This Mama Cooks! Reviews

My Frigidaire has arrived!

My Frigidaire Gallery Freestanding Electric Range and my Frigidaire Gallery Over-The-Range Microwave have finally arrived.

I don’t know who was more excited the kids or me. Here are my first impressions and some suggestions for the people at Frigidaire.

Click here to see the entire Frigidaire Gallery Collection. Or go to the main Frigidaire site to learn more about their appliances. Don’t forget to check out the Frigidaire Facebook Page, too!

Installation

The installation by a local company was a snap. The gentleman installing it arrived on time and didn’t need turn-by-turn directions and me standing in the street waving to get here. (It’s amazing how many people have a tough time getting here even though they have GPS units in their delivery or work vans.)

He took a look at my old unit and range hood, and asked me to remove the spices from the cabinet above the stove, since he needed access to install the microwave. After he removed the old unit, he gave me a few minutes to clean the floor, wall and cabinet sides – it’s amazing how much yucky crud had accumulated even behind the old stove in the last nine years. Thank goodness I was on the phone with GeekMommy or I would have hurled.

My installer also repositioned the electric plug since like the rest of this house, things were done a bit strangely by the builders. Even so, the install took less than an hour and was done with a minimum of fuss, inconvenience or noise.

Recommendation: I’ll touch on this later, but these new appliances are a bit intimidating with all their buttons and setting. A few basic instructions from the installer on how to use the stove top, microwave and stove would have been a classy touch. I’ve had home theater and satellite TV installers do that. Instead, the only tip from my installer was to clean the range with the special stove top polish (a small bottle came with the appliances) before using it to cook.

I know that may be impossible to train installers on every single product they handle, so another option would be a new owner’s DVD that would cover use and care. Also, coupons for stove and microwave safe cleaning products along with instruction booklets and warranty info would have been cool, too.

Log Cabin Style Maple Ribs

My husband loves to use his smoker to cook up ribs and shoulder roasts (see my post Eat barbecue and lose weight for the recipes). But not everyone has a smoker, the time to use it or even a deck to put it on.

Well, Log Cabin comes to the rescue with this recipe for Maple Ribs that can be done on the stovetop and in the oven. Since you have to boil the ribs and make the marinade the night before so the ribs can marinate, the best time to start this recipe is the evening before you want to eat them. Cook time is less than an hour after that, so hopefully your kitchen won’t be too stifling in the summer heat.

Enjoy!

Log Cabin Syrup isn’t just for breakfast: Marinated Grilled Flank Steak with Maple Herb Butter

Last March, I was happy to let my readers at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet know that Log Cabin® replaced High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) with natural sugar in their pancake syrups. My mom friends as well as fellow health and diet bloggers are concerned about HFCS and are avoiding products that use it.

Yes, I know foodies will say, “Use real maple syrup.” I do, but it’s expensive and pancake syrup is a great alternative, especially Log Cabin’s lite and sugar free varieties for those counting calories or sugar intake.

My BlogHer09 sponsor – Log Cabin

It’s wonderful to see that companies like Log Cabin are paying attention to what consumers want and paving the way to make their products healthier. So I’m thrilled to have them sponsor me at the BlogHer09 Conference.

In the next few weeks before the conference on July 24, I’ll be posting recipes (like the one below). I’ll also be hosting a giveaway of THREE big boxes of “breakfast goodies” including all the Log Cabin syrups along with pancake/waffle mix, cooking supplies, cookbook, and some Log Cabin branded items – details to follow soon.

If you’re going to BlogHer09, I’ll be passing out free sample coupons to attendees, so come up and introduce yourself and don’t be shy to ask for one.

Log Cabin Syrup is for dinner, too!

We all love the flavor of maple syrup, so imagine that taste on steaks – mmmmmm. But pancake syrup? Well, did you know that Log Cabin now makes Log Cabin Pure Maple Syrup from Grade A, Dark Amber maple syrup. It has no additives or preservatives and is sold at selected Sam’s Clubs. (Click here to find out if Log Cabin Pure Maple Syrup is sold at your local club.)

Here’s a recipe using Log Cabin Pure Maple Syrup that’s perfect for summer grilling.

An interview with my BlogHer '09 sponsor, Best Western

One of the big conferences for women bloggers (and a few men, too) is the BlogHer conference. This year it’s in Chicago on July 24-25. I’m driving to the event in a Chevy car (sponsored by General Motors) with Amy Peck of Inherent Passion. We’re driving from Colorado and stopping in Ames, Iowa overnight to pick up Jenna Goodwin of For The Love of Baby! and Becky Gjendem of Deep Muck Big Rake.

For many bloggers, going to a conference is expensive, so we find ways to cut costs, whether that’s using frequent flier miles, getting a roommate, or volunteering. I’ve done ‘em all.

Meet my first sponsor, Best Western

This year I’m lucky enough to have a few sponsors to help with expenses. One of them is Best Western who will be sponsoring Amy’s and my stay in Ames both on the way to and the way back from BlogHer ‘09.

As part of the sponsorship, I was lucky enough to do an email interview with Troy Rutman, Director of External Communications at Best Western. We cover everything from how Best Western is using social media to how they help you stay healthy on the road. We also discuss how Best Western is making travel affordable for families and small business people.

Special K Protein Shakes review

Kellogg’s PR firm sent me a bottle of Kellogg's™ Special K™ Protein Shake (milk chocolate) to try. Yes, just one bottle of the chocolate flavor. No blenders, no kitchen accessories, just a little bottle of some yummy chocolate stuff.

Each Special K™ Protein Shake meal replacement shake contains 10 grams of protein and five grams of fiber to help you feel fuller, longer. There’s 180 calories in the French vanilla and strawberry shakes, and 190 calories in the milk chocolate one. The shakes also contain vitamins A, C, D and E, along with other nutrients like calcium. Click here to read the nutritional info for the milk chocolate shake.

The shake tasted good, a little like a Yoo-Hoo. It was creamy and not gritty like a lot of other protein shakes. I like the high fiber and protein content of the product. However, the ingredient label is a bit worrisome since it’s seems more like science experiment than a smoothie you’d make for yourself.

In that regard, I prefer Lightfull Smoothies, (read my review here) which are made from more wholesome ingredients like cane juice and nonfat plain yogurt and have half the calories. However, Lightfull Smoothies have half the protein (darn it), have to be ordered online are probably more expensive than Special K™ Protein Shakes.

Pricewise, if you order Lightfull Smoothies from Amazon and take advantage of the free shipping, they're cheaper than Special K™ Protein Shakes. However, there's the convenience of going to the store to pick up a few without having to wait days for shipping.

Sometimes cost and convenience are more important that “sugar” versus “evaporated cane juice,” But calories and protein are important, too, so it’s really a toss up between the two products. I like them both for different reasons, and plan to keep one or the other in my fridge for when I need a quick snack between meals or before working out.