Monday, April 26, 2010

Monday Must Have & My One-Year Blog Anniversary


It is Monday.

And being that it is Monday, it's time to feature a new Monday Must Have, since it has been a bit too long since I've had one. AND it just also happens to be the exactly one year ago today, I started Jillicious Discoveries, and I still can't believe how fast the year went. But more on that a little later.

Today's Monday Must Have is one of my personal kitchen gadget favorites: The Fluted Pastry Wheel. Ahhhh, this little kitchen gadget is so fun to use and frankly, I wish I could use it everyday on every dessert. Anything you use a knife on to cut or trim edges on, you can use this cute, little pastry wheel on instead.


For example, remember this post? It was during this challenge when I was introduced to the homemade graham cracker and since then I've turned a blind eye to the boxes of graham crackers in the store and have made more batches of these tasty little goodies and every time I get to use this fun little tool.


Just look at these edges. So much more exciting than cutting with a regular knife.


More pastry wheel uses include; edging for pasta, ravioli, cookies, crackers, lattice work on pie dough, crimping on dough edges and anything else you can think of in your culinary adventures.

WOW--it's been one-year of blogging here on the Jillicious Discoveries blog and I just wanted to say...

First, a big shout out to all of you who I've gotten to know in this fun world of blogging and to those of you who have visited and commented and then even came back again! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I've learned much from your ideas and comments and experiences and from following your wonderful blogs, I've been truly inspired to learn more in this vast culinary field we are a part of.

Second, I will continue into this second year of blogging by sharing my experiences, and insights and all that I continue to learn and figure out along the way. I hoping to make a few changes in the next few months and I'm excited to share them with you here.

And finally, no anniversary is complete without a gift of some kind, so in keeping with the traditon of celebrating...

I'm giving you the chance to WIN your own Fluted Pastry Wheel and a package of these fun little "shower caps" (another favorite from a Monday Must Have during the year) and yes, it is open to ANYONE no matter where you live!

Just leave a comment with your email or a link for me to contact you and answer the following questions:

1) What would you or do you use the fluted pastry wheel for in your baking experiences?
2) What would you like to see or read more about on this blog?

I will be accepting your comments/entries from now until next Monday, May 3rd at 8:00 pm (PST). The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010. *One comment/entry per person.

Happy Monday!!

12 comments:

  1. LOL - I'm dying here. You'll never believe what that first photo looked like to me in it's thumbnail size... I would have sworn it was a flame coming out of a very unique cowboy spur inspired weird kind of cigarette lighter.

    Hahahahahahahahah... I thought, what the heck? Glad to see it's just a harmless little pastry wheel.

    Okay, time to get serious. 1) I like using my fluted cutter to cut strips of pie crust for lattice topped pies. 2) More Cake!

    :)
    ButterYum

    Happy Anniversary!!

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  2. Happy anniversary, Jill!!! I'm looking forward to your next baking adventures.

    1) I like to use the fluted pastry wheel to make these Moroccan cookies called Kaab el Ghazal (translated: gazelle's horns). Here's a picture: http://www.stockfood.co.uk/images-pictures/Kaab%20el%20ghazal%20%28gazelle%27s%20horns%29%20&%20sesame%20balls%20%28Morocco%29-192927.jpg.

    2) More decorated/styled cakes. You're good at that :o)

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  3. Jill,
    Happy Anniversary! I look forward to year #2 of your blog! I like everything you have featured on your blog, but would like to hear your book reviews, and about your new business adventures:)
    So far, I have used my pastry wheel only once, for the graham crackers, but I loved it! It made the graham crackers just that much better!

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  4. Happy Anniversary Jill!

    1. I think using the pastry wheel would be so fun for a lattice pie crust. Also- I use my pizza cutter to cut dough for crescent rolls. I might try it on that and see how they look.
    2. I like checking out all the fun stuff you post, but I would always love to see more recipes. Especially using in season items. I can always use more ideas.

    You are awesome! Keep it up!

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  5. Happy anniversary Jill! It has been a pleasure to have gotten to know you even in person. Keep on blogging!

    I love the little pastry wheel and I love to cut pasta and the lattice topping of a linzer tart.

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  6. Happy Blogversary! Wow, time sure does fly when you are baking some.

    Since I don't own a pastry wheel, I will probably use it on everything, just to test it out.

    I like your blog just the way it is right now.

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  7. 1) I'm using fondant for the first time on my daughter's birthday cake. I could definitely using a pastry wheel to make cool ribbons on the cake! 2) I like tutorials on how to "fancify" my desserts so they look more professional. Thanks!

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  8. How cool you have a giveaway! Well I just have to enter even though I have no idea what I would use it for! I could use the shower cap things though! If only Lizi was a bit older an had a Barbie then they could actually be used as a shower cap! hehehe
    I love your blog, but I want more pictures of your yummy desserts!

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  9. One year of blogging bliss!! Congrats. I love your pictures...more pictures. And as for what I would use the pastry wheel for..anything and everything. I wonder about breadsticks, shortbread, or almond bars with a fluted edge...mmm I have to go bake now.

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  10. Happy Blogiversary!! I would use the pastry wheel for homemade pop tarts or lattice-topped pies. I love seeing the way you decorate cakes and I would definitely love to see more of that. You have some of the best ideas!

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  11. Hi Jill!
    Congratulations on your first anniversary!
    And thank you very much for giving us the chance to win that cute pastry whell. It is on top of my wish list and I couldn't find the right one so far, untill I saw your post. I want that one, seriously, I need it to save my life!
    :-)
    I want it to make ravioli, the big ones, and of course for cookies and crackers.
    About your blog, I love your "Monday must have", which I always read even if I don't comment all the times. And I would like to see more of you decoration ideas.
    Keep up the great job honey!
    Cheers from Fabi in Madrid Spain.

    fabs_food@yahoo.es
    fabsfood.blogspot.com

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  12. Congrats on your 1st anniversary!

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