Rolling out the dough
At least once a week, I pull my wooden rolling pin out of the drawer and use it to roll out dough. Then I have to wash it. And I really hate that, because it reminds me every week that I want a new plastic rolling pin. The wooden one warps over time, and it's just plain hard to clean. It's not really supposed to go in the dishwasher, and I guess I really wasn't supposed to soak it in the sink overnight either.
Progressive International offers a cute rolling pin with extras that are smart--and useful. First, it stores 9 cookie cutters inside. The cutters come in fun colors--red, orange, and yellow--and shapes, including a boy, a girl, a heart, and a butterfly. Pop off the pin's handles to get to the cookie cutters. And at the same time, fill the rolling pin with ice to prevent dough from sticking to it. Clever!
It's also dishwasher-safe, which is music to my ears. You can find it online for about $20.
