Saturday, August 15, 2015

Macadamia Nut Day! September 4

Happy Macadamia Nut Day!

It is no secret that we love nuts here so when we heard it was National Macadamia Nut Day, we could barely contain ourselves. Macadamias are usually eaten own their own by cracking with a nutcracker, then enjoyed raw, roasted, salted, or sweetened. Also, besides pairing them with white chocolate for a great cookie, we wanted to share some other benefits of this little nut with you. So, without further delay.....

Did You Know?

Macadamia oil has close similarities as that of olive oil. Added to dishes, it imparts sweet delicious flavor to a wide variety of foods. It is widely applied as cooking and dressing oil in the preparations of vegetables, seafood and meat dishes in many cuisines.

This is just a short list of the great value of Macadamia nuts. Aside from just eating them or chopping to add to dishes and goodies, you can make butter and oil from them as well to use in even more ways to increase the benefits you will gain from them.

There have been claims that Macadamia Oil can help dry skin, acne, and wrinkles, even as a deep conditioner for dry hair!

Replace your Peanut Butter with Macadamia Nut Butter for a pleasant treat as well. It is also easy to make right at home.

Who knew such a little nut could pack such a big punch?

What is your favorite way to use Macadamia?

Do you need a little help gathering or cracking all those nuts?
We have you covered over at www.855sheller.com with a variety of nutcrackers and Nut Wizards. We can even help with the chopping to add to your treats over at our sister website www.lawn-gardening-tools.com with our Nut Chopper.

Taylor "Mini" Pea Sheller Review

Taylor Mini Sheller

The Mini Pea Sheller (pictured middle) is clearly larger than the Electric Mr. Pea Sheller (left) and about 2/3 the size of big brother, the Taylor Little Sheller (right). The hand crank Mr. Pea Sheller (in hand) is pictured just for completeness. The Mini Sheller will fit in a closet or on a shelf in the garage with ease. The Mini Sheller is a residential-to-small farm pea sheller machine for sale on a limited number of websites. I've been looking over and testing an early production model in my office. It is essentially a more affordable version of the light-commercial pea sheller, "The Little Sheller".

First impressions

The Mini Sheller is very well built. The all aluminum frame will never rust. The 1/10 HP motor provides plenty of power. I was really glad to see the adjustable rollers. The most expensive part of this pea sheller is the motor, if it goes it may be time to consider getting a new machine. Fortunately, Taylor uses a high quality-American made- 105 volt (standard three-prong household current) 1/10 hp motor that is fan-cooled with thermal protection. There is a lot in that last sentence, so let's break it down:

Is 1/10 Horsepower enough?

1/10 horsepower is more than enough for a bean sheller machine of this size. It will not bog down under the heaviest of loads, not even crowder peas or butter beans.

Fan Cooled

An internal fan pulls hot air away from the motor. Since this pea sheller is expected to be worked outside in hot and humid temperatures, the internal fan should keep things humming along. We tested it under a simulated moderate load for 16 hours straight without any trouble. For safety though, there is a thermal sensor that will temporarily shut off the motor to protect it from overheating. I was unable to trip it in my test runs. However, it should be noted that once the motor temperature drops to a safe level, the motor will restart automatically unless it is turned off or unplugged! So, in the most unlikely event that it does shut off from overheating, please be sure to unplug it from the wall or turn it off! It is a 3 pronged plug. For those of who don't know, the third prong is a ground to prevent a electrical shock or fire in case of a short-circuit.

Aluminum Frame

The frame is smaller than the Little Sheller which provides for a sturdier machine. The aluminum frame will not rust, so it will withstand humid temperatures. Below is a side by side comparison of the Mini (left) and Little (right) Pea Sheller.

All About The Rollers

Most pea sheller rollers are designed to push the peas out the back of the pea pod. The rollers on the Mini Sheller are specially designed to rip the hull down the seam and roll the peas out of the zipper. This dramatically reduces bruising and increases yield. A lot of time and attention, trial-and-error, went into the material and texture of the Mini Sheller rollers. If the material is too hard the rollers won't grab the hull to pull them through, but if it is too soft, then the peas get mashed. Texture, like tire trends, have a great deal to do with performance as well. The speed of the rollers have been scientifically calculated for optimal yield as well. If the rollers turn too fast the peas get mashed before they can safely exit the pod. If the rollers are too slow, then the hull does not tear open and the peas get mashed. This is just another example of the great detail that went into making this pea sheller machine. Unlike the Electric Mr. Pea Sheller, these rollers are easily adjustable for cow peas to butter beans. It is recommended to make adjustments in 1/2 to 3/4 turn increments.

Safety First!

This is about as idiot-proof as a 50 year-old design is going to get. There are 10's of thousands of Little Sheller Pea Shellers in use, I've not heard of one serious accident. Taylor really does give safety a high priority. As with the Little Sheller, the Mini Sheller has metal guards on both sides of the rollers. The guards are easy to put on and easy to adjust. There is also a belt guard which really stands out in the black plastic. I like it much better than the metal belt guard on the Little Sheller. Once installed it is unlikely that anyone would need to take it off as the belt will last decades even under heavy use. These guards are put into place to prevent any accidents involving belts and rollers.

Usage:

Some people want an instruction book the size of a novel, but here is the breakdown of use in the simplest form:

Step 1. Set Mini Sheller on a sturdy table.
Step 2. Plug-in to 3-prong properly wired outlet.
Step 3. Turn on
Step 4. Push peas length-wise until rollers grab the pea hulls.
Step 5. Repeat step 4 until complete.
Step 6. Turn off Mini Sheller.
Step 7. Unplug Mini Sheller from outlet.
Step 8. Clean with damp rag.
Step 9. Store in a closet or sturdy shelf.
Step 10. Brag about it to everyone you meet and tell them to get their own Mini Sheller at GardenHarvesters.com

Specs:

Overall Size: 23.5"L X 14.5"W X 10.5"H
Shelling Bed Size: 16.5"l X 8.5"W
Weight: 17.5 lbs
Motor: 1/10 hp (USA Made)
Construction: Aluminum body (verified domestic metal only)
Country: U.S.A.

Head on over to GardenHarvesters.com and order your very own! They always go fast when pea season hits, so don't wait and miss out.

~Kerry

Pecan Season is COMING! Are You Prepared?

Good Day!

I would love to talk about a nut cracker that is going to make your life so much easier. Pecan season is really just around the corner. In the past, have you been cracking all of those pecans by hand? I did for a long time. Sometimes my hands would hurt so badly that I wondered if the effort was worth it.

I like to make all sorts of candies, pies, and breads during Fall. Giving these things are such a thoughtful gift from the heart, especially knowing that you took the time to gather all of the ones that have fallen from your trees, crack and shell them and then put them into those goodies. I also love to put away and freeze my excess pecans for year round pecan treats. For such large quantities, had cracking is a drawn out and ,honestly, painful process. So, are you ready to hear about this great product we have available?

Let me introduce you to the Kinetic Kracker ELECTRIC pecan cracker.

I got to try this sweet baby out a few days ago. The cracking and shelling time was drastically reduced while the nut cracker did all the hard work for me and best of all my hands didn't hurt at all. After I had my pecans cracked, I just easily peeled away the rest of the shell and gently pulled all the nut meat out. No tugging and fighting with it either! This Kinetic Kracker made that possible with nearly every pecan. I did come across just a few that were't cracked enough, so I just turned the Kinetic Kracker back on and gave them another go!

Did I mention that it was super easy to use? Plug into the wall, flip the on switch and start putting your pecans in the shoot one at a time. It does make a loud *POP* if you do not have a pecan in the shoot, but that is a helpful reminder not to run it without pecans in the shoot. You could wear down the aluminum cup if you do, but even that is a simple fix since we offer replacement aluminum cups. Here is a video of one of our employees demonstrating the Kinetic Kracker so you can see for yourself how easy it is to use.

The Kinetic Kracker is AMERICAN HANDMADE from sturdy materials. A wooden box encloses the 26 RPM motor. What does this mean for you? The ability to crack 1,560 pecans per HOUR! WOW! That is a lot. We also have a steel anvil and aluminum cup system that gives the electric pecan cracker the ability be precise in the amount of pressure applied. No smushed and pulverized pecans thanks to that great engineering.

When I was testing out our Kinetic Kracker, I commented on how I would love to use it for my walnuts and other hard shell nuts. Unfortunately, that is not something you want to do. The kinetic action and aftershock will pulverize your hard shell nuts.....no one wants that mess!

Order Now and Be Ready!

You will want to get your own electric pecan cracker ordered as soon as possible. We manufacture our Kinetic Krackers with the highest quality. We want to give you a product that will last for decades to come, but that also means that the ones we have handcrafted and in stock ready to ship may go quickly. They also make wonderful gifts. In fact, many of our customers are so happy with theirs that they come back and order for loved ones. Another bonus we have for you, the box your new electric nut cracker ships in doubles as a wonderful storage container. The boxes were specially designed to cradle your Kinetic Kracker so it will be safe while it ships and as you store it. We are very proud of our electric pecan cracker and happy we could share it with you!

You can buy your very own Kinetic Kracker electric pecan cracker at

www.lawn-gardening-tools.com
or
www.GardenHarvesters.com

Pecan Pie ~ with a twist!

Pecan Pie In A Truffle

Excuse the Christmas Trees. Sometimes the kids get excited

Fall is fast approaching which means Pecans (and other nuts) are going to be falling soon. Fall means THANKSGIVING! Now, I know you don't want to think that far ahead, but I like "Thanksgiving" foods all the time. One of my favorites is Pecan Pie. I just love a gooey and sweet pecan pie. I can just taste it now, can't you? As a rule of tradition in our family, we try a "new" dish or desert every year. This year I have a spin on the traditional pecan pie.

Pecan Pie Truffles!

That is right! Little bite sized morsels of pie goodness. These are a favorite with my son. He does not care for pie crust, but loves the pies I make. I will often find the top part of the crust left discarded like the his bread crust. So, to save some time by not making crust, why not just dip that filling in chocolate and enjoy? Sounds like a win for everyone! So push up your sleeves and lets enjoy some pecan pie without heating up the kitchen.

Ingredient List:
2 dozen truffles

2 ½ cups of pecans, toasted and finely chopped

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
7oz dark chocolate (can substitute for milk chocolate if you prefer)

READY! SET! ENJOY!

Stir together pecans, graham crack crumbs, brown sugar, and salt in a medium bowl until well blended. Add in maple syrup and vanilla and stir thoroughly. I like to dig my hands in to ensure it is fully mixed.
In your hands, for a walnut sized ball with the mixture. Place each one on a wax covered cookie sheet and freeze for 2 hours. (I know! The agony!)
In the top of a double boiler, melt your chocolate. If you don't have a double boiler, place a stainless steel bowl over another pot of simmering water. you can use the microwave as well, but it make take longer since the chocolate will start to harden once it starts cooling.
Dip your frozen chocolate balls into the melted chocolate, then place back on your cookie sheet with wax sheet or parchment paper.
Let sit for 15 minutes or until firm. (The hardest part!) If you want your to have a special topping like ours, now is the time before they cool. Otherwise, the toppings won't stick.
ENJOY! (The best part!)

While preparing my truffles, I have a few gadgets that help me out. I am fortunate to live in the South, so I have pecan trees in my yard. When it is time to gather them, I use my Nut Wizard to gather and crack them with a Duke Pecan Cracker. I chop my pecans with this handy little Nut Chopper. For the graham crackers I use a general Food Chopper. It comes in handy for anything from herbs, to vegetables, to even chocolate. For the graham crackers, I break them up and place in a bowl, then I stick the food chopper right in there and chop away. I like to also break my chocolate up to help it melt quicker. I place it on my chopping board and chop it up with the same food chopper.

All of these products can we found on our website at

www.lawn-gardening-tools.com

WELCOME!

Well Hello There!

Welcome to Southern Garden Tools!

We would like to share all sorts of things you want and need for your garden and small farm. We will share everything ranging from tools you need to get started, products to help you gather your harvest, and recipes that will have you loving all those scrumptious fruits, vegetables, and nuts you have gathered even more. We are so beyond excited to share all of these things we have learned with you. We will always provide links to our websites so you can go check out the things being shared with you and have all the products you need to make your gardening a success delivered directly to you door. We always love to hear from you as well. If you have something to say about the products featured here, please share it with us! We always love hearing feedback about the things we are so passionate about.

Please check out some of our websites:

Garden Harvesters

Bamabots

Lawn Gardening Ideas

Cinnamon Pear Applesauce and Sweet Friends

It is the time of year to gather Apples and Pears, then get to baking! I decided to take my children to visit my Dad this weekend and gather pears from a tree at his home. We all had a wonderful time using our large NutWizard to pick the pears right off the ground after my son climbed up the tree to shake the branches. Those of us who were waiting to use the Nut Wizard had a Harvesting Bag that we strapped on like a belt and slipped our pears right into. I tried to snap a photo, but they were too fast for me!

After visiting a while we loaded up our bounty so we could go home and make Pear Applesauce! Before we got started, we made a little detour across the road to share some of these goodies with this sweet lady. We picked a large laundry basket full of pears, so they will be divided between sauces and pie fillings....and probably a pear cake... so we can enjoy them year round.

Now, I am excited to share our recipe for Pear Applesauce. Guilt-free and no sugar added...ready for it? Do you have some apples, pears, and cinnamon? Perfect!

Ingredients:

3 Apples

4 Pears

Cinnamon

Preparation:

Slice and core your apples and pears. You can peel them if you prefer, but I don't because the skins will curl up and can be removed later.
Place all together in your crock pot and sprinkle cinnamon over them. I like cinnamon, so I am heavy handed with mine. Of course, if you don't like cinnamon, leave it out.
Cook on low for 6 hours. When finished either mash them up with a potato masher, or to make it even more simple, use a Food Strainer. TIME TO ENJOY!

This recipe make about 4 servings. I normally triple or quadruple the recipe to store in a jar in the fridge. It is perfect for when we have a sweet tooth and helps get even more fruit it. It is also a great recipe to can and put away. I LOVE my Canner. It is so worth the investment because of all of the money we save by putting away fresh picked fruits and vegetables rather than buying from the store. Even better than that, I know there is nothing extra added and my family is getting nothing but what I want when I open those jars. Another great way to enjoy pears would be Pear Chips. I use our Dehydrator to make sliced pears, apples, bananas,...I could go on...into healthy snacks perfect for school lunch boxes and growing tummies.

You can find Strainers, Canners, Dehydrators, NutWizards (of all sizes), and so much more right on our website

www.lawn-gardening-tools.com

How Do You Gather Your Nuts?

Nut Wizard

As the time draws near to start your nut gathering, do you start dreading the idea of bending over and stooping to gather all your yummy nuts? We here at Southern Garden Tools don't like that idea either! We like to help make things easier and more efficient for you. So today I will introduce you to your new best nut gathering friend. Meet the Nut Wizard! Now that introductions are out of the way, let's get down to business. Before I start telling you how much I love the Nut Wizard and how many times my back has said thank you, here is a short video.

Isn't that neat? It is so super simple to use. We have Nut Wizards available in a variety of sizes for a variety of nuts and even pine cones. Mini Nut Wizards are perfect for little beechnuts or even .22 and larger brass casings from fired gun rounds. Small Nut Wizards are great for pecans, hickory nuts, acorns, and even crab apples. I use the Medium Nut Wizard to gobble up English walnuts, chestnuts and even golf balls or shotgun shells. The Large Nut Wizard is extremely versatile when it picks up black walnuts, apples, pears, or even tennis balls. We even offer a Pine Cone Wizard that can grab up all those pesky pine cones in mere minutes.

I love the design of the Nut Wizard. It features metal wires which spread to capture your nuts, fruits, casings, and balls. Once inside, they are trapped so they stay put until you are ready to empty the basket. Thanks to this metal wire design, when you are ready to empty, simply attach a nut dumper (included with the Nut Wizard) onto any 5 gallon bucket, place the wire basket on the dumper, and give a slight turn to the right. Everything will cascade right out into your bucket. Truthfully, I have also seen them attached to trash cans and other buckets. I even attached one to an old kitty litter bucket last week when I was showing my Mother-in-Law how it works. Now, what about your back? I know, I promised a thankful back. The Nut Wizard has a 4 foot handle! Stand comfortably while the rolling wire basket does all the hard work.

Now, If I may, I would like to quote a little Shakespeare, "Is A Nut Wizard By Any Other Name Just As Sweet?" Oh, that isn't correct is it? Well, you understand what I was trying to say and to answer that question, No, it just isn't. The Nut Wizard goes by many other names:nut picker, nut roller, nut picker-upper, basket nut tool, nut grabber, yard roller......you get the idea. In all of that, there is only one name to remember and that is the Nut Wizard.

Ready To Gather Nuts and Apples?

Hurry on over to 855Sheller.com. We have all the Nut Wizards you could ever want! Don't break your back this year when gathering time is here. Do you need help cracking your bounty? We can help you with that also. We offer the Master Cracker Black Walnut Cracker. Is it perfect for all size nuts and so is the Get Crackin' Hard Shell Cracker! One of our favorites is the Kinetic Kracker electric pecan cracker which makes easy work of pecan cracking. We have you covered for all your nut cracking needs.

Garden Tool Set