If you like to bake French bread, you may know what this gift is.
Several years ago I was researching baking better French loaves, specifically keeping the loaves from flattening out. That's when I came across these baguette pans.
Instead of rising dough and baking on a flat baking sheet, these scoop-shaped pans support the dough along the edges, allowing for a taller and narrower finished loaf.
Baguette pans come in two, three, four, and five loaf versions. Mine is a two loaf pan, but you can imagine five of these "scoops" joined together.
All of the tiny holes in the pan help crisp up the bottom of each loaf. And yes, the pans' holes leave markings on the bottom of each loaf.
My kids asked me a while ago what I'd like as a gift for my birthday. Over the weekend, my son and daughter-in-law came over to celebrate both my and my husband's birthdays (our birthdays are 6 days apart). That's when I was presented with my very own baguette pan.
I made a batch of baguettes this afternoon. I shaped my dough on the countertop then transferred to the pan. It was actually very easy to move the thin lengths of dough into the pan without over-stretching. I basically rolled each length into its "scoop."
I bake French bread about once every two weeks. I'll be using this pan from now on. It kept my bread's shape, and the pan itself was as easy to clean as a baking sheet. I found no down sides to the baguette pan.
This was a practical gift that was also fun for me. For years I couldn't justify buying one for myself. But I was super pleased to receive one as a gift. And I think my family is happy that I'm putting it to use already.
What's the best practical gift that you've ever received?
