Reviews by houdiniphile

houdiniphile says "Cook with pressure, not with fear" about Deni 5qt Electric Pressure Cooker

houdiniphile — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:22:17 GMT

The Deni electric pressure cooker takes up very little space yet it sits independently from the stove.. For most people, the most intimidating part of pressure cooking might be moving the full pot from the stove and removing the lid, all while the pot and contets are quit hot! The Deni electric pressure cooker from Sears takes all the guesswork out of pressure cooking. The digital settings let you follow a recipe book with pounds of pressure OR you can simply key in your main ingredient! imagine chicken falling off the bone, beans in minutes and not hours. They really hit the spot with a nonstick, easy-to-clean insert. Very little water is required. You can cook tender cheap cuts of meat without added fat. Beans are cheap, heart healthy, full of fiber, and previously, tedious to cook. ow, with the Deni, it takes only a few minutes. If you could take this thing back in time, people would give you tons of money for it!...

houdiniphile says "Do you like babysitting?" about Apothecus VCF Vaginal Contraceptive Foam, 0.6 oz (17 g)

houdiniphile — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:03:25 GMT

Apothecus VCF Vaginal Contraceptive Foam is pleasant and easy to use. It sounds like a smart over the counter barrier protection. It does not seem to impair conception at all but you will find it next to the pregnancy tests, which you may want to purchase a month or two after trying this product. The statistics given on the label are very optimistic. but personal experience of myself and several friends who have used OTC methods begs to differ. It is better than nothing, and does not produce allergies very often. But I really recommend someone considering this to remember that KMart pharmacies offer more effective options if you see a doctor first. One of the ingredients has been clinically shown to reduce disease risk for both partners, but I am not making medical claims here. Use this as an emergency measure or as a personal lubricant NOT as a long term contraceptive....

houdiniphile says "great for parties, BUT . . . " about Pampa Stuffed Olives, 5 oz (140 g)

houdiniphile — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:48:52 GMT

First, I'd like to say I am a big fan of Pampa food products from KMart. You can get fantastic items, a great variety, and small packages for a humble dollar. It is hard to say much about stuffed olives, except they belong in potato salad, on pizzas, and they press a lot of flavor in a tiny morsel. If you want something to have the flavor of olive oil, finely dice, and then even crush the olive with the back of the knife (as you would with garlic). Then add it to hot oil for a few seconds and you get a more olive oil flavor. Pampa products have been fresh and in date every time I have purchased them, BUT. . . I recommend you use *all* of the olives in one shot. Once the jar is opened, the flavor goes off pretty quickly. These are a great size, with bright red pimentos, and will liven up any dish....

houdiniphile says "Can be assembled indoors" about Bravo 12' Trampoline and Enclosure

houdiniphile — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:07:39 GMT

The Bravo 12' trampoline occupies a strange place in my household. More about that later. I bought one last year. It comes with the safety enclosure in the box, which takes up a lot of space. The rails are really easy to put together- I did that by myself. Stretching the springs onto the frame takes a little strength so I recommend getting help then.

I would give it 5 stars if the padding was not so terribly inferior. They could skip the enclosure and improve the padding. My Bravo trampoline is set up indoors. I have slept on airbeds for years and they collapse 100% of the time, usually from body heat transfer. The trampoline does not collapse, and yields all the benefits of an airbed. I know someone with a spinal injury who sleeps on a smaller one as well, and can transfer herself in and out of bed more easily.

I rarely ever have anyone in my home, but I was once asked how we got it inside. I told her I used a shrink ray and then expanded it again . Don't you know they come in a box...

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houdiniphile says "Stock up on pickles and snacks at KMart!" about Sweet Gherkins Pickles - 16 Fluid Ounce Jar

houdiniphile — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:07:39 GMT

Pampa sweet gherkins are a fantastic buy at just $1. The jar size is perfect, and will not spoil, as it might if you buy from a warehouse club. Sweet gherkins are the most expensive pickle in your grocery store, but not at KMart.

You can get one each of the dill chips, gherkins, bread and butter, AND relish for about the same price of just one jar of talking pelican name brand pickles![

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houdiniphile says "Make your own in internet TV!" about Alphaline - 10ft HDMI Flat Cable

houdiniphile — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:07:38 GMT

The Alphaline 10' flat hdmi cord is now an indispensible tool in our household. For under $30, you can upgrade your gaming without buying any system at all! Just plug, set your input on the remote control, and play! Nothing like monster fighting at life size, for a really tame price! And email is easier to read, too.

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houdiniphile says "Beats leading brands and generic" about Smart Sense Paper Towels, Regular Rolls, 2-Ply, 8 rolls

houdiniphile — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:07:38 GMT

Smart Sense paper towels are a good investment for your home. There is a lot of focus on recycling, but these clean up small to medium messes without having to be washed like sponges.

I have tried the brand with the smiling lumberjack, the pretty patterns, and the cheap dollar store towels. These give you the value and they're still strong! I agree with other reviews that select a size would be awesome, but this is by far my favorite paper towel, and it saves me a trip to *********.

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houdiniphile says "Why wear anything else?" about Joe Boxer Women's intimate Cotton Spandex String Bikini

houdiniphile — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:07:38 GMT

Joe Boxer string bikini comes in cotton or satin. They are so much better fitting than the plus size stores, and for the money saved you could buy a whole outfit, to boot!

I first started wearing these after surgery and now I will never buy underwear from another store, not when there's an old friend, Joe Boxer, that I can count on.

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houdiniphile says "I used to wear them" about Chic Women's Pull-On Jeans

houdiniphile — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:34:56 GMT

Chic women's pull on jeans have been a diet staple for a long time. I used to wear them. The fit is not as good as it used to be. The comfort is not there, unless you like things boxy. I liked the colors of black, khaki, and blue, that were offered. There is even a new checked color that looks good on the rack, until you try them on. The fit will be puffy in the tummy and I always found the center seams wore thin before the outer leg seams, making the pants unwearable a little early. I still love elastic pants but the KMart brands are so much better. If you wear jeans, then go ahead and invest in the well fitting great selection at KMart. For comfort, I would really go with sweats or knit pull ons instead....

houdiniphile says "Cover the Basics!" about Basic Editions Women's Knit Pull On Pants

houdiniphile — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:34:55 GMT

Basic Editions has become a favorite brand in our home lately. Basic Editions women's knit pull on pants were recommended to me by a good friend and a KMart manager. They kept telling me that "friends don't let friends wear mom jeans". If you want to feel like you're wearing pajamas but look like a million bucks, these pants are a perfect fit! Knit pull ons come in a lot of colors, but black is my favorite. They can be paired with dressy tops for a really sophisticated look, and the lengths are perfect. I couldn't resist getting a half dozen of these. I am still experimenting with clothes at my smaller size and if I lose a pound or two, the pants still fit perfectly wash after wash. The color stays fast, and never fades....

houdiniphile says "Gets the job done, even in a low oven!" about Essential Home 10 Piece Soft Grip Aluminum Cookware Set

houdiniphile — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:18:46 GMT

The Essential Home Softgrip Aluminum cookware set is a great choice for first apartments, extra holiday cookware, or that sudden despicable peeling of nonstick that I call a "teflon emergency".

These are lightweight, dishwasher safe, and the handles are not only ergonomic, but they stay cool on the stove top. We care for ours by handwashing because It will last longer, and are careful never to use a metal tool or rough cleaning surface.

Essential Home set comes with all you need to get started, a fry pan, saucepans, and a large pot for pasta and soup, even two nylon tools to get you started!

Read the instructions before your first use and these will last you many years of happy times in the kitchen, as silly as it sounds. There are oven rules, and this photo is of a home made pie baked entirely IN the large frypan! Follow the temperature guidelines to safely get results like I did. Studies show that men love the smell of pumpkin or peach pie, vanilla, and berries!

Can you believe all this...

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houdiniphile says "good for average kitchen jobs." about Euro-Pro Ninja Master Prep

houdiniphile — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 01:37:35 GMT

The Euro-Pro Ninja Master Prep has been a welcome addition to the kitchen. It solves a major problem presented by conventional food processors and infomercial blenders. For example: shredding potatoes. With a food processor you must load potato halves, or quarters into the hopper on top one at a time! With the bullet shaped blender, only the bottom portion of the potato will be shredded and you have to open and close the device repeatedly.

Not so with the Ninja! The dual blade action allows you to quarter several potatoes and throw them into the canister. Pulse a few times, and voila! It whirs up a fine bowl of hash browns ready for frying. If you like chopped onions and peppers in yours, they can be prepped in the Ninja at the same time. Compare a few cents for a pepper and a potato to your Waffle House ticket. You save time, money, and calories on a breakfast favorite.

Ninja is great for soup, curry, smoothies, food processing, and anything you put in there is prepped-pronto.

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houdiniphile says "One of Protege's Hottest Styles yet!" about Protege Men's Strong Court - White

houdiniphile — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:56:54 GMT

I have two pairs of Protege men's Strong Court White. One is checkered with silver trim and the other is the regular design shown above. these are the greatest shoes for durability, support, and as always, Protege shoes are a premium brand at a bargain price.

Kmart is the only store I have ever really trusted with my family shoe needs. I love Protege for men or women. I prefer comfort to fashion, but with the Protege Strong Court, I get both! I have not met the Protege shoe I didn't like.

Right now, KMart has a great deal where you can buy any pair of shoes and get the second pair for 50% off. There's no better time than today to gear up for basketball practice, hiking, or just some great looking shoes that last and last.

If I were rich, I would buy two or three of every Protege pattern. My daughter and I wear the same size shoes, and have been known to reach for the same hot new Protege design when we're getting ready to go out.

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houdiniphile says "Secret Ingredient" about Nabisco Cheese Nips Snack Crackers, Baked, Reduced Fat Cheddar, 11.75 oz (333 g)

houdiniphile — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:13:18 GMT

Nabisco Cheese Nips are great. We have a former chef in our home who likes to mix the Wheat Thins, Chex Mix, and Cheese Nips into a gallon zippy bag and make a "trail mix:" out of the crackers.

I love making canapes. I am horrible in the kitchen, but I use tiny crackers like these to make the appetizers that I come up with on Top Chef PC game.

The Cheee Nips are best in cheesy meatloaf, with soup, salads, and general snacking. We try not to serve them alone. It is too easy to devour a box in one sitting. They are lower in fat, but still can provide some empty calories and too much salt. Hey I never said this was a health food review! Reduced Fat Cheese Nips are better on a salad than cheese, as they will stand up to your dressing and never lose that delicious crunch. They do not have the tummy binding effect of cheese, either.

Cheese Nips are baby approved and whoever eats the last of them will be caught orange-handed. They are fantastic on the salad; try it once and you're hooked.

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houdiniphile says "Kenmore Freezers fit my kitchen and my life" about Kenmore 8.8 cu. ft. Chest Freezer (1692)

houdiniphile — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:49:02 GMT

A few months ago I ditched my regular range and started cooking only with the Dani convection oven and the BBQ Pro grill, both available at Sears and KMart. Today I filled the space left by the range with the perfect sized chest freezer. The Kenmore 8.8 and the 6.9 will both fit where a standard size range goes in your kitchen. The electricity cost per year is about the same as the savings I see in my light bill every single month that I do not operate a regular range.

Kenmore Chest Freezers allow me to maximize sales, order online specials with confidence that I can store them, and stretch the budget . Our stores often feature frozen food on a BOGO or even Buy 2 get 3 Free! I was missing a lot of those deals before I got this Kenmore. I had to go out more often, because I do not eat canned goods, only fresh or frozen, and the top freezer fridge obviously holds a couple ice trays and that's pretty much all.

IMy enmore order was delivered less than 48 hours after I paid for it by courteous...

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houdiniphile says "Men's version better than the original at a great price." about Pert Deep Down 2 in 1 Shampoo + Condition 25.4 Ounce

houdiniphile — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:14:44 GMT

Pert Plus Deep Cleansing 2 in 1 Shampoo Plus Conditioner 12 fl oz For Men —

We first tried Pert Plus Deep Cleansing 2-in-1 Conditioning shampoo for men when the local grocery store had super doubles. They were doubling coupons of very high value, and the package was specially marked with 33% more product. So this was supposed to be 15 ounces for $2.69. We got about 24 ounces for just 69 cents!

My household was looking for this because a recent article from AOL's Wallet Pop stated that men's products were often a better bargain for ladies as long as the scent was not overpowering, We sure found this to be true with the Pert Plus 2-In-1 for men. the conditioner was lighter, left hair a more squeaky clean than the version usually sold to women. A big plus was that the scent would not clash with perfume applied after the shower. Hair stays clean longer than I expected. Pert Plus was a pleasant surprise and I am looking forward to trying the new 3-in-1 bodywash formula, too.

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houdiniphile says "Can't go wrong with Dora " about Nickelodeon Infant Girl's Dora 4 Pack Cuffed Socks Size 5-6

houdiniphile — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:06:58 GMT

Nickeleon 6 pack Infant Girls Dora the Explorer size 5-6

If you are looking for socks, it's usually better to buy a package. There lots of athletic socks available are a great choice when it comes to infant girls apparel. The color sets are likely to match most anything your infant girl is wearing, even if it is not Dora.These fit toddlers who are just beginning to walk.

The colors stay fast, They dry quickly, and this is a budget friendly way to make sure your little one is dressed in the latest style. Need a quick and easy baby shower gift? Just grab these in a smaller infant size. KMart carries both Dora *and* Diego!

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houdiniphile says "Great Comfort in Denim shorts" about Piper & Blue Juniors' Plus Stretch Denim Shorts

houdiniphile — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:49:29 GMT

Piper & Blue plus denim stretch shorts are easy to care for, easy on the eyes, and fun to wear. Pair it with all your favorite tops for an instant outfit. these will go with everything you are already wearing with jeans.

Are you tired of stonewash? Of Cutoffs? I like the dark blue non-distressed fabric look. This is a very deep blue denim, and oh so comfortable! The fit is great, too. You can wear a belt with these, but I rarely do, because the fit is so perfect without one. The hems are neat and clean, and this presents a flattering line, and a slimming look.

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houdiniphile says "Does a great job for the price,many features TOO!" about Lexmark X2670 All-In-One Printer

houdiniphile — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:32:28 GMT

The Lexmark X2670 All-In-One Printer is a product I desparately needed for my home computer. It scans, copies, works with email fax, and prints a high quality color or black and white image. Remember the convenience of a flatbed scanner and tall paper tray, as well.

This is a favorite style of Lexmark computer, because it is easy to set up, very fast to get working, and extraordinarily simple. The only reason it gets four stars is that I have some difficulty getting it to sync with the laptop.

Be green and recycle your cartridges or send them through a refill program. It will save money, time, and maybe even the world!

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houdiniphile says "You can always count on Toughskins" about Toughskins Infant Girl's "Sweet" Footed Snapwaist Pajamas

houdiniphile — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:37:21 GMT

Toughskins Infant Girls footed pajamas with the snap waist are very durable, machine washable, and have great workmanship. But don't let the name "Toughskins" fool you. these are soft, fun, and little girls love these clothes.

We ordered a size 18 months and 24 months (2T) and they are very true to size. They fit just right in the arm and leg length, and have room for little round tummies and round heads to slide into these clothes with the greatest of ease. The longer legs and arms are also the right girth-not too loose and not too tight. For the toddler's changing proportions from newborn, these clothes will grow right along with them. I have tried many brands and found that the Toughskins girls clothes have the best overall fit of anything on the market.

They stay soft and colorful wash after wash. They keep their shape and size without shrinking. They are colorfast, free of lint pilling, and stand up to the heat of your dryer. Toughskins are so good it's worth paying extra, but...

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