"shapes" news and stories

It looks like 3D cookies will be one of the newest trends in cookie making this year. Of course, we know that both cookies and cookie cutters are normally three-dimensional, but these are different because the baked cookies can actually be assembled into free-standing three-dimensional cookie art!

We first saw the concept back in November when we were prepping for holiday cookie making. This newest set of 3D Cookie Cutters includes fun shapes that can be used in any season: a teddy bear, unicorn, airplane, sailboat, dolphin and dinosaur. The cookie cutters are plastic and there are 12 included in the set, although you can only make six different cookie designs (unless you want to try to attach a flipper to your unicorn or legs to your airplane). The finished cookies stand approximately 5-inches tall and a recipe is included, so you have a recipe that won't spread too much and will fit together nicely on your very first try.

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When fall comes around, pies are one of the best desserts you can bring to the table, whether you are opting for pumpkin or the fruitier flavors from apples, pears and cranberries. The crust is usually the most difficult part for most cooks, but once you have mastered the dough-making technique (or have broken down and purchased ready made-dough), the job is only halfway done. The second challenge is to make the crust look presentable. Fortunately, there are a couple of gadgets that can help. One is a lattice cutter, which can simply be pressed down into the dough to punch out a traditional-looking, although not actually interwoven, lattice top for your pie. If you want to make your lattice a little more creative, you can opt for the new oak-leaf lattice cutter, instead. The other thing that will really spruce up your pie is a set of piecrust cutters, which punch out little seasonal shapes from your dough. They can be used to create vents in the top layer of the crust or you can punch out shapes from the unused scraps of crust and use them to decorate the surface of the pie.

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The lengths to which I will go to ensure that my children will eat are sometimes ridiculous. But as a mother I believe one of my duties is to feed them and feed them well. I never force my children to eat but I do sometimes resort to food entertainment in order to encourage their interest. One way I have found success is by using cookie cutters to create sandwich shapes. A sandwich is a sandwich is a sandwich, but cut that boring old square into small stars, pigs or flowers it becomes just a bit more intriguing for my brood.

Over the years I have collected a giant box of cookie cutters for this exact reason. I find that the seasonal shapes go a long way towards mealtime enticement. Also fun are the very tiny cookie cutters, my favorites are from a long ago Tupperware party. The set of four, which includes a sun, star, flower and clover, never fail to bring a giggle of delight and the sound of slurping from the table.