Friday, December 21, 2007

Learning from Experience

Why oh why didn't someone tell me, its a good idea to turn off the pretty pink KA mixer BEFORE adding the dry ingredients. Thats right, in my bold and excited attempt at baking christmas cookies from scratch, I learned the hard way not to add dry ingredients, you know, stuff like flour and such, to the dough without turning off the mixer. I, and my kitchen, looked just like the sterotypical baker wife, covered in flour, from head to toe.

Oh, and that cute little plastic shield thingie that goes over the mixing bowl, it didn't help at all.

Ah, 'tis the season!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Bake Me A Cake, Just As Fast As You Can


So...I'm not really a baker. I mean, I bake a cake once a year for my oldest son's birthday, since it has become a tradition for him to have a certain, made from scratch, strawberry cake. The extent of my baking, at least for the last 10 years or so, has been Pillsbury slice and bake cookies. Easy and good!

But for some reason, it must be another new season in my life, I have really wanted a Kitchen Aid blender, and have admired them for the past couple of years. I am so in awe of my friends and sisters, who whip up gorgeous pound cakes, breads, and cookies with their KA mixer while wearing their cute little aprons. I would think, "I want to do that!" But I never could justify the cost of a KA blender, not really being a baker and all. But then, a friend told me about the great deal on Amazon. So, I decide to wander over there and take a look. Wow! Great prices! So many wonderful colors! So, I broke down and bought one.
And, in PINK!

I was excited when it arrived on my doorstep. I unpacked it, handling it so carefully. I was in awe of the size and complexity of this new machine. I read the owner's manual, and tried out all the parts. Then, promptly went to work making my son's annual Strawberry Birthday Cake. I was a nervous wreck the entire time I was mixing the cake in my new blender. But it turned out great!
So, on to my next project. For the first year in what seems like a life time, I'm baking for Christmas. This weekend I plan to make Peanut Butter Criss Cross Cookies, Toffee Crunch Cookies, Gingersnaps, and Magic Bars. I can't wait to see the look on my hubby's face. I bet he'll wonder what alien has taken over his not so domestic wife. Or, he may blame it on hormones.
Happy Christmas baking!