New Toy: The Zoku

My Aunt D. gave us two Zoku Quick Pop Makers for Christmas. You're sure to witness more of my experiments with them if you stick around on Snackreligious, but for starters I made the kiddo a quick milk popsicle. As you can see, it works just fine (though I forgot to snap on the drip guard before handing it over). I didn't taste this particular pop, though. Just for babies!

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Yes, they're good for my eyesight, but will they help my camera take better pictures after dark?

The li'l cookie and I are just sitting here eating carrots after a lightweight evening of holiday cookie party baking.  Oh, yeah, and the cat's got his nose in my business, too. 


Stripe Elastic Tunic by Topshop Maternity and pants from Uniqlo

Tonight, I ran out of butter, so I only made it through one batch of spritz cookies before we had to wrap.



One of the reasons I make a spritz cookie recipe each year (besides the butter in these babies, of which there is an outrageously delicious amount) is that my mom gave me an antique, aluminum cookie press a number of years ago.  It works better than any "newfangled" plastic cookie press I've ever tried, and cleans up easily.  I love my cookies and I love my cookie press.





It even came in a box with a mailing label that proclaims it was once mailed to a Mrs. Eddie Locker of Dayton Ohio, shipped as "aluminum articles" from the Weyerhaeuser Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.


Cookie Count: 491

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A Gift for Beloved Bakers

Here's a holiday gift idea that's coming a little late.

My favorite tool while baking cookies (if we're talking smaller than a food processor)?

One of these push-up style measuring cups. They're perfect for measuring shortening, softened butter or vegan spread from tubs, peanut butter, and molasses. Less fuss, less mess, more push-pop action!

If your favorite baker doesn't have one, make a note for Christmas (etc.), 2010.

Adventures in Bento

I used some Christmas money (thanks, Mom and Dad!) to buy myself a Bento-style lunchbox.




This is supposed to make me more excited to eat leftovers for lunch.







It's working!




The lunchbox is a little bigger than I need, so there's plenty of room for snacks.




Tortilla soup and tortilla chips never have to touch until they're ready.





Beyond work, I'm thinking the beach and the park would also be good destinations for me and my portable foodstuffs. There's a smaller bento box available, too, if you're looking for a kid- or snack-sized version.


p.s. I just learned (the research way, not the hard way) - don't microwave these.