The Global Sun Oven takes the age-old method, introduces improved, effective (made in the USA!) materials to create an extremely efficient solar cooker and oven. The tempered glass lid, combined with the gasket surrounding  the well-insulated cooking chamber creates an actual “oven” environment that other solar cookers do not achieve. The Global Sun Oven can achieve higher and longer sustained temperatures which is essential to successful solar cooking and allows this solar oven to be effective even during the Winter – as long as there is sunshine.

Benefits of using the Global Sun Oven

Global Sun Oven Features

Made in the U.S.A!

Weight: 21 pounds

Dimensions: 19 x 19 inches, average depth of 11 inches

Rust-proof

Lightweight, portable, folds up, includes carrying handle

One piece, attached folding metal reflectors

Spillproof “levelator” – a removable shelf mounted inside the cooking chamber that levels food to prevent spillage

Multi-position leveling leg, adjusts to nine positions to better focus the power of the sun, slides up inside the Sun Oven for storage

Includes thermometer mounted in cooking chamber

Reaches temperatures of 360° – 400° + temperatures, but will not flame

Maintains temperature for hours when kept closed

Will reach cooking temperatures even in the Winter, in cold outside temperatures when clear sun is present

Pasteurizes water  (WPI – Water Pasteurization Indicator is available)

Materials used in the Global Sun Oven

Field Testing

Unpacking the Global Sun Oven, the immediate reaction was how sturdy and extremely well-made this unit is compared to others we have been reviewing.

The instructions are clear and understandable, a big bonus. Following the directions, we “seasoned” the Sun Oven to remove any manufacturing or packing coatings and to ensure we would not have any off smells or flavors in our food. We actually performed the steps twice, to be cautious.

The attached reflectors were easy to open and set and directed the sun’s power right to the Sun Oven cooking chamber.

The Sun Oven performed extremely well in all our tests, even baking whole grain yeast breads and whole grain quickbreads. Meats, vegetables, soups and stews were cooked quickly and completely, without losing any moisture when re-focusing the Sun Oven. When we chose the slow cook option, (not re-focusing the Sun Oven), our foods were cooked beautifully, without using our slow cooker.

The removable leveling shelf kept our foods from spilling when we moved the oven. This came in handy several times (see Side by Side Testing below).

The clean up was easy (thanks again to the leveling shelf) and consisting of wiping down the inside and glass lid and allowing the Sun Oven to cool, then folding it up and bringing it back into the house for storage.

We tested the Global Sun oven at different times of the day, different months of the year, different positions around our home, with and without the leveling leg and with and without the leveling shelf. We tested a wide variety of foods, cooking times and cooking containers including covered and uncovered, black lid and clear lid and even clear glass canning jars (yes, these are wonderful as cooking containers in the Sun Oven).

Side by Side Testing    

Testing the Global Sun Oven side by side with another solar cooker had some surprising results.

The Sun Oven reached optimum temperatures more quickly and maintained them longer.

We were able to perform several batches of cooking (taking one food batch out when finished and starting a new one cooking to completion) each time we used the Sun Oven due to the insulation of the cooking chamber. We were not able to consistently to achieve this with our other solar cooker.

We tested the accuracy of the Sun Oven thermometer (mounted in the top of the oven) against another cooker with the thermometer placed down next to the cooking pot and both thermometers read the same. This was done to ensure our readings were comparable.

The Sun Oven employs several options not included in other solar cookers such as the gasket surrounding the cooking chamber which seals in and maintains the temperature and allows “stacking” within the cooking chamber, exactly like an oven. The Sun Oven also includes the unique mounted leveling shelf, the retractable leveling leg and the tempered glass lid.

In one test, our other solar cooker created a huge mess when we went to reposition it towards the sun’s strongest rays (also known as “re-focusing.”) The pot of homemade chili slid inside the cooker, spilling everywhere, even into the holes in the cooker (The Sun Oven has no holes in the cooking chamber) and concerning us that the liquid had seeped in between the loosely-laid inner material and the insulation. The Sun Oven did not spill our foods, even when re-focusing and adjusting the leveling leg.

The Sun Oven’s tempered glass lid will not warp, bubble, tear or come in contact with the food and it creates a cooking chamber with excellent heat retention. The side by side solar oven we used has a plastic lid that does warp

The Sun Oven’s gasket surrounds the cooking chamber, again, creating a seal and cooking environment most like an oven, maintaining heat and allowing foods to be stacked and still cook evenly, even when using a lid. The gasket will never warp. The other cooker we used does not have a gasket, but uses a plastic “collar” surrounding the cooking chamber which (according to their user material) will warp if temperatures get too high when using the reflectors. We had ours warp on our first use. The manufacturer we spoke with instructed us not to use the optional reflectors.

Overall

The Global Sun Oven exceeded our expectations and put-performed the other solar cooker in every test, as well as a comparison of materials, workmanship and longevity.

Conclusion

The Global Sun Oven is our #1 recommendation of solar cookers available.

Accessories:

The Global Sun Oven accessories include:

WAPI (Water Pasteurization Indicator)

Dehydrating racks

Pots and pans

Recipes

Video

Sun Oven International

info@sunoven.com

1-800-408-7919

Disclaimer: Vickilynn Haycraft is an independent Product Reviewer. She does not sell products or accept payment for reviews. The products reviewed are either purchased by Vickilynn Haycraft or provided for review and all reviews are unbiased regardless of how the item was obtained. The product sample of the the Global Sun Oven was provided for testing and review

© 2008-2012 Vickilynn Haycraft and Real Food Living. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this review may be copied, stored or transmitted in any medium, for any reason without prior written permission of the author.

This review was performed on the new and improved WonderMill. The most significant changes are to the design and employing a larger motor, resulting in an extremely powerfull inpact mill which can be turned off during milling. Check out this video which shows the improved WonderMill doing exactly that.

The WonderMill Grain Mill

• Weight: 8 pounds
• Height: 11 inches
• Hopper capacity: 8 cups
• Canister capacity: 12 cups

The WonderMill is a home grain mill in the “impact” mill or micronizer category. It uses steel “teeth” or blades to mill grains or legumes into flour. Impact or micronizer mills can mill the flour from very fine to slightly coarse for different uses.

The WonderMill unit is an hourglass-shaped body with an outlet on the side. The milling canister plugs into this outlet via a curved tube. The mill is turned on and the dry grain or legumes are placed in the top of the mill (the hopper). The powerful motor impacts the grains to produce fine, even flour in a matter of minutes. The fineness settings are clearly marked from the finest grind (pastry) to the setting for larger grains and legumes (coarse). For every day usage, the middle setting (bread) produces a fine flour which results in an even crumb when baking bread. The flour from this setting is perfect for all sorts of recipes and we found this setting was the one most used.

Test Results and Comparisons

In this review we tested the updated and improved model of the WonderMill, it easily handled what we put it through with flying colors. In our tests with a variety of dry grains and legumes the WonderMill was:

• Consistent in performance and end result, even during extended long milling times
• Simple to use
• More quiet than any other impact mill we tested
• Milled grains faster than any other impact mill we tested
• Absolutely the cleanest impact mill we tested (very important for households which include asthmatics like ours)

In addition, the WonderMill boasts the position of being the only micronizing (impact) mill that is both U.L. approved for the United States and C.S.A approved for Canada and C.E approved for Europe and the United Kingdom. This covers all the bases!

A quick tour of the company’s web site offers customers many views of the WonderMill in action and even the full Owner’s Manual. I would recommend viewing two video presentations, they are chock full of helpful information. You can see the WonderMill, hear it and watch it as it works.

I encourage you to visit these sites: The WonderMill

Using Your WonderMill video: Video: The WonderMill Intro

Owner’s Manual: USA Manual: The WonderMill

WonderMill in the UK!  http://www.wondermill.co.uk/

The main advantage of the WonderMill is its ease of use and ease of clean up. This cannot be over-stressed. The mill works quickly and works well, and it is so very simple to use and just as easy to clean up.

Features

• The WonderMill now uses a larger, more powerful motor. A 1250 watt LG Electronics motor. The most powerful on the market.
• A plus of the WonderMill is the fact it is lightweight (weighs about 8 pounds) and it has a small footprint. The WonderMill is easy to store because of its unique hourglass shape. The canister (where the grain is poured into) detaches from the mill and can go directly into the refrigerator (with flour). Additional canisters are available for purchase. I have more than one, so I can mill with one and store in the other.
• The WonderMill performed superbly in all tests. It milled dry grains and legumes quickly and produced fine flour perfect for all uses. It also mills soybeans into soy flour and popcorn into cornmeal and even mills small grains such as quinoa.
• The impact or micronizer milling chamber is surgical quality stainless steel, self-cleaning, permanently lubricated and requires no maintenance.
• The WonderMill comes with a 12 cup plastic canister and two lids. One lid is for milling and includes the connecting tube, separator cup and foam filter. The additional lid is solid and turns the canister into a storage container.
• The WonderMill plastic separator cup and a foam filter are designed to trap the ultra-fine flour particles and keep them from being blown back into the air (and to protect the consumer from breathing them in).
• The WonderMill carries a manufacturer’s Lifetime Warranty on the milling heads and a 6 year warranty on the rest of the mill.

The WonderMill performed as advertised, milling grains and legumes into flour, very fast and very fine.

Important Notes

• Impact mills are loud. The WonderMill is the quietest mill I have tested in the impact mill (micronizer) category.
• There is usually a small amount of flour residue on the milling lid and in the side of the mill where the canister tube connects. The lid, separator cup and foam filter should be wiped or washed after each milling. The mill should be brushed or tapped out after each use. These are not cumbersome chores, but it should be noted that they must be done after each time the mill is used. This is to ensure that the flour residue does not remain, becoming rancid and mixing with new flour that is milled during the next milling session.
• Impact mills do not crack grains.
• Impact mills cannot mill oily seeds or nuts. Only dry grains and legumes should be milled. If grain is moist, clogging of the mill can occur.
• When milling larger dried beans, it is important that the dial be adjusted to the wider settings.
• Only cleaned grains and legumes should be milled in impact mills. If a stone or hard foreign object passes through, it can damage the milling heads. I make sure there are no rocks or stones in my grain before milling in the WonderMill.
• The WonderMill must be turned on and the canister connected before milling. Placing grain in the mill before turning it on can result in clogging.

Highly Recommended

Overall I found the WonderMill to be a very sturdy and safe home grain mill which performed as advertised. I was very happy with the flour it produced and how quickly the WonderMill milled flour. In my opinion, the WonderMill is an excellent mill and the brand that I highly recommend. The WonderMill Grain Mill is my mill of choice for my own use and one that I recommend above all the others we have tested.

Warranty

Lifetime limited warranty on the milling heads, 6 year warranty on the mill. For details contact the distributor.

For more information, please visit The WonderMill Company website.

Grote Molen Inc.

322 West Griffith Road
Pocatello Idaho 83201
Phone 208-234-9352
Fax 208-478-2530
E-mail: service@thewondermill.com
www.thewondermil.com

Disclaimer: Vickilynn Haycraft is an independent Product Reviewer. She does not sell products or accept payment for reviews. She does not accept any advertising. The products reviewed are either purchased by Vickilynn Haycraft or provided for review. The product sample of the WonderMill was provided for testing and review.

© 2008-2011 Vickilynn Haycraft and Real Food Living. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this review may be copied, stored or transmitted in any medium, for any reason without prior written permission of the author.

Advertised as “The World’s BEST Hand Grain Mill” the Wonder Junior Hand Grain Mill is the latest offering by the same people who bring us the WonderMill electric grain mill. The WonderMill has been a staple for home milling and is known for its quality and performance over the past decade. The Wonder Junior Hand Grain Mill continues in that quality tradition for The Wonder Mill Company.

Weight: 10 pounds
Height: 12 ¾ inches (without clamp)
Hopper capacity: one quart
Crank handle: 10 inches

The WonderMill vision is stated so well on their website:

“It’s a pretty big claim to call your product “The World’s Best.” But we know that after you have used the Wonder Junior Hand Grain Mill that you will agree. For years hand grain mills have either been really cheap or really expensive. And unfortunately their ability to perform has been directly related to their cost. The cheap ones perform poorly and the expensive ones perform great. When we designed the Wonder Junior we set out to create the perfect storm in hand grain mills. And we wanted the versatility and high quality of the most expensive grain mills in a price range that was affordable to the homemaker. We found the perfect storm with the Wonder Junior Hand Grain Mill.

Baking day

In my experience testing, reviewing and personal use of many different grain mills, I have found the above position to be exactly true. The smaller, portable hand grain mills that many put away with their “preparedness” supplies or purchase because of their affordability usually do not work very well or hold up under extended use. They are difficult to use, have limited features and do not produce quality flour and usually cannot produce large amounts of flour per session. Some models of hand mills produce only coarse flour that requires sifting and regrinding (sometimes several times) to obtain a fine enough texture for baking bread.

On the other hand, few families are fortunate enough to be able to afford the $400 – $600 plus that is needed to purchase the large wheel hand grain mills. The grain mills are much easier to crank and can produce a fine flour. However these mills are larger, heavier and not as portable for camping or traveling and need to be bolted down to be cranked or motorized (defeating the purpose of the non-electric mill.)

The Wonder Junior is a wonderful answer to the problem! Finally, a sturdy, well-built, functional, portable hand-cranked grain mill that does more than a superb job and does not cost a fortune!

Putting the Wonder Junior through its paces and tests, side by side comparisons with other mills, electric and hand-cranked, stone and impact, the results were truly thrilling. The Wonder Junior is easy to use, quiet, clean and produces an excellent, fine flour (with no sifting and re-grinding required) and with minimal effort (even for a 10 year girl). For less money than the huge mills, the Wonder Junior produces excellent results comparable with mills costing several hundred dollars more. The Wonder Junior can vary the grind from cracked grains to bread flour with a simple adjustment of the knob making it versatile as well.

Features:

• portable, yet extremely sturdy and well-built for a reasonable price
• the metal body and quality powder finish is scratch and chip resistant
• can be washed with soap and water unlike many other mills
• stone milling heads are made from natural stone and require no maintenance
• stone milling heads can be easily adjusted using a simple knob to adjust the fineness of the flour, from pastry flour to cracked grains
• hopper is large and holds over a quart of grain
• hopper is attached to the mill body and will not fall off
• handle is extra-long (10 inches) which makes hand cranking easier
• extra-large bearings never need lubricating
• covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty (see Owner’s Manual for details)

Personal comments

• Our 10 year daughter loves to use it and grinds our fine bread flour easily.
• The Wonder Junior easily ground whole rye berries that clogged the stones of an expensive, electric stone mill touted as the best on the market. The Wonder Junior made simple work and excellent textured flour from the rye berries while the larger mill had to be taken apart and its stones deglazed and cleaned.
• The optional Flour Guide directed the falling flour into the catch pan without any mess around the milling heads.

Deluxe

In the Deluxe model, the Wonder Junior comes with steel burrs to grind oily nuts and seeds. The burrs also work well for cracking grains. Also included in the Deluxe model is the patented Super Grip Dual Clamp which prevents the mill from sliding while milling.

The dual clamp worked well for me, holding the mill in place while hand cranking the mill. This strong hold on wide base of the Wonder Junior allows the milling to be done with less effort and still allows the mill to be moved and transported easily, whereas a bolted mill may not.. The clamp of this quality is not seen on other mills and was a huge selling point for me in testing the Deluxe model.

The steel burrs allow the Wonder Junior to be a complete all-purpose mill. The stones are excellent for milling dry grains and legumes, but the steel burrs will grind nuts and seeds. Think of being able to mill flax seed into meal for the freshest product. What about homemade peanut or almond butter? Corn bread and corn grits on the menu? Simply mill dried corn to the preferred texture. You can even grind coffee beans into fresh coffee. The Wonder Junior hand mill is not only strong and durable, it is extremely versatile and has features even many of the larger, more expensive mills do not have.

Highly Recommended

Based on my product testing, comparisons and actual usage in my kitchen, the Wonder Junior Hand Grain Mill is highly recommended. This one mill outperforms many other hand mills and even in some areas, outperforms the most expensive hand mills. See Hand Mill Comparison at Kodiak Health. The Wonder Junior Hand Grain Mill is perfect for small or large families, those who prepare for power outages or those who camp or travel. I believe this is the one mill informed and prepared families should not be without.

For more information, please visit The WonderMill Company website.  http://www.thewondermill.com/

Find an authorized dealer near you (enter your state in the search box) and check out the Wonder Junior in action.

Disclaimer: Vickilynn Haycraft is an independent Product Reviewer. She does not sell products or accept payment for reviews. She does not accept any advertising. The products reviewed are either purchased by Vickilynn Haycraft or provided for review. The product sample of the Wonder Junior Deluxe Hand Grain Mill was provided for testing and review.

SideSwipe alternating fin design makes mixing a breeze! -Photo courtesy Frut LLC

If you have a standing mixer, such as Kitchen Aid, you know all too well that you must stop and “scrape down the sides of the bowl” during the mixing process. We all put up with having to do this and we figure it’s just part of the process.

However, a compassionate husband (Louis Busick) had an idea as he watched his wife stop her mixer, scrape down the ingredients and resume mixing. With his engineering and product design experience, Busick placed his efforts towards finding a better way to use the flat paddles most standing mixers use and not have to stop the mixer to scrape the sides. The result is the innovative and efficient SideSwipe(TM) spautula mixer blade.

A closer look:

1. Sturdy aluminum connection to mixer.
2. Frame made from heavy duty reinforced nylon for durability and strength.
3. Alternating, angled, silicone wiper fins scrape the sides of the mixer bowl, so you don’t have to!

Features of the SideSwipe spatula paddle:

• Creates a fluffier, creamier product.
• Reducing mixing time 30-60%
• No dry ingredients left on the bottom of the mixing blowl (such as dried fruit or chocolate chips), the SideSwipe fully incorporates the dry ingredients
• Stain and heat resistant to 400 F
• Won’t retain tastes or odors
• Won’t change the temperature of batters
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Speeds mixing and reduces overall prep time
• BPA free
• The biggest advantage of this exciting addition to your mixer is that the SideSwipe totally eliminated the tedious, time-consuming chore of stopping the mixer over and over to scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix the ingredients.
  

Side by side creaming comparison

The SideSwipe is best-suited and works wonderfully for most mixtures where a flat beater is used, especially for cakes, creaming butter, mashed potatoes and much more. It is not recommended for stiff doughs such as breads. Try some of my Real Food Living healthy recipes with the SideSwipe. Here are some suggestions:

• Better Butter
• Wheat Free Pancakes
• Coconut Bark – Almond Joy
• Oatmeal Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Where can you get this wonderous invention for your kitchen and which model do you need? Check out the SideSwipe website! The SideSwipe is also available at Amazon.com. Be sure to find your correct model at the SideSwipe info center first! Scroll to the bottom of the page for SideSwipe models to fit your mixer.

Dear Readers, have you ever cast your eyes longingly and lovingly upon those gorgeous hanging pot racks and wished with all your heart that your kitchen and / or budget could handle one? Can you just imagine how a pot rack would transform your kitchen ambiance as well as show off your cookware and to top it off, create a neat and tidy storage solution? The wait is finally is over!

Enclume, the foremost manufacturer of top of the line pot racks and kitchen furnishings sought out consumer focus groups to find out which features they would like to see in Enclume’s kitchen creations. The feedback from consumers like YOU is the motivation for the new RACK IT UP!! series. What is so amazing about this company is that they actually LISTEN to the customers out there and considered what people wanted and needed. Enclume responded with RACK IT UP!

“Now virtually everyone can enjoy the same benefits with RACK IT UP!, Enclume’s all-new value-priced pot rack collection. It was designed by consumer focus groups representing families in middle-America homes, condos, townhouses and apartments. The focus groups demanded low cost, good looks, a variety of sizes, strong construction, quick assembly, and the fastest, easiest installation possible.”

RACK IT UP! racks are made with the same attention to detail, quality materials, easy installation and long-term service that has made Enclume the most respected name in the industry over the last 35 years and why they are considered absolutely the best.

And the most exciting news YET, get ready for this… the Enclume RACK IT UP! pot racks range in price from $24.99 – $99.00! That’s an unbelievable value price for this quality product.

Choosing the right Enclume product.

Enclume has a fabulous website which highlights all their products making it easy to choose the right size, model and material for your needs. Click on each product to see the specifications and how it would fit and look in your own home.

Do you have a wide square kitchen? Perhaps one of the ceiling pot racks would work best for you. There are 5 to choose from in various sizes and styles.

Do you have a narrow galley-type kitchen? Perhaps one of the 5 wall pot racks also in several sizes and styles would fit your tastes.

Do you have a small space that you think won’t handle a pot rack? Just take a look at these beautiful, sturdy, yet lightweight racks!

OK, you’ve looked at these fantastic products and you’ve decided on the one that will best show off your kitchen, but now you may question, “This is great, but I’d have to hire a contractor.” Nope! Think again! RACK IT UP! racks are designed to be installed quickly and easily with a minimum of effort and with no prior experience required. Hardware and tools are included with the RACK IT UP! of your choice.

Our family has decided on the Bookshelf Pot Rack because we have a narrow galley kitchen with a low ceiling. The rack assembled easily and installed just as easily. The Enclume Bookshelf Pot Rack is so sturdy that it holds all the pans we wanted, even though they are heavy cast iron. The change in the look of our kitchen is stunning! We are thrilled with having the pans accessible and stored in one place. We will update you with before and after pictures of our RACK IT UP! installation and kitchen transformation!

Enclume is offering FREE shipping on all their RACK IT UP! products!

Enclume Design Products, Inc. • 24 Colwell St. • Port Hadlock, WA • 98339
phone: (360)385-6100 • fax: (360)385-6156 • toll free (877)362-5863

Disclaimer: The product was provided for review purposes.

Bagels. Yum. Those round, dense, chewy, tasty bites of history now grace the plates of people from all over the world. Toasted or not, slathered with cream cheese, lox and whitefish, or topped with pizza or sandwich fixin’s…bagels are mainstream! McDonald’s even has had Breakfast Bagel sandwiches filled with egg and cheese.

I literally cut my teeth on bagels, as many kids did. Every Sunday as far back as I can remember, our family shared bags and bags of fresh, warm bagels on our breakfast / lunch table along with vast amounts of the best lox, whitefish, tomatoes, onions and of course, cream cheese. Bagels have been a part of our family’s daily menu as well, for a quick breakfast, or a late-night snack or something in-between, bagels rock!

You can buy bagels fresh, frozen, whole-grain, egg, blueberry, and all the way up to the “Everything” bagel. Best of all, you can make them at home for your family (See my recipe for homemade 100% whole-grain bagels.)

One thing that bagel-lovers share, no matter what their ethnic background, is the danger while cutting those sometimes-slippery rounds of deliciousness. Over the years, we have seen several different types of safety bagel cutters on the market. Remember the old plastic clamshell-type cutter (circa 1960-70’s)? Didn’t work so hot because they only worked (somewhat) on the small grocery-store type of bagels, but even then, it was a dangerous operation for fingers and bagels alike. It also did not accommodate the uneven, large shape of the handmade or homemade bagels. Similar problems exist with the bagel slicers available today, injuries can occur.

According to The American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT), bagel-cutting injuries are a serious problem. Here’s an excerpt from their information regarding what they refer to as “Bagel-Hand.” (I’m not kidding, take a look for yourself!)

“Bagel hand“
Ask many doctors and hand therapists what they believe to be the most dangerous food for possible injury during preparation or serving – and many will say bagels! Thousands of people each year end up in the emergency room from slicing more than just their bagels. According to the Department of Emergency Services at George Washington Hospital in Washington, D.C., the most under-reported injury is hand cuts from slicing bagels. Some emergency rooms have even started calling the ligament and tendon damage “bagel hand.” Many of these injuries are so severe they require surgery and months of hand therapy to regain normal movement and function.

“Use a bagel slicer instead of a knife,” says ASHT President Christine Muhleman, OTR, CHT.

Good advice!

I have FINALLY found a wonderfully versatile, truly safe, bagel cutter in the Brooklyn Bagel Slicer. THIS is the one I would let my children use. When I was asked to review this product I had no idea what it would look like and given my past experiences with awkward, ineffective and dangerous bagel cutters, slicers and guillotines, I was hopeful for the elusive safe bagel-cutting utensil for my whole family.

When I opened the box and saw the Brooklyn Bagel Slicer, my first reaction was “Now that is adorable!” But the fun really set in when I used it. Ingeniously simple, the Brooklyn Bagel Slicer works and works well with no nicked fingers, no cut hands, no mangled or mooshed bagels and no slippage.

In Product Testing, the only bagel slicer that passed our tests for safety and efficiency is the Brooklyn Bagel Slicer. This is the only one we can recommend for the whole family.

Photo: Brooklyn Bagel Slicer

Advantages of the Brooklyn Bagel Slicer are many. They include the fact it is well-made and sturdy, but lightweight and easy to use, even for a child. The design keeps the cutting blade away from the edge of the cutter so the fingers and hand do not come in contact with the blade. Additional advantages include NSF® certified, dishwasher-safe and easy to store. A BIG plus is that the Brooklyn Bagel Slicer is made in the U.S.A. and developed by a physician for safety. The stainless steel serrated knife blade makes short work of cutting through a bagel or bialy and uneven-shaped objects. The best thing is that you can use this on homemade, 100% whole-grain bagels (which other cutters, slicers and guillotines cannot handle well).

I recommend this product highly and suggest buying several! They make great gifts for your bagel-loving family and friends.

Come and watch the Brooklyn Bagel Slicer in action:
Brooklyn Bagel Slicer video 1
Brooklyn Bagel Slicer video 2
Brooklyn Bagel Slicer video 3

The Brooklyn Bagel Slicer is available from your local kitchen stores in the Charlotte area and online from:

• Brooklyn Bagel Slicer
• My Secret Pantry
• Central Chef.com
• Amazon.com

I was invited to review this product and I was thrilled to receive the oven and put it through its paces after reading excellent feedback on it. The Customer Service at Morningware is very friendly and helpful, which is a plus when considering purchasing any product.

The Morningware oven is fun to use and it works quickly and efficiently to cook so many types of foods. I find myself using it several times a day, almost every day. I bake homemade whole-grain pizza crusts in it and then cook the topped pizzas to perfection. I can adjust the amount of heat and change how browned the cheese gets (since I have some in my family that prefer dark-cooked cheese and some that prefer the cheese light and ooey-gooey. We do pizza at least twice a week using the Morningware Infrared Halogen oven.

I also bake 100% whole wheat sticky buns, cookies, biscuits, cobblers and many other foods one would think were not suited to this oven. As a whole-grain baker, how the Morningware oven handled homemade whole-grain baked goods was extremely important to me. I must say that I am very pleased with the results.

In addition to baked goods, the Morningware Infrared Halogen Oven does a fantastic job on meats (even frozen, not thawed!! That’s right!) Chicken, turkey, lamb, venison, bison, fish, burgers, steaks, vegetables, potato fries and much more, turn out moist inside and are cooked wonderfully on the outside.

Several advantages of the Morningware Infrared Halogen Oven includes that using it keeps me from having to pre-heat and cook using the big oven, thus saving on fuel AND using the Morningware keeps the kitchen cool and smoke-free. I love not having to heat the whole house to roast salmon fillets or vegetables or bake a quick batch of muffins or cookies. Since the “baking bug” may hit me at any moment and I may desire to whip up a batch of something yummy, not having to pre-heat my oven is a huge advantage for me. I also enjoy being able to watch the food cook via the see-through dome and watch it puff up and brown.

The clean-up process couldn’t be easier, but the dome does get hot during the cooking process, so it is prudent to wait until the oven cools down before cleaning.

My Helpful Hints:

• Consider the thickness and the type of food you are cooking. For example, steaks, hamburgers, fish grill up perfectly, but a thick pot roast may be better suited for a slow-cooker as the longer cooking method may be necessary to tenderize a tough, thick cut of meat. I enjoy roasting whole chickens in my Morningware oven, but I also like to butterfly them first, laying them flat on the stainless rack. The chickens roast quicker using this method.
• It may be necessary to flip some foods over to cook the bottom evenly. I regularly do this with my homemade 100% whole-grain pizza crusts. Caveat: I also have to flip my pizza crusts and other foods when baking them in the regular oven, so I don’t consider this a negative aspect of the IR oven.
• A meat thermometer is indispensable for determining the internal temperature of cooked meats and breads. Most of these foods will cook more quickly than using conventional means so taking the temperature of the meat is essential to prevent overcooking.
• When removing the dome after cooking, I place the dome onto a towel or placemat to avoid temperature shock.
• I keep my Morningware Infrared Halogen Oven on my countertop ready to go at ALL times because I want to use it over and over!

VICKILYNN’S WHOLE WHEAT YEAST ENGLISH MUFFINS/ BISCUITS
Yield: 10-12 English Muffins

1 1/4 cup warmed milk 110 degrees (I prefer homemade cashew milk)
1 Tablespoon SAF yeast
3 cups whole wheat pastry flour, plus more as needed, about 1 cup
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons good-quality oil (I prefer organic virgin coconut oil, melted)
1 tablespoon honey or organic sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, optional

In a mixing bowl (I used a Kitchen Aid), place the warmed milk and flour. Add the SAF yeast and stir to mix. Add remaining ingredients and beat well. Add flour as need to have the dough pull away from the sides of the bowl. The dough should be very soft, but not stick to your hands.

Turn out onto a floured board and knead until no longer sticky. Pat out to about 1/2-inch thick and cut into 3-inch rounds. Place the rounds onto a piece of parchment paper, cover with a towel and let rise about 30 minutes (almost doubled).

Place the parchment and muffins onto the steel rack (turned to the lowest position) of the Morningware Infrared Halogen Oven. Bake at 325 degrees for about 10 minutes. CAREFULLY, flip muffins over and bake another 8 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

*They will deflate slightly as you turn them because the bottoms are very soft. Don’t worry, they will puff back up.

Remove to a cooling rack. Split open with a serrated knife and butter the inside, replacing the top and bottom around the butter.

MORNINGWARE INFRARED HALOGEN OVEN

Simple to use, the Infrared Halogen Oven comes with a base, glass tray, stainless steel rack that can be used in 2 positions, a polycarbonate dome and the Morningware Infrared Halogen powerhead.

The Morningware Infrared Halogen Oven can roast, grill, broil, air-fry, dehydrate, barbecue and steam. A truly versatile portable countertop cooking appliance!

Dimensions: 14” H x 13” L x 11” W

Weight: 13 pounds

Cooking Method: Combination of convection, conduction, infrared and halogen light

1 year warranty

100 volts AC, 60Hz, 1200 watts

For more information, please visit: http://morningware.com/oven.html

Manual: http://morningware.com/Manual/Manual.pdf

Cooking Chart: http://morningware.com/Manual/Cooking_Chart.pdf

Recipes: http://morningware.com/Manual/Recipe.pdf

Just what is the “Plus” in the SoyaPower Plus? It is the advanced filterless design that not only offers the easiest soymilk making operation available, but completely changes the options for making homemade non-dairy milks and broths.

The “Plus” is the patented Tornado Grinding System™ which transforms the SoyaPower Plus into a powerhouse machine, with no filter to clean.

The features that I rated so highly on the SoyaPower are included in the SoyaPower Plus; features such as outer insulation covering that surrounds the stainless interior of the machine which makes the machine cooler to touch and also muffles the machine’s noise. I also really like the metal latches that secure the machine head to the body for added assurance. The SoyaPower Plus also retained the automatic shutoff switch as an added security measure. As a mom with children at home, I appreciate these extra features for our safety.

The new SoyaPower Plus not only kept all the great features of the SoyaPower, but improved upon it! Programmable cycle features are expanded in the SoyaPower Plus, making the machine more versatile. The SoyaPower Plus boasts the most pre-programmed operations (4 separate one-touch operations) for a wide variety of combinations or beans, grains, nuts, seeds or legumes.

The four pre-programmed one-touch operations for the SoyaPower Plus are:

• Beans + (Any beans other than soy beans)
• Soy Beans (For excellent soy milk)
• Soy + (For combinations using soy beans and other ingredients, such as soy beans and grains)
• Rice + (For making soups using grains such as rice, or millet)

How to use the SoyaPower Plus

1. Place pure water into the stainless SoyaPower Plus container, between the two marks for minimum and maximum water.
2. Place soaked and drained beans, or rinsed grains directly into the container, into the water.
3. Attach the Tornado Grinding SystemTM to the machine head.
4. Place the machine head into place and secure the latches.
5. Plug the SoyaPower Plus power cord into the wall socket.
6. Choose the correct cycle and press the button to start the cycle.
7. When the cycle is finished, you’ll hear a beep and the cycle is finished!
8. If desired, strain the liquid through the strainer that is provided with the SoyaPower Plus.
9. Refer to the User Manual for the simple cleanup directions.

SoyaPower Plus SoymilkMaker

• 700 watts
• Weight: 5 pounds 4 ounces
• Height: 11 1/4 inches high with handle in the down position, 13 3/4 inches with handle in up position
• Canister (inner): Stainless steel with pouring spout
• Canister (outer): Thermo-plastic cover with side handle, which provides insulation and noise reduction
• Steel Tornado Grinding System™ funnel instead of a filter
• Machine head outer: Thermo-plastic with electronic controls, 4 separate cycles
• Retractable top handle
• Safety shut-off switch
• Metal latches
• Machine head components in contact with the liquid: Stainless steel
• 4 steel grinding blades
• Capacity 1.6 liters
• Plastic drip pan
• Metal strainer
• Plastic pitcher
• Cleaning utensils

SoyaPower Plus Advantages

• Materials that come in contact with the beverages are quality stainless steel
• Steel Tornado Grinding System™ funnel instead of a filter
• Four pre-programmed press-button choices for making perfect non-dairy milks and broths from nuts, beans, grains, rice, seeds and any combination of them.
• Stainless steel canister has pouring spout and a rolled top, making pouring less messy
• The stainless steel canister’s one-piece construction prevents the soymilk from dripping in between the layer of plastic and steel
• Plastic cover over the stainless steel canister reduces noise and temperature during operation. Control pad is programmable for custom cycles and additional function options
• Cycle are fast — approximately 16 -18 minutes depending on choice of cycle
• Includes an added safety shut-off switch
• Plastic drip pan included to stand machine head when not in use; very helpful when removing machine head from the canister when hot
• Metal mesh strainer included, as well as cleaning tools
• 4 grinding blades, compared to 2 blades on other models
• Detailed user manual and free recipe book
• Toll-free order line and Customer Service
• Speedy shipping to all U.S. customers from Sanlinx’s, Tennessee wholesale warehouse
• Excellent Customer Service and warranty
• FREE SHIPPING!

SoyaPower Disadvantages

• None noted

Overall conclusion
I highly recommend the SoyaPower Plus as a wonderful addition to a healthy lifestyle and for anyone desiring to make the freshest, healthiest soy, nut, seed, legume or grain milk at home.

SoyaPower Plus
Sanlinx Inc.
4755 Fowler Drive
Morristown, TN 37814
http://www.soyapower.com/Soyapower-plus.html
Toll-free order line 24 hours 1-888-228-3082
Customer service toll free 1-866-769-6262

© 2010 Vickilynn Haycraft and Real Food Living. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this review may be copied, stored or transmitted in any medium, for any reason without prior written permission of the author.

Several other considerations with dealing with litter and litter boxes such as; what keeps the ODOR down the best? What about the cost of the litter and the possible health risks? Toxoplasmosis is a serious health threat to pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems and they are not to empty cat litter boxes, handle cat excrement or breathe in the dust of a litter box being cleaned.

We have 4 kitties and they are an integral and essential part of our family. Our feline family includes 2 sisters that are 2 years old, Sophie and Sadie. Sophie is 16 pounds and Sadie is 8 pounds. We added a new addition, Sasha. She joined our family at 8 weeks of age and at about 2 1/2 pounds. Soon after adopting Sasha, we rescued an abandoned kitten named Charlie. He came to us weighing 14 ounces.

Each one of them successfully uses the Litter-Robot. We were amazed at how easily the cats and kittens took to the Litter-Robot and how using it totally changed how we take care of our precious felines. I hope I never have to be without the Litter-Robot again!

The Litter-Robot design eliminates the need for litter box emptying and thus is more healthful for family members tending to the litter needs of their cats. No more handling used litter or breathing in the dust while scraping, scooping and emptying the litter box. Pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems should still avoid emptying the Litter-Robot drawer, but its system keeps the used litter and excrement contained in the bag within the drawer until it is time to remove the bag and replace it.

The Litter-Robot uses less litter. To try to keep litter box odor under control, we had been using a brand scoopable litter with carbon that was pretty expensive. We also added baking soda to the litter. As directed by the Litter-Robot information, we used the same brand of litter when setting up the Litter-Robot so our kitties would take to the Litter-Robot, although the Litter-Robot information states it will work with any brand of scoopable litter after the cats start using it. Because of the unique design, the Litter-Robot requires less litter and wastes much less litter, I cut our monthly litter bill in HALF. That’s right, by 50%! I buy half as much litter per month by using the Litter-Robot. That a big plus for us since we are trying to save money wherever we can to pay for the rising gas and food costs. So, for every 28-pound container that I buy for around $16.50, I am SAVING that exact amount per month. That’s $16.50 I can put someplace else, like in the gas tank or groceries.

The Litter-Robot maintains better odor control. What I have discovered in using the Litter-Robot is that the bag-lined drawer where the kitty droppings are deposited keep the odor better contained than any other litter system I have ever used. It is not necessary to change the bag daily, even going several days before changing the bag does not increase the odor (depending on how many cats you have using the same Litter-Robot that is.)

The Litter-Robot eliminates the need for daily litter attention. That’s right! As I mentioned above, the large drawer can hold several days’ worth of kitty plops (depending on how many kitties you have). I was thrilled to find that I did not need to empty the drawer except every 2-3 days rather than every day, sometimes twice a day which I was doing with our litter box. With 4 cats, there is a lot of kitty waste, believe me! The Litter-Robot holds it all and I empty the drawer after several days. We can even leave home for a few days knowing that the kitties will have a clean place to go without us even being there to attend to the Litter-Robot.

The Litter-Robot uses non-proprietary refill bags. Once while I was shopping at the pet store for my aquarium supplies, I overheard 2 workers lamenting that customers were getting upset because the store was out of stock of some of the proprietary refills and bags for one of the other brands of automatic litter box cleaners. The workers commented that all their stores were out of the refills and they did not know when the product was expected in. So, if I had one of these other brands, I would be out of luck in getting my refills. Not so with the Litter-Robot, as it uses no proprietary or special refills. The bags that line the drawers are ordinary 13-gallon kitchen trash bags. Again, a substantial money-saver and stress-saver.

The Litter-Robot has built-in safety feature for our cats. The automatic cycle will cease immediately if the cat returns or another cat enters, thus preventing injury. The sensor in the step-plate signals the automatic cycle and the also the stop cycle should a cat try to enter during the globe movement. The upfront cost of the Litter-Robot may be daunting, but the savings in time, effort and yes, money, make it a great investment.

Customer Service is superb. One thing that means almost as much to me as the product itself is the service after the sale, and they do provide courteous service. I consider this a major plus!

Full Warranty for 18 Months. Automated Pet Care Products, Inc. stands behind the Litter-Robot self-cleaning litter box with an 18-month full warranty.

Conclusion: The Litter Robot has revolutionized our pet care. I would not ever want to be without my Litter-Robot! I recommend The Litter-Robot to anyone who has a cat.

A few notes:
The Litter-Robot was very easy to set up and use. The unit consists of a base (where the controls are) and a globe with an opening where the litter (and cats) go. The globe gently turns 7 minutes after the kitty exits the Litter-Robot and during the turning cycle, the waste falls into the bagged drawer below. The globe then gently retuns to the upright position, covering up that drawer and sealing in any odors. It’s an ingenious design!

I put a rug in front of the Litter-Robot as there is some loose litter that comes out on the kitties’ paws.

The Litter-Robot is very easy to keep clean, inside and out. Can I say that I love something designed for kitty poop? Well, I do! And I recommend it highly as a real workhorse for the cat owner.

Please visit the website below and watch the Litter-Robot work!

Manufacturer’s Website:
http://www.litter-robot.com/

Manufacturer:
Automated Pet Care Products

Telephone Hours:
Monday through Friday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM Eastern
1-877-250-7729 toll-free

Email Addresses

General Inquiries: info@litter-robot.com
Customer Service: customer_service@litter-robot.com
Technical Support: help@litter-robot.com

THE LITTER-ROBOT Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Product Review

Dimensions:

• The fully assembled Litter-Robot is 29 inches high, 22 inches wide and 24 inches deep.
• The waste drawer is 11 inches wide, 16 inches long and 6 inches deep.
• The oval shaped entry for the cat is 9 inches high and 6 inches 1/2 inches wide.
• The litter bed area measures 14 inches across at the maximum litter capacity.
• There is 13 inches to 15 inches of head room for the cat inside the globe depending on the level of the litter. The inside width is 20 inches across at the widest point, and depth is 15 inches front to back.

The Litter-Robot is one-of-a-kind self-cleaning, automatic litter box. Unlike its predecessors (with rake arms that break off and raise a dust cloud), this automatic litter box is a technical marvel. It looks like something from outer-space, yet its design is very simple, and best of all, it works.

Pros:

• Uses any type of clumping litter.
• Can handle cats of varying sizes.
• Truly automatic in performance.
• Uses less litter than conventional litter box.
• Saves money on litter.
• Eliminates daily attendance.
• Reduces smell and mess.
• Uses any type of 13-gallon trash bag, not a proprietary refill.
• Easy to clean.
• My cats and kittens took to it immediately.

Cons:

• Won’t be automatic during a power outage. (Under those conditions, it acts like any manual litter box.)
• Some owners have reported a reluctance of their cat to use it. (The handbook addresses how to get your cat used to the Litter-Robot. I followed their advice and never had a problem.)
• Some extra-large cats may have trouble fitting inside the Litter-Robot. (Of our 4 cats, Sophie now weighs 20 pounds and uses the Litter-Robot just fine, but every cat is different.)

Conclusion: This is one self-cleaning litter box that really works. I highly recommend it!

© Copyright 1995-2008 Vickilynn Haycraft. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this review may be copied, stored or transmitted in any medium, for any reason without prior written permission of the author.

Not only can you make your own healthful tortillas at home with simple instructions and delicious recipes, but Wrapping It Up! has delivered creative uses for great-tasting fillings and family meals. Come and enjoy the world of wraps with Vickilynn Haycraft and Wrapping It Up!

Wrapping It Up!, by cookbook author, product reviewer and magazine columnist Vickilynn Haycraft, explores making tortillas, wraps and more AT HOME! Vickilynn’s creative kitchen-tested wrap recipes range from good old family favorites to the newest tastes, including wheat-free, gluten-free and fat-free. Vickilynn’s wraps have been described as “tortillas with attitude!” Some of Wrapping It Up!‘s delicious easy-to-prepare offerings include tantalizing recipes such as Almond Chocolate Wraps and Sweet Cinnamon Wraps with Apple Pie Filling.

Nutritious As Well As Delicious!

“I have tried many, many recipes from this book and every one has become a family “keeper.” This book takes you from the basics of choosing quality ingredients and making dough to cooking, filling and using the many unique and flavorful wraps in recipes. Wrapping It Up! contains recipes for an assortment of traditional “tortilla” type wraps, wraps for those with special dietary needs (i.e. gluten- or wheat-free) and traditional whole grain wraps. Vickilynn (who is well-known for her knowledge of whole-foods cooking and healthful living) goes on to share dozens of unique and original recipes, all using all whole grains and exciting wholesome ingredients like beans, vegetables, fruits and spices. You will find recipes for deliciously versatile Sweet Potato Wraps, wonderfully spicy Southwestern Black Bean Wraps and even some decadent dessert wraps. These healthy, whole-grain wraps have become a staple in our busy household!”

Nita Halstead

Available from Llumina Press by single copies or by the case for a re-seller’s discount. Llumina Press toll-free ordering: 1-866-229-9244. Also available at Amazon.com or order from your favorite bookstore.