I'm a bit of a culinary nerd. I'm also quite definitely a "locavore"-- a foodie that prefers food locally grown or produced. I enjoy cooking, baking, and pretty much the whole process of producing meals. Maybe not so much the cleaning up afterwards, but it's all good in the end.
I will, God willing, NEVER use a cake mix for anything again, because making a yellow cake (or any cake, for that matter) from scratch is ridiculously easy. It's also because MOST cake mixes have soybean oil in them, and I'm emergency room-allergic to soy. I should probably ALWAYS have an Epi-Pen on me, but so far, there hasn't been a REALLY SERIOUS anaphylaxis response... relatively mild, yes. but if I have any soy, I'm going to feel like my lungs are in a vice grip and something's stuck in my throat.
ANYWHO, since I was about 15 years old and started using my Mom's old Sunbeam stand mixer regularly (quickly realizing its limitations), I've wanted a KitchenAid stand mixer. After MANY MONTHS of bidding on them on the http://www.shopgoodwill.com site, being outbid every single time, I FINALLY WON ONE. It's an Ultra Power model, which is virtually indistinguishable from the Artisan model. The main difference is the size of the "standard" bowl--4.5 qt. for the Ultra Power, 5 qt. for the Artisan (although the bowls can be used with either)-- and the size of the motor (300 watts for the Ultra Power, 325 for the Artisan).
I definitely covet a couple of accessories for my new to me mixer-- the combo pasta maker/meat grinder attachment. You don't see this one as often, usually only second hand on eBay or Amazon. With it, I'll be able to make my own pasta, my own kafta for my beloved Lebanese husband, and a bunch of other things. both savory and sweet. There's also a juicer/sauce maker attachment that's even more rare than the combo pasta/meat grinder... I'd love it, to REALLY make my own pasta sauces, pasta, and pasta dishes.
There's a bunch of mixer related cookbooks out there... and then a bunch of cookbooks I want to get. I'm not a bit fan of Ina Garten's book "Cooking for Jeffrey"-- I personally think the Betty Crocker "Cooking for Two" is MUCH better. The Barefoot Contessa is not my favorite Food Network personality, and aficionados of her style and books... need more imagination in my opinion. I definitely DO like the Food Network magazine; it's a gift any foodie should have, and that anyone should get any foodie in their life.
Anywho, there will be SOME rehab involved in this new to me mixer. There's a few assorted stains that necessitate a couple of parts, as well as a new paint job. I'm going to have to get a new, replacement name band plate strip (and there's a PINK one available), as well as the front attachment cover. With a couple of credits I have on my Amazon account, these parts will come to just over $12. I'm also going to spray paint it this color-- Pearl Metallic Champagne Pink Rustoleum Spray Paint-- which will REALLY compliment the new name band.
But even with these parts, my mixer will come to less than $60, which will free up cash for any attachments I want to buy.
I'm also bidding on another mixer from the same site, which is the one I REALLY want. So far I'm the only bidder-- at $5-- and I may just get it. If I do, I'll have a different rehab plan for the other mixer, and will give it to my bestie, Natashia. If not, the one I won earlier will be rehabbed as I plan, and will look totally unique and awesome and totally ME in the end.
I will, God willing, NEVER use a cake mix for anything again, because making a yellow cake (or any cake, for that matter) from scratch is ridiculously easy. It's also because MOST cake mixes have soybean oil in them, and I'm emergency room-allergic to soy. I should probably ALWAYS have an Epi-Pen on me, but so far, there hasn't been a REALLY SERIOUS anaphylaxis response... relatively mild, yes. but if I have any soy, I'm going to feel like my lungs are in a vice grip and something's stuck in my throat.
ANYWHO, since I was about 15 years old and started using my Mom's old Sunbeam stand mixer regularly (quickly realizing its limitations), I've wanted a KitchenAid stand mixer. After MANY MONTHS of bidding on them on the http://www.shopgoodwill.com site, being outbid every single time, I FINALLY WON ONE. It's an Ultra Power model, which is virtually indistinguishable from the Artisan model. The main difference is the size of the "standard" bowl--4.5 qt. for the Ultra Power, 5 qt. for the Artisan (although the bowls can be used with either)-- and the size of the motor (300 watts for the Ultra Power, 325 for the Artisan).
I definitely covet a couple of accessories for my new to me mixer-- the combo pasta maker/meat grinder attachment. You don't see this one as often, usually only second hand on eBay or Amazon. With it, I'll be able to make my own pasta, my own kafta for my beloved Lebanese husband, and a bunch of other things. both savory and sweet. There's also a juicer/sauce maker attachment that's even more rare than the combo pasta/meat grinder... I'd love it, to REALLY make my own pasta sauces, pasta, and pasta dishes.
There's a bunch of mixer related cookbooks out there... and then a bunch of cookbooks I want to get. I'm not a bit fan of Ina Garten's book "Cooking for Jeffrey"-- I personally think the Betty Crocker "Cooking for Two" is MUCH better. The Barefoot Contessa is not my favorite Food Network personality, and aficionados of her style and books... need more imagination in my opinion. I definitely DO like the Food Network magazine; it's a gift any foodie should have, and that anyone should get any foodie in their life.
Anywho, there will be SOME rehab involved in this new to me mixer. There's a few assorted stains that necessitate a couple of parts, as well as a new paint job. I'm going to have to get a new, replacement name band plate strip (and there's a PINK one available), as well as the front attachment cover. With a couple of credits I have on my Amazon account, these parts will come to just over $12. I'm also going to spray paint it this color-- Pearl Metallic Champagne Pink Rustoleum Spray Paint-- which will REALLY compliment the new name band.
But even with these parts, my mixer will come to less than $60, which will free up cash for any attachments I want to buy.
I'm also bidding on another mixer from the same site, which is the one I REALLY want. So far I'm the only bidder-- at $5-- and I may just get it. If I do, I'll have a different rehab plan for the other mixer, and will give it to my bestie, Natashia. If not, the one I won earlier will be rehabbed as I plan, and will look totally unique and awesome and totally ME in the end.
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