I purchased a Deni Magic Vacuum Food Saver, many years ago, when it was first introduced. It continues to be a popular model, even today. If you don’t have the budget to invest in a more expensive vacuum sealer, I hope you will consider the Deni. Unless you will be freezing and storing TONS of things, it should do the trick.

Groceries aren’t getting any cheaper. Because of this, throwing leftovers away just isn’t an option for most families… at least not mine. That’s where a vacuum food saver comes to the rescue.

Buying food bulk can save you a great deal of money. When you package that food in sealer bags, it can stay fresh up to five times longer depending on the specific product. It’s really a win-win situation.

The Deni Magic Vacuum Food Saver is fully automatic. The base is removable, for easy cleaning. It’s capable of packaging things in bags, canisters, jars and bottles. The compact size makes it perfect for smaller kitchens or RV’s.

Speaking of RV’s or better yet camping, sealing items like matches, flashlights, towels and even clothing is advisable. You know what they say, ‘better safe than sorry’.

It’s also good for storing keepsakes like photos, comic books, post cards, etc.

Cookie Jar Collectibles continue to be a popular choice among collectors of all ages. I am the proud owner of a Little Red Riding Cookie Jar that belonged to my grandma. It is one of my most prized possessions.

If I had more room, I would definitely add to my collection of one. There are SO many adorable cookie jars out there, just waiting for a new home.

If you are interested in cookie jar collectibles, I suggest that you invest in a copy of The Ultimate Collector’s Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars. Written by Fred and Joyce Roerig, this frequently updated guide will teach you everything you need to know about collecting cookie jars.

What I think is so helpful, about a guide such as this one, is that it features over 1,200 photographs that will help you easily identify valuable finds. Cookie jar manufacturers include Hull, Disney, Metlox, McCoy, Shawnee and many more.

The book would make a wonderful gift, for anyone who is already into cookie jar collectibles, as well.

Please be sure to take an extra minute to read my previous post about these handbag cookie jars. I can almost guarantee that you’ll want to buy them both.

If you are a maple lover, like I am, I encourage you to try Brown Family Farm Pure Maple Syrup. They produce a wide variety of other yummy maple flavored products, as well.

The farm is located in Brattleboro, Vermont. I’ve passed through the area several times and can attest to the fact that it’s a beautiful place to visit.

This Vermont maple syrup gets rave reviews. Its dark amber color and excellent taste makes it the best of the best. If you take the time to do a bit of online comparison shopping, I think you’ll agree that the price is VERY affordable to boot.

The Brown family also makes maple candy (YUM!), pancake mixes, grilling sauces, roasting sauces and crepe mixes. All products are made in small batches to ensure the best taste possible.

There is nothing that compares to the quality of pure Vermont maple syrup. It can be used in SO many recipes… remember, it really isn’t just for pancakes anymore.

If you’d like to try your hand at making your own homemade maple syrup, I previously posted this recipe to help get you started. It won’t totally live up to Brown Family Farm products, but you’ll have the satisfaction of making it yourself. Bon Appetite!

Infrared ovens are a convenient, money saving, way to prepare all kinds of dishes. Not only that that, your food will be done much faster than if you had used a traditional oven. Here are just a few tips to help you get the most out of your Nuwave or similar infrared oven.

Depending on the recipe, you can cook your food right on the liner pan or rack. You can also use any cooking vessel you use in your regular oven. If you are baking cookies or rolls, it’s best to use a dark metal pan.

When cooking meat, anything greater than one inch thick should be turned halfway through its baking time to ensure the most even browning. All meat, poultry and seafood can go right from the freezer, into the oven.

Since most infrared ovens come with a one inch high and four inch high rack, you can ‘stack’ foods to make a complete meal, in one cooking session. As a basic rule, it is best to choose recipes that cook in the same amount of time. This will avoid over or under baking.

Convenience foods should be cooked on HI and typically take 25% less time to cook than baking instructions indicate.

I hope you take a minute to read my original post on infrared ovens. You’ll wonder how you ever survived without one!

The Keurig Mini One Cup Coffee Maker is an excellent choice for those who have been cursed with a small kitchen. It doesn’t feature a lot of bells and whistles, but for the price you simply can’t beat it.

This little brewer guides you through the entire process of making a yummy beverage (coffee, tea or hot cocoa) in one to three minutes. There is absolutely NO guesswork involved. How cool is that?

It is interesting to note that this one cup coffee maker won’t work if you are using a see through cup. As a safety feature, the unit won’t begin the brewing cycle if the LED sensor doesn’t ‘see’ a cup sitting on the drip tray.

The Keurig mini is perfect for the office, RV or dorm room. Since the water fill area will only hold 8 ounces of water, at a time, you will always be privy to the freshest cup of coffee possible. Clean up is a breeze… there virtually isn’t any.

I highly recommend that you consider the purchase of the Keurig one cup coffee maker. It gets great reviews and is less expensive than the full featured models.

If you have a hankering for espresso, I invite you to read my post about the Delonghi EC5 Espresso Maker, as well.

As a writer, I don’t get a lot of exercise. As a result, I’ve needed to lose a few pounds, for what seems like forever, but have always had difficulty doing so. I’ll be the first to admit that part of my problem is that I drink too much soda and not enough water. SO, here is my plan…

I’m going to limit myself to one SMALL glass of cola, per day, replacing it with Crystal Light Drink Mix on the Go. Honestly, I really think I could learn to love the stuff… especially at less than 15 calories, per 20 ounce (bottle of water) serving.

Crystal Light on the Go comes in a wide variety of tempting flavors. They include: Cherry Pomegranate, Fruit Punch, White Tea Blueberry, Orange Sunrise, Pink Lemonade, Green Tea Honey, Raspberry Ice and many more.

These On the Go Sticks are more than convenient. Easy to take to work or even on vacation. Just add one stick to a 20 bottle of water and shake to dissolve. That’s all there is to it!

Crystal Light drink mix products are sugar free, low calorie, Kosher certified and contain no carbs, whatsoever. I’m hoping it will be the first step to a healthier me!