I knew my new year was off to a rocky start when I discovered my silpat baking mat had started to crumble around the edges, exposing its precious fiberglass filling.

However, it the 7 years in which I owned it, the non-stick mat served me well. He happily baked hundreds of cookies, many dozens of appetizers, and even some 20 or so loaves of bread.

I personally gave him gentle sponge baths to help maintain his sleek appearance. It just wasn’t enough.
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