Product review: PriorityChef Potato Ricer With 3 Interchangeable Discs

There are guzzilion ways to make mashed potatoes. I like my mashed potatoes even-textured but not as creamy as what I get with whipped mashed potatoes. This ricer gives me rich mouth texture without being "over processed" into gooey paste. I like my mashed potatoes with a bit of texture and with the skins. So even though you can peel potatoes before ricing them I do not. I boil them and then quarters or cut them in 8th put 3-4 chunks into the ricer and squeeze the handles. The skin remain in the ricer and I just dump them in the mashed potatoes after each squeezing session.

I often don't even add milk or cream to the potatoes it comes out so smooth that it does not need anything else. If you are watching calories that might be a bonus.

The ricer is made out of stainless steel and comes with three different disks. My video shows the results with each. The one with small circles is my favorite, as it works best with potato skins and is the easiest to clean.

I received this ricer for evaluation and review. If you are skeptical of my review because of this, please take a moment to look at my other reviews and see that I leave many critical review (1 star, 2 star, 3 star) when the product deserves it. Getting a free product does not guarantee a glowing review and I always state this before accepting a product for review.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: JZBRAIN Tower Power Strip Surge Protector

I really like this tower power strip, it works very well in tight places: behind the TV, behind the computer, next to my sewing machine.  It has a good size power cord (115 inches, or 9.5 feet). It has 8 AC outlets and 6 USB outlets.

The power strip has a very small foot print (5.5" across) yet accepts large plugs next to each other. The AC outlets are well spaced out. I can power several battery chargers next to each other without problems. This is a very clever design.  It gave me more than enough outlets in an area which barely had any space.

The strip has three switches we control which set of outlets get power. On the bottom of the tower there is a keyhole openings so this power strip can also be mounted on the wall.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: US Wire 63025 14/3 25-Foot SJTW Orange Medium Duty Extension Cord (outdoor)

I purchased this outdoor cord for my heated outdoor mat, which required 15 amp rated cord. This cord is left outdoors in the rain and snow so I am using it in combination with cord lock (from Farm Innovators) to keep the connection dry.

I am writing this review after two winters. So far the connection is staying dry in rain and the cord makes a nice tight and secure fit on both ends.  The cord did lose its bright orange color from being outdoors and is now mail orange in color.

The description says the the cord is made in the USA or China. The label of my cord states it was made in China.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Gerior Premium Kitchen Shears Stainless

These are general purposes stainless steel kitchen scissors. The total length of the scissors is 8" and the blade is 4". The blades are sharp.  Cutting is easy.  I tried items in the kitchen (such as chicken) and in the office (hard cardboard).
The openings in the handles are fairly large, I found them comfortable. Overall, a good set of general purpose scissors.

The scissors have  a built in bottle-opener on the blades, and a nut cracker between the handles.  I find dedicated tools easier to use but if you take these scissors camping the extra tools might come in handy.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Duress The Game

I really enjoyed this game.  It is designed for two person. It combines strategy and chance. The players can change the initial set up of the game adding more variety to the games.  The goal of the game is to move your pieces from the the sides of the board to the center of the board, and get there ahead of your opponent. The moves are determined by pulling a random piece out of the bag. How you move is determined by planning where  you want to move each of your pieces.  If you can plan many steps ahead for each of 16 pieces you will do better.  You can either move to the goal or move to block your opponent.    I found the game play fun, and we plan to play it again. 

There are a couple of the aspects of the game that could have been better.

• The pieces are very light and are easy to knock off the squares on the board.  Even if you are playing on a stable surface you will need to constantly straighten them.  It would be completely impossible to play it on a train on in a moving vehicle.  If the board and pieces were magnetized it would expand the possibilities for where you can plan this game.  

•  The second thing that could be better is piece identification.  If you don't play chess you will have hard time identifying icons on the tiles.  Even if you play chess it will take a little while to tell the pieces apart. This could have been easily resolved by adding icon images next to the list of pieces in the documentation.

Overall, this is an enjoyable game to play!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Pergear A216C AIR SWITCH Sensor LED Photo Video Light Panel Dimmable

My review is for Pergear A216C Touchless Controller with Air Switch.

The light panel works with F550 SONY compatible battery (the package includes two batteries which is great as I can recharge one while using the other). I own several light panels and this panel has a couple of unique features that I like (1) touchless switch lets me save the battery life by turning it off and on quickly. Once I set up the light level and color I can turn the light on and off without having to move the panel or fiddle with the switches. With the other panels I need to either move them or reach around which may reposition the lights (2) I can control the color of the light without using filters. This light panel also has a switch that changes the light intensity. This feature is not unique to this panel, I consider it a must-have feature as it is incredibly useful.

Another minor but nice feature that my other panels do not have is a button that ejects the battery. This will prolong the panel light. I dropped and broke one of my old panels trying to remove a stiff fitting battery.

The panel comes with a light diffuser. I like that it snaps in snugly into the panel and does not fall out even when I turn the light upside down.

The light panel generates continuous light. Once you turn it on the light panel stays on. This panel does not communicate with the camera like a flash. I use it mounted on a tripod so I have more control of how the light is directed.

The photo panel is 5" by 3" and 1.5" deep. The light weighs 8.15 oz. It 216 LED lights.

Color temperature of the lights: 3200K-5500K

In addition to the extras I already mentioned the package also includes gloves which are sized small (I have small hands and they fit me perfectly) and a cleaning cloth (7.75" x 7.75").

Overall, I like this light very much. It is easy to set up and easy to change the amount of light I get to fit any situation.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Marino Men's Genuine Leather Ratchet Dress Belt

This is a unique belt, it does not have your typical buckle and holes. It is held together by a ratcheting system. It holds very well but it is less forgiving about the fit because it only holds in a 9" area where the ratcheting system is attached on the reverse side. If someone's size is on a border line of how the belt fits it is something to keep in mind.

This belt is missing a loop to hold the long end of the belt for those who fit at the low end of the range. If the tail is too long for your taste the buckle can be removed in order to trim the belt to my size and then secure it back neatly.

I really like the ratchet mechanism. It is quick and easy and holds well.

The leather is a nice quality, the belt is thick, and the stitching is neat.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★