I promise you, my good readers, one thing: I will not promote anything that I do not personally believe to be worthwhile. The content of some ads are out of my control (you can just bet I would not have George Bush's book on here if was my choice!) but the items I link to and write about are things I have read or that have good reviews elsewhere (the librarian in my speaking), or items I have used or people I know and trust have used and spoken well of--or items that have had good reviews (down, Librarian, down!)
Having said that, I am going to start this series with a kitchen tool I never thought I needed, and actually kept down in the sink cabinet for months because I thought it took up too much counter space: my KitchenAid
mixer. It was actually my mother's mixer, and when we were cleaning out the house after Dad passed away, it ended up with me. Several of my sisters already had them--our aunt had been a food editor at Good Housekeeping
for years, and she apparently had mixers to give away from time to time. I brought Mom's mixer home and made space for it on the counter. And never used it. So during a spring cleaning, I put it away in the cabinet. I got it out again last year at Christmas and my goodness, what was I thinking? Do you know you can actually mix stiff cookie dough in it? And a lot of other things too. Suddenly the mixer became an important tool in my kitchen and I am lusting after the many attachments that can be added to make it even more useful, like juicers, grinders, etc. Mine has a dough hook, and one day I will get back into making bread and try that hook out too. I wish my mixer was red
, but shoot, I'm just glad to have one at all!If you cook from scratch or do a good bit of cooking, then consider a KitchenAid. I'm a hard sell when it comes to appliances and electrical gadgets, but this, in my book, is no gadget--it's a necessary tool for anyone who likes to cook.
And just for fun, I'm adding the hand mixer, the red bowls, and the mixer cover to the links! I love those red bowls. Maybe they need to go on my "Santa" list for next year.
I have a kitchenaid and it is the best appliance I own. Seriously
ReplyDeleteHi Granny Sue,
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what your aunt's name was that worked at GH Magazine. I was also a food editor there from 1987-1991.
Carol Ann Blaine
Hackettstown, NJ
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am snxious to see how monetizing your blog works for you. I have been thinking about doing it on my own blog but,so far, have resisted the temptation. If you could post your observations about, it as time goes by, it might help many of us bloggers make the decision.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Steve
I love my Kitchen-Aid!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely one item that every cook needs. I use my dough hook all the time for breads and my parents have the grinder attatchment (that I borrow) to grind up leftover ham to use later in ham loaves.I
I agree, Farmchick. I don't think there is anything electrical in my kitchen that I appreciate more.
ReplyDeleteCarol Ann, my aunt was Ellen Connelly. I find her name sometimes in cookbooks, and we have several pictures of her during her career at Good Housekeeping. I think she also worked for Better Crocker, but I'm not sure. She retired about the time you would have started there, I think. She is still living, but has Alzheimer's now and is getting close to 90, if she has not already reached that milestone.
Steve, I definitely have mixed feelings about it (maybe that's why I chose the mixer first!) I am not sure I want to do this, but on the other hand, there are a lot of things I link in my blogs anyway because I like them--particularly books and music. So we'll see. It seems quite complicated, but so did blogging when I started. And if it truly is not worth it or too much hassle, or there are products in the links that make me gag, I'll have to reconsider.
ReplyDeleteGranny Sue -- excellent post. I have been doing this same kind of work for some time now and work with several companies. If you are interested, drop me a note.
ReplyDeleteLove my KitchenAid!!! I used to have a Sunbeam. The one Lizzy stuck her fingers in when she was so little. Remember that? I passed it to her when I got my new Kitchen Aid a couple of years ago. I use it all the time. It's a very handy tool! :)
ReplyDeleteQuilly, I will! Thank you for the offer.
ReplyDeleteAnd Maggie, boy do I remember that old Sunbeam. And lizzie's fingers (shudder). Is it really still running? It must be 50 years old at least--Mom had it when I was wee little.
I love my mixer as well. I think Aunt Ellen gave me mine. I have bought them for both boys and they and their wives love them as well. I have memories of the day care nephews pushing a chair over to the counter as soon as they heard it turn on! They knew something good was being made and wanted to lick the bowl and blade! I never knew they made a cover...I am going to have to look into this! :) love you
ReplyDeleteI also have a Kitchen-Aid mixer. I love it! Especially for bread, pizza and cookie dough.
ReplyDelete