Looking for edible wafer paper? A cookie cutter in the shape of an anchor? How about cute cupcake liners, or even just a basic frosting starter kit? These five online stores have everything you could ever possibly want for fancy baking and decorating!

Sometimes buying the unsweetened version isn't always better. I don't want to say who, but someone thought it would be a good idea to buy unsweetened coconut for a batch of macaroons last week thinking that this was the less-processed "better" choice, and that someone was very disappointed with her cookies. This week's public service announcement: sweetened and unsweetened coconut are two very different ingredients, and both deserve a spot in your pantry.

Monk fruit is the latest darling of the alternative sweetener world, but what is this exotic fruit, and how does it compare to sugar and other substitutes? 

Who doesn't have vanilla extract in their pantry right now? If not the extract, then maybe vanilla paste or whole vanilla beans. But what about those other flavorings you see on the grocery shelves? Read on for six additional extracts we like to have on hand for making desserts. More

Q: Whenever I use baking soda, my eyes always fall guiltily on the packaging, which tells me that I should buy a new box every month. As much as I bake, there's no way I could go through an entire box of baking soda in a month, so it seems wasteful to follow their instructions unless there's a real reason. 

Hardwood Muddler from Canoe

• $15
• Canoe

I was in Portland this weekend, and I stopped into the wonderful design shop Canoe, which is always chockfull of interesting, beautiful, and practical things for the home. I have my eye on one of these muddlers, which remind me of chess pieces and are really the best thing for starting a spring cocktail with herbs and fruit.

If you've been baking or cooking for awhile, this will sound like a no-brainer, but it's a life-changing tip for those who have never thought of it. Ready? Get rid of that ring that holds your dry measuring cups together. Forever. Do this and baking will instantly be an easier, cleaner and altogether happier experience.

When I started planning the polenta supper I shared with you earlier this week, I immediately knew I wanted a huge board for serving. My husband and I considered making one ourselves from a sanded piece of lumber, but we didn't have the time or space to work on it. So I turned to Elizabeth Bryant and Andrew Gray of Gray Works Design, whose boards I've long admired. The board they loaned me for this party was the most beautifully crafted, custom-milled slab of silver maple. It was a far cry from the rougher sort of board we would have made; this one had so much more beauty and character. 

It made me think of the role that one beautiful, handcrafted piece can play in a party or in the home; real craftsmanship is always a joy to encounter. To get more of Gray Works' perspective on this, I chatted with Elizabeth a little bit about their approach to sustainability, inspiration, and the tension between the wild and the domestic. 

All-Clad 6-Qt. d5 Brushed Stainless-Steel Sauté Pan

• $385
• Williams-Sonoma

I was searing beef in this huge pan last week, prepping for my polenta dinner party, and just thinking about what a great pan it is. My husband bought it for me a few years ago, on sale at Cookware 'n' More, I think, for fraction of the price I have listed here. But it would be worth it at either price; it's a huge pan with tons of surface area for searing meat and starting stews. It's nice to have one big, wide pan like this in the arsenal.

Whether you're looking for one-of-a-kind, hand-printed linen napkins or a good buy on something basic, crafters on Etsy have a range of linen napkins to choose from that suit the spectrum. Ten of our favorites are listed here:

Large Modern Cup from Heath Ceramics

• $22
• Heath Ceramics

This is my favorite tea mug. It's thick and beefy, with those lovely handmade, organic lines that Heath makes so distinctive. It's a great mug to cup your hands around.

There are unitaskers that do one useful thing and do it very well. And then there are unitaskers that turn eggs into tube-shaped omelets — on sticks! If you need a good giggle, do yourself a favor and watch this commercial for the Rollie Eggmaster.

The ikat trend probably hit its peak sometime last year, but it's still around. (Not sure what ikat is? Read all about it here.) For a small touch of the textile in your home, look to placemats. As my mother would say, it's a great way to jazz up your dinner table. And you know what? She's right!