Steen's 100% Pure Cane Sugar Syrup - Review

 

All I can say is yummy! I have used this syrup so far in my Baked Oatmeal, to sweeten my tea and as syrup on our waffles. It is very tasty and has a deep rich flavor. I even used it instead of vanilla. Our next trial of the syrup will be on Thanksgiving in our pecan pie. In the South, it is a common practice to use Steen's syrup in place of corn syrup in pecan pie. 

I have made my own golden syrup out of cane sugar, but it took forever to reduce it down into a syrup. It was also really good, but Steen's is reduced from 100% cane juice which is less processed than cane sugar. 

When I eat something with corn syrup in it, I always end up with a stuffy nose, so I avoid it whenever possible and usually I will make my own light sugar syrup to get the same results in recipes. Thanks, Martha Stewart, for teaching me this method to avoid corn syrup. 

Mrs. Smith

Festive Ground Turkey - Product Review

I have been watching Southern Frugal Mama on YouTube make frugal recipes for her family using this inexpensive ground turkey called Festive for a while now. It costs $1.98 a pound and comes in three flavors. Now that ground chuck is over $5 a pound at Sam's Club, I thought I would give it a try and share my findings.

This is the plain ground turkey.

The Italian cooks up a lot different. It has lots of liquid and a 
slightly different color. It smells nice.

Taco flavor was the third choice, but I decided to use my
own spices and I am glad that I did.

That's a lot of excess liquid in the Italian flavor.

I drained the Italian and made taco meat from the plain.

I put together a "Taco Party" that was inspired from a
restaurant called Jose's.  

I used freshly made corn tortillas.

I made a pot of spaghetti sauce with most of the Italian meat. I forgot to 
take pictures of the spaghetti. 

I made Italian sausage pizza from the rest. 

As I suspected, it was a better choice to use my own seasonings rather than using the pre-made stuff. I did not like how the Italian flavor cooked up with all the excess liquid. With that being said, I was not unhappy with the flavor. In fact, it had a nice flavor. 

The plain turkey was definitely the winner in this product review. I will buy it again and since I have my own spices, I will create my own seasoned meat just like I do with ground chuck. If I did not already have my own spices, I would be happy to use the already seasoned varieties. 

So, if you are looking to save a lot on meat this is definitely the way to go...

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

Central Coast Woodworks Wooden Tortilla Press - Product Review

 This is nice!

We have wanted a tortilla press for a long time now. I did a lot of research on tortilla presses and decided to buy a wooden one from Central Coast Woodworks. It is made in America; all of the wood is renewable and also sourced in the US. 

It is ranked #1 in wooden tortilla presses and #2 in manual tortilla presses. The one in the # 1 spot is not made in the US, and it is painted metal. I did not like that at all. The Central Coast Woodworks tortilla press that I purchased is make from walnut and red oak. It is naturally preserved with beeswax and food grade mineral oil. An added benefit is its beauty. 

The press comes in different sizes. 8, 10 and 11.5 inches. I ordered the 10-inch press. 
I couldn't imagine that I would need the largest size, but I considered the 8-inch size to
be too small for our needs. 

It was very well packed.

We received it just a few days after ordering it. 

It came with maintenance instructions and a helpful hints card.

Attaching the handle was easy. Just one bolt and it was ready to use.

The press is also available in red oak.

I made my tortilla dough, covered it and let it rest for 30 minutes.

I started using the press on the counter but quickly moved to the table where it was much easier for me to use the press. The counters are too tall for me to get much leverage on the handle.

For best results, use parchment paper or a baggie that has been cut open to prevent sticking.
I plan on ordering reusable parchment paper for this job.

Viola!

Fresh warm tortillas

I have tried several handmade tortilla recipes. I like this recipe, but I am still learning about tortilla dough through trial and error. I don't want to post a recipe until it's a tried-and-true recipe. The press worked amazingly well. However, I had an issue with gluten bounce back in the dough. I believe this can be solved by letting it rest longer than the recipe calls for.  I will keep trying to figure it out. 

I have only used the press one time, but so far so good. I look forward to mastering homemade tortillas. I plan on using the press for other breads like Naan. I can also press out other types of dough like cracker, dumpling, and noodle doughs. Maybe even pie crust dough? I am excited about the potential uses for this press. 

I like kitchen equipment that can be used in several applications. I highly recommend this well-made heavy-duty tortilla press from Central Coast Woodworks. I believe this to be a lifetime purchase that will not ever have to be replaced and can be handed down from generation to generation.  

These pictures do more justice for the press than my pictures do.

Mrs. Smith

Ginger Snap Cookies - Azure Standard Organic Blackstrap Molasses Review

I received a newsletter from Little Mountain Ranch that I signed up for after watching their channel on YouTube. The newsletter included that a recipe for Ginger Snaps. I just love these spicy little cookies, so I had to try out this recipe. 

 

I also tried Azure Standard's Organic Blackstrap Molasses. It is super rich and flavorful. 
It will be perfect for making Molasses tea. (Boiling water mixed with a spoon of molasses)

Ginger Snaps Ingredients: 1/3 cup sugar (for rolling) 3/4 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1/4 cup dark molasses 2 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger (I used 2 Tsp of freshly grated ginger)   Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Mix butter, brown sugar, and egg in a large bowl. Beat well. Stir in molasses, flour, baking soda, and spices. Shape dough into walnut sized balls. Put 1/3 cup of sugar in a bowl and roll balls in sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. (I used parchment paper) Bake for 12-14 minutes, just until the tops crack. Cool on wire racks. Notes: These cookies will spread. Don't over bake them; you want them slightly chewy in the center and crunchy around the edges.

I didn't bake the whole recipe. I froze a portion of the dough
and saved the rolling sugar.

I definitely recommend this recipe. It's fast and easy. The dough came together in just a matter of minutes. I was ready to bake before the oven had a chance to preheat. 

I used the ends of the ginger root to make ginger tea by boiling them in water for a couple of minutes and allowing the roots to steep for an additional 10 minutes. 

Enjoy!

Mrs. Smith 

Ramen Express - Made in the USA - Product Review

I found a new brand of ramen made in the USA! I actually had it for breakfast the first time I tried it. I usually do not eat breakfast, but I was so excited to try it and I am glad I did. As soon as I tasted the dry noodles and opened the spice package, I knew it was going to be a game changer. It was delicious and fresh tasting. 

It does not have any yucky stuff in it, it's vegetarian and kosher. I purchased two 12 packs for less than what I can buy Nissan Top Ramen for at Sam's Club. I'm really excited, because I love ramen. I will have to stock up on it before Winter sets in or the price goes up. I want to try the spicy chili flavor, if I can find it. I may even try the chicken flavor which is horrible in other brands.

Make it your own creation by adding your favorite ingredients 
like frozen or fresh chopped vegetables.

Plain is really good too. Ramen is my go-to meal when I am really hungry
or when I just don't feel like cooking.

Enjoy!

Mrs. Smith