Fermentools ~ a TOS review

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Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Regulations.  

Since the Coronavirus has taken over the world I thought it would be the perfect time to try our hand at the many things on our bucket list. One of which is canning and fermenting. My second oldest, Madison, is home from University finishing up her freshman year because of said virus. She is my right hand girl in the kitchen and always experimenting. She mentioned frementing things back in December so when this review popped up I thought this would be a great time for her to try her hand at fermenting foods. She was excited to hear we were going to review the Starter Kit from Fermentools.
Fermentools is a US based family owned small business. I really appreciate that all of their products are made and sourced within the USA too. The Fermentools Starter Kit does include:

~ Directions for using the product, including a basic sauerkraut recipe

~ Ancient Himalayan fine grain (this includes high amounts of important trace minerals)

~ Surgical grade stainless steel lid

~ Airlock system

~ Rubber stoppers, 1 with a hole to use with the airlock system and one without

~ Rubber gasket

~ Glass fermenting weight

Once we received the Starter Kit in the mail and it was game on to figure out what exactly she would be making. She decided she wanted to make pickles so first up was to find a wide mouth mason jar because it is not included in the Starter Kit. I thought I had one here but it is MIA and we could only find small sized jars in the house. In a normal world, pre-Corona virus, we could just pop into the store and pick one up, but this is not the case now. We had the worst luck trying to find a jar and so we ended up improvising with and retrofitting a jar that we did have at home. Not the best option, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

To begin she washed and cleaned the carrots and cucumbers she was going to ferment while the water boiled on the stove to dissolve the Himalayan salt. Once the water cooled she poured the salt water brine solution over the veggies and added minced garlic, dill, and bay leaves. The glass weight from the starter kit is then placed on top to keep the food below the water line. Next place the rubber gasket and the rubber stopper on and seal the jar. Lastly add water to the water line and place the airlock system into the rubber stopper.

Now just place your jar in a cool, dark place for 5-7 days and wait for the magic to happen. Typically, fermented food is best after 6 months, but if you can’t wait that long you definitely can dive in sooner than that. Just check it after 4 days to see what’s happening but its best to let it sit and do its magic for awhile. You can also place your ferment into the refrigerator or store in a cool basement. The cold improves the taste as well as the time it is allowed to sit.

When she opened the jar after a week, it tasted...okay and extremely salty. I think it is most definitely user error on our part and not the actual Fermentools product. She is excited to try again once we do get our hands on some reasonably priced wide mouth mason jars. Madison also wants to try sauerkraut and more pickles to see if she can get it right.

Overall, this is a great product that will help you in your fermenting endeavors. I only wish we had the right type of jars on hand. You’re in luck, Fermentools is giving my readers a 15 % discount coupon so you can try your own hand at fermenting. The coupon is valid from now until June 30th.  Use the coupon code Crew2020

Be sure to check out what my CrewMates thought of this product by clicking the banner below!

Company ~ Fermentools 

 Product ~ Starter Kit 

 Price ~ $21.49

Social Media Links:

Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

© 2008 - 2020 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.     

http://astablebeginning.com

Everyday Homemaking: Everyday Cooking ~ a TOS review

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As you know I have 5 daughters, ranging from 20 down to 7 (almost 8) and in our house I like to start my girls cooking when they turn 10 ½. Nothing fancy at that point, just to learn how to cook scrambled eggs without burning the house down. By the time they are 15 they have the knowledge to prepare a full course meal. I have several cookbooks to help the girls learn to cook, but recently we have been using and loving the variety of recipes from the Everyday Cooking cookbook from Everyday Homemaking because she cooks like me!

Vicki Bentley is the mother of eight daughters, foster mom to over fifty, and grandma to nineteen wonderful grandbabies (and great-grandma to one!). Everyday Homemaking is her website that she created to sell her homemaking products and is filled with practical ideas, tips, products, and resources to help families. Not only that, she also offers parents from all walks of life practical ideas and tools to help manage our time and households. Vicki believes in getting the kids involved and having them help.

Vicki knows just how busy a schedule can get and has great ideas to help combat the busy lifestyle and still get dinner on the table. This cookbook focuses on whole food without all the processed junk. With sample menus, low carb staples, pressure cooking basics, and shopping tips this book is choke full ideas.


The cookbook is available as a physical book with a glossy cover and coil bound pages or as a digital PDF eBook. We received the latter. Each book is exactly the same at 198 pages, except the print book features black and white photos while the digital includes color photos. Two cover designs are available in red or blue, but the content is the same inside.

The Table of Contents include:

 • Preface 

• Introduction

 • Time Saving Tips

 • Breakfast Ideas 

• Appetizers and Dressings

 • Bread and Grains 

• Main Dishes & Soups & Sides

 • Desserts and Snacks 

• Homemade Vanilla Extract

 • Low-Carb and Gluten-Free Pantry Helpers 

• Basic Measurements and Helps 

• Meal Planning and Shopping Hints 

• Sample Menus & Menu Planning Masters 

• Basic Cooking Skills Checklist

 • Basic Kitchen Accessories

 • Kitchen Equipment

 • The Tortoise and the Hare 

• Pressure Cooker Tips and Favorites 

• Index of Recipes

 • Index of Practical Tips 

What a great little cookbook this is to have! It is jam packed with quick and easy recipes that will make you feel like your Julia Child’s, just without having to spend all day in the kitchen. We made several recipes using this cookbook. The recipes are simple enough that I could have my children flip through and pick what they wanted to make.

With recipe categories like appetizers & dressings, main dishes, soups & sides, grains & breads, and desserts and snacks there is plenty to cook up and try. I love that this is perfect for using in a homeschool home economics class. Not only is there a checklist of when each recipe is made but time saving tips that are helpful to new cooks and seasoned ones as well. Also included is a helpful menu plan to give you a start if you struggle in that area.

The Everyday Homemaking website is chock full of great encouragement tips and tidbits for homemaking and homeschoolers, so be sure to check it out. There are several other books available for purchase on there and you can even find a copy of Vicki’s bread recipe. I highly recommend this cookbook! We have enjoyed preparing these recipes and I think this cookbook would be a great gift for a new wife, a young teen, or a homeschooling mom.

Right now you can get 10% off The Everyday Family Chore System and/or Everyday Cooking (print or e-book) through Labor Day! Use the code TOS10books -- apply it to as many books in your cart as you'd like. Just be sure to shop first and apply the coupon code last to get the best deal. Don’t delay though, the coupon code expires Sept 5th.

Be sure to click on the banner below and read the other reviews for Everyday Homemaking from my CrewMates.

Company ~ Everyday Homemaking

 Product ~ Everyday Cooking

 Format ~ PDF eBook

 Price ~ $15.99

Social Media Links:

 •Facebook @everydayhomemaking

©2008 - 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.

 http://astablebeginning.com

MyFreezEasy ~ a TOS review

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I am a busy mom. There I said it! Now I don’t wear this “label” as a badge of honor, rather, I just try to take care of my people the best way I can with God’s daily guidance. Part of that job is feeding them well balanced meals. We are blessed to be a sports family and that keeps us busy and on the go, especially in the winter and spring. Two of my girls are competitive gymnasts who train 15-28 hours a week {a week people! But that’s another blog post :-)}, then I have softball players, a track runner, and a little guy who loves to run and play. Throw in homeschooling, Girl Scouts, AWANA, and housekeeping for good measure and you can see why I am busy sun up to sun down. But don’t get me wrong I love taking care of my family... I am blessed.

Cooking and baking comes naturally for me as I had the best role model of a gourmet chef from my mother. Although I don’t always enjoy the process because at times I have my own issues with food. On top of that, my youngest daughter has allergies and sensitivities to gluten, sugar (natural and artificial), and lactose, so serving something she can eat has been a challenge lately. That’s why I am so happy to have been chosen to try out the MyFreezEasy.com Freezer Meal Plan Membership from MyFreezEasy.

MyFreezEasy has made the freezer cooking so simple! With a membership to MyFreezEasy in less than an hour you will make 10-12 delicious meals. I know you are probably thinking that these meals will be bland and boring, right? NOPE, not one bit. With a basic membership ($7 a month, or $77 for a year) you have access to 8 meal plans each month, while premium membership ($10 a month, or $95 a year) gives you access to all existing meal plans plus the option to create your own meal plan and to adjust the serving sizes of the meals.

With so many different meals to choose from and at least 8 new meals added each month you are sure to find a meal to your liking. The monthly meal plans available are:

 • Traditional Plan – 10 meals: a mix of different types of meals 

• Gluten-Free Plan – 10 meals: completely gluten-free including sides 

• Slow Cooker Plan – 10 meals: all freezer to slow cooker style

 • Clean Eats Plan – 10 meals: all “clean ingredients” • 20 Meals Plan – 20 meals: mix of different types of meals 

• All Chicken Plan – 10 meals: all recipes using chicken breasts/chicken thighs, so you can get the chicken on sale and stock your freezer

 • All Ground Beef Plan – 10 meals: all recipes using ground beef so you can get the ground beef on sale and stock your freezer

 • All Pork Chops Plan – 10 meals: all recipes using pork chops or pork tenderloin so you can get the pork on sale and stock your freezer

Each meal plan includes how to serve it tonight or how to prep it to freeze and serve later with helpful prep and meal assembly instructions. In addition to all the meal plans offered you have access to assembly videos for each meal. Plus meal plans are also broken down into helpful shopping lists:

 ~ shop by recipe 

~ shop by store category or aisle 

~ freezer meal prep day shopping day by recipe

 ~ freezer meal prep day by category or aisle

For our first meal plan I used the create your own option and created:

~ slow cooker Teriyaki Chicken 

~ upside down nacho skillet 

~ cornbread pork chop casserole

~ slow cooker beef stew 

~ best meatloaf ever 

All of the meals were a hit with everyone in the family so I didn't have to worry about any wasted food. The reminder email at the beginning of the month is a lifesaver for me. Just having that gentle nudge to remind me of new recipes is a huge plus in my book. I also love that printable labels are included for each meal. There is no need to try and guess what exactly is in the freezer bag. Cooking instructions are also included so you won’t have to look up just how to reheat the meal.

Because I know my own limitations I had never tried freezer cooking before now. The thought of batch cooking meals used to scare me, but with the gentle hand holding that I get from MyFreezEasy it takes away some of the anxiety. I also love that I can tailor the meals to my low carb, high fat way of eating by switching a few ingredients here or there. Knowing I have prepared meals in the freezer with the help of this membership makes freezer cooking so fast and easy there is no excuse as to why we don’t have a warm cooked meal on the table each night even with our busy schedule.

Be sure to check out what my CrewMates thought of this program by clicking the banner below and reading their reviews. We have thoroughly enjoyed the freedom our MyFreezEasy membership brings to our family table. Check it out and you’ll be sure to find a tasty meal to add to your menu rotation!

Company ~ MyFreezEasy 

Product ~ Premium Annual Membership from MyFreezEasy.com Freezer Meal Plan Membership

Format ~ online

Price ~ basic membership: $7 a month, or $77 for a year; premium membership: $10 a month, or $95 a year

Social Media Links

Facebook 

Instagram

 Pinterest 

 #hsreviews #freezeasy #freezermeals #5dollardinners #freezercooking

©2008 - 2016 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author. 

 http://astablebeginning.com

Everyday Cooking ~ a TOS Molly Review

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As you know I review for the TOS Schoolhouse review crew and now I have been given the opportunity to review for the Molly Team. With the Molly team I will be reviewing cooking and kitchen items and some other fun gadgets. Today I am excited to tell you about Everyday Homemaking and the cookbook, Everyday Cooking.

What a great little cookbook this is to have! It is jam packed with quick and easy recipes that will make you feel like your Julia Child’s, just without having to spend all day in the kitchen. We received an eBook version which retails for $14.99 and there is also a print version available for $17.99.

 

With recipe categories like appetizers & dressings, main dishes, soups & sides, grains & breads, and desserts and snacks there is plenty to cook up and try. I love that this is  perfect for using in a homeschool home economics class. Not only is there a checklist of when each recipe is made but time saving tips that are helpful to new cooks and seasoned ones as well.  Also included is a helpful menu plan to give you a start if you struggle in that area.

The Everyday Homemaking website is chock full of great encouragement tips and tidbits for homemaking and homeschoolers. There are several other books available for purchase there and you can even find a copy of Vicki’s bread recipe. I highly recommend this cookbook! We have enjoyed preparing these recipes and will definitely be purchasing more to give away to family at Christmas. It would be a great gift for a new wife, a young teen, or a homeschooling mom.  Be sure to click on the banner below and read the other reviews for Everyday Homemaking.

Company ~ Everyday Homemaking

Product ~ Everyday Cooking

Price ~ $14.99 eBook, $17.99 print copy

DISCLAIMER: I received an eBook copy of Everyday Cooking from Everyday Homemaking, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.