She got me a....
wait for it ............
KitchenAid Stand Mixer!!!!!
No special occasion, just because. Isn't she just amazing?!
I cried, I kicked my heels, I was so grateful, happy, and ecstatic. I felt like I was in a Mary Poppins movie, that magical feeling you had when you saw Mary Poppins pulling all that stuff out of her carpet bag. Or when the Wizard Of Oz turned into color. Or when all that magical stuff happened in Harry Potter. You get the idea.
I felt like hugging all the cats in the world. I am being a little dramatic but you understand. This is such a blessing, and even more of an inspiration to my passion for cooking and baking; there is a whole world of recipes I can try with this baby. I am over. the. moon!
I have been eyeing a KitchenAid for years, I'm talking since 2006, every time I was ready to buy one, something else more important to do with my money came up. (Phssh ... bills, what?)
I cried, I kicked my heels, I was so grateful, happy, and ecstatic. I felt like I was in a Mary Poppins movie, that magical feeling you had when you saw Mary Poppins pulling all that stuff out of her carpet bag. Or when the Wizard Of Oz turned into color. Or when all that magical stuff happened in Harry Potter. You get the idea.
I felt like hugging all the cats in the world. I am being a little dramatic but you understand. This is such a blessing, and even more of an inspiration to my passion for cooking and baking; there is a whole world of recipes I can try with this baby. I am over. the. moon!
I have been eyeing a KitchenAid for years, I'm talking since 2006, every time I was ready to buy one, something else more important to do with my money came up. (Phssh ... bills, what?)
This came just in time for the wedding cake/cupcake order that is coming up in November - I am determined and more confident that they will come out beautifully with the help of my KitchenAid.
So here it is, in all of its tangerine orange glory. I already used it to make Meghan birthday cupcakes this past weekend, where you can find the details here.
I also wanted to give a shout out to a few baking staples I have converted to:
1) King Arthur Flour and Cake Enhancer. Their unbleached flour has a wonderful silky texture and does not have that chemical taste. The Cake Enhancer has noticeably made my cakes more fluffier, moist, and shelf stable. I am sold, and will be using these products for all my baking from now on.
I have used cake flours, bleached flours, gluten free flours - but aside from gluten free, this KAF flour has given me my best results.
You can find Kind Arthur Flour usually at Publix, Whole Foods, or Native Sun. The Cake Enhancer, though, I could only find online - but is also inexpensive - click on links below to navigate to the King Arthur Flour online store:
1) King Arthur Flour and Cake Enhancer. Their unbleached flour has a wonderful silky texture and does not have that chemical taste. The Cake Enhancer has noticeably made my cakes more fluffier, moist, and shelf stable. I am sold, and will be using these products for all my baking from now on.
I have used cake flours, bleached flours, gluten free flours - but aside from gluten free, this KAF flour has given me my best results.
You can find Kind Arthur Flour usually at Publix, Whole Foods, or Native Sun. The Cake Enhancer, though, I could only find online - but is also inexpensive - click on links below to navigate to the King Arthur Flour online store:
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| KAF Unbleached All-Purpose Flour |
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| KAF Cake Enhancer |
2) Having a digital scale is MUST. For baking at least. Measuring cups and spoons just don't cut it for certain recipes that require specific measurement, like Swiss meringue buttercream or French macarons. The slightest offset could cause your meringue not to fluff or stiffen, or prevent your macarons from having a nice shell or forming pretty feet; trust me, I have tried and failed.
Currently, I use an Escali Arti 15-Pound/7-Kilogram Digital Scale in Peacock Blue. It is a bit pricey, but I received this scale for free through a rewards program at my job. Did I mention I love my job? No? Well, I LOVE my job.
3) Quality Vanilla and Flavored Extracts
Quality can also = $$$. Not for this girl! I have scored brands like Nielsen-Massey (my favorite) sold at places like Williams and Sonoma - but find them at discount retail stores like HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, or ROSS. I find all kinds of gourmet ingredients for cheap. My best finds have been at the HomeGoods store - been keeping my eye out for some Mexican Vanilla.
Next time you go to one of these stores, check out the food and kitchen utensil aisles - you will find edible treasures there, I swear. Or, if you are not a cheap-o like me, go ahead and click on the link above and shop till you drop!
So there you have it, a few of my secrets that aided to some baking success. I am sure I will learn tons more along the way!
Happy Baking!
Currently, I use an Escali Arti 15-Pound/7-Kilogram Digital Scale in Peacock Blue. It is a bit pricey, but I received this scale for free through a rewards program at my job. Did I mention I love my job? No? Well, I LOVE my job.
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| ESCALI SCALES Arti Glass Digital Scale |
3) Quality Vanilla and Flavored Extracts
Quality can also = $$$. Not for this girl! I have scored brands like Nielsen-Massey (my favorite) sold at places like Williams and Sonoma - but find them at discount retail stores like HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, or ROSS. I find all kinds of gourmet ingredients for cheap. My best finds have been at the HomeGoods store - been keeping my eye out for some Mexican Vanilla.
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| Good Quality Extracts |
Next time you go to one of these stores, check out the food and kitchen utensil aisles - you will find edible treasures there, I swear. Or, if you are not a cheap-o like me, go ahead and click on the link above and shop till you drop!
So there you have it, a few of my secrets that aided to some baking success. I am sure I will learn tons more along the way!
Happy Baking!
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