Product review: Tronphy Baby Teething Tubes, 5 Pack Hollow Teether Tubes

 

Tronphy Baby Teething Tubes come in a pack of 5 and includes a cleaning tool.  They are made out of flexible silicone with different textures. Good for baby chews.  Silicone could biuked or microwaved to clean.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Lafe's Natural Body Care | Baby & Kids Foaming Shampoo & Wash

 

 This cleaner/shampoo has a nice scent: light and slightly vanilla. I like it better than so-called no-scent foaming cleaners, which have no perfumed scent but have a scent of their own. The foam is light, not lusg satisfying lather. I like better as a hand wash and not as a shampoo.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link. Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: ELISHACOY BB All In One Cleanser 6.7 fl. oz. (200ml) Massage & Cleansing

 

This cleanser is a lightly scented gel that foams very lightly when fixed with water.  I prefer a little more foam, but it smells and feels nice.  It is effective at removing make-up and sweat. Purchased May 2021, expiration December 2023.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Disposable Face Masks, 3 Layer Colorful Face Masks with Elastic Ear Loop by DGMC

 

These are disposal masks made in China.  I test each new set of masks using the water test:
 I fill the mask with water, hold the water in the mast for about a minute and then check if the mask leaked or feels wet on the outside.  If it is dry, that means it keeps my droplets in
and keeps other people's droplets out and provides reasonable COVID protection.

These masks passed my water test, they feel comfortable, have a nose piece, and loops
are attached well.  I am pleased with this set of masks.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: C'est Moi Aspiring Cheek Palette, Light color blush make-up

 

This blush is for those who lightly pigmented blush; it takes many applications to get visible color.  This is not a bad thing, as I like subtle make-up.  What I don't like is the container it comes in.  It closes like a book with magnets on its edge; it has no edges to contain blush powder; it does not have a mirror; it does not lock.  I have to keep it in the box it came in to prevent blush powder from dropping out of it.  It is not a blush  I can carry in my purse as it will shed powder.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Farberware Professional Stainless Steel Soft Can Opener

 

Farberware can opener is a heavy-duty manual can opener. It is made out of stainless steel.  I thought the grey handle would be made out of soft silicone, but it is made out of hard plastic.  However, it is large, and its size makes it easier to turn than a small knob.

The can opener weighs 7.2 oz and has a nice heavy feel to it.  The rounded handles are comfortable to hold. The new edge of this opener is sharp and creates a good clean cut. My old can opener has gotten dull, and only after using this new one, I realized how dull it has become.  This upgrade was overdue.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: HomeBuddy Fermentation Crock with Weights - 1 Gallon (3.8 Litre) Ceramic Sauerkraut Crock

 

 

 

The fermentation crock arrived damaged, with one of the ceramic handles broken off during transit.  I was disappointed, but the main body of the crock was intact and useable.

It came with a recipe book, but the Eastern European recipe was different from how my grandmother did it, and I stayed with the recipe I recalled from my childhood.

The recipe called for four tablespoons of salt for one large cabbage; my grandmother did it by weight. The salt amount is 2% of the weight of the cabbage.

The recipe called to add 2cm of brine (salted water) to the bottom of the crock. My grandmother did not add any brine; she just let the natural juices generate the brine.

The recipe called for caraway seeds; my grandmother only used cabbage and a carrot for some color.

The instructions on how to use the crock are not very detailed.  The instructions were missing some key points.

1) I wash the cabbage and save a large outer leaf to put on top. This helps to keep small pieces from floating up when juices build up in the crock.

2) Remove the core and thread the cabbage. Weigh the cabbage and any other vegetables you might be adding, like carrots. Weight the cabbage and add 2% salt.  So, if you have 1000 grams of vegetables, you need to add 20 grams of salt.  I use grams because it is easier to calculate, and most scales have unit options that allow you to change from oz to grams.

3) After adding salt, I pound the cabbage + salt mixture with a pounding stick.  You can also squeeze with your hands if you prefer.  You want to see the juices starting coming out of the cabbage.

4) After I see the juice, I transfer the cabbage into the crock, cover it with a large leaf, and place the stones on top of the leave.

5) Some recipes call for adding brine at the time (say 5 grams of salt and 250 grams of water), but my grandmother did not do it, and neither do I.

6) As a final step, I add water to the water well and put the cover on.  Do fill the water well to the rim, as the cover will display some water and spill.  You need to make sure the water well has water for the entire period to form a seal.  Note that my grandmother used a plate on top of a regular pot, which held a big round rock.  The plate sat on a cloth to prevent insects from entering the pot, but the air could enter the fermentation pot.

7) After five days you can see if you like the taste. The flavor will get more intense with time, but the cabbage will lose its crispness with more time.  You will have to find your favorite combination.  Attached video shows results after 7 days.

10) When the ideal flavor is reached, refrigerate the cabbage, and this will stop fermentation.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆