So I noticed today, with a slight bit of embarrassment, that the only blogs I link to are cooking blogs. Yes, Nurse Nancy cooks! Cooking is my therapy - sad, happy, can't afford a therapist - let's cook! The methodical act of scooping cookie dough and placing it on a cookie sheet; slicing red potatoes into quarters to roast...it is so soothing.
My awesome hubby bought me a Silpat a couple of weeks ago. A Silpat is a non-stick silicone mat that is reinforced with a fiberglass weave in the middle. The mat fits in a large cookie sheet, and you need not use any fat to grease it. I use it as I would parchment paper - NO broiling, though! The directions that came with the mat made me laugh out loud - reminded me of the Saturday Night Live "Happy Fun Ball" skit: "Warning: Happy Fun Ball may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds" and "Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball". There are seven "do nots" or "nevers" on the instructions. I steeled myself and pressed forward with Silpat experimentation.
I discovered that biscuits burn easily on Silpat. I decreased the oven temperature 25 degrees F and cooked for the minimum amount of time for the next round...perfect. Tonight, I compared peanut butter cookies on Silpat vs. parchment. I must say I believe the parchment round came out prettier and more evenly done. The Silpat seemed to encourage the edges of the cookie to splay out and burn prematurely. My family ate both and enjoyed them; they insisted there was no difference in the taste.
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