Time for a few Thursday Things. A few eye-catching items of the baking variety that I saw included:
1. Mini Non-Contact Laser Candy Thermometer
I am the worst when it comes to candy thermometers. Just give me one, and I can assure you that I will get sugar and butter on it that becomes so permanently hardened that you need a jackhammer to remove it. We’re talking a glue-like substance so hard that Nasa was wondering if they could use it to affix rocket tiles to the next shuttle.
I have no idea why my hard ball stage is any worse and more glue-like than the next person’s, but just touching my thermometers into the boiling sugar tends to ruin them. Thus, if a recipe needs a candy thermometer, I immediately discount it and move on.
But this handy dandy device is a non-contact laser thermometer and it reads the surface temperature. Normally I don’t jump onto high-tech bakeware or anything that seems gimmicky, but this gadget could redeem my faith in Hard Crack.
2. Speaking of Crack, did you make Christmas Crack? AKA: Chocolate Saltine Toffee
Give it a whirl if you haven’t. Crack is cool for New Years parties.
3. Baking 911 Cheat Sheet. If it could help with Burnt Bottoms or Dry Leftovers as it indicates, it’s more than a 911 sheet; that’s called a miracle worker sheet.
They have everything.
Where else can you get Mahlab? Mahlab, the pit of the sour cherry, has been used for centuries in the Middle East (especially in Turkey and Syria) as a sweet/sour, nutty addition to breads, cookies and biscuits.
5. Disco Dust
Cupcakes just got instantly better with disco dust.
Between Hard Crack and Disco Dust, New Years Eve just got more interesting. At least with regard to dessert making.
6. Beater Blades for Kitchen Aid Stand Mixers
Continuous bowl scraping attachment for your mixer. I have heard these things rock.
They are step 2.
Step 1 is scoring a stand mixer.
I’m working on that with these
Then I worked on him with these
These just about did the trick.
I figure put cheese on donuts, put cheese and cream cheese into donuts, add butter and herbs to white flour, and that’s the way to a man’s heart.
7. Some of my favorite baking items and baking supplies are here
8. Some of my favorite kitchen appliances are here
9. My 10 Baking Commandments Baking Rules are here
10. Christi just did a Cooking & Baking Roundup today. She has the best treats and ideas!
11. I have a DAHLicious Giveaway here. Winner announced tomorrow.
12. These bars are no-bake so not technically baking. Just tell people you slaved over them but in reality they take 10 minutes.
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Squares (Vegan, GF)
I was grateful someone other than Skylar and I liked them.
13. If you really want to bake rather than no-bake, may I suggest baking a pan of Magic Eight Bars for any New Years parties you’re attending.
Even if that means a party of you and these bars on the couch in your living room at 8:27pm long before the stroke of midnight. Who needs champagne and loud parties anyway.
Questions:
Have you seen any things lately that have you excited? Baking things or otherwise?
Any fun holiday recipes, tips, products, parties, events your attending…What are your things?
Fun kitchen gadgets are the best. I read over that Baking 911 like there was going to be a test later, lol. I often wonder if there is a specific reason behind my various cooking disasters. I always figured it was all of the forces of the universe coming together against me. What can I say, I’m a bit dramatic ;)
I am very excited that I got a donut pan and food processor for Christmas!!! Can’t wait to use them both!!!
congrats!!!!
that disco dust is A-mazing! so fun! Glad that you made it home safely from Aruba…I’m just about to start planning my summer trip and I cannot wait :) For Christmas, my husband got me a Silpat and a giant balloon whisk, both of which I’m unnaturally excited about!
and I hope you have FUN on your trip!
I love fun kitchen gadgets. I love the idea of a donut pan, I just don’t know if I’d ever use it. Also, I’m still working on acquiring some basic stuff like a food processor and a strainer.
I dont have a food proc either. A Vita, but no food proc. I figure til I feel I can’t live without it, would rather not deal with storage issues.
You’ve got some MEAN dessert here girl!
thanks :)
Magic eight bars are my favorite! If I made them they’d never make it to the party!
ditto :)
You’re not fooling me, Averie: If you let your husband know that you really, really want a stand mixer, then baby gets a new stand mixer!
Just looked at the disco dust link. Bummer, it’s for decoration only, non-edible! I’d like to find sugar in those vibrant colors. There’s got to be a crafty-type person out there who’s figured out how to color sugar yourself without spending an arm and a leg. (I’m thinking the colored pastes instead of liquid for more vibrant color, and maybe some process involving adding it with liquid and then drying in the oven?
I just took a quick glance on that site, I thought it was edible. Google for sprinkles, baking dust, glitter…there are soooo many baking sites that carry stuff like that. It does exist, for sure!
Yes re the mixer. I am cheap and can’t bring myself to buy one…yet. :)
I asked for a beater blade for christmas and santa didn’t deliver. :( I think I’m just going to gift it to myself!!
Congrats on the Kitchen Aid! It will change your life. And believe me, I would’ve been very buttered up with all those delicious goodies. I got an ice cream maker for Christmas… and I’m very excited!
Oh I don’t have it. I wrote in the post I’d *like to* to have it, but I don’t. Not yet anyway!
Newest discovery: Godiva White Chocolate Peppermint Crunch bar. I got one for Christmas….Oh man. There are truly no words.
Newest obsession: my baby niece. That kid is just too damn cute.
That baking 911 is superb! Love it! Thank you for sharing.
glad you like it
i made the chocolate saltine toffee this afternoon and i may be making the pb caramel jelly bars tonight! awesome!
oh have fun baking and enjoy the choc saltine toffee…and those bars are my hubs fave dessert to date that I have ever made!
I hope you dont mind but I shared your blog on the Angel Food-nutrition group on Facebook
:)
I hope they enjoy it..thanks for linking me up!
OOOOO DISCO DUST!!!!
Brooke
http://www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
LOL – I’m with you on step 1 – needing the mixer ;-)
Great list, lots of baking goodies here! I’ve been lusting over fashion pieces and running gear lately, but have to remind myself I’m saving money. :-)