Product Review: "Nostalgia" brand MyMini One- Slice Toaster

                                        

Have you ever seen a single-slice toaster? There are plenty of traditional-style, two-slice toasters available today, as well as a good number of four-slice models.

 Until a couple of weeks ago, I'd never seen a single-slice toaster before. While shopping on the amazon.com site, I noticed a photo of a small, aqua-colored, single-slice toaster. The name brand of the retro-looking toaster is Nostalgia, and they have quite a few other kitchen/household small appliances listed on Amazon.       

For months, I'd been putting off purchasing a new toaster, and was looking for a small, but efficient model. After thinking about it for a couple of days, I decided to buy one of these retro-looking toasters.

Toast is such an under-rated food. With its pleasing texture, toast is quick and easy to prepare at any time of the day or night. With a single-slice, retro-style toaster, it can be fun to toast a slice of bread or a muffin.

Here is a quick and honest consumer review of the Nostalgia Single-Slice Toaster.

Appearance

As soon as I saw the Nostalgia Single-Slice Toaster, I thought I would probably end up buying it. The pastel acqua color of the product has a real 1950s vibe, and it would probably look good in any environment.

Size

The Nostalgia MyMini Single Slice Toaster measures-in at nine inches long, six inches high and three inches wide. Because my apartment is pretty small, I was looking for a small, dependable toaster.

Being a single-slice toaster, this appliance features an extra-wide toasting slot. The larger slot is particularly great for toasting English muffins, big slices of bread and half-bagels.

The small size of this toaster makes it easy to store it in either a vertical or horizontal position. The Amazon website lists the weight of the Nostalgia toaster as 1.69 pounds,

Price

The price that I recently paid for one Nostalgia MyMini Single Slice Toaster on the Amazon website was $19.95. For about three weeks now, I've been utilizing the toaster almost-daily, and it seems to be an excellent product.

                                                         

 Functionality/Effectiveness

Since the first time I plugged it in, the Nostalgia MyMini Single Slice Toaster has worked very well. Sometimes, when you plug-in a new toaster for the first time, the appliance might emit an electrical odor, or even smoke a little. Not the case with this nifty, little machine. Every time I've used it, it's done what it's supposed to do, with no electrical flavors or smells.

On one end of the toaster, there is a round, dark/light knob, as well as the lever that pushes the bread down for toasting. Being analytical, I've noticed that when smaller pieces of bread are being toasted, the dark/light knob needs to be set at a darker adjustment in order for the lever to stay down  

Availability

When I looked-up the Nostalgia MyMini Single Slice Toaster on Google, I quickly learned that in addition to amazon.com this small appliance is sold at numerous retailers.

These retailers include Walmart, eBay, Target, Mercari, Office Depot, Home Depot and more.

Overall Rating

All things considered, the Nostalgia MyMini Single Slice Toaster is an attractive and functional product that's fun to look at and utilize. Befitting its name, this toaster also provides a sense of nostalgia when it's used.

The whole idea of a single slice toaster is pretty excellent, for lots of reasons. Sometimes, the idea of eating one piece of toast is simply more appealing than eating two.

Because of its small size, the Nostalgia MyMini Single Slice Toaster can fit just about anywhere there's an electrical connection. Not only can this lightweight toaster be used at home, but it can easily be stored and used in the workplace.

On a scale of one to ten, I would assign the Nostalgia MyMini Single Slice Toaster a rating of 9.25

Campbell's Clam & Corn Chowder Successfully Combines Two Classic Soups Into One

                                       

A Tale of Two Clam and Corn Chowders

Some of the best recipes are created inadvertently, or from necessity. Tonight, I was starting to heat a can of Progresso Clam Chowder, when I noticed a half-full can of corn remaining from the previous night's supper, sitting in the refrigerator.

Since I'm also a fan of corn chowder, I figured 'why not add the corn to the clam chowder?' I'd never heard of clam-corn chowder before, but why not try it?

After adding a good amount of corn to the clam chowder, I took a taste, and it was awesome! This soup was one of the best of many clam chowders I've eaten. For a second or two, I thought maybe there was a great new soup idea being born.

     Approximately an hour after I ate the delicious clam-corn chowder, I clicked on an online banner ad for Chunky Soups, from Target. Being a fan of these soups, I was perusing the selection that was available, and what did I see being advertised? Chunky Clam and Corn Chowder. Ha

                                                               

While at the supermarket a few days later, I saw that they had the Campbell's Chunky Clam and Corn Chowder in-stock, and I decided to buy a can. After eating the chowder a few days later, I decided it was one of the best soups I've ever eaten. Since then, I've purchased two additional cans online. Here's a quick review of Campbell's Chunky Clam & Corn Chowder.

Size

The standard-sized can of Campbell's Chunky Clam & Corn Chowder weighs-in at 18.8 ounces. The label says it contains about two servings, but one can is just the right-sized serving for myself. When served with egg noodles, rice or mashed potatoes, with bread and butter, you can really have an "Mmm mmm good" meal.

                                                          

Price

At Hartford, Connecticut-area supermarkets, the regular retail price for one 18.8 ounce can of Campbell's Chunky Clam & Corn Chowder is approximately $2.99.

Appearance

This clam and corn chowder looks quite appetizing, right out of the can. The off-white broth is accented with good-sized pieces of clams and vegetables, creating a culinary image that's easy on the eyes.

Consistency

The consistency, or texture of Campbell's Chunky Clam & Corn Chowder is, as the name suggests, chunky. The clean-tasting pieces of clams are appropriately chewy, but not rubbery. Bite-sized chunks of potatoes and yellow corn kernels co-mingle with small pieces of celery and red pepper in a creamy broth that's not too thick and not too thin. 

Nutritional Facts

The 18.8 ounce can of Campbell's Chunky Clam & Corn Chowder contains two servings, and one serving contains 180 calories. Each serving contains 2 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 10 grams total fat, 10 mg of cholesterol, 890 mg of sodium, 18 grams total carbs, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 3 grams total sugars and 5 grams of protein, per one-cup serving.

                                      

Flavor

On several occasions now, I've eaten Campbell's Chunky Clam & Corn Chowder. Every time I've eaten it, the soup has tasted great, and I've been very satisfied. The clams and corn kernels in the soup are plentiful and tasty, the potatoes are cooked just right and the creamy broth has a pleasing, New England-style flavor.

On the can's front label, it says this soup is flavored with bacon, and a subtle, yet effective amont of bacon flavor can be detected. 

Overall Rating

All things considered, Campbell's Chunky Clam & Corn Chowder is an excellent product that essentially combines two classic soups into one. When served atop some white rice, it makes for a mighty satisfying dinner.

On a flavor scale of one through ten, I would assign Campbell's Chunky Clam & Corn Chowder a rating of 9.5. Highly recommended.

 

At Moe's Southwest Grill Restaurants, Rewards Program Members Receive a Tasty Gift on Their Birthday

                                                               

On a regular basis, I visit the Moe's Southwest Grill store at Bishop's Corner in West Hartford to purchase their outstanding tacos. Approximately a year and a half ago, I started buying food to-go from Moe's, and everything I've ordered has been very good.

After visiting Moe's a couple of times, I checked-out their website one night, and discovered that the chain offers a rewards program aptly named Moe Rewards. One of the factors that led me to sign up for the rewards program was the free burrito that members receive on their birthday every year.

The Moe Rewards program can be accessed via their website or you can use the Moe's app. When you sign up, you get a free cup of queso on your next visit, and every year on your birthday, you'll receive a free Moe's burrito or burrito bowl.

Last week, I celebrated a birthday, and a few days prior to that, I received an email from Moe's reminding me of the free burrito birthday present. The email said the free burrito was available for pickup, to-go, curbside and delivery.

My birthday was on a Sunday this year, and I often go to Big Y and/or Moe's on Sunday. It seemed like a good idea to go get a free burrito, so off I went. While I was sitting still in my little Miata in the Big Y parking lot next to Moe's, some guy backed his car into my left rear quarter-panel. The guy said the Miata is so low to the ground he couldn't see me.

I'm convinced a miracle happened that day at Bishop's Corner. The other car backed right into the Miata; I could feel and hear the impact. There was no real damage, though. A 1/16-inch scratch is the only damage that I can see.

Once I determined I could finally try to get the free burrito, I headed into Moe's. Per Moe's tradition, the staff members shouted-out "Welcome to Moe's" when I walked in. The three women working behind the counter were friendly, and they showed a great sense of teamwork.

It was good to hear that the free birthday burrito can be ordered the traditional way-in a tortilla, or in a bowl. Within about five minutes, my ground beef burrito bowl was being placed in a to-go bag, and I was thanking the staff members for a fun experience.

                                             

If you're not already a Moe Rewards member, it's worth signing up for, if you'd enjoy receiving a free burrito on your birthday. Your burrito can contain your choice of ground beef, sirloin steak, white meat chicken, Adobo chicken, pork or organic tofu. There are 15 fresh, free ingredients that can be added to your burrito/bowl, as well as several additional cost add-ons.

Another example of how you can benefit from being a Moe Rewards member is the free delivery fees promotion the restaurant chain is offering during the month of September 2022.

Burger King's Hershey's (R) Sundae Pie is the Type of Dessert You Have Fantasies About

                                         

One of the things I really like about living in Hartford's West End is having a Burger King restaurant situated on Farmington Avenue. My apartment is only two blocks away, and I can walk over there in five minutes.

On average, I order food to-go from that Burger King about twice a week, and quite often, their Hershey's (R) Sundae Pie is one of the items I order.

Burger King's Hershey's (R) Sundae Pie is essentially a slice of high quality, chocolate cream pie. This dessert is so awesome I have to let other people know just how good it is.

Appearance

Burger King's Hershey's (R) Sundae Pie is a great dessert that has a very appetizing appearance. The pie has a dark, crunchy chocolate crust, and the first layer is a cream cheese/whipped cream. This is topped with a fluffy, chocolate creme filling, then more whipped cream on top of that.

To further accentuate a great thing, HERSHEY'S chocolate chips are sprinkled over the top.

On the burgerking.com website, the pie's chocolate filling is described as chocolate ice cream, and on the bk.com website, the filling is described as chocolate creme.

Size

The net weight of one Burger King Hershey's (R) Sundae Pie is 79 grams, approximately 2.8 ounces.

Because of  the slice's fairly small size, I always intend to eat them slowly, but never do, because they taste so good, it's hard to stop eating one, once you've started.

Price

Three days ago, I bought two Hershey's Sundae Pies at the Farmington Avenue Burger King. Although I threw the receipt away, I'm pretty sure the price is $2.00 for each slice. (As of 9/2/22)

Nutritional Facts

Each slice of Burger King's Hershey's Sundae Pie contains 295 calories. The pie contains 17 grams total fat, 0.5 grams of cholesterol, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 21 grams of sugar and 2.9 grams of protein.

Flavor

Of all the different types of desserts I've tried at various fast food restaurants, Burger King's Hershey's (R) Sundae Pie is by far the best I've found yet. The pie is so good, I find myself thinking about eating it on a fairly regular basis.

The combination of chocolate creme and whipped cream creates an almost mousse-like effect, and it's not overly sweet. For chocolate cream pie-lovers, like myself, the flavor of this pie is a very good version of the traditional-style pie.

The cool, creamy flavor of this pie provides an excellent ending to meals of Whopper Juniors, chicken sandwiches, onion rings and French fries.   

Texture/ Consistency

In addition to its outstanding flavor, Burger King's Hershey's (R) Sundae Pie offers several pleasing textures. The mild crunch of the dark chocolate crust complements the cool and soft cream cheese/whipped cream very well. 

Overall Rating

There aren't too many really good desserts on the menus at most fast food restaurants. All things considered, Burger King's Hershey's (R) Sundae Pie is top-rate dessert that's also reasonably priced. This product is very highly recommended.

Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

Life in 1983 wasn't too bad, overall. The world wasn't generally as stressful, and lots of good music was still being made then.

Good vibes were being spread by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant, with his "Electric Avenue" song. After the song's video began airing regularly on the then-young MTV network, the song became very popular, and became one of the year's top-selling records.

Located in the Brixton district of London, Electric Avenue is a real street. A diverse population lives in the Brixton area, and the song Electric Avenue reflects several different musical styles.

Interestingly, several reliable Internet websites feature articles regarding a lawsuit that Eddy Grant filed in 2020 against Former President Donald Trump.

According to the Business Insider website, an animated Twitter tweet from the former President in August 2020 used Electric Avenue as background music in the tweet. The tweet was released during the 2020 presidential race, and was not complimentary to now-President Joe Biden.

 The BI article says that Mr. Grant's lawsuit was seeking $300,000 in damages. 

Grocery Home Delivery from Stop & Shop is a Great Option for Any Size Household

                                                                               

Do you enjoy grocery shopping? Grocery shopping is something I've generally enjoyed since I was a kid. 

In today's consumer-driven society, most of us utilize the same the same type of products, month after month. While it's easy to remember to purchase regularly used items, remembering to buy household staples and seldom-used products can be more difficult.

When you shop online at stopandshop.com, there's no hurry, and you can check-out specific items for as long as you want.

Even though I regularly shop in-store at both West Hartford Stop & Shop locations, as well as Big Y at Bishop's Corner, I find that periodic Stop & Shop grocery home deliveries are a big help. 

Price

The delivery fee that Stop & Shop charged for last week's big grocery order was $6.95. That's a very reasonable fee, in my opinion, and I don't mind paying it at all.

While I do consistently shop in the local stores for week-to week items, I was running low on several staples. Actually, I was running some things out in preparation for a home delivery from Stop & Shop.

Ease of Ordering

Ordering groceries for home delivery on the Stop & Shop website is very easy. Food items are separated into categories, similar to the aisles in the physical stores. 

A very cool option allows you to add or subtract items from your "list" until approximately four hours before the scheduled delivery time.

When deciding what the best delivery date would be, the Stop & Shop site allows you to schedule a delivery up to 13 days in advance.

Convenience

With today's busy schedules, it's great to be able to take your time with grocery shopping. Last Saturday, I had a grocery home delivery from Stop & Shop, but I was adding or removing items from the order for several days, before it was finalized.

Competition

When Shop-Rite still had its massive store on Kane Street in West Hartford, I used to get grocery home delivery from there approximately twice a year. Since Shop-Rite pulled out of West Hartford in 2019, the options for delivery are few.

As far I know, Crown Supermarket features home delivery, and Big Y offers Instacart grocery home delivery. Whole Foods also has an Amazon-connected grocery home delivery option.

The Delivery

It's very apparent that the entire Stop & Shop grocery home delivery system is an organized, highly-efficient organization. With last week's order, the delivery window was between 6:00-7:00 p.m., and the driver arrived at 6:45 p.m.

Most of the delivered items were separated into plastic bags by category. Once the delivery truck arrived, it took about 10 minutes for the driver to bring the items into the building.

As for maintaining the temperatures of the foods, the items for delivery are packed in ice in the delivery trucks. The refrigerated items I ordered were nice and cold when they arrived, and the frozen foods were still frozen.

The entire delivery experience took approximately 15 minutes, because the driver was parked a good distance from my door. The driver was really hustling in the 90-degree heat, and I gave him a $5 tip.

All things considered, grocery home delivery from Stop & Shop  is a great option for any size household.

Fun With Food #II

With just a little bit of imagination, any ho-hum meal can become a fun occasion. "Just Don't Try To Bounce It!" This fun piece was originally created around 2003-2004, I think.