Review - CSN Online Stores

CSN Stores approached me to do a review. I selected an item from their over 200 websites. I checked out Accent Furniture and Home Decor, kids beds, bar stools, dining rooms Swingsets And More, and cookware. Since I've been looking for outdoor games to keep us all occupied when we go camping, I thought I'd check out Swingsets And More. I've been wanting a tailgate toss (also known as baggo or cornhole) game set. And I found them there with just about any sports team logo on it! Not only do they have tailgate toss, they've got other outdoor games and lots of other sports logo items.

Can you guess what I picked?

I selected the following item:


Tailgate Toss MLB - Chicago Cubs. I can't tell you how long I've been looking for a cornhole game. The prices at most other sites are significantly higher. I considered having a friend of a friend build me one, but decided I wanted one now, rather than on his schedule. The prices at Swingsets And More are excellent, as are the prices at the other over 200 CSN Stores websites. This particular item was normally $99.95, on sale for $84.99 and FREE SHIPPING!

Ordering online was fast and easy. The product was delivered on time. Unfortunately Fed-Ex left the package outside in a heavy downpour and the box got soaked. I contacted Swingsets And More and they re-ordered the Cubs decals for me and I received them last week. Now I can't wait to go camping to try it out!

I will definitely check them out the next time I'm shopping for just about anything.

For rules for Tailgate toss, see Tailgate Toss Rules - Ehow.com.

Lola's Diner Disclaimer: I was given product to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Thursday Thunks...

The TT questions are brought to you by Berleen, the color of lightning bolts and the number 1.

A. If you see a tornado out your window, what do you do? Grab my cell phone, weather radio, both cats and my kids and head for the basement. Once in the basement, make sure the extension cord from the sump pump is near it and run it upstairs in case the power goes out and I have to go start up the generator. Yes...this is a fire drill performed regularly because we live in an area considered tornado alley.
B. A celebrity knocks on your door saying that their tour bus/limo/pedal bike broke down (you pick the transportation)… who is it and what do you do to help them? It’s Rod Blagojevich and I point him to the nearest bus stop. Too bad he's not old enough for a free senior ride. No wait...the state canceled that, didn't they?
C. Brett is back on the Vikings – do you really give a crap? I'm a Bears fan. If the Vikings want what really is considered a senior citizen (in football player age) on their football team, then let them have at him. F#%k Farve. And I don't want to hear all the 'will he' or 'won't he' play/retire before the beginning of every frickin' season.
D. What side of the bed do you think Bud sleeps on? Top. I think there are very few people who sleep under the bed.
E. Cookie Monster eats vegetables now. Is this ok with you? He’s a freakin’ polyester puppet! He doesn't really eat anything!
F. All the TT’s get together for coffee… which state do we meet in? Illinois is always good for meet-ups.
G. Is the town you live in famous for anything? Infamous for anything? I don't think so. I live in an unincorporated area and most people have never heard of it.
H. Coffee flavored bubble gum – would you? I'd try it once. Will it have caffeine?
I. So Kimber lost her fight with a granite table…. what did you ever lose a fight with? Last year I lost a fight with the sofa and the Christmas tree. My knee went out and I went crashing down. The tree lost too, but not as badly as me. Lol!
J. Have you ever slept beneath the stars? Technically no, because the camper does not have a sunroof. Wouldn't that be cool if it did?
K. School is starting up soon, or has for some, did you get a new pair of tennis shoes every year while you were in school? No. We didn't have much money. If our sneakers were still serviceable we wore them until we wore them out. My son always manages to wear his out over the summer and thus that necessitates getting a new pair for school. Thank goodness I found a pair of 14 sneakers at Meijer yesterday. I've been searching for weeks and school started for him TODAY.
L. What two flavors do you love that you would never want to taste at the same time? Chocolate and margarita. (Harriet...why didn't you guess that?)
M. If you could shave a quote into a lions fur, what would it say? First off why would you want to do that? And second, who's going to help me hold down the lion?
N. Did you ever accidentally walk in on your parents doing the nasty? Did you ever purposely walk in on them? Nope. They only had sex for procreating...right?

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Book Review - The Complete Jerky Book, By Monte Burch

I recently received a copy of The Complete Jerky Book, By Monte Burch.
The contents are:

Introduction
All About Jerky
Tools And Materials
Food Safety
Old-Time Jerky Making
Sliced Muscle-Meat Jerky
Modern Ground Jerky
More Jerky Recipes
Small Game And Wildfowl Jerky
Fish Jerky

I think this book is more for the hunter beef jerky maker, rather than the casual beef jerky maker. The book goes into great detail about butchering your own meat and food safety issues involved with hunting your own game. That said, there are a lot of interesting recipes and if your are someone who makes jerky at home you could find some of them very helpful and quite tasty.

The book does discuss several methods for drying meat for jerky. You can dry it in your oven, or use a food dehydrator or smoker.

About the Author:

"Monte Burch is an award-winning freelance writer, photographer, and author of over seventy-five books and thousands of outdoor and how-to magazine articles. One of the most prolific writers, he still sells to markets such as Field & Stream and American Hunter. His books range from building outdoor gear and hunting lodges to turkey hunting and patterns for walleye. As a photographer, he has had magazine cover shots on Bassmaster, Sports Afield, and many others. He lives in Humansville, Missouri."

The Complete Jerky Book is currently available at Amazon.com, Borders.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and your local bookstore.

Lola's Diner Disclaimer: I was given this book to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Comfort Food

Everyone that visits my blog knows that I love to cook. Cooking from scratch is my favorite thing to do and since I do it all the time I've got to have the proper cooking equipment.

I cook all types of cuisine and I've got the cookware to prove it. From having a wok to cook stir-fries, fried rice. I've got a pasta pot for cooking spaghetti. I've got a big roasting pan that I cook roasts and lasagna in. And I've got a Le Creuset Dutch Oven that I make stews, chicken and dumplings, chicken, and pork chops.
Here is a great Dutch Oven Recipe from Paula Deen of The Food Network:

Paula Deen's Sauerkraut And Ribs:
Ingredients:
2 Tbs Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil
1 rack Pork Baby Back Ribs, cut into individual ribs
Salt and Pepper
1 medium Onion, chopped
6 medium, White New Potatoes, quartered
1 lb bag Sauerkraut
1/2 C White Wine (optional, may substitute water or stock)
Parsley sprigs, for garnish

Directions:
Set Dutch oven over medium-high and heat the vegetable oil.

You can also cook this dish in the oven at 325 to 350 degrees F for the same time.

Season the ribs with salt and pepper. Lay ribs in the oven, meat side down and sear them in a single layer. Transfer them to a platter. Add the onions and saute until softened, scraping up any browned bits from the ribs. Add potatoes. Add ribs back in and cover with sauerkraut. Poor wine over top. Cover the Dutch oven and lower the heat. Simmer the pot on the stove for 2 to 3 hours until the ribs are very tender.

If the dish gets too dry at any point stir in a little chicken broth or water to keep it moist.

Serve garnished with parsley sprigs.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Drumroll Please...Announcing The Winner of The Berry Bible, By Janie Hibler

We only had 2 commenters for the contest, where is everyone?

After using the very official and scientific method of throwing 2 names in a hat and drawing one...

The winner is...

Jen of Redhead Ranting is the winner. I'll be contacting you via email to get your snail mail and will forward it to the publisher.
Congratulations!

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010