I mean who “needs” to go? It’s like Target. You really don’t need to and sometimes you really need to avoid it unless you want to find yourself a lot lighter in the wallet, but that’s another story. I had a store credit at BB &B and a stash of 20% off coupons just burning a hole in my pocket. They never expire. So I decided to venture into retail chaos but thankfully it wasn’t too crazy crowded since I went on a weekday. I picked up another Silpat. I have one Silpat, and I have one FlexiPat, but prefer the results I get with my Silpat so picked up one more. Nothing screams inefficiency like baking cookies one sheet at a time. But I’ve actually done that and hope to never do it again now that I will have two Silpats in rotation. I could really tell the difference in my recent Dark Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies Stuffed with Chocolate Covered Strawberries that were baked on the Silpat vs. parchment paper vs. Flexipat. <– I prefer the results I got in that order.
I also got another cookie scoop. This $3.99 item has done more for my baking and overall cookie results than any other item. Highly recommended.
I’m bringing the new one to Aruba. I don’t care if I overheat the house by turning on the oven. I will be baking cookies. My theory is that Scott won’t mind about sweating buckets in a hot house after I serve him a few cookies. That’s my theory anyway. My favorite spatula snapped in half a few weeks ago, and I grabbed the clear one with snowflakes as a replacement.
And how cute is all this egg-making paraphernalia. Too bad I don’t eat eggs. I bake with them but don’t eat them.
The pink egg stuff is sure adorable though. I’m glad Skylar wasn’t with me or I would have had had peer pressure to buy pink things.
Secret: I’ve never decorated a cake, cupcake, brownies, muffins or anything with professional tools or frosting tips. The closest I’ve gotten for decorating is using a Ziplock bag with the corner cut off. I thought for $8.49 less a 20% off coupon that I should change that major lapse in life experience and can now be christened into the cake-decorating club.
Any tips on using my tips? I have also been loving making donuts!
Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze Baked Cinnamon Bun Donuts with Vanilla Cream Cheese Glaze Baked Savory Cream Cheese & Herb Donuts Baked Vanilla Donuts with Vanilla Glaze My donut pan is the best $8 bucks I’ve spent in all of 2011. (And the cookie scoop is the best $4 bucks)
Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze anyone? Great use of the cheapie donut pan.
I originally thought that a mini-donut pan would be a little too “fussy” to deal with and that trying to get the batter in those tiny holes without making a colossal mess and getting more batter in the wrong places than in the correct places would be too challenging. But now that I have the hang of bigger donuts…
…I figure that I am ready to try making mini donuts!
Questions:
- What’s on your baking supplies or kitchen items wish list? Bigger ticket: Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Cuisinart or Kitchen Aid food processor Smaller ticket: All those little knick-knacks and gadgets that are everywhere in BB & B. I think they’ve built a retail empire by selling gadgets and little trinkets. Bowls, spoons, cute dishes, cute mugs and cups I could spend a fortune. In this sense, I am glad I have a small kitchen and no where to store things. Prevents me from going too crazy with things I “need” or just “have to have”.
- Any baking tools or supplies that you love? As I said, I love my donut pan. I use the donut pan far more than the donut maker (appliance). I find it’s just as easy to bake donuts in a pan in the oven as it is to use the donut maker. The drawback I find to the donut maker is that it can’t be submerged it in water so you have to be extra neat when making your donuts or you are left with a burnt-on, crusty mess to clean up. Not a huge issue provided you have a half a roll of paper towels to spare and don’t mind dealing with crumbs. I also love my cookie scoop. And if you use cake/cupcake decorating tools or tips, give me your tips on the tips. For my other fave kitchen appliances and gadgets (the ones I love and the ones I find over-rated), check this post. Happy Baking Season!
