Food & Recipes

Love Affair with a Stand Mixer by Caitlin Steininger

7.26.2010

When I was growing up Mom had a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. It was stored in a bag and hidden in the closet next to the onions and potatoes. It was like a secret she was hiding just from me (or so I thought).  Looking back, if I had known of all of its capabilities I would have hidden it from me too. There were 2 very specific recipes Mom would pull it out for and when I would hear the purr of the motor, I would sprint downstairs to see it in action. I always thought that when I grew up, it would be the first thing I would buy.

Then, when I went to culinary school there was a KitchenAid Stand Mixer for every 2 students. The love affair continued, but now I was actually permitted to work with it.  The more I learned about this machine the more I respected it. During our baking classes we would have to work in teams and I would always assign myself the job of working with the stand mixer. I felt like I understood it’s language. I knew when it created the perfect stiff peak for my French macaroons, I understood when my bread was perfectly kneaded.

After culinary school and when I got married, I received my own. Of course I realized that it was supposed to be a present for both my husband and myself but I secretly made it completely mine. (I felt like I needed to name it because I had waited one for so long.) Not only did I get the classic paddle, whisk, and dough hook, but I received a sausage grinder attachment and pasta rolling attachment – it is so versatile. Unlike my mother, I immediately showcased my very own KitchenAid stand mixer on my counter in our tiny studio apartment. It practically took up my entire counter but I happily worked around it.

I promise you, I make our mixer work even harder then a KitchenAid Stand Mixer knew it could work. I use it every other day and it’s amazing just what this baby can do. Here’s a list of just a few of my favorites:

• Whip up butter for fresh compound butters to rub under the chicken breast.
• I use it to make a 15 minute homemade chocolate mousse. (For people who have made chocolate mousse 15 minutes is ridiculous.)
• I have just started making homemade brioche with the dough hook.
• The sausage attachment has helped to put our name on the map in Cincinnati as the girls who make their own sausage.
• The stand mixer allows me to teach my boys and nieces how to make cookies without ruining the whole house.
• The stand mixer has helped me make things homemade that I myself didn’t think were possible - homemade marshmallows, graham crackers, butter creams, mousses are effortless.

For a few tips and tricks when it comes to using the Stand Mixer, be sure to read my list.

Disclaimer: Cooking with Caitlin has NOT received any product or payment from KitchenAid. The only product we will be associated with is the giveaway item during the 7/26 #fni and (sadly) we cannot win this.

 

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