Double Tap The Back

Unlike yesterday's feature, I wouldn't have thought this might exist.  On both the Apple iPhone and the Google Pixel, you can configure an action to take when the camera detects a double tap on the back of the device.  As you can see below, I've configured mine to take a screenshot, so instead of the cumbersome combination of pressing the power button and the volume down simultaneously, the double tap involves less movement and coordination.  You can read more about the feature at the links below.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/111772

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7443425

Volume Button Shutter

I am totally ashamed that I did not know this camera feature until a few days ago.  Instead of using the round white button on the camera app's screen, you can use either the volume up or the volume down button as the shutter.  So instead of holding the camera in one hand and pressing the white button with the other, you hold the phone in both hands, making it much steadier.  Works on both Gourmet Chef Elaine's iPhone and my Google Pixel 7.  

https://www.isumsoft.com/iphone-tips/take-photos-with-volume-buttons-in-iphone.html

Texas Toast Tomato Pies

With this year's tomato crop delivering some of the best we've tasted, Gourmet Chef Elaine found this simple recipe that was a hit.  It combines Texas Toast (our favorite), a layer of Boursin cheese and mayo, and thick tomato slices topped with shredded sharp Cheddar cheese and chopped chives (from our own patio-grown pots).  Directions and spices needed can be found at the link below.

https://www.southernliving.com/texas-toast-tomato-pies-12008235

Knockoff

I ran across the free (I love free) Knockoff browser extension in the daily email I get from Clark Howard.  After you add it to your web browser, it automatically filters Amazon search results based on the seller’s trademark and brand legitimacy.  By default, it just dims to filtered results (like in the screenshot below), but you can configure it to hide them entirely.  As Clark notes in his in-depth write-up at the link below, "It isn’t a perfect solution for keeping your Amazon purchases safe, but it helps save time by eliminating a lot of the junk."  

https://clark.com/shopping-retail/knockoff-amazon-fake-brands

Reloads

Thanks to my son and daughter-in-law, I had some gift card money to spend at Golf Galaxy, and I spent a half-hour wandering through the store looking for deals.  In addition to finding a nice, lightweight Safari hat, I found the like-new Titleist Pro V1 golf balls from Reload that you see below.  The Pro V1 is one of the very best golf balls on the market, and you can pick up a dozen on Amazon for around $58.  I bought two dozen Reloads for that same money, and they look every bit like brand-new golf balls.  Sweet deal!

https://www.golfgalaxy.com

Golf Cart Ports

I recently noticed, after oh so many years, that the golf carts at Walnut Grove Country Club had a little flip-up cover and was surprised to see there were two USB ports underneath, as seen below.  I guess that shouldn't surprise me in today's tech-connected world, but when I think of golf, I think about disconnecting for a few hours.  I'm torn between putting a USB cable in my golf bag just in case, or being OK with running out of power.  

Deplaning Made Easier

I didn't know that the armrest closest to an airplane's aisle could get raised, as you see below, until I spotted, out of the corner of my eye, a flight attendant helping a passenger.  On this particular plane, there was a small lever, circled in red below, that could be pulled to release the armrest.  Having that out of the way makes wiggling this 70-year-old body out of the seat much easier.

Farmer's Casserole

This is a great make-ahead dish to feed a crowd for tomorrow morning's breakfast.  Layer hash brown potatoes in a casserole dish that's been sprayed with oil, then top with pepper Jack cheese, ham, and green onions.  Pour a mixture of evaporated milk, eggs, pepper, and salt on top of that.  You can refrigerate that overnight or go straight to baking it in a 350-degree, preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, then let it rest a few minutes before serving.  

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/22454/farmers-casserole

Dual Alarms

After checking the battery-powered smoke detectors in our house, I found two that were more than 10 years old and needed replacing.  I opted for the model shown below, which has a 10-year battery, saving the time and expense of replacing the typical 9-volt battery every year.  For about $10 more, I ordered the combo Smoke + Carbon Monoxide model.  This alarm also speaks "Fire!" or "Warning! Carbon Monoxide!" so you know which it detected.  Since we have a gas furnace and a gas stovetop, having this dual-alarm model makes sense.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDWB196S

Pantry Outlet

The picture below is from Gourmet Chef Elaine's son's house in Texas.  Instead of their toaster taking up counter space, it sits on a shelf in their pantry.  I've never seen a pantry with an electrical outlet, but it certainly adds flexibility to a kitchen.  Pretty clever idea!