Thursday, January 27, 2011

MaSu's review: P2S where you get free stuff



MaSu here, and I am here to review for a website that is for people who like things for free. I've been using a website that by doing surveys and signing up for free samples and information on products or college, you get points that can be redeemed for items from amazon.com. Every single point you earn is equal to one cent, and it does not take long to get free stuff in the mail.


 I have been using this website for about a month and have already received a Zyliss pizza cutter for WEFA, and a cigarette roller for myself. We are completely ecstatic about this site, I earn about 200-300 points per day, and sometimes more, and i only spend about 30 minutes a day on it.

 The website is called Points2shop.com and it is the best site I have ever seen. I would recommend you have a virus scanner and a good spyware scanner though, (such as AVG Free) points2shop is paid by the people that give you points for completing their offers, and sometimes the companies that put the offers up are a bit seedier and its just a good idea to have a protection when you surf the net in general.

My referral link is here and you can ask me any questions you want on there or in the comments. I mean, I have seen people who have earned an xbox 360 in a couple of months. My username on Points2shop is MaSuAnime, look me up, I am on at least 3 times a day.

(BTW- for signing up through the referral link, you automatically start with 250 points towards your first purchase!)

This is a review done of our own free will about Points 2 shop. We do not gain anything from them for this and all views are done by Masu. The only payback is the work we do ourselves on the website to gain points. All links to Points 2 Shop are linked through MaSu's referral code, please consider signing up and send to your friends! 

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Avocado Bacon Soup

Okay, you all can be surprised... MaSu enjoyed it! Would give it a 4 out of 5, and wants me to make it again! The man whom before would rather go hungry than eat an onion, let alone an avocado or soup with both in it!

I got the  original recipe here at allrecipes.com but I changed it up to make just 2 servings, and I did not have white wine (which I subbed with a dash of white wine vinegar) and I had no celery or lime. It makes 6 in the link and it would probably taste less avocado-ey because it only uses 2 compared to the fact that I used a whole one.

  • Avocado Bacon Soup

  • 4 slices of bacon, chopped
  • 1/2 small onion, chopped
  • 1-1/3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 avocado (prep by cutting in half, remove pit with knife, and spoon edible stuffs to my Ninja processor)
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste

I bake my bacon in the oven to make it healthier (not sitting in grease like when its fried) but you can fry it up in a pan just as easy. Set aside. Fry up the onion in a little bit of the bacon grease, and then add that to the processor along with the avocado and chicken stock. Process till smooth and then heat in sauce pot. Add the Heavy cream, reserved bacon, and salt and pepper. 

It is actually really really yummy! I think next time I do want to get the lime and celery, I just didn't want the avocado to go bad before I could use it. Logan thinks it would taste good with a little bit of potato, it seems we don't really like thin, creamy soups. 

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Seafood Casserole (good with Salmon or Tuna)

Like many in this world, we don't have much money. We have to go to the food bank to supplement our food stamps. We were able to get 5 cans of salmon last week. I do not have nearly enough recipes that use salmon. (Infact only two now) so please send me some if you have any!

I got this recipe from "The Complete Tightwad Gazette " by Amy Dacyczyn which has all three volumes in it. In the 90's in Maine, it could be made for 1.40 a serving, though I am pretty sure it has gone up a bit since then.

"Mix and Match Seafood Casserole
6 Servings

7 Oz Pasta
1/2 cup dry white wine or milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 cup shredded Cheese
1 can condensed "cream of" soup (celery, shrimp, mushroom, ect) I just realized I forgot this, but was still good!
1/2 tsp Dill I replaced with basil
6-8 oz canned seafood, drained (tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp, ect)

Topping: 2 tbs butter and crunchy thing  (bread crumbs, crushed corn chips, chow mein noodles, french fried onions, 1/2 cup sliced almonds, ect) I used really Really stale corn chips


Prepare the pasta to Al dente.

Mix all ingredients together except for topping in a casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, add topping and bake for 5 more. Serve hot.

It tasted better than I thought it would, to tell the truth I was kinda scared of it lol! It is perhaps not the prettiest thing, but it tastes good! We all ate it (Masu, T, and Carl) and even got extra servings so I would say it was a hit.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Masu's review: 'Splosion Man

Okay, as said we were in Anchorage, and we had a great time. We got MaSu a very nice hematite ring and I got a bottle of Lavender essential oil. But I have some cleaning to do (dang mess of dirty snow dragged in by his wheelchair) so I a going to have him do a review of a game he just finished. I was watching him play the game and it looked like fun. Passing off  <3 WEFA

'Splosion Man

Hey people that I don't know exist, I just got finished playing 'Splosion Man made by Twisted Pixel Games, and man is it awesome. Its a very challenging and sometimes frustrating platformer for the Xbox 360. It feature a cute explodey guy that bounces around blowing up scientists and laboratories in a very cartoony way. It feature explosions, puzzle solving, meat, water, spikes, giant crabs, and cake eating. Its loony, insane, and addictive. I beat the game in roughly 3-4 hours spaced out over a couple a days so I didn't frustrate myself too bad, and man was it tough near the end. The game is separated into three chapters and also features a multiplayer mode. Once you beat the game the first time it unlocks Hardcore mode, which I fear to even click on. This game is unforgiving, but so much fun. Expect to die a lot once you get to chapter 2. This game truly harkens back to old school gaming, which has been overtaken by the COD franchise and others FPS games. If you want a challenge that makes you laugh, smile, and amuses you to no end this is the game for you.

Ratings:
Graphics: 8/10 cartoon like, yet very modern
Sound: 7/10 a bit annoying at times
Difficulty: 9/10 hard, hard, hard
Replayability: 9/10 Time trial mode to beat your best times
Worth the money: 9/10 Worth the money, every penny
Overall: 9/10

In summary, I would give this game a 9/10. Its a perfect time killing challenge that will make furious one moment and make you laugh the next. Its truly a immersive experience that you won't regret.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

How to: roast a good chicken

(Update: yay for schedualed posting! As of the time this puplishes MaSu and I are in Anchorage!! We are going to the Diamond Mall with some friends, and *gasp* I don't have to cook! We are taking sandwhiches for lunch. And I might not have a post tommorrow, but warning you now! Or I might have MaSu do a game or Music review, think thats a good idea? <3 WEFA)

You may call me crazy. you probably already did, but that is besides the point. I went out on a limb last night.

I do not have a fancy rotisserie cooker, or even a roasting rack for that matter. (OUCH on those prices!!!) I have one black "roast pan" that I used for the turkeys, but when the meat sits on the bottom it gets gooey and my favorite part is the skin so its not what I want.

So I did some research, to cook our full chicken in our oven if you don't have a rack to raise it above its own juices so you get nice brown crispy skin.

I used, a bundt pan!

I rinsed my chicken and spread butter under the skin and some salt and pepper. I felt like going for a classic since I have never made a whole chicken on my own before. (Well technically I put rotisserie chickens in the oven when I worked at Safeway, but it was throw in frozen, pull out and put in plastic containers, display for 6 hours.)

Don't you think it looks good?


I also found out that I can freeze my yummy bread rolls after the first rise and before the second, then thaw them and they bake perfectly! So yay for us not having to eat 18 rolls at once.

What is your favorite chicken meal? Do you have good recipies using chicken stock as I am making a HUUUGGGEEEEEEE pot of it? <3 WEFA

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Orange Pork (or Chicken)

This tastes a LOT like what you would find in a Chinese restaurant. Is soo yummy! When i next make it I think I am going to add some pineapple chunks and it needs a bit of salt and pepper.

Ingredients to make a serving for two (note we are trying to eat healthier, smaller meals so if your stomach's are larger just use more meat, cornstarch, veggies and rice) :

  • 1/2 pound pork or chicken 
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1/3 cup fresh orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons dark hoisin sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1/2 pound  broccoli (optional)
  • 4 ounces sugar snap peas 
  • 1/2 cup cooked rice
Directions:

Cut the meat into bite sized pieces. 
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. 

Dredge pork in cornstarch and saute until lightly browned and cooked through, tossing frequently. (should take around 3 minutes if the meat is small enough)

In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, hoisin sauce, vinegar and ketchup, then pour into skillet and bring to a boil.  Saute vegetables in sauce until they are slightly soft, or whatever texture is your favorite for stir fry.

Put rice in bowls and top with the meat and veggie sauce, and enjoy while using chopsticks at a candle-lit table! ( or use forks like most Americans and try to scarf down before going to next thing on your list. Still I suggest enjoying this with someone special. )


If you make this, please comment and tell me if I am crazy in thinking the pork was squeaking while dredging in cornstarch. I think it has something to do with the powder adhering to the moisture.
<3 WEFA


Monday, January 17, 2011

How-to: clean stove drip pans

These have been bothering me since we moved in.


Well, actually since three days after we moved in, because when we moved in they were missing as the last tenants stole them, and it took the Manager 2 days to give us hers as a replacement. (course we had no pans either so it didn't matter too much)

I think she never cleaned them, and it bothers me. This grime is CAKED on. It is baked on. It has fused with the metal.

And I have tried since day three to get them clean. I ran them through the dishwasher. I soaked the in hot water and comet. I soaked them in bleach. I scrubbed at them with cloth and iron wool. I scrubbed at them with comet and baking soda. And still they barely got any better. The best to this day was that picture. Nasty huh?

But MaSu and I did not have the money to spend on new ones. I thought I had tried everything and was ready to give up. I thought I would have to live with the nastiness for the rest of our time here in this apartment.

MaSu did a search for me and found one thing I had not tried yet. Boiling them in water with half a cup of baking soda. I was skeptical, but as we have a twelve pound bag of the stuff, why not try?

 I had no pot big enough for the job (it fit just on the edge like a lid) so I then tried placing in my largest skillet, and behold! It fit. I just had to do them one at a time.

After 30 minutes of boiling the water looked like that >
And it is Working! So I poured it out and tried it a second time.

So just to make it clear,
HOW TO Clean Stove Drip Pans-
1. Place in pot or skillet covered with water.
2. Add 1/2 cup baking soda
3. Bring to boil for at least 30 minutes.
4. Wipe clean, maybe use a iron wool for really stuck on grime.
5. Can be repeated till reached satisfaction



It is not 100% perfect, but it is progress. Maybe another day I can spend another 2 hours or so to get them fully clean. 

Do you love your shiny stove? Do you know any other ways to clean these dang things and prevent the from tarnishing?
<3 WEFA

Sunday, January 16, 2011

BEST SMOOTHIES EVER! (including homemade yogurt)

Woot! The first recipe! After my return that is. The best smoothies ever are sooo awesome, and do you know what makes them the best? Homemade yogurt

Spiced Strawberry Banana Smoothie:

  • 2 bananas
  • Half pint of yogurt
  • 1 tray of ice cubes
  • dash of cinnamon
  • dash of nutmeg
  • about 1 tablespoon of honey
  • about 1 cup of frozen strawberries


Blend till smooth. May need to use ice crush, but I just pulse a few times with one of my favorite Christmas presents, my Ninja! May need to add a splash of milk or orange juice if its too thick. Sooooo Delicious!


And now, my favorite part of this recipe is the yogurt. Homemade yogurt is FANTASTIC! You just need a galleon of milk to make it, once you have a cup of starter yogurt. If you are starting from the beginning you need


  • 1 galleon of milk (perferably whole)
  • 1 cup of starter yogurt (better off with something with many cultures, check the side. Brand name works much better than store brand because they use more cultures)
  • Optional: 1-2 cups sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla for sweeter flavor
  • 4 Mason Jars
  • 1 smaller seal-able jar
  • 1-2 stock pots
  • Candy thermometer
  • cooler
  • Whisk or spoon

To start with, you can boil  an inch of water with your jars in a stock pan. The lid should be on to steam clean and make sure you kill any bad bacteria that could be on your jars or lids. 

Heat in your second stock pan (or put your jars on a clean towel) the galleon of milk to 90 Degrees Celsius. (and sorry, I memorized it this way because it was easier, going from Celsius to Fahrenheit on the cool down. I think the heat was to 185 Fahrenheit) Keep stiring it our you milk will develop a filmy skin, that does nothing good for your yogurt. Also, it can burn, which tastes bad.

Once it reaches the top heat, place it in the sink. Try to avoid splashing water in the pot, or fill the sink first with cold water and ice. You want to cool the milk toll it reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is hotter, it will kill your yogurt cultures.

Whisk in your starter and if you are adding sugar and vanilla ( I used to, but like the slightly sour taste now, sweetened with a bit of honey or fruit in my smoothies or cereal) Make sure it is well incorporated all throughout the milk.

Then pour to mostly fill your small jar (which is what I reserve to use for my future starter) and fill your 4 mason jars equally. Skim off any bubbles with a spoon. Seal the jars and place in cooler, then fill with warm water of the 120 degree temperature. If it is too much hotter it will kill the cultures and result in runny yogurt.

Shut the cooler and leave it in an unused corner of your kitchen that is draft free for 3 hours. You can leave it longer and it makes it smoother to eat, the cultures are eating the lactose in the milk, but I would not leave it more than 12-18 from what I have heard, though there are bloggers that incubate for 24 hours.

DO not shake or disturb the yogurt during this time, and try to move them from your cooler to the fridge with as little jostling as possible. Once it is cold it will be very thick and yummy!

If you see a liquid at the top or when you use part and let it sit, that is whey, which is very healthy for you! Mix it in delicious smoothies.

 Plain yogurt can be used for a multitude of things, including a replacement for sour cream.

Yummy! My yogurt mixed with vanilla almond granola, blackberries, and a tidge of honey
What is your favorite flavor or way to use yogurt?
<3 WEFA

Saturday, January 15, 2011

I have returned!

Long time no see! I apologize for my prolonged absence, I had a lot happening and to tell the truth, was not feeling up to the commitment it takes to blog. I can not guarantee that I will post everyday, but I will try to make sure I post at-least once a week.

As an update, Todd is no longer with us, he is living in Missouri, went back just before Christmas. It was very fun and interesting spending the holidays with my mother, the first time since I was 7! We had both over here at my house, and I did surprisingly well at making the turkey. For Christmas we had beef brisket, which was okay but nothing like mama K's. (MaSu's mom). Our tree was a sad, sad sight that went out the door the day after. But hey, my mom's friend tried!

I also celebrated my birthday, Go me! I made my own rainbow cake, and we ate something that I didn't make for once in a blue-moon (which happens to be every 38 months for those who are scientific, but I am exaggerating) My mom brought me some yummy yummy yummy!!! Christo's Vegge pizza, with sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, and my mouth is watering just thinking about it, it is my favorite pizza I have ever had!



And that seems like a good place to stop for now, but I shall be seeing you again soon I hope!

<3 WEFA