Newer = Better

Not always.

I've been baking for over 50 years and have now developed a reputation in my community for  being a terrific baker.  Almost everything I make is from scratch although I do occasionally use a mix.

Today, I was baking some cookies for our Arts & Crafts Fair tomorrow.  My preferred cookie recipe uses a cookie press.  Several years ago I retired my old aluminum cookie press where you turn a knob to push the dough through the template onto the cookie sheet.  I decided to come into the 20th century and bought a new cookie press, one that uses a trigger to push the dough onto the cookie sheet.  After only one or two uses, it broke.  So I bought another, more expensive one thinking that the old one broke because it was cheap.  I usually make this type of cookie once or twice a year.

Well, today I was in the middle of baking my cookies and getting ready to refill the press.  I unscrewed the pusher (very technical term) and it came right out of the press.  Naturally, I couldn't find any of the pieces.

Fortunately, I NEVER throw anything out.  I went into the garage and found my original cookie press to finish the job.  Guess I'll forget about replacing the "new" press and go back to the old, stone-age aluminum one, the same type that my mother used.

Speaking of my mother, several years ago she noticed that I lived by my timer when baking anything.  She was quite surprised and said that she knew when a cake was done when she could smell it.  Of course, I scoffed at that idea, but decided to try it.  Surprise!  It works.  As soon as I smell a cake, I check it out and it is done.  Who knew mothers could be so smart.