Points And Prizes - Sheknows

[maksik]

I joined a bunch of 'survey' groups a few years ago and out of them all Hotspex, TNS and Pinecone Research are the best.
http://www.hotspex.com - they have the most interesting surveys out of all the ones I do. The points I received from the surveys I used to transfer into cash, into my Futura account. I closed my Futura account last year and a few weeks ago was the first time I used some of my points to enter the contests.
http://www.tns-cf.com/panel/ - they occasionally send out products to be tested. I've received 4 boxes of HoneyComb cereal, 2 boxes of Alphabits and Bounty papertowels. I know there's more but I can't think of them.
http://www.pineconeresearch.com/- This one is tougher to join than the others because 1) they have to be actively recruiting members
2) you need a referral from another member
3) not everyone will qualify
They pay $5 per survey and send you a check right away. I waited for a year before someone told me that they were looking for members and even though I've been with them for almost a year I've never received anything saying they are recruiting again.

On another note, 2 other sites to go to are:
http://www.bzzagent.com/ - What this site does is send you products & coupons for you and others to try them out. Then you talk about it to your friends/family/co-workers etc, get their feedback (bzzz about it) and write a report about it. In the past few years I've received a $120 Sonicaire electric toothbrush, Crest Whitestrips, Nabob Coffee (and more) and I'm expecting to receive Silk Soy milk.
http://www.shoppers-voice.com/ - Ever receive those survey's in the mail from someone named Diane? Make sure to fill them out! Although it can take months to receive anything, in the past I've received high value coupons, FPC's and samples of products based on my answers to the surveys.

Anyway, this is a long ramble and if anyone is looking for more info (I'm full of useless info!!), send me a pm.

thank you very much for the info
I was signed up for all of them except hotspex. I love hotspex now! I have already swaped hotspex points for hbc points

[NSangel]

who posted eel jerky? GROSS!!!!!

[NSangel]

do you have potato salad? ITs mashed potatoes, onions chopped, then add sweet pickles. Then you put in mustard and a tablespoon of mayo. I love potato salad esp if it dont have much mayo in it. I am not big mayonaise fan lol.

I make my potato salad this way. Boil whole potatoes cool them in frig. Hard boil some eggs cool them in frig. After they are cooled and you can touch them peel potatoes cube them, peel eggs chop them, chop up some celery, chop up some bread and butter pickles, onion powder, salt, pepper, Mayo, a pinch of celery salt. You can put in a pinch of mustard.

okay, i have 3 version of potato salad:
1. similar to harveys. my mom mixes together:
cold cubed potatoes (sorry seek, has to be cold)..if you let em cool at room temp they don't turn black btw.
hard boiled eggs chopped
onions
miracle whip
salt and pepper
(i also add celery)

cheese and bacon potatoe salad. (this stuff rocks)
cube potatoes while hot
add grated cheddar so it'll melt.
chopped crisp bacon
chopped boiled eggs
chopped green onions or chives
salt and pepper.
miracle whip.
a tsp or so of mustard.

and a really creamy one:
you make home made french dressing (1/4 c). (all it is, is vinegar, oil, salt, pepper paprika). anyway, you marinade the cold cubed potatoes in it for 20 mins. then add onions, celery miracle whip (or mayo). no eggs in this one, you can garnish them on the side tho.

I love those big pretzels and I just got a breadmaker!, how do you do them?

ok, let me find it

SOFT GIANT PRETZELS (BREAD MACHINE)

1 1/8 C water ( 70-80 degrees F)
3 c all-purpose flour
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

2 quarts water
1/2 c baking soda
coarse salt

1. In bread machine place first 4 ingredients as recommended by manufacturer. Select dough setting. check dough after 5 mins of mixing, and add 1-2 tbsp flour or water if needed.

2. when cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 8 balls. Roll ea into a 20" long rope, and form into a pretzel shape *** In a sauce pan bring water and baking soda to a boil. Drop pretzels in water 2 at a time for 10-15 secs. drain on paper towel.

3. Place pretzels on greased baking sheets. Bake at 425 F for 8-10 mins or until golden brown. Spritz or lightly brush with water, and sprinkle with salt.

*** to make a pretzel shape, think of how you fold your arms across your chest and one hand goes over one arm, the other hand is underneath the opposite arm. monks made pretzels to represent praying arms so if you think of that you'll always make them right.

these are really good dipped in honey mustard

[NSangel]

i also have a recipe here for bagels

[stardreamer7880]

Happy Happy Birthday Jettred!!! Hope your having a wonderful day!

[stardreamer7880]

Thanks for the words everyone.

WOW NSangel that is an awesome find and your pretzels came out like a pro!!! yummmm

[Harley Grandma]

Happy Birthday Jettred!

[lolcat]

NSangel! That tabletop soccer game is a total score! We used to get stuff out of the dumpster all the time at our old apartment building.. it was crazy the stuff people would throw out. Both of DD's dressers are from there.... lol
Thanks for the pretzel recipe! I pm'd you about it, before I saw that you had already posted it... hehe

Hugs all... wiki is updated for the evening .. didn't expect any new words today either~

[NSangel]

Thanks for the words everyone.

WOW NSangel that is an awesome find and your pretzels came out like a pro!!! yummmm

nonononono! ryan measured and added the ingredients. i helped him roll "snakes" because the dough din't have as much flour (i skipped the check the dough after 5 mins part )

he tied them all but one. that's half the batch, the other batch was in the oven at the time. he brushed them with water, and sprinkled with sea salt. man they were really good.

[NSangel]

did you guys hear of "wacky cake?"

it's a great EASY recipe for chocolate cake that the kids luv to do.

everything is mixed in the pan it's baked in, and you make three wells in the dry ingredients and you add, water, melted butter and vinegar. yes vinegar!

it's the moistest best chocolate cake, and the kids think it's so much fun to do.

i believe in letting kids help in the kitchen no matter their age. at 2 ryan was helping me make bisquits. he's going to be quite the cook when he grows up. lol. and i think they appreciate it more when they're involved.

[stardreamer7880]

all the time growing up my kids complained cuz so often we'd have hamburger one night and chicken the next. Son just called me said they went grocery shopping and lol have been eating hamb. helper one night and chicken the next. Says he now knows why we ate one or the other so often and not pork chops or good stuff like that. Guess adulthood has caught up to him

[roseofblack25]

dumpster diving is illegal here too used to be able to take stuff from the dump if you wanted it and now you cant, some people are so wasteful and throw out perfectly good stuff

[NSangel]

? pork is about as cheap as chicken here...

[stardreamer7880]

We get 40 pounds of chicken for $10. Can't find pork near that

I'll have to ask my DH I think that's how much but my brain seems to be mush tonight and now I'm not sure if that's how much we get anyway we get a big box of it for a good price

[NSangel]

lemme think, we can get pork chops between 1.99 and 2.99 if on sale. chicken breasts? about 3.99lb. boneless 5.99-6.99.