I'm Making A List...
We are now a mere EIGHT days from Christmas morning and this means two things - 1) you should order your pies now (http://pjpies.com/order-holiday-pies/), and 2) you are close or thisclose to being done with your holiday shopping.
If you are in need of last minute ideas, I drooled over the Williams-Sonoma website for gift ideas for the foodie in your life (it was either shop online or write a 2,000 word post about Silent Stan). In no particular order, here are some things I would be THRILLED to find under the Christmas tree next week. (And in full disclosure, Williams-Sonoma doesn't know I exist and likely doesn't really care that I like their stuff. They haven't sent me any of these items to try out, but if they did, I would totally accept them. We all have our price, people.)
- A Pie Weight Disc
Is there anything that the fine folks at Williams-Sonoma haven't thought of? Pie weights are used in blind baking - meaning when you need to bake the shell before adding the filling (think cream pies). A pie weight keeps your crust from sinking down while baking. This disc is adorable and pragmatic, beating the heck out of the porcelain pie weight balls that are much more commonly used. And at $12.95 each, you can get two and feel okay about it. The reviews are mixed, but I think it is worth a shot. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/pie-weight-disc/.
2. A Stoneware Pie Bird
Yeah, I have never used one of these and I can feel Jeanne rolling her eyes at me, but c'mon, it is cute! According to the description, you put one of these suckers in the middle of a fruit pie and it will vent steam to keep the pie from boiling over. Who knew? It is Le Creuset and only $8.95 AND comes in a bunch of super cute colors. Personally, I would add the "carribean" one to my cart because I'm a sucker for that blue color. There aren't any reviews and I have no clue how it specifically works, but it is a bird in a pie, so what else do you need to know? I would give you the link but it is ridiculously long. You can find it on the Williams-Sonoma website (search "Le Creuset Stoneware Pie Bird").
3. Adjustable Rolling Pin
This is an adjustable rolling pin by Joseph Joseph. My mind is officially blown - this rolling pin helps you roll your dough to the exact thickness you need (think pie dough, cookies, pizza dough, etc). You can also remove the adjustable discs and use it as a traditional rolling pin. The reviews are pretty good. I'm not entirely convinced, as I can tell by the feel of the dough if it is too thick when I'm rolling, but for $19.95, I'm willing to test it out. Again, the link is really long (I notice a trend here, Williams-Sonoma), so just search for the "Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin".
4. iSi Silicone Bowl Scraper
Jeanne spends 91.37% of her life yelling at me to "SCRAPE THE BOWL!!!" Now she could yell it less and thus, I would hear it less. At $8.95 each, I'll be buying 40 to stock our new shop. Search "iSi Silicone Bowl Scraper" and if they are sold out, it is because I beat you there.
5. Mixer
Ok, I know these are crazy expensive, but I am here to tell you that this mixer will transform your life. I used to see these all over the place at Christmas time and think "meh, who cares?" I wish I were that young again, because now I've reached the age to realize these things are AWESOME. If you have someone in your life that likes to bake a lot and is constantly cursing their cheap hand mixer, bite the bullet and gift one to that person. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/kitchenaid-artisan-stand-mixer/?cm_src=AutoSchRel.
6. Finally, what sort of blogger would I be if I didn't mention that Peggy Jean's has gift certificates available? They make great gift for foodies or for those people whom you don't know well enough to buy a pie bird...think teachers, your hair person, your neighbors, or anyone whom you would like to show a little token of appreciation this time of year. You can order online at www.pjpies.com and we will mail them to you or you can pick them up from the Elks on Monday or Tuesday.
Happy shopping!