Beloved Kitchen Aid Mixer

I love my Kitchen Aid Mixer. I didn't have a lot of experience with baking, but my mom had a white Kitchen Aid and she used it quite a bit.

I received mine as a Christmas gift from my dear hubby. This was after the birth of our second daughter and I was fast on my way to absolutely loving baking.  I'd learned a ton by searching for recipes, using family recipes, and watching Martha.

Today I used my mixer when making a pudding cake. Nothing beats whipping egg whites into submission than the high speed of a Kitchen Aid. Thick, fluffy, egg whites to fold into a rich custard.

Perfect every time!

Go To Tools

When we moved into our house nearly 20 years ago, this measurement chart was taped to a cabinet in my kitchen. At first I was going to remove it, but then I remembered I really didn't know how to cook and it may come in handy.

Well 20 years later, here it is still stuck to my cupboard and I use it all the time.  I have also told my children to use it as well.  As you can see, they have used it to color on and write down phone numbers!

Do you have any tool like my measurement chart or my grandmother's whisk that you just can't part with?

Cooking 101

One thing I must say about cooking is that you need to have the right tools.  I've collected many gadgets in during my marriage, some I've used, others need a good dusting.  Some of my favorite utensils are wooden spoons and whisk.  I have spoon made of cherry wood, olive tree, bamboo.  I have whisk that are modern, need to be tossed, and one that my grandmother used and my daughter swears is unsanitary to use.  I just can't throw it away.

Grandma Garner's Whisk

 So, I should tell you now, I'm not a photographer.  I know it's obvious, but I wanted to add a disclaimer as there are sure to be horrible images to come.

So, on to more essentials in the kitchen.  I love my mixer.  It's a Kitchen Aid, cobalt blue, and lovingly taken care of.  I monitor the kid's use of it, nothing goes in the dishwasher--no siree, hand washing is the only way to go.

I also like stoneware for baking.  I make killer Panettone and I use stoneware bread pans.  I also have bundt cake and pizza pan stoneware that oddly is never used for pizza but for cookies.

I use glass dishes for lasagne, although there are a few pieces of cast iron constructed dishes.

Speaking of cast iron. Nothing, and I mean nothing cooks a steak better then cast iron.  Nicely seasoned, my cast iron pan is one of my go to pieces.  It has ridges so that my steaks aren't sitting in a pile of grease.
 

Notice the Color!  Will match my Kitchen Aid

I recently purchases a dutch oven that is large and has a great, thick bottom so things don't burn.  But this is the one I want next, just waiting for it to go on sale.