Make Cookies More Ways With Press Dough by Maggie Reed on Creators.com

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Make Cookies More Ways With Press Dough

Ready, set, cut and cook those cookies ... lots of different cookies. With the holiday season closer than we think, we all want to save some time when creating special holiday treats in the kitchen.

The collection of Press Dough cookie cutters does just this. Any baker knows it takes a long time to roll out dough, cut out shapes, take the leftover dough, roll it out again and cut some more until the dough is gone — unless you snitch on it until it is gone.

With Press Dough, a variety of cookie-cutter shapes are arranged strategically to minimize surface area and maximize the number of cutouts. The pieces are then welded together to create one big cutter.

"Baking can sometimes take a lot of time, so we brought in a quick convenience, but we also made the joys of cooking with kids as a great use of time," said Pam Walsh, founder of Press Dough. "The Multi-Cutter is easy and fast enough to keep the attention span of a 2-year-old, and you can get right to the icing and sprinkle decorating that kids love."

Press Dough Multi-Cutters cover a variety of themes, including Halloween, Christmas, birthdays, animals, sports, ballerinas and hearts.

The cutters allow for up to five of the same shape cutouts or four different shapes to be incorporated into one.

If you're feeling inventive, you can create your own personal cutter. Choose four cookie shapes, and Press Dough will work magic by putting them together to form a one-of-a-kind cutter.

Press Dough Multi-Cutters are not just for cookies. Use them to make pancakes, mini meatloaf and cakes. In between uses, hang them on the wall or pot rack for added ambiance. You can take them out of the kitchen, as well. Use the cutters to recycle slivers of soap and old crayons into cool bathroom decorations.

And let's not forget Fido. Press Dough offers the HOBO Biscuit Gift Kit ($20) that includes: Dog-bone shaped cookie cutter, biscuit mix by King Arthur Flour, a bandanna (red, blue or denim) and a fetching stick.

The Multi-Cutters cost between $7 and $10. For more information, call 203-451-1999 or visit www.pressdough.com.

DEVOTION

Inspired by a trip to Nepal, Brooklyn-based artist Amy Helfand created her new Devotion collection.

Her main purpose was to visit the factory that produces her rugs in order to view firsthand the intricate process of making them.

While there, Helfand was struck by the abundance of shrines, temples and Tibetan prayer flags. She was also impacted by the deep faith of the people, both Hindu and Buddhist.

"On my trip to Nepal, I was moved by the continual presence of the iconography of devotion," says Helfand. "When I returned and studied the photographs I had made there, the lines of the prayer flags inspired me to begin working on this body of images."

The collection vibrates with tones of fuchsia, violet, chartreuse, coral and periwinkle in Helfand's signature contemporary, abstract forms and lines.

Patterns include: Garland (9 feet by 5.5 feet), Prayer (10 feet by 8 feet), Toward Chiwong (5 feet by 8 feet) and Solu Runner (2.5 feet by 10 feet).

The Devotion pieces are available by commission for residential and commercial use. Made from hand-spun and pot-dyed Tibetan wool and Chinese silk, the heirloom-quality rugs are hand-knotted at a minimum of 100 knots per inch, allowing for designs to be translated precisely from the original artwork.

"I am very grateful that I was able to meet the Nepalese artisans who are responsible for translating my artwork into a hand-knotted rug, which is no small task," said Helfand.

Also, as a RUGMARK licensee, Helfand is committed to producing work in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, including not employing children in the making of any carpet or rug.

For more information, call 718-643-9577 or visit www.amyhelfand.com.

Readers, if you have discovered any nifty home products out there, let me know and I will pass them along.

Maggie Reed may be reached at trocar2000@hotmail.com. To find out more about Maggie Reed and other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.