My growing tool basket....

I recently had some fun shopping at my version of Lowe's.   All you bakers and cooks out there know what I mean.   You know... that tingle you get when you walk by a Williams-Sonoma.   Or the joy you feel when you get a new baking tool that you have been coveting for a long period of time.   How about the smile you get on your face when you find a gadget that fulfills all your cooking dreams.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I still love shoes... and purses... scarves... and makeup.   I still do love those things and they still make my heart pitter patter.  But, I also am a baker.  And bakers have a whole slew of gadgets and gizmos to get the blood boiling.   

Here are a few of the fun items that I have bought recently thanks to some lovely gift cards.   

From left to right: flat wisk, purple Better Batter Wisk, Kuhn Rikon Corn Zipper, Kuhn Rikon double Peeler and wooden dowel.  All tools except for the Corn Zipper were bought at Sur La Table.   The Corn Zipper was bought at Williams-Sonoma.

Look at that flat wisk.   I know that it will be able to wisk every nook and cranny of my cast iron skillet.  I also intend to perfect my own gravy with it.   And that purple Better Beater.   It really is fun!!  I made waffles recently and wisked my batter to perfection.  

Now, onto that corn zipper.   I haven't had the chance to test this one out yet.  I cannot wait for summer- Ohio Corn is the best.   Remember my post on the Corn Festival?  Well, that is Ohio in the summer.   Sweet fresh corn, hot donuts and fair rides.    Summers in Ohio are the best and filled with festivals and events.   Winter in Ohio.... uhhh I am not quite sure as I am hibernating right now.

See that zippy little red peeler.  I am going to test it out this weekend. I have a butternut squash that is waiting to be roasted.   Last time I peeled a squash I almost  lost a few fingers so I am very grateful to find it.   I actually looked at my peelers in the drawer and I have quite a few.   Five now to be exact including these two.   I also have a tomato peeler.   It's teeth are very zesty....  And my new red peeler is a dual one- I can switch blades easily.  

And my new dowel.   I tested it out already on some cookie dough.   Sigh.  It was lovely.   I still love my marble rolling pin, but I may cheat a little with this new beauty.

These are not necessarily my all time favorite baking & cooking tools, but I am excited to add them to my tool collection.  Do you have any favorite cooking or baking tools?

Longing for Summer Corn,
Marci

Covet

As the holidays are approaching one cannot help but checking out goodies online.   And of course, I manage to find things that I adore.   Here are a few of recent favorites.  

Look at these beautiful measuring cups.   They make me want to mix butter and sugar together.  forever.  I imagine that cookies made with these taste so much better than ones made with my plastic measuring cups.   They are from Anthropologie.  Of course.  Who doesn't love that place?  

Oh and these beauties.   Anthrolopologie again.   I think that they sneak into my subconscious and create things from the ideas I have there.   So, Anthropologie owes me for all of their great ideas.  Or they at last owe me some cute measuring cups.

Check out this cute cookie stamp Sophie showed me.   Adorable.   Perhaps not the most practical but very cute.  Source: The Spoon Sisters.

And now onto the measuring spoons.  I love gingerbread men.   I can almost smell them.  Okay that sounded weird.   Let's just forget I said that.
source: Pier 1

Check out these cute owl measuring spoons.  I adore owls.   They are my favorite.  
Source: Pier 1

Speaking of owls.  These owls are a set? from World Market.   The largest owl is a cookie holder and the medium sized owl is a measuring cup set and the mini's are measuring spoons.   I LOVE this set.   LoVe!!

But this is what I am asking Santa for this Christmas.   I would like the porch and this swing.   Minus the sleeping lady.   Yeah, that would be kinda creepy if Santa included the sleeping lady.   But, I have no doubt that Santa can wrap up a wrap-around porch and swing for me.   I am sure it will fit just dandy under the tree.

What items are on your list this holiday?
I am sure I will find more goodies to share as we get closer to Christmas.  So prepare yourself.   I might get a little carried away.

Smiles,
Marci

It's all in the tools...

LilaLoa is a blog that I follow and love. She makes amazing cookies and cakes and I see her work and dream of being so talented. Recently, she posted a picture of her icing colors and how she stores them. And she challenged us to show her our icing colors and how we store them.

So here is a peek at my cookie (and sometimes cake) supplies.

And here are my Americolor icing colors. I really do like these gel colors. The small bottles are my favorite to buy as I always am convinced that I just "need a teeny bit". Until you make something red, or blue or black... and then I feel like I use the whole small bottle.

So I have invested in some large bottles of color. So if you need some black food color just call me cause I am your gal.

Does anyone else have a hobby that requires a bin of supplies? I feel like so many of my interests require bins of tools. Someday I will find a hobby that requires nothing... Like tv watching...just kidding....well maybe.... (and if you haven't noticed yet- I like to use my punctuation incorrectly. I know English majors out there are cringing. But, I like it because I feel like pauses look like periods in my head- so hence many periods and many exclamation marks).

My nephew has been asking about cookies so I think I am going to plan another "Cookie Decorating- but really just need the sprinkles" Day with him. I CAN'T WAIT!

Smiles,

Marci