised by a sticker on the spine with the used bookstore seller's name. I shouldn't have to deal with removing the sticker and sticker residue from a book. A business card in the envelope would have been so much better!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of The French Slow Cooker

Product review: Winco Stainless Steel Round Egg Ring for eggs and pancakes

 

The ring is made out of stainless steel and has no non-stick covering (I am avoiding non-stick cookware due to the release of toxic fumes). I oil the pan inside the ring and the sides of the ring with a brush, and it works pretty well - minimal leaking and no sticking. The only problem I had was that it cut through the paper envelope it was mailed in and got bent (both the handle and the circle became an oval). I decided I could live with the bending imperfections, but I wish it were mailed in a box instead. It should have been obvious that sharp metal objects would not get along with a paper envelope.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Winco Round Egg Ring

Product review: Lodge Enameled Cast Iron & Ceramic Stoneware Care Kit

 

The cleaner solution does an excellent job removing stubborn stains, especially at the top around the rim. The brush works well not only on enameled cast iron but also on the grooved surface of my Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro. The scraper is comfortable to hold.

The pot protectors are the same as those that came with the original Lodge Enameled Pot, so these are "backups" in case I lose some.

Overall, very nice - it helps me keep my cookware clean.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Lodge Enameled Cast Iron & Ceramic Stoneware Care Kit

Product review: Scotch-Brite Gentle Clean Delicate Scrub Sponges Pink, no scratch, enameled Dutch oven

 

I  like Scotch-brite pink scrubber. I use it on an enameled Dutch oven, stainless steel frying pan, and Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro frying pan. It is doing a great job on all surfaces, getting the fried on food off without damaging the surface of my cookware. Note that Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro has grooves, and I typically use a brush with bristles to get into the grooves, but this sponge also worked decently.

I have been using the scrubber for several weeks; it is staying together. I am happier with it than the yellow/green Scotch-Brite scrubber I used in the past.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Scotch-Brite Gentle Clean Delicate Scrub Sponges Pink

Product review: Mr. Scrub All-Purpose Sponges, Non Scratch for enameled Dutch oven

 

Excellent scrubber. I use it on an enameled Dutch oven, stainless steel frying pan, and Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro frying pan. It is doing a great job on all surfaces, getting the fried on food off without damaging the surface of my cookware.

The scrubbers are shipped compressed, and are revived with water. They puff up after being watered.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Mr. Scrub All-Purpose Sponges, Non Scratch

Book review: America's Test Kitchen cookbook, The Skillet: 200+ Simpler Ways to Make Just About Anything

 

As I've come to expect from America's Test Kitchen cookbooks, this collection of recipes is excellent.
It's well-organized, and the instructions are very clear, making it easy to follow along. Each recipe has at least one photo, sometimes more. I appreciate that they explain the science behind each recipe, which adds a layer of understanding to the cooking process. I've picked up a few new techniques along the way, and the index is a real time-saver for finding recipes based on what I have available. Overall, it's a solid addition to my cookbook collection.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of The Skillet: 200+ Simpler Ways to Make Just About Anything

Product review: Homewizer Extra Large, 23” x 18” Silicone Dish Drying Mat - does not lay flat

I purchased a large silicone drying mat. It is 23 inches by 18 inches. I received it folded many times, and I cannot get it to lay flat. It is disappointing. It would have been better if it had been mailed flat or rolled.

It has ridges for dripping and a hole on one side for hanging. Even though the hole is convenient for storing the mat, and it is slightly raised, it still lets the water seep out onto the counter. It would be better if the mat had a loop instead of a hole.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Review of Homewizer Extra Large, 23” x 18” Silicone Dish Drying Mat
 

Product review: Ninja NC201 CREAMi Breeze Ice Cream Maker (Video product review)

 

 I got Ninja Creami ice cream maker because I wanted to make sorbet and ice cream with unique flavors. So far, I am very pleased. I got Ninfa Creami Breeze directly from NinjaKitchet, as this new model is unavailable on Amazon at the list price of $199. Ninja Creami has many recipes online, which I used as a base to help me with proportions and ingredient ideas.

Some of my own observations:

(1) Ninja instructions stress that the service of the frozen ice cream should be level when it is inserted into the ice cream maker. Every time I freeze the ice cream, it freezes with a hump in the middle. I use a spoon to shave down the hump so the top surface is even.

(2) If the ice cream is not as creamy as I like (sometimes it has a wet sand texture), I add milk or cream and respin to get it perfectly smooth.

(3) If you don't eat all of the ice cream and have some leftovers, before putting it back into the freezer, I make sure to level the top of the ice cream so it is ready for a new respin before you consume it the next time.

I am looking forward to many more experiments!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Ninja NC201 CREAMi Breeze Ice Cream Maker

Product review: Fecolmena Round Aluminum Foil Liners Papers for Air Fryer

 

Fecolmena Aluminum Foil Papers are basically pre-cut aluminum foil. The papers are very thin and do not hold their shape; they fold in the air fryer due to airflow. I hoped they would be similar to aluminum pans which I often use in my air fryer, but they have no stiffness at all. If one wants liners with aluminum foil thickness, using aluminum foil rolls and cutting or folding the sheets into round shapes is much more economical than using these liners.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of Fecolmena Round Aluminum Foil Liners

Product review: Haakong Coffee Filters Cone #2

 

I am using this filter for a pour-over coffee. It works well; it fits well. It is made out of paper, so it is compostable. This is an important consideration as I love using used coffee grinds in my composter.

What's the difference between #2 and #4 coffee filters?
A #2 coffee filter measures 6.25 inches wide and 4 inches tall. A #4 coffee filter is bigger and measures 7.5 inches wide by 5 inches tall.

These filters are 4.5" tall (measuring one side), so they fall between the true #2 and #4 filters. I like that the filter has a tab for easy opening and that the seam uses crimping rather than glue to hold the cone together. They come in very plain packaging, just a plastic bag, no box.

I use both sizes of filters in my pour-over set-up, but #2 is a better fit.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Haakong Coffee Filters Cone #2

Product review: OXO Good Grips Apple Corer - Kitchet gadget for baked apples and apple pie

 

 

It seems that apple corers have two dominant designs, one that opens its jaws and one (like this one) with a solid ring that does not open. After studying the reviews for both, I noticed that the corers with jaws that open eventually start jamming and need to be fixed. The problem is that the moving pieces jam, overlap, and form an oval instead a circle. This issue has to be fixed every time you use the corer.

This corer is made out of stainless steel solid right; the ring has serrated teeth that are very sharp. The serrated end cuts through the apple like it was butter. The handle is large and comfortable to hold. Cutting through the apple requires little force if you agitate the teeth back and forth.

I was interested in coring apples for baked apples rather than apple pies. This means I wanted to remove the apple core but not go all the way through the apple. Unfortunately, that is impossible as there is no mechanism to cut at the bottom without going through the apple. My solution is to remove the entire core and then use the bottom part of the core as a "stopper" by inserting it back into the bottom of the hole. The stopper leaks but provides some way of holding nuts or whatever else you want to stuff the apple with.

Before the Oxo corer, I used my grandmother's method of removing the apple core with a spoon, which remotes the pits while leaving a nice clean area for stuffing the apple. But it is much harder to scoop out with a blunt spoon than using an apple corer.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of OXO Good Grips Apple Corer

Product review: MARRIOTTO Filters Replacement for PUR® Water Filter Faucet, Replacement for RF9999

 

We have been using PUR faucet filters for over ten years to eliminate chlorinated flavor in the water. PUR filters have gotten very expensive, so I decided to try this compatible version of the filter. It fits the faucet unit OK (there is a little dribble leak which we do not get with the PUR filter). The water comes out with much higher pressure than the PUR filter; perhaps that explains the leak. However, it does get rid of the unpleasant chlorinated flavor, so it does filter.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of MARRIOTTO Filters Replacement for PUR® Water Filter Faucet, Replacement for RF9999

Product review: WDF 50 Pack 14 Inch Food Trays Disposable (video review)

 

 I purchased 14" x 10" food trays. They came in a pack of 50. The trays are made of thick paper; the paper is made of sugar cane fiber. They do not have any scent. The finish of the tray's surface feels a bit rough to the touch, but the liquids do not soak through.

I like their size, and their sturdiness meets our needs.  

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆    

Review of WDF 50 Pack 14 Inch Food Trays Disposable

Product review: MOOACE Slim Narrow Storage Cart, 4 Tier

 

 MOOACE Slim Storage Cart was easy to put together. Everything fit together nicely; an extra screw of each size was included just in case, and all necessary tools were also included. The assembled cart looks nice. I figured I would use it in the basement if it were ugly, but it looks good enough to be in the kitchen area. The top shelf is simulated dark wood, and the three other shelves are metal mesh. Its size is 16.5" in width (side to side), 31" tall, and each shelf is 7.3" wide. The cart's brackets are metal and sturdy, and two wheels have brakes. The cart feels sturdy overall and does not wobble.

The unit comes with both wheels and non-wheel feet, and it was my choice to pick whatever fit my needs.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of MOOACE Slim Storage Cart, 4 Tier

Product review: FavorKit Stainless Steel Slicer Shredder Attachment for KitchenAid

 

 This set of three shredders fits our Kitchen Aid mixer perfectly. It is made out of stainless steel and is dishwasher safe. It has been through the dishwasher several times as I write this review with no problems.

The first project, captured in the attached video, was shredding potatoes for making latkas (potato pancakes). They came out as good as shredding potatoes by hand (compared to the food processor, where the consistency is not quite right). My husband is the latka master and gives this shredder high marks!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★