Sunday 21 April 2013

Vintage 'Pins

I was in Paddington the other day and popped into the Antique Centre which I haven't visited for at least ten years. I was hoping to find some things I've been wanting for the kitchen, in particular an extra large rolling pin. I've been struggling to make do with my small, crappy one for years so it was high on the agenda to replace it with a much larger version.

And I just happened to stumble across this beauty:


It doesn't look particularly impressive, but it measures in at 60cm which is almost twice as long as the one I currently have at home. I saw a similar one in another store just the other week which cost more than double, so I immediately grabbed it and headed for the counter. And on the way, this 1950's rolling pin with green handles caught my eye, so it also ended up coming home with me:


I couldn't wait to try out my new piece of equipment and with a bowl full of lemons, it seemed fitting to knock up a lemon tart using homemade sweet shortcrust pastry:


That big boy worked like a charm - rolling out pastry has never been easier! We have marble bench tops specified for the kitchen in our soon-to-be renovated house (the reno commences next month, but more on that later.) I believe marble is the surface of choice by all the best pastry chefs - it's supposed to be the ideal surface for rolling out dough as it remains cooler than room temperature, which helps to keep the dough firm and therefore easier to handle. Plus it will make a fabulous backdrop for my food photography. So tell me, am I the only one still making pastry the old fashioned way?

11 comments:

  1. I love the flavour (must be all the butter) and texture of homemade pastry.
    I do cheat though sometimes when i need a quick and simple dinner and use a sheet of puff pastry instread.
    Oh lucky you getting marble benchtops- they will look stunning.
    x

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  2. no cheats pastry here im afraid...perils of marrying a pastry chef...but I never have to make it so win win for me!!...yep marble the surface of choice all right. x

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  3. I love lemon baked goods and your tart looks amazing!
    I won't buy pastry...but I don't make it very often either. I guess the end result is we don't eat much that requires pastry! I do really like Maggie Beer's sour cream pasty and often use that recipe for savoury pies.

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  4. I have not really made pastry but it is high on my list of things to try. It's one of those things though that I'd like to do in peace with soe music in the background and in this house, that's a rare occurrence!

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  5. I admit it...I'm a cheat! I only use puff pastry really, so does that count? I would like to have a go sometime though and make a lemon meringue pie.

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  6. Yum-lemon tarts are my favourite! I love making and eating homemade pastry, but shop bought often does the job too!

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  7. I make home made pastry when I make Apple Pie or something else sweet, but frozen when I need puff pastry ...life's too short lol.

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  8. I have never made pastry but looking forward to trying it on my new marble bench top. We went and chose our slab yesterday, very exciting isn't it? LOVE that green handled rolling pin very much. mel x

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  9. Hold on! I'll be right over! That pie looks amazing. And no, I'm right there with you rolling out pastry dough. But that's mostly because I live in Asia where things like bought pastry are just not a thing.

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  10. Oh I love the PAC.... I once bought a vintage red suitcase there for $25 only to find two more inside when I got home! Score! What an awesome blog. I'm so glad I found you. Leah x

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  11. This looks so good- sweet and fresh x m.

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