Wondra flour. I used to think it was just regular flour in a small sized container. But it's actually very, very finely milled flour that blends instantly for thickening sauces. It's super easy to shake directly in to your gravy adding just a little bit, with no flour (or worse, cornstarch) taste..

Also, pomegranate molasses is one of my kitchen staples. I add a spoonful to any kind of meat or gravy -- even spaghetti sauce -- anywhere I want to add some depth of flavor. I don't use wine, and this is a great substitute. A little goes a long way. You can also add it to seltzer to make kind of a sweet/sour drink. https://www.amazon.com/SADAF-Pomegranate-Molasses-10-OZ/dp/B002NMIK7I/ref=sr_1_12?crid=HKL0HK72EQD3&keywords=pomegranate+molasses&qid=1570797431&sprefix=pomegranates%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-12

wow. I have never heard of pomegranate molasses and will have to read up on it.. I will say though- you had me at Pomegranate.

I love it. (have you had the ghobani pomegranate yogurt? omg so good!!!!)

Not a new product but I just got another jar yesterday, Costco's Basil Pesto. So delicious on bread, pasta, veggies.

I've been using pomegranate molasses for decades - it reminds me a bit of the expensive authentic Balsamic vinegars. It is easy to find in Middle Eastern markets.

I have a battery powered leaf vacuum instead of a leaf blower and use it to vacuum leaves around the pool when I am in Cathedral City.

I use coconut oil in place of shortening in many recipes.

I also like 20 Mule Team Borax for the scent that it adds to towels and sheets, and I think it helps get clothes clean.

For washing dishes by hand, Dawn is my favorite. For the dishwasher, I use Cascade Complete - I do not like the fragrance that Cascade Platinum leaves on the dishes.

My favorite thickener is ClearJel.

Speaking of pomegranate, this vinegar from "O" is a favorite, along with many of their other vinegars and oils. Great on spinach salads or drizzled on roasted veggies, such as asparagus.

I love pomegranate! I have never had pomegranate molasses so I will be looking for it. I do like the pomegranate vinegar. I love Pom juice. I like to mix it half and half with orange juice. It would make a great alcoholic beverage. I don't add alcohol to mine.

I like 2 old goats lotion for the swelling and pain in my hands. It does have a little scent to it but I don't mind it at all. It definitely helps my hands.

I recently discovered Plackers twin-line flossers. I have such bad arthritic pain and stiffness in my hands and fingers that using regular floss has become impossible to do so I was using the plain single flossers (the ones with the handle) and then I noticed these. Oh, my! I can't believe how much better they eliminate the plaque between the teeth.

Bob's Red Mill stone ground cornmeal. This makes wonderful cornbread. I follow the recipe on the bag. The grind gives it a wonderful texture.

Masa Harina. I bought a tortilla press from the local grocery store that has a lot of Mexican clientele and I also bought a bag of the Masa Harina to make tortillas. It took a lot of trial practices but I finally got it down - what a difference home-made tortillas make.

Bombay Sapphire Gin.

Eat Smart Asian Sesame salad kit. Although I make a really killer asian salad and dressing from scratch, this one already made at the grocery is very good in a hurry pinch.

Oh, I forgot to add King O' the West honeydews. I might have mentioned this before but I'm mentioning it again if anyone missed it. I discovered these melons a couple of years ago and it's the only kind that I will buy and it only comes once a year. It's so sweet it's like eating melon candy but so much better and so cooling on a hot day. I only know one grocer that carries it here. I'm sure it's probably from California.

I also like Cascade liquid dish detergent.

Bar Keepers Friend, powder form.

Bee & Flower Sandal Wood bar Soap

Love Dukes mayonnaise,Dawn dishwashing,Cerave moisturizing cream, Dove bar soap, Hunts ketchup.

First criteria is it must be fragrance free, no stinky stuff in my house. Next BPA free, soy free, artificial sugar free. I try to use only natural products for example butter never margarine, maple syrup not the fake flavored stuff.

When DGD was in the navy stationed in Japan we had to drive 40 miles to a HEB to get Whataburger catchup to mail to her. Now It is available locally in the grocery stores. I do not know if she still buys that brand now that she is home.

Hallingarden, Hunts just sits on the store shelf . They can't even sell it for $1.oo a bottle. We are a Heinz town . Even the hotel in Aruba and Sint Maarten use Heinz. I think ketchup must be a regional thing.

Ketchup all tastes the same to me. I just buy what doesn't have HFCS in it, usually the expensive stuff...HA!

Will have to try pomegranate molasses - would it be good in a beef stew?

I hadn't heard ot some of these, but I'll check them out. Some products I learned about at the KT over the years and still use:

Sprayway glass cleaner

Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream

Working Hands (winter use, GREAT for fingers prone to cracks)

And a few I learned about on my own:

Juan Valdez Buen Dia! instant coffee--so good! (stop rolling your eyes, coffee snobs! LOL)

Great Value (Walmart's brand) pistachios in the shell: 24 oz. for $9.99. I like these best of all the brands I've tasted. Large size, great taste, and fewer inedible ones.

Diamond Walnuts--and only Diamond Walnuts. I've been seriously disappointed with every other brand I've tried.

Vee Tee Thai Lime and Herb Rice--ready to serve after 2 minutes in the microwave. I think it's made in England. I cook rice often, but this is great for those times when I didn't make any but wish I had. They have several varieties, and the Thai one is my favorite. Expensive at Amazon, but $1.50 at Walmart.

So to you, alisande, someone who dislikes drinking instant coffee is a coffee snob? That's pretty harsh.

I have been reducing my caffeine intake. I switched to lite caffeinated coffee and now am transitioning to Peet's Major Dickinson decaf. Tasty.

Crazy Richard's all natural peanut butter. I like the creamy and it must be stirred well before eating. It's extremely good and is my latest craving to have on my morning raisin toast. Wal-Mart carries it here.

Elmer, it isn't harsh if "coffee snob" isn't meant as an insult. I admire those who know more about coffee than I do, including how to roast it, grind it, and make a great cup of it. This includes some beloved members of my own family. Perhaps next time I'll say "coffee-knowledgeable people." Or something else.

Graywings, I've never been able to handle much caffeine. For decades I drank no coffee, but these days I have one cup in the morning. I don't know if Peet's Major Dickinson decaf is available in this area, but I'll look.

You're suggesting that a word that has only a pejorative meaning can be used all the same in writing to express a non-pejorative thought about someone or something? That's a new one.

Katrina_ellen --Pomegranite molasses is especially good in beef stew. Just a tablespoon or so. Gives it a nice depth of flavor.

I'm an unabashed sheet snob. ;)

rhizo, I'm perhaps sensitive to name calling like wine snob, coffee snob, food snob, etc. because I find it offensive to hear them being used.

Whatever I have for thoughts about someone who finds instant coffee to be other than a laughable product, as an example, I'd usually never express it . If I did, I might say something like the person is lacking taste buds or is coffee clueless. I'm not suggesting that about alisande because I'd never do more than have such thoughts inside my own head, if applicable.

Sometimes people think some things okay to tease about because they don't share the point of view or realize the subject matter, perhaps trivial for them, is important to someone else. Or that the teasing isn't found as funny on the receiving side. This is one of those for me. I'm not a coffee/wine/food snob but I dislike bad examples of any of those things and am happy to go to some effort and expense when appropriate because what many other people may find acceptable about many of those things, I may not. To me, they're clueless and it's often because they have insular views. That's something I've always tried hard to avoid but not everyone feels that way.

Elmer, I know people who call themselves coffee snobs. They use the word snob to mean connoisseur. They are using the term snob playfully to their mind. It's become common usage. I understand why you take umbrage, though.

There are too many examples of words that are offensive when used by one person describing another, that are not so when self-invoked. To say someone is picky or inflexible about something is value free and one thing (saying nothing about why or whether they should be or not) , to say someone is a snob about something suggests a contempt and irrationality the speaker has about the other person's view. Maybe only to me and not to others? Fine but I don't think so.

Elmer, *smh* and *do some grumbling*....

I'm going to look for that instant coffee! I drink coffee daily but am not a coffee snob, sometimes I want a quick cup and an instant is just fine! Our current favorite coffee is Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla.

jason facial products. Emerald cocoa almonds, Perfect Glass - i love sprayway as well but PG is better IMO

I like those collapsible step stools that cost around $10. They are so handy, simpler than getting out a full sized step stool. They are about 9 inches high and collapse down to about 1.5”.

Another vote for Folex. That stuff is magic. We had a motor oil stain on our carpet and nothing would touch it. When I tried Folex on it, the stain came out in minutes even though it was several months old. I really thought that carpet was ruined, but looking at it now, you'd never know there had been a stain there. It's also great as a spot remover/pre-laundry treatment on clothing.

I also like Mr. Clean Erasers. They are mildly abrasive, but they remove dirt and stains quickly and easily. I've seen Bar Keeper's Friend mentioned here at the KT many times; I'm going to make a mental note to pick some up next time I'm out running errands.

Rada knives.

Sue

This morning I can add one more product that I learned about at the KT very recently: Cuddl Duds Fleece Sheets. I slept on them last night, and it was a lovely experience. In my whole adult life (and probably before) I never used anything but 100% cotton sheets, so I wasn't sure about trying polyester fleece. Plus wouldn't they be too hot, even in my chilly room? I was assured they'd be fine. Omigosh, "fine" doesn't quite cover it. They're so soft! And they have almost a silky feel. Even their dryer lint looks and feels like little clouds. LOL

For facial skin exfoliation I like Alpha Hydrox essential Lotion, not sold in stores anymore but online at neotericcosmetics.

I also like the multivitamins - two per day made by Life Extension. I take one in the morning and one in the evening.

I love pomegranate balsamic! Have never seen the molasses.

Tonight I was reminded of this Lodge Cast Iron 9" Mini Wok, which I bought for myself last fall and liked so much that I bought another to give to my daughter at Christmas. I use it a lot, and when it's not in use I leave it on my stove because I think it's beautiful.

A few months ago at Costco we bought a couple of the Instacrate crates. They collapse so they are easily stored. They are nice and strong, we keep them in the vehicle so when we get groceries or other supplies we just put them in the crates and it is easier to carry it in at once. They can be found at Walmart, and Lowes, etc.

https://youtu.be/OZOcsTLTsCw

I was cleaning out my old inbox and it was chock full of notifications from houzz about comments on posts ( someone commented, someone liked, etc) and this thread came up.

I think it's a good one to keep going- so I am bumping.

was surprised when I saw my posts then realized it was 4 years old. They stand the test of time. Still using all of them.

I discovered Pioneer Brown Gravy mix last year. Still prefer homemade but if I want a quick hot roast beef sandwich it does the job. Same with the turkey version. Better than canned, jarred or any other mix I've tried.

Very happy with my Crates reining saddle. Fits me like a glove and I get a lot of compliments on it. The cherry on top is the investment I made in a Five Star close contact all wool pad the follows the contour of the saddle's butterfly skirt.

I will have to look for a bottle of Folex to have on hand. No need for now, but one of my dogs has chronic kidney failure and incontinence accidents may occur in the future. I used to like Simple Solution when we were in puppy stages but the new improved formula isn't as good as the old which is hard to find.

I love Pioneer gravies, my favorites are the Country gravy and the Biscuit gravy. I use them in cooking, the very best soup chowders I have made contain a packet of the Country gravy.

I never heard of Folex, will have to get some.

This invention deserves a mention. It is so simple and works amazingly well.

It’s called the Bug Bite Thing. It sucks the venom out of most any type of sting. My MIL used hers on a wasp sting this summer and it took the pain away immediately. It is nice to not have to deal with itches, even works on mosquito bites. I sent them to family members when I discovered how well this works. Amazing little invention.

I saw the Bug Bite Thing on TV and have heard it really really works. I think it was a Shark Tank episode.

I may be the only person who is not thrilled with Folex. I'm glad it works so well for eveyone (else).

I really like these cleaning cloths. All you do is wet them, wring them out and clean your windows, mirrors etc. Don't need any cleaner whatsoever, especially good for me coz I can't tolerate all the cleaner smells anymore.

Oh, and I adore Fireball lol

How about a 5" wedge shaped door draft stopper. Bigger than most I'd seen and the triangle shape works well. The fabric is a little B & W herringbone. I ordered two for a French door. They're nicely weighted & hold their shape. LOVE them! Link + 35% off coupon.

Blackout Grommet Top Curtains. No light comes through...at all. The fabric has a little bit of a weave pattern to it. I purchased the 95" length in tan. Comes 2 in a package. Link (In the store I found them for $6/package)

Beekman goat milk lotions. The best!!

I bought this a few years ago at Costco and think it's great. Everyone I know who has one loves it as well. I just saw today on the A site, you can get it for $10. Don't go by my say so, but look! Over 75K 5 star reviews! Seriously, it's a pleasure having all the batteires in one obvious place and easy to see which ones you DO have and which ones you need to buy.

BATTERY DADDY

.

salonva, I received one as a Christmas gift this year! I wondered why someone would think I wanted such a thing, but now I love it. I'm a little OCD about organizing things, so this battery holder makes me happy.

I posted this earlier today but it’s gone now.🤷‍♀️ Our daughter introduced me to Olaplex hair products since this topic was first posted. I’ve been using them for a couple years now and am very pleased.

I have one too, salvana, and love it. I feel rather guilty about all that plastic but still managed to buy it a year ago at Costco.