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Gathering Ingredients is Not Enough, Now for Equipment

Early in my cookie baking project, I discovered I would have to plan ahead to find the right ingredients for each cookie. I have made special trips to the grocery store for almond paste, pastry flour, graham crackers, Brazil nuts, dried currants, sesame seeds and coconut (the fresher, the better). I made additional trips to Home Cake, my local cake decorating supply shop, for special cookie cutters, pastry bags and decorating dust.

I managed to conserve gas on other occasions only because the things I had on hand included: lemons, fine granulated sugar, pecans, molasses, oats, pine nuts, vanilla beans, brandy, rum and sherry. Impressive, huh?

Now, as I look ahead to the next few cookies, I've added to my shopping list: cottage cheese, dried figs, more oranges, and peanut oil - somehow, I stopped using it for stir-fries and never bought more.

Oh yes, one more thing - a pizzelle maker. For the uninitiated, or non-Italian, a pizzelle maker is a device that takes a fairly runny batter, squishes it between two hot, (usually) round metal plates to form a thin disk with decorations in relief on each side. Much like a waffle iron, but the product is thinner and can be rolled into a cylinder while still warm, becoming crisp as it cools. Scandinavians have a virtually identical device to make a cookie they call Krumkake.

I have been tempted, but resisted buying this single-purpose appliance, which sells for about $50 new. I've successfully avoiding buying an automatic rice maker and an automatic bread baker. This time, for the sake of the blog (picture my arm to my forehead approaching martyrdom), I figured I'd have to take the plunge, but I don't have to spend the big bucks. A used appliance should work just as well as a new one.

Craig's list Seattle was no help, but because I'll visit my mom in Oakland next week, I took a chance on the SF Craig's list. Un grande successo! $10 for a used pizzelle maker for sale in Oakland, and it's all mine!

More when I make the pizzelle.

Comments

  1. Wow..Looks amazing!!!! /I look forward to your feedback /thanks for this man it was very help
    Pizza Equipment

    ReplyDelete

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