SHARING: Early Xmas Gift....I got 2 PIZZA STONES!!!

[Susan]

I am sooooo excited! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif My hubby gave me an early Christmas present last night: two 13" round Pampered Chef Pizza Stones! I have been perusing the archives this morning reading everything that has been posted about pizza stones and pizza. I can't wait to make my first official pizza stone pizza! My hubby found a recipe for pizza dough with beer in it that he wants us to try. Well, thanks for listening! I just had to share my news with people who would appreciate the true beauty of a pizza stone! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

~~Susan~~

[Grace]

Oh, lucky you! You will love your baking stones. They have many more purposes than just pizzas too (which I'm sure you're aware of). Once you've used them awhile and get used to them, you'll wonder how you ever did without them! Sounds like you have a terrific husband.... Happy Holidays!!!

(When my husband bought me a KitchenAid Food processor for Xmas 2 years ago, my MIL told him he was crazy, and that I would be mad at him - I guess she got a blender once from her husband and was mad - she's more a jewelry type lady, but anyhow, I was THRILLED to get it! Are we a sick bunch or what? Getting all excited about kitchen gadgets!)

[RobinC]

I am with you ladies on the kitchen stuff for gifts. People really raised an eyebrow when I tell them my DB (darling boyfriend) gave me a Cuisinart food processor for my B-day last year and a Breadmachine for my B-day this year. They were items at the top of my list! My christmas list this year includes big jewelery and some All-Clad cookware (some of the pieces Cooks Illstrated rated highly). I told my "in-laws" to give me gift certificates to my favorite cooking stores. Just because they hate to cook, doesn't mean everyone does. I have to keep reminding them that cooking things are GOOD for me! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

The microplane zester - LOVE IT! Don't know how I got by with grated citrus peel before I got this gem.

I have the Cooks Illustrated Book of Poultry - Love this too! I have become a big time Cooks Illustrated fan.

I have really enjoyed using the PC baking stone my sister loaned me and I have yet to return. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I even use it to bake pies. (I set my pie on a heated baking stone to cook - helps the crust cook)

[Laura B]

You're lucky, Susan! I think next year I will have to put some pizza stones on my list. It seems I have always wanted one but have never remembered to ask for it.

I also got some early christmas presents this year because we did christmas with my husband's family last weekend (we go to my family for christmas proper). I got an Oxo salad spinner, a calpahlon steamer insert for my saucepan, and a calpahlon pasta insert for my stockpot! And now I cannot wait to see what my parents ended up getting from my list. I am also SO excited to give my family their presents. I got my mom a set of calphalon cookware and I just cannot wait to see her face!

[SueK]

Now I can't wait for Christmas! I asked for a Foodsaver (I think that's the name of those things everyone talked about on this board before!) and also some other kitchen stuff, and a subscription to Cooks Illustrated. My friends think I'm weird to want kitchen stuff, but I love it!

[Cindy Rafferty]

I can't wait to get my pizza stone (My MIL asked me to get what I wanted for Chirstmas...so it won't be a surprise but so what!) I have been making most of my own pizzas for about a year on air bake sheets, so this is sure to be an improvement.

What else are you all using them for, please give the newcomers some tips!!!

[Linda in MO]

Cindy, I like to heat up leftover pizza (like from Pizza Hut) on my stoneware. Just heat for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the cheese melts. So much better than heating in the microwave.

Laura, I just bought the OXO salad spinner for myself last month. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I've only used it once so far, but it worked great!

[marys]

Cindy - I use my stoneware for just about everything - baking chicken, cookies, biscuits. I hosted a Pampered Chef party last year during stoneware month, so I have many of the pieces and I love them.

[Susan]

I knew you all would appreciate my enthusiasm for my new stones. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Thanks for sharing in my joy! The majority of my Christmas wish list contains kitchen-related goodies! Definitely a need for counseling here... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[shoyski]

MaryS, quick question. I have a pizza stone and love it. For Christmas my Mom surprised me and purchased a stone loaf pan (not PC).

Now the question: What makes lasagna, meatloaf, etc better using the stone loaf pan? I know how bread and cookies turn out but that's baking, not "cooking".

Thanks

[Anne]

I'm one of those folks who generally don't want kitchen gadgets for presents. However, this year I changed my mind and added a cookbook and an imersion blender to my list. We will see what happens. I did get a bread machine for my birthday one year - thought it was kind of weird but now use it every other day or so.
Shoyski - I am not sure what a stone loaf pan is but I had a cast iron loaf pan (normal width and height but at least half again as long) that I just loved. It made the best loaves and I guess it must be the heavy pan and more uniform heating that do the trick - not sure if this applies to stone?

[Jodi]

Ooh -- I am so jealous, Susan! I have a pizza stone on my bridal registry and am so tempted to go buy it for myself. Maybe I'll get it for Christmas...but I think that's wishful thinking!
Jodi

[chefandi]

The pizza stone is also great for making cookies. That way you never have to worry about greasing the stone!
I am hoping to get a muffin pan stone from Pamered Chef!

[Linda in MO]

I know exactly what you mean, Grace. I always feel like I have to defend my husband, when I tell my friends all the cooking gadgets or cookbooks that he gets me for Christmas. I always have to say "that's what I asked for"! I think they understand by now that cooking/food is my passion! This year I'm getting a microplane zester, a cookie sheet, Cook's Illustrated "The Best Recipe" cookbook, "Cooking in Quilt Country" by Marcia Adams, etc.--all of the items on my wish list at Amazon! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif
Last year he got me an apple peeler/corer/slicer from Pampered Chef and I didn't even have to ask for it. He just knew that I had borrowed one from a friend a couple of times.

[Wendy w]

I'm with you all! As a recent recipient of a Kitchen Aid stand up mixer (of which I plan to give it its 1st run this weekend), nothing says love and caring more than a good kitchen gadget!

Although I do like jewelry, I think that many people select it without much thought, it can be a "cop out", if you will. At least when you are presented with a kitchen gadget that you have always wanted, it shows that they are listening. As you know, we often question whether they hear us.

Have fun and Happy Holidays!

Wendy

[This message has been edited by Wendy w (edited 12-19-2000).]

[MaryH]

Well mine isn't a Christmas gift, but I just ordered the pizza stone from PC and was told it was in, so I get to pick it up tomorrow. Yea hah! I've made some of the CL pizza recipes before but want to try them again on the stone. Before that, though, I'm making the turkey-cranberry recipe that was served at the PC party! At least I won't have to worry if my 3 year old will eat the pizza (anything called pizza is good in her book).



[This message has been edited by MaryH (edited 12-20-2000).]

[marys]

shoyski - as for cooking with the stones vs baking, I think the same quality that I like about them for baking I appreciate in cooking - the evenness in how the food cooks. It also seems like it absorbs more of the juices, so the food stays moist, but doesn't get soggy (that one may just be in my head because the surface is more porous than a traditional cookie sheet - but it works for me) Baked chicken breasts turn out great and I love roasting potatoes in the 9 x 13 pan. My mom has the loaf pan and she's real happy with the way meatloaf turns out in it. (For her birthday, she requested a second loaf pan for all of her bread baking!)

I haven't made a lasagna since I got the 9 x 13, but now I think I'll have to put that on my menu for next week to try it!

[cas]

I love my pampered chef stone! It is great for baking cookies and crescent rolls ect. I'm still having trouble with the pizza dough, doesn't seem to get crispy enough. Any ideas?

[SandyM]

Hi Cas,

There has been discussion on this topic before: whether or not to pre-heat the stone. I have a very large, heavy stone (not from Pampered Chef, but Williams-Sonoma) and I pre-heat it before putting the pizza on it. The crust is always crisp on the outside, tender on the inside.

Those with the Pampered Chef stone say that the directions tell you NOT to preheat the stone. I'm not certain why. Maybe someone with a PC stone can give you tips.......

[Liz K]

Robin, I love the term DB (darling boyfriend). I might just have to start using that!

My DB gave me a Cuisinart for Christmas. It's huge! He kept saying that even though I have a tiny kitchen now, he knows I'll have a bigger one someday. So sweet. For my birthday last year he gave me a great set of Henkels and his mom gave me a gift certificate to William-Sonoma. Do I have them trained right or what http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I can't wait to use it and the first thing I want to make is pizza dough. (how's that for getting semi-back on topic)

[Kimba]

Originally posted by MaryH:
Before that, though, I'm making the turkey-cranberry recipe that was served at the PC party



Sounds great - could you post that recipe? Thanks http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Lauren]

Cindy R.- I use my pizza stone to bake cookies. It works really well! By the way, where did end up buying the stone? Did you ever make it to Target?

Mine is from Williams-Sonoma (one of the heavy ones) and I don't pre-heat it. Maybe I should! My MIL gave it to me because she didn't want it anymore, but I really like the PC ones that are lighter to put in and take out of the oven!

Lauren

[Cindy Rafferty]

Hi Lauren. I actually did make it to the Target, brand new, in Manchester, Ct. And I did purchase the pizza stone there. It came with the wire rack and a wooden spatula. Not sure how it comparies with PC's, but it looked to be a good value.

Thanks for all of the tips on what to use the stone for. Happy Holidays to all!

[that_las_girl]

Susan, that's great! Bet your family will be eating some yummy pizza, and soon!

Wendy..last year my DH got me the KitchenAid Stand Mixer for Chanukah..I was totally thrilled, I just love mine to death! This year I got a Cuisinart Food Processor...ohhh the joys of kitchen gadgets! Making latkes has never been easier..although, if I could only find a LIGHT way to cook the darn things, and still have them taste good..well that would be *something* http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I always ask my family for kitchen stuff, and I don't give a hoot what other people think of that..lol. I love to cook and bake, and I take a lot of pride in making wonderful and most of the time healthy things for my family. I think the Pizza Stone and Silpats are definitely on my birthday list in the spring <g>

~las

[MaryH]

Kimba, here it is:

Turkey Cranberry Wreath

2 packages (8 oz each) refrigerated cresent rolls
1/2 cp mayonnaise
2 tbsp honey Dijon mustard
1/2 black pepper
2 cps cooked turkey, chopped (about 12 oz)
1/2 cp celery, sliced
3 tbsp fresh parsley
1/2 cp dried cranberries
4 oz. swiss cheese, shredded
1/4 cp chopped walnuts
1 egg, separated

Preheat oven to 375. Unroll crescent dough; separate into 16 triangles. With wide end of triangles toward the center, arrange 8 triangles on center of large round stone. Corners of wide ends will touch and points will extend over edge of stone. Match wide end if each remaining triangle to wide end of each outer triangle; seal seams.

Mix together mmayonnaise, mustard and black pepper. Add celery, parsley, turkey and cranberries. Add grated cheese and walnuts and mix everything together. Using a cookie scoop (or your hands) mound the mixture over the seams of dough forming a circle. Lift dough triangle across mixture, alternating one from inside with one from outside.

Separate egg, beat egg white lightly, and brush over the dough. Bake 25-30 min or until golden brown.

MY NOTES: craisins work well; for the turkey I have the deli slice me 3/4 to 1 lb very thick - I then cube it. If the triangle directions sound difficult or don't make sense, simply take one package of crescent rolls (8 triangles). Put wide ends of the triagles toward center making a circle, mound filling around and then pull edges over to the center. I have the smaller stone (13 inches) and usually have to make a slightly smaller wreath (using 8 to 12 triangles instead of the 16 called for).

This was such a hit that it was one of the Christmas dinner entrees this year.

[This message has been edited by MaryH (edited 12-26-2000).]

[This message has been edited by MaryH (edited 12-26-2000).]

[kentgirl]

I recently bought a pizza stone at Costco for about $12 (includes the cutter too). I thought I was getting a deal because I know that Pampered Chef stones are much more. Well a co-worker shared this with me---she said there is a big difference from a PIZZA stone (like I got) and a round BAKING stone. Supposedly a pizza stone is to be used only to bake pizzas; a round baking stone can be used to bake anything (rolls, cookies, etc.).

Anybody have any thoughts on this....Is this is really true? Quite honestly, I haven't made a pizza since I bought the stone---it's still in the box!

Thanks!

[Kimba]

Thank you soooooooo much, Mary - it sounds wonderful!

Kimba

[asweetp]

I ***LOVE*** my PC baking stone!! I have yet to use it with pizza; however, it bakes the best cookies! The cookies bake evenly and they do not stick at all. If you have not tried doing this, I highly suggest it. I cannot imagine using anything else, not even a Silpat!

[luv2cook]

Originally posted by asweetp:
I ***LOVE*** my PC baking stone!! I have yet to use it with pizza; however, it bakes the best cookies! The cookies bake evenly and they do not stick at all. If you have not tried doing this, I highly suggest it. I cannot imagine using anything else, not even a Silpat!
I was looking for "meatloaf" but this page came up go figure. Anyhow, I love almost all my PC stuff. I have just about every stone. I hate it when they're new, tho. Once they're broken in, it's great. I don't preheat mine. The first batch of cookies take a little longer but after that, it's a breeze. I cook chicken on them, make appetizers, cook casseroles, etc. I have just about gotten rid of all my other stuff and I have a bread pan ordered...the only two things of PC that I have returned is the cheese grater and the soap pump. Two of the soap pumps I had broke and I just hated the cheese thing.