I have sort of tip-toed my way into the world of air fryers. My daughter swore by hers. I saw a small one on sale at Aldi’s for about $30, so I bought it. I found it extremely handy for warming things up – like meat, breads, and fried foods – things that might get “wimpy” in a micro-wave. The little air fryer was quick and efficient and saved having to heat up the entire oven. A couple months … [Read more...]

For the past ten years or so my wife, Nancy, has done a little canning – mostly pickles, but she has also put up jellies, jams, tomatoes, peppers, and such. A couple years ago, I was struggling with Christmas ideas and decided to splurge and give her an electric canner. They were about $190, so I hoped she would like it. If nothing else, she wouldn’t have to heat up the entire kitchen trying to … [Read more...]

This is going to be awkward, “butt” here goes. When we were in Lancaster County a month or so back, we stayed at a really nice Air B&B cottage that happened to have a Tushy, a Bidet, installed on the toilet. Nancy read the instructions, which were simple, and used it first. She liked it and suggested I give it a try.  I did, and I was so impressed I bought a Tushy from Amazon as soon … [Read more...]

I got an email last week from Cheryl Seiber, a loyal reader of Cville Buzz and a fellow onion lover. Cheryl said she had bought some Candy Onions from a local farmers market (in Michigan) and they were so sweet and juicy, she ate a whole one raw before she could slice another for a sandwich. Candy Onions? I had never heard of them, but they sounded tempting. That very morning, Nancy … [Read more...]

My wife Nancy enjoys working in the yard – which has relieved me of many things I definitely do not enjoy. I mow the grass, piddle in the garden, suck up leaves in the fall and that’s about it. Nancy, though, will get out the weed-eater and trim up my work, she has about a hundred pots with flowers, three garden beds and she keeps our goldfish pond in pristine condition. For her, yard work is … [Read more...]

Ziplocs are like a purgatory for leftover food. Case in point. There are eight carrot slices left over after a meal. If there were only three or four, you’d toss them. But eight? You got to save eight.  So out comes a small Ziploc to house the eight slices which are then relegated to the lower shelf of the refrigerator and shoved to the back, only to be discovered 2 or 3 weeks later. … [Read more...]

I have always liked Evan Williams Bourbon. I think it is among the best of the bottom shelf bourbons. A couple months back, I was trying to decide whether to pick up one of the lower priced bourbons that I enjoy (Ancient Age, Virginia Gentleman, Evan Williams, etc.) or splurge and go for Makers Mark, Bulleit, Woodford or maybe Buffalo Trace. I saw that Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch was on … [Read more...]

I saw them at Food Lion while I was stocking up with some frozen vegetables. They were 8-oz. boxes of Green Giant: Simply Steam vegetables and they were just a dollar a box. They looked just about right size for the two of us and they had some really interesting choices. I picked up a couple boxes, we wolfed them down and I was sold. They were delicious, economical and the ideal size for just … [Read more...]

I frequently buy country ham, not whole hams, but biscuit slices and center-cut packs. Usually, the ham is good, but sometimes it can be tough and lack flavor.  There is one brand name of ham, however, that is always good. It is Hobe’s Ham. Simply the best. I first ran across Hobe’s hams. at a Food Lion in Mooresville, NC. It was so good, I made a mental note of the name, and whenever I … [Read more...]

Cuisinart 155 Food Slicer On a recent holiday occasion, we had a few friends drop by, I suppose we had 30 guests come and go. Along with a big bowl of jumbo shrimp and the usual spread of veggies, cheese, and fruits, we served an eye of round roast. Eye of round is one of the tastiest cuts of beef, and it’s also one of the most reasonably priced. But it can be tough and chewy and must be … [Read more...]