Product Review – Rhodes Rolls
Filed under: Archives, Cooking, Food Items, Product Reviews
Homemade rolls are the best. But, these days, who has time to make rolls from scratch?
That’s where Rhodes rolls come in.
I have been using Rhodes rolls for many years. I like the convenience of them. But, mostly, I like the flavor. They are the next best thing to homemade rolls.
Rhodes rolls can be found in the freezer section of your local grocery store. The rolls are individually quick frozen, and the ones I buy have 36 rolls per package, or 3 pounds
The nutritional facts, (for the ones I buy), are as follows:
One white roll contains:
100 calories
15 calories from fat (1.5 grams)
Zero saturated fats and trans fats
Zero cholesterol
130 mg of sodium
Total carbohydrates equals 19 grams
Protein is 2 grams
These rolls can be made in a variety of pans, including muffin tins or a 9×13 baking pan. I often make them in round cake pans.
Using the regular method of baking the Rhodes rolls, allow yourself 3 to 5 hours. They also offer a “speed method”, which lowers the prep and cook time to approximately 1.5 hours.
Although the rolls are packaged in round shapes, they can be manipulated into other shapes, including breadsticks.
The Rhodes rolls are definitely worth trying. Rhodes even offers a “no fault guarantee” if their products do not meet your expectations.
For more information on Rhodes rolls, a list of all of their products, plus lots of great looking, free recipes, go to RhodesBread.com
Watch your local newspaper for coupons to save even more the Rhodes baking products.
Cheap Gift Idea
Filed under: Archives, Children's Crafts, Gift Ideas, Projects
Often, we need an inexpensive gift idea. Whether we want to make one, or have our children make one, knitting a scarf is one great cheap gift idea.
To knit is easy. If you don’t know how, ask your mother, grandmother, or a friend. More than likely, one of them, knows how to knit.
If no one in your circle, knows how to knit, you can go online, and find a site that shows you the basic knitting stitches. You could also pick up a book at your local bookstore, or go online to Amazon.com, and pick up a book such as: How to Knit: The Definitive Knitting Course Complete with Step-by-Step Techniques, Stitch Library, and Projects for Your Home and Family
The supplies for knitting a scarf are basic… knitting needles and yarn.
With knitting needles, the larger the number, the larger the needle. The smaller the needle, the tighter the stitch. Knitting with larger knitting needles, results in a looser knit scarf, which is also faster to complete.
Yarns for knitting come in an array of colors. Be creative. Mix two or more yarns to create a unique design. Or, take a solid color yard, and mix it with a fuzzy yarn. The result will be much different, than if you used a single strand of yarn by itself.
When using more than one yarn, pick colors that either compliment each other, or contrast each other.
Yarn and knitting needles are available in most craft stores, as well as in variety stores like WalMart.
Anyone who receives a scarf, that they know you knitted by hand, will be touched and grateful for the time, thought and effort you put into the gift. They will have an original, hand knitted by you.
Knitting is a hobby that can be done anytime you are sitting. Whether you are on an airplane, watching TV, or just relaxing, it’s easy to pick up your knitting project, and continue on. Knitting also keeps your hands busy, so you are less likely to be munching on food.
Who knew, knitting was good for the diet? 
UPDATE: For more ideas, see: 22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas
Disaster Strikes, What To Grab
As written in my previous post, “How To Prepare for Disaster”, when disaster strikes, we are often so confused and nervous, we sometimes forget to grab what is really important to us.
But, if you ask most people, the first thing they say they grabbed, when a disaster struck, were precious family photos.
However, in this day and age of digital cameras, most people, put their photos into their computer, and leave them there. Therefore, precious family photos, are often on a hard drive.
Who would think of grabbing their hard drive?
Another option is to download photos to a CD. Provided you keep a copy of the CD in a location away from your home, your precious photos may be safe.
But, if you are not saving your photos to a CD, how can you ensure your pictures are safe?
Plus, if you have been using a free photo editing software program, such as Picasa, you certainly would not want all of your editing to go to waste.
A great choice, to protect your precious family pictures, is to use a service like Kodak’s Easy Share Gallery, and store your photos online on Kodak’s own server.
This way, if you were to lose your hard drive, or photo CDs in a disaster, you can easily retrieve them from Kodak Gallery
By clicking on the following link, you can sign up, and Get 20 FREE Prints at the Gallery today!
How To Prepare for Disaster
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Being Safe
Natural and man made disasters can strike at any time. Are you prepared for a catastrophic event?
In preparation for a home disaster, here’s a tip.
This will be a time consuming process, however, if disaster strikes, you will have more time to concentrate on getting your family to safety, quickly.
Make copies of the following, and if applicable, list all contact information for each:
1) Photos. Copy old photos, and make copies of those that are on your hard drive
2) Insurance policies-home, health, business, and/or life
3) Mortgage and/or deed
4) Will, power of attorney, living orders, and/or trusts
5) Investment portfolio(s) and/or retirement plans
6) Accounting data for home or business use, that may be on your hard drive only
7) Tax Returns
8.) Bank account information
9) Debt obligations, including account numbers and due dates
10) Passports
11) Social Security card(s)
12) Keep in mind, some insurance companies want to see photos of the actual inventory of your home. Make time to take photos, or video tape a complete inventory of your possessions.
13) Birth Certificate(s)
14) Marriage Certificate(s)
15) Titles for vehicle(s)
16) Military record(s)
17) Names and phone numbers for all relatives and friends
18) Attorney(s)
19) Accountant(s)
20) Business interests, and contracts
21) Real estate interests, in addition to your primary residence
22) Medical information, including doctor’s names, and a list of your prescriptions and pharmacy(s)
23) Drivers Licencse(s)
24) Additional documents you deem important
Keep a copies of all of these documents and photos at a safe, separate location, away from your home. Most banks offer a safety deposit box, oftentimes for a modest fee. You may also consider investing in a fire proof box, or small safe. Remember to protect your identity in this process.
In the event your home experiences a disaster, such as a fire, flood, or hurricane, your important documents will be preserved.
For more information on emergency preparedness, in the event of a natural or man made disaster, check out FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) website. It is filled with tons of valuable information.
No tags for this post.Product Review – Pillsbury Perfect Portions
Filed under: Archives, Cooking, Food Items, Product Reviews
I hate wasting food. Sometimes I will pay a little more for a product, if it is packaged in a manner that helps to avoid waste.
Pillsbury Perfect Portions biscuits, are a great way to avoid waste, and save time.
Pillsbury Perfect Portions, are biscuits packaged in twin packs (sealed for freshness). Each box contains 4 twin packs, or a total of 8 biscuits.
By purchasing ready to bake biscuits this way, the consumer can save, by only baking what they want.
I buy the buttermilk flavor biscuits, and am very pleased with the taste. Fresh out of the oven, they compare very closely to homemade.
Each biscuit has 190 calories, and 80 of those are from fat.
These biscuits can be baked in either a conventional oven, or a toaster oven. Microwave baking is not recommended.
The downside to Pillsbury Perfect Portions Biscuits….they do contain saturated (3 grams) and trans fats (3.5 grams). For those individuals with allergies, the biscuits also contain wheat and milk ingredients.
This product can be found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, in the same section as the canned biscuits. The Pillsbury Perfect Portions, are packaged in a blue box. As with all food products, remember to check the expiration date.
For recipes, questions or comments, you can visit Pillsbury.com.
No tags for this post.Recycling May Slow Down Global Warming
Filed under: Archives, At Work, Business Opportunity, Making Money, Recycling
These days, we are hearing a lot about global warming. By some accounts, it is believed, that recycling may help in decreasing the speed of global warming. Buying recycled products also aids in the slow down of global warming.
We all contribute to global warming. If we do not recycle, we are helping to create more green house gases. Landfills are known to produce millions of tons of carbon dioxide and methane. These are two prominent green house gases, that some scientists attribute to global warming.
To quote the EPA:
Leading businesses and corporations are evaluated on many aspects of their performance, including product quality, ethics or standing in the community. These leaders can provide a powerful example promoting greenhouse gas reduction strategies through corporate incentives such as financial assistance for employees who use public transportation, car-pooling and even telecommuting. Other “green” practices such as recycling and purchasing recycled materials also contribute to emissions reductions
Recycling is great for the environment. Recycling is also a great business opportunity, as well.
Knowing what is recyclable is easy. A quick search online will produce a lengthy list. Among the common things that can be recycled are:
Paper, of all types, including newspaper and telephone books
Cardboard (non waxed)
Car and truck tires
Used oil
Batteries
Wood products, including tree limbs, construction and demolition debris
Yard Debris, including grass clippings, leaves, and brush
Steel, brass, copper, tin, aluminum and other metal products
Glass containers
Aluminum containers, such as pop cans
Appliances
Computer and Office Equipment
Cell Phones
Printer Cartridges
Eyeglasses
Plastic bottles and milk jugs (without lids)
Asphalt
Many of these items can be recycled and used to create more of the same. Whereas as, an item, such as wood and yard debris, can be ground up, and the end product becomes compost, or a biomass fuel.
Used tires are often ground up, and used as a playground ground cover.
If recycling and global warming are issues that tug at your heart strings, think about what part you can plan in stopping these items from ending up in landfills. It may be as simple as utilizing curbside recycling bins, or it may inspire you to create a business opportunity.
A business opportunity in recycling, may make an impact on global warming, while ensuring a sustainable future, for the next generation, as well.
For additional information on wood recycling, (a business opportunity, I have first hand knowledge of), read a previous article of mine, titled: “Wood Recycling – A Green Opportunity”.
Tags: aluminum, aluminum containers, biomass fuel, brass copper, buying recycled products, carbon dioxide and methane, copper tin, corporate incentives, demolition debris, glass containers, grass clippings, Green, green house gases, greenhouse gas reduction, milk jugs, oil batteries, pop cans, reduction strategies, telephone books, truck tires, waxed car, yard debrisProduct Review – Dannon Light and Fit Yogurt
Filed under: Archives, Diet & Health, Food Items, Product Reviews
Dannon Light & Fit yogurt is my choice when it comes to yogurt. It is very flavorful, and makes for a great snack.
What I like about Dannon Light & Fit, is that it contains no added sugars. One six ounce container has 60 calories, and zero grams of fat. This calculates to be about 60% less calories than regular low fat yogurt.
Sugars in Dannon Light & Fit equals 7 grams. Other brands are showing as many as 14 grams of sugars.
With statistics showing the benefits of adding yogurt to our diets, Dannon Light & Fit is a product that also contains 20% of the recommended amount of calcium.
Dannon Light & Fit is currently packaged in a lavender and white container. Some of the flavors include blueberry, raspberry, strawberry banana, and vanilla.
If you are dieting and are looking for a low calorie, low fat, and lower sugar, yogurt, I think this is a great choice.
Dannon Light & Fit (6 oz containers) is not available in all grocery stores, however, I find it regularly in Safeway. When it is on sale, I pay $0.60, per 6 ounce container.
For additional information on Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt, plus recipes and other products made by Dannon, check out their website at Dannon.com
Print coupons for your favorite brands. Get the CouponBar and save.
Fishing or Phishing, It Is A Scam
It is pronounced “fishing”, but it is spelled phishing. Fishing, or phishing, is a scam.
You may get an email from who you believe is your bank, or PayPal, or another financial institution. The email states that your information or account needs to be updated. If you click on the email, it will take you to a site that looks like that of your financial institution. You will be asked to log in, by using your private log in information. Don’t go fishing (or phishing). If you do, it could be the beginning, of financial ruin for you.
I have found a great website that explains phishing in great detail. It also includes “snapshots” of how the a phishing screen may look.
Ian Denny, of Multi Solutions, an IT company, explains, in detail, how this scam works.
His company “took the bait” and went “phishing”, by following those links. Where it took them, is quite interesting.
Please be aware, if you do online banking. most likely, your bank will never send you an email. If you are uncertain, call the bank. If the email contains a telephone number, do not use it. Get the telephone number for customer service out of your telephone book.
For additional tips on how to protect your identity, read……..Protecting Your Identity, Identity Theft and Check Writing, and my Product Review for a cross cut shredder
It’s one thing to go fishing, but don’t go phishing.
Product Review – Best Foods Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
Filed under: Archives, At Home, Food Items, Product Reviews
Reduced fat mayonnaise didn’t sound like it would taste as good as full fat mayonnaise. But, then I tried Best Foods (also known as Hellman’s) reduced fat mayonnaise dressing, and I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor.
The Best Foods reduced fat mayonnaise, tastes very similar to full fat mayonnaise. I have used in on sandwiches, in deviled eggs, and in potato salad. Everyone I have served these food items to, cannot tell the difference.
The Best Foods reduced fat mayonnaise dressing has 20 calories per serving/tablespoon. There are 2 grams of fat per serving. There are zero saturated, trans, and mono unsaturated fats. There is 1 gram of poly unsaturated fats, zero grams of cholesterol, 125 mg of sodium. Sugars make up less than one gram.
Reading the ingredients, soybean oil is second, after water. The third ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. Much has been written about high fructose corn syrup (which is a sugar), so use it sparingly.
Comparing reduced fat mayonnaise dressing to full fat mayonnaise, full fat mayonnaise has 90 calories per serving, and 10 grams of fat.
As an alternative to full fat mayonnaise, I think Best Foods (Hellman’s), is a good choice.
For recipes from Best Foods, go to www.bestfoods.com
No tags for this post.China Toy Recall – Will It Create A Shortage
Filed under: Archives, At Home, Infants and Children, Recalls, Shopping
The Mattel toy recall, combined with Fisher Price toy recall, also known as the China toy recall, has taken millions of toys off of store shelves.
The question remains, will the massive toy recall. create a shortage of toys for the holiday season?
The toys listed in the Mattel toy recall, the Fisher Price toy recall, and any other toys involved in the China toy recall list, can be found on the website of the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Considering that Mattel and Fisher Price recalled many of the favorite toys for children, when the buying season arrives, it will be imperative that all department stores have their shelves stocked, and ready for the buying season. Any sign of a shortage, could create panic buying, as well as inflated prices on the internet.
Unfortunately, when toys are purchased, we have no way of knowing if they will be subject to another recall.
As parents, it’s our responsibility to stay abreast on the CPSC’s recall list.
Again, you can go to the CPSC. website, and obtain the full list of Mattel’s recalled toys, Fisher Price recalled toys, and all toys involved in the China toy recall list.
If you are concerned that the China toy recall may create a shortage for the holiday season, buying your toys early may be the answer.
Based on the fact that a lot of the toys contain lead paint, it’s very important for parents to know which toys are on the toy recall list, and to also remove those recalled toys from the home.
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