Collected Thoughts: Rolling Pins

Here at terrain, we're lucky to work with fun and talented folks who have fascinating hobbies, homes, and ideas. We especially love hearing about the unusual collections curated by our friends in the office and nursery. During a recent chat, Kitchen Specialist and pie extraordinare Susan S. mentioned her collection of rolling pins; we couldn't wait to share once she showed us the pretty and practical examples above. (We have a serious case of kitchen envy-- the sweet vintage linens are also hers!)

Susan tells us, "I've been building my collection for thirty years, and I have over a dozen rolling pins-- heirlooms as well as new finds. My favorite, the oldest one I have, belonged to my grandmother. It has seen so much use that its surface is too uneven to be practical these days, but it reminds me of learning to make crust with her. She was my role model for making pies; her speciality was lemon meringue."

Susan's collection also includes a century-old pin with the date "1912" carved into the side, as well as a variety of newer, hardwood options. Most are made of maple, cherry, or other dense woods that help to keep the dough from sticking. One of her most-used pins is a modified French design carved from Canadian maple by a father-daughter team, which is her pick for circle rolling or larger crusts.

"Now that I've covered the basics," she says, "I look for special, unusual, or exceptionally pretty rolling pins when I'm adding to my collection. I have marble and porcelain ones for working with especially sticky dough-- you can make it easier by chilling them in the freezer beforehand. I also love my small, double rolling pin for rolling out crusts inside a pan."

Susan adds that she keeps her collection in tip-top shape by making sure to wash and dry her wooden pins immediately after making one of her famous pies. "My speciality in winter is pecan-- it's the one my family requests the most," she says. "In summer, I love making rhubarb pies." Dessert at your house tonight, Susan?