In Praise of Pots and Pans: Second Canto

Yesterday, I composed a hymn to all the cooking vessels and accoutrements that have made my gluten freedom possible. Today, I am celebrating the bakeware that has enabled my wheatless dessert fabrication - a much more difficult and fraught task, to which they have risen (get it?) with aplomb.

The list below is by no means complete. My kitchen scales, for example, have been lauded elsewhere. My piping bag, ever modest and shy, has asked not to be included in any public display of thanks. The large 18" x 12" baking sheets on which I produce profiteroles and gougeres were having a bad hair day and also begged to be excused.

These are the instruments without which very little of my confectionery success would be possible:

My gigantic stainless steel mixing bowl with very deep sides and small footprint.

Ideal for whipping up egg whites for macarons and mousses, cake batters,

sponge mixtures, and buttercream.

My trusty electric handmixer, for use with above.

Although I possess a KitchenAid standmixer, I prefer my wee pal

for almost every job imaginable - the only exceptions being madeleines

(which take so long to mix I can walk away from them)

and frangipane (the batter for which is pretty thick).

My handmixer is also useful for whipping up

potatoes for mash, once they have been through the ricer.

I am not a great believer in having too much specialist equipment about the place,

but my madeleine tins are always easily accessible on my Metro shelving.

I can make 24 at a time, and often do.

My mini-muffin tins are worth their weight in gold.

I produce all manner of petites gateaux but financiers

are hands down the family's favorite.

My views on the ridiculousness of cupcakes are well-known,

but a full-size muffin tin is necessary for Yorkshire puds.

Almost all my cake-baking is carried out in this standard nine-inch round tin.

It is versatile and awesome - in a pinch, I can roast potatoes in it.

My silicon parchment rolls make all baking possible.

I use them rather than Silpats for just about any application you might care to name

and they have never let me down.

Next up: a sonnet for Moleskine, who will be retiring on December 31 after fifteen weeks of sterling service