Product review: Alessi Porcini Mushroom Soup, 4 Ounce (Pack of 6) / Amazon groceries home delivery during COVID-19

Alessi Porcini mushroom soup tasted okay, although we liked it less than the Alessi Lentil soup.  There are 6 packages in the box.  Each package is mixed with 4.5 cups of water and provides four small servings, each serving is 110 calories. We needed a somewhat more substantial serving size to feel full and one package provided three servings.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: White Coffee Kahlua French Vanilla Gourmet Ground Coffee, 12-Ounce Bags

Kahlua French Vanilla is medium roast coffee. I did not think it had much French Vanilla flavor. I use using the pour-over method and it is mellow in flavor.  Overall, okay rating. I will probably not buy it again. The bag says roasted/packaged by White Coffee Corp., Long Island City, NY.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Instant Silicone Pot Mini Mitts

There were cheaper mitts that "compatible" with Instant Pot, but I decided to go with the original manufacturer to make sure the fit is perfect.  The mitt fits under the rim just right.  The silicone material is thick.  The heat protection is excellent. They are easy to clean.

In addition to fitting the Instant Pot, I also found they work really well with lifting hot pots from the stove burners. I am very happy with these mitts.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Kieba Massage Lacrosse Balls for Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, Muscle Knots, and Yoga Therapy

I had a sore neck and paid for several very expensive massage sessions which helped but did not totally resolve the problem because I could only go twice a week.  Then I found these balls!  I  pressed them against the wall and rolling them against the knots in my neck fixed my neck in about a week.  I used them several times a day.  A massage therapist would have cost me a fortune if I tried to do the same!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Schwarzkopf Essensity Oil Developer- 5.5% / 18 Volume- 33.8 oz

A few weeks ago I did my first hair color at home as my hair salon is closed due to COVID-19.  The first time I used a Schwarkipf Essensity kit and because my hair is short I had a lot of wasted products.  This time I ordered the Schwarzkopf Developer and color separately, so I could use less and make it more cost-efficient over time.

Schwarzkopf Essensity Oil Developer- 5.5% / 18 Volume worked very well.  I used in 1:1 ratio to the color.  The instructions came with the color tube.  The developer bottle had no instructions as it is aimed at professionals who know what they are doing.  The only key info you need to know is the proportion.  I measured the ratio on a kitchen scale (first weight the bowl, then add color, then add an equal amount of developer).
I used less than one oz for one application, so the bottle will last a long time.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Envirocycle Composter Tumbler Bin and Compost Tea Maker

I decided to use Envirocycle because it looked like it would the easiest to keep from smelling bad. I don't think it is beautiful, but it is efficient, effective, and easy to use.

- 35 gallonComposter Dimensions: L 25.4" x W 21.5" x H 27.7"
- Drum Capacity: 35 US Gallons
- Compost Tea Base Capacity: 2.5 US Gallons
- Weight: 24.6 lbs

A friend of mine who recommended Envirocycle has the smaller (the 17 gallons) bin and I measured it for reference: Length 19″ x Width of 18.75″ x Height of 21.5″

The drum sits on the base and is not held down to the base with any attachments. The bin should be placed in full sun as heat speeds up composting. The drum has narrow slit openings at the bottom from which access moisture drips into the base. These drippings are called compost tea and can be used (after dilution) as fertilizer for plants.

The instructions call for 75% green materials (like grass clippings) and 25% brown materials (like dry leaves) by weight.  Since dry materials are dry and light it is easier to think of the materials by volume not weight.  The volume is more evenly divided between green and brown. I don't obsess over the precise measures but rather check for smell and wetness.  The proper mixture should smell earthy, no bad odors. The key to the good composting pile is to rotate the drum approximately 3 times every 3 days to give air to microbes working on the pile. I also give it a turn whenever I add new material to mix things up.  The bin is very easy to turn by pulling and pushing on the grooves on the sides of the drum.

If it smells it means it is too wet and needs more brown material and more rotation. If it looks too dry it means it needs more green material or a bit of water spray.  The contents should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge. If the pile is too dry it will compost slower and it can be watered with a hose but if the ratio of materials is correct it is not necessary on a regular basis.

To speed up the composting process I cut content into smaller pieces (general recommendations about 1 inch).
Once the composter is full allow it to cook and in 4-8 weeks you should have usable compost.  As the pile cooks it decreases in volume and it is possible to fit more raw materials into. Envirocycle instruction recommends not adding any more raw materials to speed up composting. What you do depends on your goal: do you want to compost as soon as possible to use this year? Stop adding new raw materials. Do you want as much as possible compost to use next year?  Keep adding new material.  However,  stop adding new material if the majority of the pile has mostly composted. At that stage, microbes will not have enough to eat and the compost pile will be in the cooling down stage.

The bin does not need to be protected from rain, but the container is not watertight. During heavy rainfall periods, I check the composter's base more frequently. The base might need to be drained every 2 weeks.

WIf you see mold it means the bin is not turned enough and is not getting enough aeration. Rotating the drum approximately 3 times every 3 days should aerate the compost and prevent mold.  I cover wet ingredients with dry when I add new wet stuff,  I hope that prevents smells.

I saw compost starters being sold on-line. These products state they can speed up the composting process.  Adding a compost starter into an Envirocycle composter is not necessary according to Envircycle instructions. Adding them, however, will not hurt, just cost extra.

The base of the bin collects compost tea that drips out of the drum. To empty the base, plug all of the drain holes of the compost tea area, raise the base and place a bucket or container under the hose spout, then unscrew the hose cap and allow the liquid to drain. There is a handle groove on the back of the Base to help tilt it to fully drain all of the liquid. This liquid can be stored for up to a month and can be diluted as needed. Compost tea should be diluted at most 10% compost tea mixed with at least 90% water. Compost tea can be sprayed on plants or poured into the soil as a liquid fertilizer to add nutrients to the soil. The compost tea needs to be diluted before use: 10% leachate to 90% water.  If used undiluted it can burn the plants.

Ideally, the bin should be turned three times every 3 days. However, if you are unable to turn the composter for a period of time, this is not a problem. The lack of turning will prolong the composting process. If you turn and have the right mix of ingredients it takes 4-8 weeks after the drum has been filled to the top to have a ready batch of compost. Without any turning, it will take a year or so.

The bin can be left outside in the winter. It is okay to add compost to the bin in the winter, but do not turn in the winter. Composting slows down in the winter.

Some people use worms in an Envirocycle composter as an alternative. If you add worms, you should not turn the composter. The worms may be killed by the turning action.  Worms take care of aeration by digging holes, so rotating is not needed.

To remove compost from the bin roll the drum off of the base, push the drum and roll it from the middle of the drum, rolling it off the higher ends of the base (the high end side has the hose cap spout). Get a grip on the hand grooves towards the bottom of the drum and push while rotating the drum. This way it will roll off the base. Then you can roll to where you want to use the compost.

If the pile does not get hot here are three possible reasons:
1. Not enough stuff,  compost needs to have enough volume, about a cubic yard of material
2. Not flipping enough because composting happens in the center (core)
   The general rule of thumb: every three days or when the pile shrinks by 30%
3. Too dry, not enough water for bacteria to feed on.    

Green Material:
• Fruit scraps such as banana peels or apple cores
• Vegetable scraps such as onion or potato peels
• Plant matter such as Wet grass clippings and wet leaves
• Chicken poop can add nutrients to the compost.
• Chicken eggshells, if ground into a fine powder

Brown material:
• Shredded cardboard (the box from you Envirocycle is 100% compostable!)
• Cardboard egg cartons
• Brown paper towel
• Paper towel rolls
• Toilet paper rolls
• Straw
• Hay
• Wood shavings (1" chunks)
• Wood chips (1" chunks)
• Cornstalks
• Nutshells
• Dry grass clippings
• Dry leaves

Materials to avoid:
• Certain paper products such as high gloss paper, waxy paper, brightly colored paper
• Wild mushrooms or fungi
• Products of combustion such as ashes and embers
• Chemically treated wood
• Chainsaw sawdust or any sawdust mixed with lubricant oils
• Pharmaceutical waste such as expired and non-expired medicines
• Petrochemical products such as gasoline, diesel, motor oil, paints, glues, etc.
• Most inorganic materials such as plastics and metals.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Spanish Cheese Assortment 2 Pound Hand Cut Imported from Spain - Amazon groceries

I ordered these cheeses mid-April and their expiration was early to mid-May.  I thought that was reasonable.  The size of each brick was around 8 oz, similar to the cheese sizes in a local grocery store when shopping at the grocery store was safe.  The cheeses tasted good.  One of the cheese bricks was substituted, so two pieces were the same.  The price was a little high but amidst COVID-19 situation I was satisfied as it was not totally out of line.

The top photo is the stock photo, the pictures below are from the package I received

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆