Melania Bettarelli is the proprietor of Palatofino, and she specializes in these tiny works of art. She tells us about the traditions behind these Old World cookies.

Tell us about Springerle cookies.
Springerle are a type of European embossed cookies, historically connected to figurative writing and Egypt. Carved molds are necessary tools to produce these heirloom treats, a tradition that can be traced back to the 14th Century.  Springerle developed into a full mass media tool of communication, printed with images of everyday life events, street scenes, erotic and/or romantic messages, like today’s postcards. It was a media for political and religious education and propaganda up until the 18th Century. The decline began in the 19th Century with the introduction of modern media tools. Today the molds are highly collectible. Most cookie molds on the market are replicas of the originals. Old time designs from the Marie Antoinette era can still be reproduced today, and are among my favorites. A small section of my production, however, includes modern media icons. This was the original purpose of the craft and the part that mainly interest me.

What is your process?
You need good molds to start with. Size and deepness will tell you what type of recipe is necessary. Mine is generally the traditional recipe for Springerle with a couple of “secret” adjustments. It involves long hours of work but is the most reliable. I like to make my own butter – the results are worth the extra effort. At times, I explore other edible printable forms of media such a marzipan, fondant, icing sheets. The process of measuring and baking is not different than others. Working by myself, I need 3 to 4 full days to complete a batch of any type of “picture” cookies.

How did you decide to specialize in this type of cookie?
My father actually first introduced me to this edible craft. Sometimes he would come home with a giant cookie from a small town nearby depicting a woman with 3 breasts, a symbol of a good wine harvest. Those cookies, tokens of affection and an introduction to symbolism at the same time, are among the sweet memories that I cherish. So, when my husband presented me with a marzipan mold depicting a rose a few years ago, I fell in love and started to collect them right away.However,I don’t consider myself a baker or an artist, I am interested in media connections. And this is quite a good one for me. My cookie mold collection is still expanding.

Who are your typical clients?
Marie Antoinette-style lovers of all ages

What kinds of events do you make these for?
Mostly weddings and other special romantic occasions.

Tell us a little bit about your background.
I was born, raised and educated in Rome, Italy. I did not go to culinary school. I studied media education in Rome at the Istituto di Stato per la Cinematografia e la Televisione. I moved to NYC, in the East Village, in 1998 and bake in my upstate Catskills kitchen.

Vapur – Reusable water bottles are de rigueur nowadays.  Vapur takes it to the next level with their flattenable bottles.  With liquid inside, Vapur stands like a bottle.  When it is empty, you can fold, roll, or flatten the bottle, making it easier to slip into your pocket, purse, or gym bag.  The company calls it the anti-bottle – rightly so.  The flexible BPA-free plastic resembles an IV bag or an ice pack, which is great for weirding out people.   Vapur comes with a removable carabiner clip so you sporty-types can attach it and go.  It is freezable for those extra-hot days, and is dishwasher safe.  Plus, it is fun to play with.

Activeion Cleaning Solutions – This is one of those too-good-to-be-true products.  I did not test this product, so I will have to take the company’s word for it that this works. According to the literature, “The ionator is a new handheld appliance that uses advanced ionizing technology to convert tap water into a powerful cleaner, eliminating the need for chemicals or harmful toxins.”

Verterra – Here is an interesting one: dinnerware made from fallen leaves.  I’m gonna let that sink in for a minute. It is pretty much as ecologically friendly as you can get with single-use dinnerware.  Sometimes you just don’t want to do dishes after a big BBQ.  The leaves and stems are collected from the ground, so living plants are not touched.  No chemicals, binders, dyes, plastics, or bleaches are used in the creation of this dinnerware.  The plates, bowls, and trays are sanitized and formed with steam, pressure, and heat.  They a clean, simple look and shape, are remarkably durable, biodegradable, and compostable.  They are even microwavable and oven safe up to 350 degrees.  The downside?  Saving the environment doesn’t come cheap.  Depending on the size of plate you want, it can cost up to $1 per single-use, dinner-sized plate.

We checked out the eQua Plus towel, which is designed to be used on top of your yoga mat to provide a slip-resistant surface (and a handy way to dab the sweat from your brow). Interestingly, the material was more slip-resistant when damp – perfect for sweaty palms, but a little slick at the start of a workout. But the major selling point of the eQua Plus towel is in its sanitary properties. It is a poly/nylon blend with more than 25% of the fabric made from recycled coconut shells. These coconut fibers, mixed with active carbon, helps absorb and evaporate moisture (aka – sweat) quickly. The result? A towel that is not soaked or smelly by the time you are done with your workout. Plus, it is really soft (which may not be the best thing for me, who is easily distracted by soft things).

Manduka uses natural, recycled, biodegradable, and/or sustainable materials in all products, and support toxic-free facilities and fair labor practices. They offer a wide range of mats, towels, bags, and props to suit your every need.

Manduka.com

The 'guinea pigs' - Keegan and Hunter

H2O4K9 – This ingenious little water bottle works for man and best friend. It is a standard-sized stainless steel water bottle with a BPA-free cap. The cap is a cup, perfectly sized and snout-shaped to hold a drink of water for your dog. Perfect for a day at the dog park or cut down on the stuff you need to carry on a hike. Even Keegan, my ‘fraidy-cat pup has no problem sticking his snout in there.

Scaredy Cut – These little clippers are designed to give your pet an even hair cut without scaring them off with loud, motorized clippers. Six different guide combs accomodate a variety of fur lengths (though I found them difficult to attach). Just brush your furball into a relaxed state, then clip as desired. The aforementioned Keegan doesn’t even like to be brushed, but this one didn’t bother him. I don’t think I could do a full haircut on my boys, but Keegan has long fur that gets unruly around his ears and butt, so this is a perfect between-grooming solution.

Canine Caviar – Not actually caviar, this grain-fed buffalo jerky has 70% to 90% less fat than traditional beef chews, and 50% less cholesterol. It’s a long-lasting chew, which of course is great for doggy teeth and gums. My boys loved their chews. It kept them busy for an hour – perfect on a rainy day. Hunter looked rather sad when he finished his. The downside? The treats stink. I mean, really stink. But my boys are happy, so I am happy. I have scented candles for a reason. A portion of the proceeds go towards canine cancer research.

Bark Code – Many years ago, while my family was on vacation, my dog ran away from my grandparents, who were watching her. My parents didn’t tell us until after our dog was safely returned, but the thought was horrible and terrifying. Bark Code takes microchipping to the next level. By registering with the company, your pup gets a tag to wear on his collar that has a digital barcode. A quick scan on any smartphone will pull up a profile on your dog. You can put as much information as you want on your pet’s profile: half a dozen contact names and numbers, vet info, medical concerns, microchip number, pet insurance info, notes, and much more. The moment your pet disappears, you can log on to the website and update your pet’s info with where he was last seen. There is a monthly fee to keep the web profile active, but rates are as low as $10 a year. A portion of the proceeds go towards no-kill rescue shelters.

Out of the Box Dog Training Game – This box of 56 flashcards offers some fun, unique ideas for training your dog. All the training exercises utilize positive reinforcement and bonding between you and your dog. Some of my favorites include: taking your dog on a “tour” of the house, giving the “wait” command at each doorway; an indoor scavenger hunt with kibble or treats; cuddle with your dog while reading a story; when you take your dog for a walk, give him a treat when you hear another dog – this reinforces a positive reaction to other canines; play hide n’ seek with your dog; and letting your dog take YOU for a walk.

DogToids – These doggy mints don’t smell minty – they actually smell kind of beefy, but boy, do they neutralize doggy breath!

Kimochis are a cute stuffed toys designed to help kids understand emotions. Each toy has some aspect that helps personify feelings. Bug has wings that can fold away when he feels shy, or let out when he feels brave. Cloud’s head turns (not in a creepy way) to reveal a happy face on one side, sad face on the other.

The plush toys are soft and adorable, so your kid will enjoy playing even if they don’t understand the subtext behind them. Each Kimochi comes in a little canvas bag to keep him safe. I like that there is a hole cut out of the bag so your little guy won’t suffocate. Additionally, each Kimochi comes with a mini comic book and a soft, squishy keychain you can put on your backpack to let people know how you are feeling that day.

Kimochis are adorable, affordable gifts in a variety of styles – one for every kid. Keep one for yourself, too!

Currently, Salted Caramel only offers two flavors:

Bacon Bourbon Caramel Corn: Is there anything bacon can’t make better? Salted Caramel’s original flavor is surprisingly subtle. The bourbon-laced treat gives a “darker” flavor that is quite rich, and complimented beautifully by the smoky, salty bits of bacon mixed in. It didn’t take long for me to get used to the “bacon as dessert” notion, evidenced by my near-empty bag that had to be forcibly taken from me.

Pecan Bourbon Caramel Corn: I’ve never been much of a fan of pecans, until now. I think I would eat damn near anything drenched in Salted Caramel’s sugary, smoky, bourbon-y caramel.

It is tough to choose a favorite, though I think the Bacon Bourbon flavor wins – let’s face it: it has bacon in it. Luckily, Salted Caramel has the indecisive covered with sampler packs. Those diabolical confectioners have also recently introduced a 3.5 lb size – something I did not need to know about.

To order, visit SaltedCaramel.net

But there is a new Best Option: Zero Water. I have to say, I am in love with this water. It is similar to Brita in that it is a pitcher with a filter inside. The name comes from the fact that, after going through Zero Water’s patented five-stage ion exchange filter, removing “100% of detectable dissolved solids.” So if you stick the included digital water tester stick in a glass of Zero Water, you will get triple zeros. For comparison, tap water read 240, and Brita read 174.

The science sounds great, but let’s be honest – it is mostly meaningless to most of us. What isn’t meaningless is the taste. Or lack thereof. It is just so clean and pure. I actually find myself drinking more water because it just tastes good. My husband, who would go through cases of bottle water, now loves getting a glass of water from the fridge.

I truly cannot say enough good things about Zero Water. I drink water almost exclusively – no coffee, no soda, hardly ever juice. Zero Water is a joy to drink. The written word can’t do it justice – you are just going to have to buy one and see for yourself.

Not to be confused with the Lovin’ Spoonfuls, Lovin’ Scoopful is a premium ice cream brand with 1/2 the fat and 1/3 the calories of other ice creams. But it’s not just a way to indulge without the guilt. 25% of profits go directly to Special Olympics. Unlike many other companies who max out what they will give to charity, Lovin’ Scoopful sets an annual minimum: $50,000. I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds divine. Can anyone offer their opinion?

Banglz offers an easy way to do this with ankle and wrist weights that are meant to be worn everyday. These soft velcro weights are quick and easy to put on, and come in 1lb. ankle and 1lb. or 1/2 lb. wrist varieties. But sure, you can buy wrist and ankle weights anywhere. What makes these special? First, they are soft. The weights are rounded neoprene sleeves filled with sand. There are no pointy edges or lumps to deal with. But what really sets Banglz apart are the styles. Banglz come in a dozen different colors and patterns: black and white chain print, retro polka-dots, denim, zebra, tie-dye, and more.

The idea behind Banglz is that they are stylish enough to be worn every day. They aren’t going to fool anyone – they are bulky in a way that even the chunkiest jewelry is not. But they are certainly cute, and far more stylish and comfortable than traditional weights. Once, many moons ago, I bought a set of Reebok wrist and ankle weights but they were clunky and painful to wear. They now sit in a box in the closet. Banglz are appealing to the eye and the touch, making me more likely to put them on, even if it just to take the dog for a walk or while doing laundry. Every little bit, right?

Banglz are reasonably priced at $25 per pair. The fabric covers are not attached to the weights, so they can be washed separately. I would love to be able to buy additional covers without having to purchase new weights. A girl’s gotta accessorize.

Available at Amazon.com or Banglz.com

Delirium & Co.’s Silver Period line of clean-burning soy candles (with a 55-hour burn time) is the perfect balance of fragrance. We checked out Scarlet Grapefruit, which blends whiffs of ruby red grapefruit, red currants, apple, mandarin, jasmine, and amber. The fruity notes prevent the florals from becoming overwhelming, while those same flowers add a sophistication that is not often found with fruity scents.

Delirium & Co. is the house brand from Los Angeles luxury candle boutique Candle Delirium. Their Silver Period line – housed in silver Warhol Factory-style glass jars – is designed to evoke the beauty and glamour of the golden age of cinema. For more info or to purchase, please visit CandleDelirium.com.