Friday Things #370
1. Joseph can’t get enough of school stuff, he asks for worksheets that get sent via email from the teachers and wants to learn all the things. A few weeks ago in his Zoom class they learned about patterns, so now he begs my husband to give him patterns to line up his cars ❤️️
2. I let Isabelle’s hair air dry on Sunday since it was warm and I am totally obsessed with her natural beach waves!
3. The boys have been taking the dogs on “walks” around the house throughout the day and I think they’re all totally bonding over it :)
4. Oh my gosh, this black lab that is changing color just melts my heart. I want to give him the biggest hug!
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5. Do you use parchment paper or silicone baking mats? I’ve used both and found this article interesting – I’d love to hear your experience, share in the comments below! >> How Silicone Baking Mats are Ruining Your Cookies
6. The June Bake-Along recipe went up this week! We’re making chocolate lava cakes 😋 I tried hard to pick something that didn’t involve products that are hard to come by right now and these don’t even require flour. Super simple, super quick, and the perfect little dessert for satisfying a chocolate craving. Who’s baking with me this month? And what will you top those babies with?!
7. Does anyone use something similar to these produce storage containers? I’ve seen a few people mention them recently and am wondering if they’re worth it? I just keep berries in their original containers and have found that raspberries and strawberries can turn quickly.
8. Exciting news! Yesterday, I announced a new five-day email series all about bread baking… check out the details here.
9. What are you watching on TV nowadays? We’re hopping between a few different things – watching The Last Dance on Sunday and Monday nights, started watching The Innocence Files on Netflix, slowly catching up on The Blacklist, and just started back up with Season 6 of Vikings that was just released on Amazon Prime.
10. TGIF! I hope you have a fantastic weekend!
I have a Silplat and used it twice when baking cookies. I didn’t like the way my cookies came out either time, nor the fact that the Silplat was so hard to clean, it feels greasy to me no matter what I do. So I have it rolled up in the cabinet and use it for times I need the nonstick surface – maybe holding a bowl still on the counter or rolling out dough or something. I vastly prefer using parchment paper for baking things. And I foil line my pans when cooking – tossing meat and veggies on a pan to tray bake? Line it with foil first, and clean up is so much easier!
TV – I’ve been watching Andy Griffith on Netflix, I love watching some of the old shows. Bonus, most episodes are about 30 minutes, so an easy way to time my lunch break while I’m working from home :)
I have also been curious about the produce containers. I usually eat what I buy before it goes south so I haven’t sprung for them. But they do look interesting.
I have silicone mats from KAF, and I like them but only for certain cookies, like those that are more delicate and need to remain light in color, for instance lady locks. I have not had the problems mentioned in the article with them. But I also really like using parchment and maybe even prefer it over my silicone mats. Generally I only bake “lunch” cookies like chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin and just use my plain old baking sheets that are really old and nothing special at all. I would like to invest in cookie sheets from Williams-Sonoma, but my plain-janes work so well that I can’t justify the expense, and when necessary my silicone mats and parchment sheets fit them perfectly.
My simple solution to make berries and grapes last longer in the fridge: I dump them into a larger shallow plastic storage container with no lining. The key is to spread them out in a single layer, touching each other as little as possible. Then loosely rest the lid on top of the container at a bit of a diagonal angle, so there are still some small corners of the container that are left uncovered, allowing the air to circulate and prevent condensation. My raspberries last for close to a week that way and no special supplies are needed!
P.S. I look forward to your Friday Things every week! Seeing what your kids and dogs are up to really brightens my day and brings a smile to my face!
The Rubbermaid produce storage containers are fabulous. I have a few and use them for lettuce and strawberries. They last much longer in these containers. I love them!
TV…I’m currently watching After Life season 2. Watched Ozark..soooo good. Also Deadwater Fell and The Capture were very good. Also catching up on some older things like 800 words (from NZ) and Midsomer Murders now that I’ve got Prime/Acorn. If you haven’t watched Schitts Creek, you must. Too funny.
I’ve only recently tried the silicone mats but for baking veg and they’ve been fine. I don’t do cookies. There’s just me and I don’t need the extra calories.
We have been watching Line off Duty on Amazon Prime and are enjoying it! Love your Friday things updates!
Looks like Isabelle might have inherited the curly hair gene from you. I love the beach waves…very Gisele looking.
I am one of those who just never could get on the silicone mat wagon. I find there is just something very off putting about baking on them. I tried but just could not stand the constant greasy feel no matter how much I cleaned them. I could never get a consistent product.
I worked part time in a bakery while attending high school and all the baking was done on parchment paper sheets. They were used over and over unless something was burned onto them for some reason. I used parchment exclusively when baking and reuse the sheets I bake cookies on. I also alway line the bottom of a cake pan /loaf with parchment even if it is not called for. I have a stash of rolls and sheets in my pantry and always purchase it at local discount stores for less than $2 a roll.
Enjoy Mother’s Day. Stay safe and well.
Oh my word….Isabelle is TOO cute!!! I am the biggest parchment paper fan. The silicone mats never feel clean to me and it just kind of grosses me out. I wash and I dry, but still they just feel slimy and weird. I have used them a total of about three times and now they just sit in my drawer. Thankfully, Costco sells a huge double pack of parchment paper that is SO much more reasonably priced than the grocery store and a huge quantity that lasts me almost a year I think? Not sure if they are selling it year-round at this point, but in the past it has only been available during the fall/holiday months. Happy Mother’s Day….have a spectacular weekend! :)
I have had a set of Rubbermaid Product Savers for quite a while and love them. I find that even washed produce lasts in these. You can recoup the cost just in the amount of raspberries you don’t have to throw away!
Interesting article about the silicone mats. I almost always use parchment. No real reason, just a habit. I only use my silicone mats when I make toffee.
I meant to add…you really need to watch Ozark. It’s different than anything we’ve seen and Jason Bateman is incredible! Deena
Hi Michelle, I checked out the containers on Amazon and the reviews are terrific. My herbs just don’t last during the winter months (yes, it’s still winter here in NJ) so I’m looking for something that will help with preserving them. The kids are just adorable! Thanks for a fun blog and fabulous recipes! Deena
I have silicone mats from Costco (Miu brand) that I use to bake and they’re amazing, I don’t have any of the problems that are described in that article when I use them. However, I have some actual Silpat mats and they are awful. My cookies never turn out as well when I use them. Same batch of dough will bake up completely different on the two different brands of mat. I will see about using parchment paper instead though.
I have some of the Rubbermaid containers and use them when we have too much produce for the bins in our refrigerator. (Our bins have special “fresh packs” that keep produce fresh for a long time.) Those, along with the vinegar bath mentioned by others, keeps our produce a surprisingly long time. I think the Rubbermaid containers are worth it.
We’re doing the free month of Hulu right now. They finally have Designing Women, so we’re going back through those and laughing our heads off. We mix in a little Too Cute now and then. (Your kids might love that show.)
I won those Rubbermaid storage containers in a giveaway a few years ago and they are truly AMAZING. I never would have believed they “work” or bought them on my own, but they prolong produce life by days, if not a week. Especially great for lettuce and greens!
Oh my gosh Isabelle’s beach waves are sooo cute! And how mature of the boys to be taking the dogs for walks! My hubby and I watching the last dance too, my hubs was a big MJ fan, so he is loving this! I’m watch New Amsterdam, great show. I guess it’s a now a days ER. I like it, it tugs at your heart strings almost every episode. Hubs doesn’t watch it, so I watch it during the day when he is at work… ha. Stay safe and stay healthy ❤️
Oh my goodness, those babies of yours are too cute for words! Sweetness personified!
I store berries in their original container, but I make two adjustments. I carefully dump them all out and pull out that moisture absorbent material that’s usually soiled. I replace that with a double layer of paper towels and repack the berries only one layer deep. As I repack the berries, I set aside any that are damp or damaged so we can eat those first. Also, keeping the berries dry helps them not grow mold. Of course, looking for damp or crushed berries before you buy helps, too.
I use the Rubbermaid produce containers; they give you a couple of extra days, really 1-2 not 3-4, on strawberries if they are in good shape. If you have bruised berries it doesn’t help. I really like the lettuce keeper! I have stretched spring mix for many extra days. One downside is that the containers take up extra space in your fridge. An easy alternative for lettuce is to line a storage container with a layer of paper towel and another layer on top of the lettuce; my mom does this and it works really well.
That dog… <3
I use the Tupperware fridgemates for so many of my refrigerated goods! They are awesome and definitely extend the shelf life of everything!
I did purchase the produce savers and I love them. Has been an improvement for the berries and for romaine and other salad greens. Highly recommend.
I did buy the produce savers (same set, I think) and I love them. Have definitely noticed that berries and the romaine last longer. Small household here, so they were well worth it.
Many years ago I worked in a cookie store in a mall. They used parchment. We reused it many times, just wiping it down everyday. I use parchment today and wipe it down. I throw it away when it’s dirty and brittle.
I do NOT like the Silicone baking mats!!! I used them once and regretted it. The article is spot on.
I use the OXO produce containers. My daughter swears by them so I thought I would try them. I use the larger one for lettuces and the smaller ones for peppers and berries! Lettuce stays fresh /crisp longer. I recommend the produce containers.
I love your site! I suggest you watch “Afterlife” on Netflix! There are two seasons so far.. If you love Ricky Gervais, like I do, this is the show for you. It is British humor, which makes it all the better. Loving the new baking hints emails.
I love the ABC pattern!
About your raspberries and strawberries….I have a solution that costs much less than those special storage containers. When you bring berries home, immediately soak them in a 10 to 1 solution of water and plain white vinegar. So if you put 1/4 cup of vinegar in a bowl, then add 10 quarter cups (2-1/2 cups) of water. Swish around, add berries, swish around and let sit a minute of 2. Drain and put into clean conatiner. Put a paper towel on top of the berries, put on lid and store UPSIDE DOWN in fridge. Anytime you take out, if the paper towel is wet, change it out for a dry one. I hang the wet one on my oven door until dry. Using this, I have had rastberries last 13 days!!! I do this with ALL berries. Hope this helps.
IF YOU RINSE YOUR BERRIES IN 1 CUP OF WHITE VINEGAR AND 3 CUPS OF WATER FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN, PLACE THEM IN A TEA TOWEL AND PICK UP THE ENDS AND GENTLY SHAKE FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE STILL ON THE COUNTER TOP TO DRY. THEN PLACE SOME PAPER TOWEL IN A CONTAINER WITH A LID, PUT BERRIES IN BUT LEAVE THE LID SLIGHTLY
AJAR AND PLACE IN THE FRIDGE THEY WILL LAST QUITE A WHILE. I REMOVED THE STEMS
OF STRAWBERRIES BEFORE THE WASH AND HAD THEM FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS.
Totally agree on the silicone mats. I ran right out to buy Silpats when they were all the rage and literally baked one tray of cookies on them from an entire batch before I threw them back into the cupboard and continued with my parchment paper. Tried them for other things also with the same disappointing result so parchment it is for me!
Love Isabelle’s beach waves! Interesting about the silicone mats……..I only bake with parchment and use my silicone mats solely for cooking things like roasted potatoes, veggies, and sheet pan dinners.
Hi Michelle, I love the Rubbermaid produce containers, especially the larger one for lettuce. It keeps my lettuce fresh and crisp for two weeks. Romaine lettuce is my favorite – I wash it, spin it dry, and layer the whole leaves in the container. Leaving them whole reduces browning on the edges. Happy Mother’s Day – you are the best mom!!!