Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender Product Review

You've seen the commercials, night and day, you've heard the claims,
The Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender is a whiz in the kitchen and can do it all. Can it? Well Product Dudz gave this item a thorough review and lets take a look.

Price:

Available all over the internet, and average price was  $ 59.19

What you get:

Food and drink maker
2 16-oz bowls
40-oz processor bowl
48-oz pitcher
Interchangeable 450W motor head
Various blades
Dishwasher-safe parts
ETL listed; 1-year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty
Lids that can be fitted over the different sized containers to allow for handy storage in the refrigerator




What we tested:
This item was tested for several things, ease of use, ability to crush ice into snow like consistency, chopping and pureeing ability, ease of cleaning


What we found:

1. Ability to crush ice:
This item was first tested for the ability to crush regular refrigerator icecubes into snow like consistency. The Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender was able to do this task in a matter of a few pulses. Depending on the consistency desired, you can have crushed ice in a matter of a few pulses, or slushie/snow like ice after about 30 seconds or so. We used anywhere from one cup of ice cubes to two cups and experienced no difficulties and there were minimal "chunks" of ice in the results. The Master Prep Professional Blender did not overheat, and did not appear to have any problems. You should always use liquid to help the blender process and crush any ice in the system for best results.

2. Ease of use:
The Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender was extremely easy to use, and we were able to begin testing it right out of the box. The blades easily remove and insert and the lids etc.

3. Chopping, pureeing, processing ability:
As you can imagine, anything that can easily convert ice cubes to snow can easily puree anything. No issues found.

4. Ease of cleaning:
Product is dishwasher safe, was washed in a standard dishwasher on a heated, sanitized cycle and no problems resulted. Items were placed on top and bottom racks, and there were no issues as a result.

Cons:
Almost too powerful
You must be careful when using The Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender for chopping small foods like onions. It's speed and power will turn almost anything into a puree if you over process it. Use limited short pulses only.


The pitcher
The pitcher has a shallow and wide pour spout. This makes pouring things like smoothies and slushies into normal sized glasses difficult as too much comes out too soon. A deeper, smaller spout would work better for any liquids and drinks.

No recipe book included
It would have been great to get a recipe book with The Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender. However, many recipes can be found online, including from the The Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender website.


The Bottom Line:
This is a dieters dream machine. It really does what it says it can do and it beats traditional blenders in price and power hands down. It's easy to clean, handy to use and not expensive for what it can do. It's great for slushies, smoothies, pureeing cooked veggies for soups, and sauces as well. It is therefore the opinion of Product Dudz that this product is well worth the price and an asset to those who are looking for a quality blender.
Products gives this item : Two thumbs up!! For great recipes to use your Ninja with, check out: Recipes from a Southern Kitchen.

Ryans Family Steak House Orangeburg SC review

Image via Wikipedia
We all like a good value for our money, and going to buffet style restaurants certainly fill the bill for most consumers. However, some either rise above expectations, or fall short of them. Ryans Family Steak House located at 2580 Orangeburg SC 29118 was recently visited to see where it falls.
Author's note: The picture used in this article is not representative of the restaurant reviewed in this article.

This review will be in the following sections:
Price
Cleanliness
Service
Food Quality
Atmosphere

Price:
For a family of four ordering from the All You Can Eat buffet, the price is around $48.00, which does not include a tip.

Cleanliness:
This restaurant had a sour smell of old bleach and dishwater and most of the tables in our section were covered in  dishes and leftover food from former patrons. Most remained this way during our meal.

Service:
The waitresses are not very friendly and some were extremely loud. Our waitress was neither friendly or helpful and we had to go find our own silverware and dishes. Seating is horrendous and even though there were empty areas of the restaurant, they were not utilized for the overflow of customers.

Food Quality:
The food served at the restaurant in Orangeburg, SC was mediocre at best. Many trays were empty, picked through and although there was staff in and around the buffet area, many were in the way of the patrons and the main meat trays were not replenished in a timely fashion. Vegetables were limited, Broccoli is often undercooked. The buffet area is extremely congested with patrons that did not seem to know how to move between the buffet servers without bumping into one another.
Atmosphere:
This restaurant was loud, congested, and staff was so loud that you could not carry on your own conversation at your table because of it. Large crowds of people constantly walk by often bumping into anyone sitting on an "aisle seat". The surrounding areas were not clean, and although as mentioned before the staff was overflowing to the point they were bumping into patrons, yet most of the dining areas were filthy. This is one of many trips to this particular restaurant and was typical in the experience.
Bottom Line:
If you must go out to eat, it is the opinion of this reviewer that you choose an alternative restaurant. Patrons visiting at different hours may have a better experience, however the hours between 4 to 6 pm. seem to be quite undesirable under the circumstances.
This review is specifically for Ryans Family Steak House located at 2580 North Rd. Orangeburg, SC 29118.

Related articles

• Top five haunted vacation spots in South Carolina (examiner.com)
• Command Performance Family Style 16 piece cookware set product review (examiner.com)
• Haunted bed and breakfast Inns of the South (examiner.com)
• Understanding paranormal terminology (examiner.com)
• Top family and relationship articles (examiner.com)

Keurig Elite Single Serve Coffeemaker Product review

South Carolinians have long been known for their special affection for sweet tea, also known as Iced tea. This product review is for a coffee maker that not only brews coffee but tea too and it claims to do so in under a minute.  How well did it live up to its claims? Read on..

Item #: 301986  |  Model #: B40

What it is:

Elite Single Serve Coffeemaker

What you get in the box:
* Keurig Elite Single Serve Coffeemaker
* 18 k cup variety pack

Special features:

* Automatic. Auto-Off Feature
* Always ready. Brews in under 1 minute
* Includes 18 K-Cup Variety Pack
* Choice of 2 cup sizes

What it cost:
Retails for $100.00-$120.00 depending on where you purchase

What it does:
The Keurig Elite Single Serve Coffeemaker, does as it suggests in its name, it serves fresh ground coffee on demand, one serving at a time.

How does it work?
Turn on coffeemaker
Fill the water reservoir
place special "k" cup of coffee in the dispenser
place coffee cup underneath the dispenser
Pull down level to engage brewing
press button for 8 ounce cup or 10 ounce cup
In seconds you have a cup of hot fresh brewed coffee

Cons
The coffeemaker is a little expensive between $100.00 to
$120.00
To brew your own coffee requires purchasing an additional item, otherwise you have to buy "k" cups
It can only brew one cup at a time

Pros
Fast brewing
Coffee any time of day in seconds
Wide variety of flavors to choose from
Easy to use
Easy to fill
The ability to purchase the "My K Cup" accessory that allows you to use your own brand of coffee
Offers "k" cups in hot teas, flavored teas and iced teas and coffee, hot cocoa, and apple cider from well known popular brands.

The Bottom line:

This product is pricey, but the convenience it offers coupled with the wide range of hot beverages one can purchase makes this a must have for anyone that loves hot cocoa, tea, or coffee. It offers great versatility, and its simple design and ease of use make this coffee maker well worth the price. Because you only make as much as you want and no more wasted pots of coffee are a thing of the past. It is the opinion of the testers, that this product does what it says it will do and a lot more. Two thumbs up and recommended.

Related articles by this author:

• How to make Christmas coffee
• Southern style mulled cider
• Homemade Lemon Pecan shortbread cookies
• Product reviews on the worst kitchen products
• Acer Aspire laptop computer review

Mr. Coffee Ice Tea Maker

Mr. Coffee has been in business since its first introduction into the market place back in 1972. Mr. Coffee holds the title as having been first in making available a drip coffee maker available for home use.  Since then, the very name Mr. Coffee has been a household word in the United States.  In the mid nineties, Mr. Coffee came up with what was called the Mrs. Tea.
For the complete review click here: Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker

Related articles

• Eco Clean - Coffee Maker Cleaner (lockergnome.com)
• Overstock: Coffee Makers (lisacooking.com)
• Perfect Brew Cone Is a No Fuss, Minimalist, and Cheap Coffee Maker [Stuff We Like] (lifehacker.com)

Coasters Bar and Grill of Santee, South Carolina review

This is conveniently located at:
9135 Old Number Six Hwy
Santee, SC 29142
(803) 854-9955
The food choices offered at this quaint restaurant are wide and varied and there is something for everyone.
The atmosphere-
Coasters Bar and Grill is a come-as-you-are environment.  Leave the fancy duds at home when coming to this place. The restaurant is set up into sections for eating,including indoor and outdoor dining. There is a bar for those just looking to unwind and socialize and large screened TV's are provided and on Sports channels for the fellows. The restaurant is decorator in an ocean hut style, lots of wood beams, and you have the feeling you are near the ocean.
The food-
You can get almost anything at this restaurant, however the platter deals are the way to go. The Surf and Turf platter includes a large salad, decent sized steak cooked to order, large stuffed baked potato that you can have piled to the gills with bacon,cheese,sour cream and butter. Fresh veggies, scallops, and shrimp as well. This is a large platter you will have no room for dessert. The food is mouth watering and delicious, and that is just one platter sample. There are many.
The prices-
Coasters Bar and Grill offers a lot of food for the money, and the prices are comparable to many seafood restaurants in the area. You are getting large portions and for an occasional outing with your family or just the two of you, the prices are worth it. Their massive Surf and Turf Platter is currently advertised at $15.95.

The Bottom Line:
For great food, larger than life proportions, and a friendly environment, Coasters Bar and Grill can not be beat and is highly recommended.

UPDATE 6/7/2012
We're not sure whether the economy played a role here but Coasters Bar and Grill was recently visited and unfortunately the food was not to the level and quality it was when this review was first written. The Surf and Turf platter was a mere remnant of what it was before. While the steak was good, the Shrimp was over cooked, and the "loaded" potato was a shadow of it's former self. Oh, and the scallops that was included with the Surf n Turf platter? Gone.

Dreamfields Low Carb Pasta product review

What is it?
Dreamfields pasta is a low carb pasta that was manufactured  to be a healthy part of the low carb lifestyle. The Dreamfields Pasta line is available at many grocery stores and from many online sites specializing in diet goods. They make a variety of different types of pasta such as Linguine, Penne Regatta, Rotini, Elbow, Spaghetti, Lasagna and Angel Hair.

What makes it low carb?
Dreamfields pasta is a special recipe  made with durum wheat semolina. Dreamfields has a patent-pending recipe and  uses a special manufacturing process that allows for only 5 grams of the carbohydrates per serving to be digested. Dreamfields pasta contains Inulin, a natural pre biotic fiber found in  many common foods like garlic, raisins, artichokes and asparagus. Inulin provides a food source for the healthy bacteria living in the digestive system and thus helps promote healthy digestion. Inulin is a water soluble fiber found in oats, etc. Inulin  is reported to help lower cholesterol and glucose levels  in your diet. Dreamfields  states on their website that their pasta has been clinically proven to have a lower glycemic index than traditional pasta. Although its label lists a total carb count of 41, all but 5 grams of it are indigestible due to the unique recipe and manufacturing process.

How does it taste?
Dreamfields Pasta's taste is indistinguishable from traditional pasta. Because it is a high fiber product you may experience the same side effects you would have with many other high fiber products, however this is actually healthy and promotes good health. It cooks in the same time period traditional pasta does and can be substituted exactly the same way for all of your favorite pasta dishes such as Lasagna, or Baked Macaroni and Cheese.

What is the cost?
Online store www.netrition.com sells the whole Dreamfields Pasta line at $2.49 per 13.25 oz. box. It is also available for purchase in cases of 12 boxes per case for ($28.68), and 20 boxes per case for ($47.80). The more you buy the more you save.

The Bottom Line
Dreamfields pasta is a delicious, healthy  transition to make in a low carbohydrate diet.  It is not only healthy for those who are trying to lose weight, it is also healthy for diabetics, and those just wanting to improve their diet. It is a great product and highly recommended.

• Esprit Harvest 27' Above Ground Pool Product Review

  ---