October 1, 2023

Amazon: "Important information about your Google Play gift card order"

Anyway that's the title of an email from store-news@amazon.com that I got about 30 minutes after placing an order for stuff (but not gift cards) at Amazon.

The email continues:

"Thank you for purchasing Google Play gift cards from Amazon.com.

We would like our customers to be aware of some important information relating to purchase of Google Play gift cards.

There are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards from well-known brands. To learn more about some common scam attempts that may involve asking for payment using gift cards please click on the button below, or alternatively contact us now (link)

I Googled and found some Reddit threads with postings like this:

Called Amazon through the app and had a waaaay long wait time. They assured me that the emails were a test to tell us to look out for emails like that.

One would think Amazon would send a follow up email and post something on their website. One would think wrong.

September 27, 2023

Hard boiled eggs

The most common Internet suggestions look something like this:

Put eggs in saucepan, add cold water (eggs b4 water) to cover, and heat it up rapidly to boiling

Turn off heat and set a timer for 10 minutes

After 10 minutes, dunk the eggs in an ice bath to stop the cooking. Best to begin peeling while still warm.

Anyway almost all the methods I've seen, and I've seen many, have this in common.

I found peeling to be a real bit by bit by bit chore. I decided never again.

I found but lost a great article that discussed positively and skeptically all the different suggestions that can be found, so unfortunately I can't post it. But here are a couple of articles:

We Tried the 5 Best Ways to Perfectly Peel a Hard-Boiled Egg
These are the most effective techniques from Reddit and YouTube.
https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/a20486471/best-way-to-peel-a-hard-boiled-egg/

We're Using a Spoon To Peel Our Hard-Boiled Eggs From Now On ...
Take an egg out of the cooling water and crack it along the fat end by tapping it on the counter or cutting board. Peel just enough shell to be able to slip the tip of a spoon under the shell. Carefully slide the spoon in so that the curve of the spoon follows the curve of the egg. Then, rotate the egg as you move the spoon between the shell and the egg white.
https://www.southernliving.com/food/dairy/eggs/how-to-peel-boiled-egg-with-spoon

Does anyone have some suggestions to make this all easy? Thanks

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BTW, my gas stove gave out some time ago, and I've been making do with slow cookers, which fortunately also have grill bases. But these are kind of slow heating - I think they max out at 500 watts.

I have on order from Amazon:

CUSIMAX Electric Hot Plate for Cooking Portable Single Burner 1500W Cast Iron hot plates Heat-up in Seconds Adjustable Temperature Control Stainless Steel Non-Slip Rubber Feet Upgraded Version B101
https://www.amazon.com/CUSIMAX-Electric-Adjustable-Temperature-Stainless/dp/B07D71TD67/ref=sxin_17_sbv_search_btf
-- Not induction, 8.78"D x 11.6"W x 3.39"H (so roughly 9" X 12", < 4"tall) Wattage 1500 watts
-- "uses 7 thermostatically controlled heat settings conveniently to cook a variety of foods such as warm sauces, decoct steak, grilled cheese, boil water, make soup, cook pasta and vegetables and do so much more. Meet your daily cooking needs."

Anyway, for a hot plate, I've never seen so many bells and whistles.

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As for what to have for breakfast, I haven't thought about it yet, beyond sipping a cup of coffee now. I don't have any eggs around, so it won't be hard-boiled eggs.

EDITED TO ADD: 3 prunes, and an apple, (and the coffee) and that's probably going to be about it. I'm just not hungry for anything that's in the fridge/cupboards/pantry right now.