Last Friday, I found a Reed’s Rocket nut cracker at an estate sale. It was hefty and seemed to be well-made, so I plunked down $2, hoping I’d finally found a nut cracker that wouldn’t disappoint me (I’ve tried a lot of nut crackers over the years, but none have been worth even the yard sale price that I paid for them).

This morning, my husband and I decided to put it through its paces.

We pulled out several different types of nuts, since it said it could handle pecans, English Walnuts, almonds, filberts and Brazil nuts.

First we tried it on pecans … It shelled a cups-worth in record time. And it left them whole.

Then, we tried it on English Walnuts. It handled those beautifully, too.

We also tried it on almonds, but my husband ate those before I got to take a picture.

Excited to have finally found something that works, I jumped online to see if this lovely contraption is still available today. And yep, it is! The latest model looks just like the old-school one that I bought – same design, and same steel construction mounted on a wood base.

If you’ve been struggling to find a good nut cracker, like I have, I highly recommend the Reed’s Rocket Nut Cracker. Nut season is still a few months off, but it would be well worth sticking this gadget on your wish list.

Like to dry your own herbs and make your own spice blends? Then, start saving the lids off of your Parmesan cheese bottles. They’re a perfect fit for regular-mouth canning jars.

Just screw one onto a half-pint or full-pint jar, and you’ll have a spice jar that’s every bit as nice as any store-bought version (and with loads more room, too).

Things are heating up, which means it’s time to get on all of those summer tasks. Print a copy of our summer to do list, and check things off as you get them done.

Last week, our chicks turned another five pounds of feed into …

leg feathers …

tail feathers …

more wing feathers …

bigger feet …

and lots of poop. This chick was nice enough to fly up onto my shoulder and immediately poop on it. Not the best way to thank me for the 50-pound bag of feed that I drug home this morning.

People say you can only find coupons for processed foods, but that just isn’t true. Check out this list of coupons for real foods and real ingredients, and see for yourself:

Coupons.com

• $.55 off two Jennie-O Turkey Franks products
• $.75 off one Planters Honey BBQ or Multipack Peanut

SavingStar

• Get $5 back wyb $10 of Musselman’s Apple Sauce jars
• Get $4 back wyb $15 of any StarKist 3 oz.,3-pack can products
• Get $1 back wyb three cans of Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken Breast
• Get $.40 back wyb six cups of any variety of Yoplait yogurt
• Get $.30 back wyb one cup of Liberté Greek yogurt

SmartSource

• $.50 off Sargento Natural Blends Sliced or Snack Cheese
• $.75 off select Dixie Crystals products
• $.65 off any one Domino Organic Agave product
• $.75 off any two Domino Sugar products, 2 lbs. or larger
• $.55 off any Florida Crystals Natural or Organic product
• $.65 off any Florida Crystals Organic Agave product
• $.75 off select Imperial Sugar Products
• $.50 off Pompeian Vinegar, 16 oz. or larger
• $1 off any variety of Pompeian Olive Oils, 16 oz. or larger
• $.50 off Star vinegar
• $1 off Star olive oil, 16 oz. or larger
• $1 off any two Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain Brown Rice Products

Redplum

• $.50 off Del Monte Fruit Naturals mango cup
• $.75 off any two Domino Sugar products
• $.75 off one bottle of Domino Light or Amber Organic Agave Nectar
• $.55 off any Florida Crystals Natural or Organic Sugar product
• $.75 off one bottle of Florida Crystals Light or Amber Organic Nectar

CouponNetwork

• $1.10 off YoCrunch Yopa

Recyclebank (must redeem rewards points to get coupons)

• $1 off two 4oz. or larger bags of Blue Diamond nuts
• $5 off $25 coupon for The Fresh Market
• $2 off two Hellman’s Products
• $.75 off one Hellman’s Olive Oil Product
• $1 off one box of Lipton Tea Bags

PorkBeInspired.com

• Click “Sign Up Now.” Register for a free account, and print a coupon for $1 off any fresh pork product

Vidalia Onions

• $.50 off loose or bagged Vidalia Onions(5 lb. minimum)

HoneyBaked Ham Co.

• $3 off Smoked or Roasted Turkey Breast
• $5 off Bone-In Half Ham
• $3 off Boneless Ham

Like this list? I’ll be updating it weekly, so be sure to check back.