Jul 05

Chocolate Lasagna Recipe With Oreo Cookies

By S & J in Recipes

Chocolate Lasagna Recipe with Oreo Cookies

Hands down, this dessert is in our top 3 all time favorites. We’re sharing the chocolate lasagna recipe with oreo cookies because we truly believe everyone in the world needs to try this. There are a number of steps to take but each step is simple. And the finished product is an Oreo cream cheese orgasmic bliss! Although the ingredients make it seem as if this could be a heavy dessert, it’s quite the opposite. While it’s super light it also doesn’t disappoint in the decadent department. This Chocolate lasagna recipe with an Oreo cookie crust will be your new go-to for parties, family gatherings, holidays and more!

The video above shows all the steps you will take when making this dessert. So you can skip the reading if you’d like. On the other hand, you may want to print out the instructions… so, read on!

What You’ll Need For Chocolate Lasagna with Oreo Cookies:

Ingredients:

1 Package Oreo Cookies (36 cookies)

6 Tablespoons Melted Butter

8oz Cream Cheese (softened)

1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

2 Tablespoons Cold Milk

12oz Tub Cool Whip (divided)

2 Packages Chocolate Pudding (2 – 3.9oz packages)

3 & 1/4 Cups Cold Milk

About 1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips (more or less to your liking)

Instructions:

Lightly butter a 9.5 x 13 baking dish
Combine Oreos and melted butter in a large zip lock bag and crush Oreos with a rolling pin to medium/fine crumbs. You can also use a food processor if you’d rather.
Place crushed Oreos & butter mixture in a baking dish and press down, making a crust formation.
Cover and put in the refrigerator and move to next step.
In a medium bowl, mix softened cream cheese with beater until creamy.
Add 2 tbls of cold milk and 1/4 cup sugar.
Mix with a beater until well blended.
Add a half a tub of cool whip to cream cheese mixture and fold together.
Put this mixture on top of Oreo crust and spread evenly.
Cover and place back in the fridge.
Put 2 packages of pudding and 3 1/4 cups cold milk in mixing bowl.
Mix with a whisk until well blended and thickened slightly.
Pour pudding mixture over cream cheese mixture and spread evenly.
Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Add the rest of the Cool Whip to the top of pudding.
Top off with mini chocolate chips.

That’ all there is to it! The best Chocolate Lasagna recipe with Oreo Cookies as the crust! Have you made this one yet? Let us know in the comments what you think and if you have any variations!

Leave comment

Jul 04

How To Make Coffee At Home Without A Coffee Maker

By admin in Tips & Tricks

Can You Make Coffee Without A Coffee Maker?

Yup! And in today’s article, we’re gonna let you know you exactly how! Ahhh…. coffee. So many things to love about coffee. The taste, the smell, the “it’s always a good time for coffee” feeling. And although you may think there’s no need to know how to make coffee at home without a coffee maker, there are times you may need to do this! What if your coffee maker stops working? What if the power goes out? (which is exactly what happened to me!) There are plenty of “what ifs.”

But after reading this, you won’t need to worry about the “what ifs.” We got you covered!

How To Make Coffee At Home Without A Coffee Maker

Believe it or not, this is pretty simple. If you’re in a pinch and need your coffee fix, these simple steps will show you how to make coffee at home without a coffee maker.

The first time I needed to do this was when our house lost power, way back in how to make coffee at home without a coffee maker 2003 when the east coast went dark. Waking up in the morning, coffeeless, was not a good start to the day. We needed coffee and we needed it NOW.

If you’re anything like us, coffee is needed throughout the day. We run on coffee!

We resorted back to what my grandfather used to call “Cowboy Coffee.” This steps we show here are a modified version of cowboy coffee. It’s fewer steps but still a similar premise and great outcome.

Making Coffee Without A Coffee Maker

OK, now let’s get into how to make coffee without a coffee maker.

What You Need:

Tea Pot (Kettle)
Water
Coffee
Strainer with Coffee Filter, Paper Towel or Cheesecloth

Step 1: Boil water

Step 2: Put coffee grinds (enough for 1 cup) in a filter and then in metal strainer

Step 3: Place strainer over coffee mug

Step 4: Pour hot water over coffee grinds, slowly

Step 5: Enjoy your coffee!

You can also pour the hot water into a cup of coffee grounds and let it sit for a while and then strain with cheesecloth. You’ll get a deeper richer flavor coffee.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever had to make coffee at home without a coffee maker. Good ‘Ol Cowboy coffee. Always perfect in a pinch!

You know what goes great with coffee? Banana bread!

Jun 28

How To Make Ice Cream With A Ninja Blender – 5 Killer Recipes!

By admin in Recipes

How To Make Ice Cream With A Ninja Blender

There are a variety of ways on how to make ice cream with a Ninja blender, all depending on the flavor you’re looking for. A couple processes will use pudding as the base while most others, frozen fruit. Here we have listed a number of ice cream flavors to try, using your Ninja blender.

We are making the following recipes using the Ninja Profesional Blender (Model # NJ600) which we also reviewed here. Ninja Blender

Let’s get into those recipes! We’ll start off with a basic vanilla. Why? Because it’s basic and you can use it as a base for any other goodies you’d like to add to it now, or the next time you get around to making some.

What’s nice about vanilla is you can add things like chocolate chips or candy bars or cookies. Your imagination is your only limitation! After making the vanilla ice cream, add your favorite mix-in and give it a couple of pulses. You’re done!

Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe With A Ninja Blender:

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons whole milk, divided
1 package (3.4 ounces) vanilla instant pudding mix
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, pour 2 cups of whole milk and vanilla pudding mix. Lightly whisk the mixture using a wire whisk until it’s dissolved completely, approximately 1 minute. Be sure not overmix or the mixture will thicken making it uneasy to pour. Pour the mixture into two standard size ice cube trays, equally distributing between the two.Place the ice cube trays in the freezer and freeze for at least eight hours or overnight.

In a Ninja^® 56-ounce food-processing bowl fitted with the standard blade attachment, place all the frozen vanilla ice cubes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup plus the 2 tablespoons of whole milk and the vanilla extract. Using the crush function, process for approximately 35 seconds.

Remove the lid, carefully remove the blades, and wala! Eat up!

Peach Ice Cream Recipe With A Ninja Blender

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups frozen peach slices1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 cup 2% milk

Instructions:

Container: 40-ounce Blend & Prep Bowl

Place all ingredients into the 40-ounce Blend & Prep Bowl in the order listed.

PULSE 5 times, then select START/STOP and blend until smooth.Go ahead, embrace your inner meal prepper. We hear you, making smoothies the night before is a huge time saver. But, heads up, never store your smoothies with the blade assembly attached—active ingredients in some foods may lead to pressure buildup and possible injury. Store them with Sip & Seal Lids instead.

Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe With A Ninja Blender

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons whole milk, divided
1 package (3.4 ounces) chocolate instant pudding mix

Instructions:
Follow same directions as Vanilla Ice Cream above.

Strawberry / Banana Ice Cream Recipe With A Ninja Blender

Ingredients: strawberry banana ice cream with ninja blender

2 frozen large bananas

2 cups frozen strawberries

1 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

Add bananas, strawberries, and sugar to the blender. Blend for 45 seconds until smooth. Place in freezer for 1 – 2 hours and serve.

We hope you enjoyed the recipes we shared above. Making ice cream with a Ninja blender can be fun, easy and a much healthier option. Let us know what your favorite ice cream recipe is with your Ninja, in the comments below!

Leave comment

Mar 21

Easy Healthy Lunches On The Go

By S & J in Uncategorized

Sometimes when we’re constantly on the go, it’s easy to forget that just because it’s easier to grab a pre-packaged food, it’s usually not the healthiest option. When thinking about easy healthy lunches on the go, try to think out of the box, but not out of the lunch box 🙂

If you don’t want to bring a lunch container/bento box, consider a lunch bag that you can throw over your shoulders. They have them both for men and women. You can even get together a couple of zip lock bags and throw them in your purse or briefcase. Non-perishables, of course.

Easy Healthy Lunches On The Go

Fruits like apples, peaches, strawberries, and bananas are simple to take easy healthy lunches on the go along. Don’t over think things. The obvious snacks like nuts or dried fruit are also good options.

But you can even throw in cold grilled chicken strips into a zip lock bag. It will stay fine until lunch. Better yet, if you have access to a microwave, heat it up! If you’re in the car traveling, look into getting something you can plug into your car, to heat up food.

Yogurt is another easy healthy food to carry along.

Sliced turkey, carrots, celery all are simple healthy foods you can carry with you while on the go! And don’t forget a fruit smoothie!

There are many healthy food ideas when it comes to packing an easy lunch. Like mentioned above, try not to over think too much, and keep away from boxed and processed foods.

Something else to consider is making an extra serving of a healthy dinner the night before. This way you’ll always have something to take the next day. You also won’t have to set aside one day a week to do food prep, although, if that is something you’re interested in we think it’s a great option!

Make a sandwich on an English muffin or whole wheat wrap. Something simple like tomatoes, avocado, cottage cheese, lettuce, brown mustard, salt and pepper to taste! Add fresh chives or onion to kick it up a notch. 364 calories

Try the same sandwich above except add a hard boiled egg to it in place of cottage cheese then drizzle with olive oil in place of the mustard. It’s a whole new healthy sandwich! 385 calories

How about a whole wheat Greek Pita? Add lettuce, feta cheese, chick peas, sliced cucumber, red onion, and some greek dressing. 368 glorious calories.

We hope this has given you some really great ideas on how you can create easy and healthy lunches on the go. Let us know your favorite quick recipe for lunch in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you!

Leave comment

Buying A Lunch Box For Men Doesn’t Have To Suck!

By S & J in Mens Lunch Boxes, Product Reviews

Let’s face it. Having to buy a lunch box for a guy could really start to suck. It’s worse than having to buy shoes for women! Seriously! Believe it or not, men are very self-conscious and the last thing they need are their work buddies busting their balls during lunch break. Men want to be the ones busting, not getting busted. Getting the right lunch box for men doesn’t have to be such a struggle. Let’s tackle the important features and then the style which any guy would be happy to sport!

Sorry This Lunch Box Sucks When searching for a lunch box for men, there are certain things we need to keep in mind. First and foremost, we’re men. (insert eye roll here). We’re simple. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. In fact, I kinda like it! We don’t look to deep into things. Very straight forward thinkers. Do-ers for the most part. Not spending so much time thinking about the details.

“Is it functional?”
That’s question #1 we need to answer.

Question #2 is,
“Will it make me look wimpy?”

Ha! Am I right? Guys just don’t want to look like anything other than “just a guy.” If we have to carry something that’s going to have other men questioning us, we just ain’t havin’ it!
Lunch Box For Men

The Functions Of A Lunch Box

OK, there are several reasons we’re buying a lunch box. One reason is to save some of our hard-earned cash. We all know how expensive it starts to get when we eat out every day for lunch. Brown Paper Bag

Another reason is to keep our food neatly stored as opposed to the old brown bag days.

For those of you too young to remember, we’d pack our lunch in a brown bag. Most of it got squished, and if ever we got caught in the rain, the bag ended up getting wet and disintegrating right in our hands.

The functionality of the brown paper bag was to last long enough to get us to lunch time. Waiting was a warm sandwich with warm mayo and a warm drink to wash all the warmness down. Fantastic.
(I see another eye-roll coming)

But today the functions have stepped up their games. We want our food in one piece and we want our drinks cold and our mayo fresh. All the while, without being made fun of for carrying a wuss lunch box. So we’re looking for 3 things now.

Durability
Something That Will Keep Food Fresh
Something Cool / Hip or Inconspicuous

So, Vicki and I looked at a lot of boxes and bags for men’s lunch. We took a trip to a couple stores and then into our Mall to take a look at some good looking man boxes! We touched, opened, tugged and pulled at em. We took note of the ones I really liked and felt were durable.

We then got home and went to Google and searched these lunch boxes and bags we had found earlier, to find some reviews from different sources.

Finally, according to hundreds of reviews we went through, we junked the boxes that didn’t meet our durability standards and other factors such as keeping food cold, ease of cleaning, etc.

The list below is what we came up with after gathering our own information along with online reviews from across the web. We think any man would be proud using any one of these lunch boxes. All of them are man tough, wife approved!

Lunch Box For Men With Different Lifestyles

The Stanley Heritage Cooler/Bottle Combo

If you’re looking for a lunch box for men in construction, this is the go-to box. Durable enough to hold up on any job site and plenty of room inside to hold your food. The cooler will keep your food cold all day while the bottle keeps cold or warm for 24 hours. The inside is compartmentalized keeping foods/drinks separate and from bouncing around.

Locking handle holds Stanley Classic 1.1qt Bottle in place
Vacuum insulated thermos bottle keeps drinks hot 24 hours, cold 24 hours or iced 120 hours
18/8 stainless steel won’t rust-naturally BPA free
Leak proof and fully packable
Lifetime Warranty

Fit & Fresh Men’s Big Phil Lunch Bag with Containers

We really liked this one for construction use as well, as I personally know roofers and drywall hangers who have this bag. Although it could definitly be used for something other than for construction sites. The point is, it will stand up to a lot of wear and tear. The containers it comes with are stackable within each other. Oh, and did we mention it’s insulated? It’s a great bag and only a man would carry something like this.

Men’s lunch bag kit with Lunch on the Go Container Set with ice pack
Bag measures 10.5″ wide by 7″ deep and 9.5″ tall
Thick insulation keeps food cool and fresh and gray PEVA lining is easy to clean and PVC free
(2) 1 cup containers with lid, (1) 8 cup container with lid and removable non-toxic ice pack that fits into the lid or suspends in middle of container
Containers are BPA free, dishwasher safe and microwave safe

Fit & Fresh Men’s Classic Roll Top Insulated Lunch Bag

OK, remember how above I was making fun of the whole brown paper bag thingy? Well, here’s a take on the classic, except when this one gets wet, it doesn’t fall apart. Absolutely perfect lunch bag for the office! Plenty of room for a large sandwich, snacks, drink and Ice pack. Insulated to keep that food fresh.

Men’s, reusable, insulated lunch tote with adjustable buckle closure and non-toxic ice pack
Waxed canvas body and faux leather trim and strap
Interior mesh pocket perfect for ice packs, utensils, or keys
Extra thick insulation keeps food cool and fresh and grey PEVA lining is easy to clean and PVC free
Bag measures 7.5″ x 9.5″ x 5.5″ (13″ tall when unrolled, 9-10″ tall when rolled)

The Silver Back Extra Large Lunch Bag

Don’t let the image deceive you. This bag is BIG. This can hold any guys lunch and then some. It’s a discrete looking bag that’s insulated to keep your foods warm or cold and it’s easy to clean. No worries about looking like you’re carrying around a bulky lunch box, instead, it’s a simple over the shoulder bag or you can carry it by the handles. Perfect for carrying around the city!

INSULATING – WARM OR COOL
BUILT TO LAST
STYLISH AND DISCREET
EASY TO STORE & CLEAN
SUPER SIZED

Well there you have it! Four great finds in the search for the perfect lunch box for men! Are you a man? Let us know what kind of lunch box you’re using! Have a man in your life? Think he’d go for any of the above choises? Share your comments and questions below! We’d love to hear from you!

Looking for a lunch bag for the lady in your life?
Check out our Vera Bradley Lunch Bunch Review!

Feb 29

The Benefits Of Drinking Honey Water

By S & J in Tips & Tricks

The benefits of drinking honey water go far beyond what you may be thinking. We all know how important water is. And we’ve most likely seen articles about drinking lemon water. But when it comes to honey water, there are benefits that can and will help in many different areas.

Let’s take a look at just some of the wonderful things drinking honey water can do for us!

The Benefits Of Drinking Honey Water

Kills Bacteria
Keep your immune system in tip-top shape. Honey is loaded with enzymes, minerals, and vitamins that will help back off that icky bacteria!
Loose Weight
Say what now? Yup! Drinking honey water in place of your sugary drinks like soda and juice will replace 64% more calories! Now that’s something we can all get down with 😛
Fend Off Heart Disease
The flavonoids and anti-oxidants running through honey is known to cut down on heart disease. Honey is also known to slow down the oxidation process in bad cholesterol. This helps lead to less heart attacks and strokes.
Allergy No More!
Did you know if you have allergies that you should buy a honey which is locally farmed? That’s because by consuming local honey, your body will become immune to the local allergies in your town, such as the pollens. Start drinking honey water, and within a few weeks, you’ll start seeing a difference in your daily allergies.
Wake Up with Honey Water
Stop the yawning! It’s the combination of water and honey which makes this ‘pick-me-up’ a perfect duo. Studies have shown just mild dehydration will cause sluggishness and drowsiness. Adding some more water into your day is always a good idea. Now, top that with the natural sugars found in honey along with the carbohydrates and we’re pulling an all-nighter! OK, maybe a slight exaggeration, but you get the point. Honey and water do the trick to keep those eyes open a little longer.
Sore Throat Soother
Honey has been soothing the sore throat for decades! Honey will coat the throat and give it a bit more lubricant and keep it from feeling so scratchy. The warm water will add a soothing effect. This combo will also help reduce a cough that’s often found alongside the sore throat. And coughing only adds to the soreness. Drink up!
Detox Your Body
Did you know honey will help detox your body? It sure will. Honey is a great way to keep you regular and it help expel all those nasty toxins we have flowing through our bodies. Toxins lead to disease. So drinking honey water to help move them along, is certainly a great idea.
Did You Hear That?
Speaking of keeping regular, honey water will also help with gas. Yup, good old noisy gas. Drink a glass of warm honey water and let that honey neutralize the gas and have that uncomfortable feeling in your gut, disappear.
So there you have it. Just some things honey can start helping you with. Have a glass first thing when you wake up, or right before bed. And here are just a few more things honey water can help with!
Cancer Fighting
Yeast Infections
Hangover Cure
Great for Skin
Helps Kill Bad Breath
Mosquito Bite Relief

What are some of the benefits of drinking honey water you could use to help you? Let us know in the comments below!

Leave comment

Feb 26

What Is A Bento Lunch Box?

By S & J in Bento Box

A common question that comes up when it comes to lunch boxes is, what is a Bento lunch box?

A Bento box is a container that is used for carrying home-packed or takeout meals and is mainly common within the Japanese cuisine sector (Ashkenazi & Jacob, 2001).

The box which is in the shape of a container mainly holds fish, meat, cooked vegetables or rice. The traditional bento boxes are hand crafted while others especially the modern types which are made of materials such as plastic are easily disposable.

Here’s what we’ll cover today.

Origins of the Bento Box
Who Used The Bento Box
What is a Bento Lunch Box Used For
What Bentos Were Made from in the Past and Today
Bento Box Designs
The Benefits of the Bento Lunch Box

Origins Of The Bento Box

The origin of bento box can be traced back to the 8th century when the Japanese started to carry dried rice also known as “onigiri” in bags. In reality, it originated from SongDynasty culture when they used the box as a way of convenience to carry food.

However, with time, they began to make wooden boxes which they used to hold meals that could be served during special occasions like tea ceremonies and cherry parties. In 1603-1868 when Japanese culture greatly flourished and was considered sophisticated, bento boxes known as Makunouchi became common in shows and comprised of grilled fish, “ta goya ki,” a cooked vegetable, and rice.

In 1603-1868 when Japanese culture greatly flourished and was considered sophisticated, bento boxes known as Makunouchi became common in shows and comprised of grilled fish, “ta goya ki,” a cooked vegetable, and rice.

It is important to note that with time, bento boxes evolved from being made of a wooden material to plastic materials that could be washed or disposed of.

Who Used The Bento Box?

During the 17th century, Bento Box was being used by villagers during parties and ceremonies since it was a convenient way to keep cooked food before the time for eating.

Travelers and sightseers were also known to use bento box which mainly consisted of “onigiri” that was wrapped in bamboo leaves. At times, they wove the bamboo into a box to easily carry their food (Ashkenazi & Jacob, 2001).

Those people who were working outdoors in mountains, fishing boats, in the fields or within town region used bento box to carry their meals. This is because they were not able to go back home for lunch meals.

These people mainly carried potatoes, rice, and millet in their bento boxes based on their region. In the 18th Century, Bento Box began to be used in schools especially in those that never offered lunch to students where students and their teachers began to carry bento to school (Kids Web Japan, 2013).

During this period, cases of disparity in wealth greatly influenced the way in which bento box was used. The wealthy children mainly used aluminum bento box and carried adequate diet compared to the poor children who carried clumsy food.

What Is A Bento Lunch Box Used For

To answer the question to what is a Bento lunch box, we really just need to know what it’s used for.

Today, Bento Box is common in Japanese restaurants whereby they are used to serve the customers the traditional Japanese foods known as “kaiseki ryori.” The aim of the restaurants using the Bento Box is to serve compact meals to individuals instead of carrying their food from home.

However, it is important to note that bento carries useful modern and traditional ideas such as the variety of flavor, colors, textures, and food groups within the small container.

On the other hand, bento lunch boxes are also used by workers mainly as packed lunch. The practice is also common among school going children, particularly elementary students whose parents pack them food for lunch in the bento box (Kids Web Japan, n.d).

It is also used by families during their day trips as well as students when they go out on picnics or during sports day. The food is packed tightly to ensure compactness.

The box is made in a way that looks appetizing whenever it is opened. It is also important to put into consideration the hours a food can last before packing it in a Bento Box. For instance, airports also use the bento version which they fill with various local cuisines that are consumed by those on board.

What Bentos were made from in the past and today

In the past, bento box was mainly made of bamboo leaves which were woven into a bamboo box. However, in the 19th century, the Japanese people began to use expensive wood to make the bento box.

Later metal boxes were also used in bento shops, but these were disposable and inexpensive boxes (Japanese Style, n.d).

Today, designers have come up with a wide variety of techniques of making bento boxes to suit the needs of the customer. They are made of different materials such as wood, metals, plastic and anodized aluminum.

Bento Box Designs

Most of the bento boxes today are watertight vessels enabling the users to carry liquid content. In addition, the containers have the potential to keep the food warm.

These boxes are in various shapes ranging from oval, circular or rectangular. It is also important to note that designers of the bento boxes decorate using various characters especially those meant for school going, children. For instance, Hello Kitty is the most common designs in the market (Kids Web Japan, 2013).

The Benefits of Bento Lunch Box

Bento boxes enable people to carry small portions of different foods. This implies that a person can pack a healthier diet using their bento box instead of just packing one type of food.

For instance, bento boxes make it possible for people to pack carbohydrates, fruits, and protein at once without having to use several containers. Bento box is also convenient since it is easy to carry, thus allowing people to eat whatever they want at any time or place.

They are also economical since people can carry healthier food in small quantity. Thus, a person eats less and spends less.

Lastly, Bento boxes exist in different materials, shapes, themes, styles and colors, making it possible for people choose whichever they like.

For instance, the children can choose those with animal shapes on and adult men can choose stainless steel Bento box types while women can go for flowery or designer themes or carry them inside a bag such as Vera Bradley Lunch Bags. That link will bring you to our review. This way, bento boxes fit into various consumer’s needs, regardless of preference.

What do you think? What is a Bento lunch box doing for you and your family? Is it something you use or would consider using? Let us know in the comments below!

6 comments

Feb 23

How To Make Homemade Butterscotch Candy – The Old School Way

By S & J in Recipes

February 15th was National “I Want Butterscotch Day.” Never heard of it? Well, to be honest, neither did we. But since we’ve discovered it, and we love butterscotch, we thought we’d give it a try and make our own and share it in this post about how to make homemade butterscotch candy.

It also sparked an idea for us here at Box Your Lunch. We’re going to start using these “National Days” for upcoming posts. We thought it would be a lot of fun, discovering new ‘days’ we never heard of while also talking about more popular ones like St. Patrick’s or Christmas. Anywho,

Anywho, let’s get to talking about this candy we’re about to share with you. The recipe below is the traditional way of making butterscotch candy. It’s not what you find in a little golden wrapper at your local candy shop. Nope! This is something special 🙂

The Story Of Butterscotch Candy

The story of butterscotch is told of a British gentleman, a confectioner, took a trip to Italy only to find that Italians made sweets way better than the sweets found in England. Although unhappy with his discovery, it inspired him to set out and create something better! The butterscotch candy was born. Interested in more about this cand? Visit wikipedia for more on butterscotch.

How To Make Homemade Butterscotch Candy

Here you will find a recipe by Liverpool Mercury from February 1st, 1848. Imagine eating something that goes that far back. Imagine the reaction of people who would try a candy like butterscotch for the very first time! This is what you’ll need

1 pound granulated sugar
1 pound unsalted butter
4 oz Grandmas molasses

(4oz is by using a scale! Not by size of jar. There is a big difference! Precise measurements below)

10-14 grams fine sea salt, or to taste (about 2-2½ teaspoons)

**Grandmas molasses** : ¼ cup + 1 Tablespoon + 2 teaspoons.

We recommend grandmas brand molasses for the proper taste. Other types may turn your candy dark and be overpowered by the molasses taste. If you use a stronger tasting molasses, be sure to cut back on how much is used. That will all be dependent upon your taste. Here we go!

Line the bottom of an 8″ or 9″ baking dish with a nonstick foil or parchment paper. Make sure the foil go up and over opposite sides of the pan. The other sides will remain uncovered, and that’s just fine.
Spray the entire pan generously with cooking spray, especially the unlined sides. While you have that ready, move on to step 3
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over a medium-low heat.
When butter is melted start to add sugar, molasses, and salt.
When you have a good ‘wet’ consistency, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring it to a boil. Continue to stir.
Cook until the temperature of the candy reaches 250ºF and then pour into your foil lined pan.
Let it sit for about 15 -20 minutes or until not quite cooled, and then score the candy to make it easier to cut later. Run a thin spatula between the edges of pan and butterscotch, and put it in the fridge to firm it up completely.

You may now dump it onto a cutting board, but make sure you grease the board. This stuff is sticky! mmmmmm so good! Go ahead and cut them into fun shapes or simple squares. You’ll have up to 80 pieces of butterscotch candy depending on the size you cut. Refrigerate to store. Or you can make large batches and vacuum seal them and freeze for over a year!

This is very simple. We really hope you give it a try! Do you have your own recipe on how to make homeade butterscotch candy? Please share it in the comments below! And if you try this recipe, let us know what you think! Don’t forget to share this with your favorite social networks 🙂

Leave comment

Feb 20

Mom’s Pasta Sauce – Killer.

By S & J in Uncategorized

Hello world!

Leave comment

Feb 16

The Best Vacuum Sealers For Food Storage – Our Top 5 Picks!

By S & J in Product Reviews

Food storage is a big deal. Especially if you’re the type who preps meals weeks or even a month in advance. Yes, some folks prep meals for an entire month. And if you’re one of those people, your going to need something to keep that food fresh, in your freezer. The best vacuum sealers for food storage have similar qualities. One being, durability. You’re going to want this piece of equipment to last, in order to keep up with all that food prep! 🙂

There are many reasons to want and use a vacuum sealer. Save time and money! That’s a big reason we love them. You can buy food items on sale, freeze them in your food sealer, and you’re good to go!

You can prepare entire meals, days or even weeks or months in advance. Save the leftovers, and reseal foods such as ones that come in plastic, back in their original package. And let’s not forget about liquids! Go ahead, save that soup! Vacuum Sealers will eliminate freezer burn, reduce spoilage and a whole lot of wasted food.

And you can even seal nonfood items! Have important documents like a passport you’re afraid may get wet? Seal it! A newspaper with your team winning the World Series? Seal it!

Now that we’ve touched on just some of the things vacuum sealers can do for us, let’s get right into it! At the bottom of this page, we’ve left a comparison table for you to view them side by side.

The Best Vacuum Sealers For Food Storage – Top 5

#5 Nesco Food Vacuum Sealer

The Nesco VS-02 vacuum sealer is our number 5 pick for a few reasons. Not only is it a great machine, but it’s also the least expensive of all the models we’re talking about today. But don’t let the low cost fool you. This machine can do all the grunt work you’re looking for.

The Vacuum:

This vacuum sealer has a cylinder pump which avoids over vacuuming and crushing foods like chips and cereal. Cool! It’s an all in one, one press operation with an automatic stop. What could be easier? You can also adjust the vacuum pressure manually to your liking. There is also a hose and hose port for use of jar sealing.

Size:

It’s not necessarily a small machine, even though it looks like it might be, in the picture, measuring 11.81 inches x 18.31 inches x 5.06 inches – It comes in weighing at just under 7.5lbs. It’s smaller than some of the models we are reviewing today, although a little on the heavier side by a pound or 2.

Bags:

A roller storage includes a bag cutter for convenience.This sealer comes with 2 rolls 8.66″ X 9.8′ bag material, 5 pieces of 8.66″ X 11.8″ bags and 5 pieces of 11.0″ X 11.8″ bags.

The bags are microwave safe, but it does not specify if they are BPA free. You can use other bags which do specify BPA free such as FoodSaver bags.

What We Wished: The trickle plate is not removable for cleaning.

It’s a good looking unit as well, in black and silver which should blend with just about any kitchen. Thumbs up for us!

#4 FoodSaver V2244 Vacuum Sealer
FoodSaver Food Vacuum Sealer The FoodSaver V2244 is our next pick. This is a GREAT machine. And the price is just so right! Coming in just under 80 bucks, this is a fantastic vacuum sealer for all your food needs. With a removable drip tray, unlike the Nesco, which makes cleaning up, that much easier.

The Vacuum:

The vacuum performs beautifully, with a heartbeat pulse, giving you the opportunity to seal in things such as crackers, cereal, and all other easily breakable types of food, all without crushing them. The FoodSaver V2244 boast in keeping food fresh 5X longer than simply storing food in a Zip-Lock That’s a long time. So if you’re keeping beef stored in your freezer for 6 months, FoodSaver will keep it for 2-3 years! That’s impressive 🙂

Size:

Slightly smaller than the Nesco we reviewed above, at 17.72 inches x 5.91 inches x 10.64 inches. This also weighs a mere 5.8lbs.

Bags:

This unit comes with 1 FoodSaver Heat-Seal Roll 11 in. x 10 ft.,
3 FoodSaver Heat-Seal Pre-Cut Quart-Size Bags
2 FoodSaver Heat-Seal Pre-Cut Gallon-Size Bags
The bags are microwave safe, and BPA free

What We Wished:

The buttons on top of the unit have words written on them. They’re not labels, and after just a few uses/cleanings, they start to fade and disappear. Sort of annoying, and we think they could have done a better job with this. But overall, this is a great product for the price.

#3 FoodSaver 4840 2 in 1

This is a fantastic model. Another one from FoodSaver. A bit more expensive than the two others we reviewed, but for very good reason. You get a lot with this vacuum sealer unit. To start with, it has a built-in retractable handheld sealer, which seals zip-lock bags, canisters, containers, and jars! This alone is worth the bump in price. Also a pull out drip tray for easy dishwasher cleaning. Another super feature is the convenient roll storage and cutter. No need for scissors! Here a some more things that come along with this model.

Vacuum:

As we mentioned above, the retractable handheld sealer. Cool. Also allows you to seal things such as chips and cereals, along with liquids. It has a moist/dry food setting for optimal sealing. You’ll love the strong powerful vacuum. Another awesome perk to this unit is the automatic seal. Just place the bag in the sealer and it begins to seal. No buttons needed!

Size:

12 inches x 11 inches x 20 inches Slightly long and tall, so you’ll need counter space for this model. But if you have the room, we highly recommend it.

Bags:

Comes with a starter pack, which includes:

(1) 11″x10′ Roll

(3) Qt Heat-Seal Bags

(2) Gal Heat-Seal Bags

(3) Qt Zipper Bags

(2) Gal Zipper Bags

What We Wished:

The automatic sealer won’t always recognize when the bag is placed to be sealed. This could get frustrating at times, needing 3 or 4 tries before it works. Thinking this is an easy fix, and FoodSaver should have done a better job.

Overall, this is a wonderful product.

#2 Weston Pro-2300 Vacuum Sealer

Oh yeah! The Weston Pro 2300 Vacuum Sealer. This one is for the big boys (and girls)! There’s just no messin’ around’ with this unit. It’s truly commercial grade and really blows everything else out of the water. The price tag will reflect that as well. But if you really want to step up your game with your food storage, this is the vacuum sealer you’re looking for. Here are just a few great features.

Tested for safety and health
Countertop vacuum sealer keeps food fresh 5 to 6 times longer
Auto mode for one-touch operation or manual mode for a custom seal
LED lights; extra-large Teflon bar can seal bags up to 15 inches wide
Double-piston vacuum pump; transparent lid; fan-cooled motor; cord storage

This is the largest sealer in the industry. This unit can seal just about anything from game meats to documents, coffee beans to coins. You name it, it seals it. Check out the power of this machine and all the great amenities that others lack.

- Powerful, double piston pump seal bar finishes the job fast.
- Pump draws up to 28′ Hg vacuum strength
- With 935 watts (120 volts, 60 Hz) of power
- Extra wide, 5mm seal bar creates a solid, dependable seal every time. Even seals through moisture
- Extra-long 15″ (38 cm) seal bar means you can seal a variety of vacuum sealer bags, up to 15″ across
- Fan cooled motor designed specifically for continuous, repetitive use without overheating

: Beef / Chicken

: Cold Cuts

: Nuts / Chips / Dried Fruit

This unit is much quieter than the FoodSaver. It also has much less waste of the bagging material than the FoodSaver as well. Add to that, the bagging material is actually less expensive than the FoodSaver as well. A lot of pluses to this unit. Super high quality and sucking power that out does any other model on this top 5 list. It’s hands down, a pro.

Size:

It’s bigger than the others, as well as heavier. But its built that way for a reason. High-quality construction. 15.3 x 23 x 9 inches ; 14.4 pounds

What We Wished:

This unit doesn’t come with a built-in bag cutter. That’s a bummer. For the price you pay for this unit, it should have been a no-brainer. But we can’t let that issue stop us from putting this in spot #2 out of the 5.

#1 Vacmaster VP210 Vacuum Food Sealer

OK, so this one may not be for everyone, but we wanted to give a good range for you all to choose from. If you thought the Weston Pro was badass, then take a step back and look at this one! What makes this special and different from the others, is that it’s really perfect for the liquids. That’s why the other units have drip pans. Because when sealing liquids, air is vacuumed out, inevitably pulling some liquid with it. Also compromising the seal. But you won’t have to worry about that with the Vacmaster.

When sealing bags with the Vacmaster, you place the bags inside the unit. When air is vacuumed out, it not only vacuums the air out of the bag but out of the unit itself, keeping the air pressure even, eliminating liquid from escaping. The chamber reaches a higher level of vacuum. Most other vacuum sealers reach 24-26 hg level of vacuum while the Vacmaster chamber machines are able to obtain a 27-29 hg level of vacuum.

But it’s not just liquids. We’ve seen entire chickens sealed up in this chamber.

Size:

Its big. Bigger than the others we’ve recommended. Measuring 24 x 19 x 19 inches; and weighing in at a whopping 83 pounds! This is for the serious family!

I hope this has given you a better look at what we believe are the best vacuum sealers for food storage. Some will do just what you need while others can handle daily heavy use. Please comment, share or let us know what you think below! We’d love to hear from you 🙂

7 comments