Vacuum sealing mason jars

I think I have found an inexpensive way (on the margin) to seal standard mason jars with flat canning lids.

You need a vacuum sealer and a vacuum canister that is large enough to hold the size jar you want to use.
Place a clean flat canning lid on the jar (which has been filled leaving enough head room to hold the vacuum).  Place this jar in your canister and attach the vacuum lid.

7 Gauge Steel Griddle

Who else could go for some flap jacks? 

I was unhappy with my old non-stick griddle which  wasn't thick enough and I felt like I need to be so delicate with the finish. Not the relationship I wanted to have with my griddle. So I decided to spring for a Chef King Griddle made out of 7 gauge "Unbreakable High Quality Steel". I bought mine at Rose's Restaurant Equipment.

After some initial seasoning I gave some pancakes a whirl.

Silpat mat

The "old way" with parchment paper

I've mentioned in a couple of posts that I like my Silpat mat.
I have seen friends that use something similar and seemed to like it.
Then I realized that it would save me from using parchment paper of which I was using more and more.