|
Two
Must-Have Baking Tools For Under 20 Bucks & The World's
Best Price on a KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Silpat
Baking Mats
I haven't had to scrape a single cookie off a baking sheet
since I've been using silpat
mats. So coveted are they in our family that my mother
actually stole one from me. "I didn't steal it from
you, Kathleen, you left it here." My sister
in law Renie, gave me one for Christmas a few years back.
I raved it about it so much she bought me another one the
following year. We open presents at my Moms. My silpat got
lost among the ribbon and wrapping paper, so yes, technically
I did leave it at her house.
How it turned into a permanent resident, I'm not sure. Regardless,
you can't take something from your Mother that brings her
great joy, so I let it slide but was determined to replace
it. Fortunately for you (you can reap the benefits of my
poor decision making) I was cheap and replaced it with a
faux silpat because I couldn't bare to part with 20 bucks
so soon after Christmas. I've hated it since the day I bought
it. It doesn't perform nearly as well and gets so hot you
can burn yourself if you're not careful. Though it's also
touted as a non-stick baking mat, food sticks to it most
of the time.
Silpat mats turn regular cookie sheets into non-stick baking
sheets, eliminating the need to "butter" the pan.
No more scrubbing messy pans spotted with burnt chocolate.
All you have to do is wipe the silpat clean. Be sure to
buy mats that fit your cookie sheets. They're available
almost everywhere for $19.99 but Amazon's
got them for $14.85. They've also come up with a microwave
baking sheet for $17.99.
OXO
Good Grips Angled Measuring Cups
When it comes to measuring wet ingredients, adding too much
or too little can turn cake like cookies into hard tack.
"OXO has revolutionized liquid measuring. A patented
angled surface lets you read measurement markings by looking
straight down into the cup and eliminates the need to fill,
check and adjust the amount of liquid you are measuring.
The handle is soft and non-slip for a firm grip, and cup,
ounce and milliliter measurement markings increase convenience.
Available in 1-cup,
2-cup
and 4-cup
versions." I thought they were a silly gimmick until
the first time I used one. Being able to stand over the
cup and know you've added the right amount without having
to crouch down and check is priceless. $6.29-9.99 at Amazon.com.
Factory-Reconditioned
KitchenAid Stand Mixer
I got my first KitchenAid stand mixer at an indoor-outdoor
Santa Barbara Sanford & Son style junkyard. It was covered
in mud so I almost missed it. I could hardly believe my
eyes when I saw it. It was a heavy duty restaurant version.
The kind with a really big motor. I was running a high volume
restaurant at the time. I paid for it with my own money
because I knew when I left the restaurant I'd surely never
be able to part with such an incredible tool and I certainly
couldn't afford a brand new one or I wouldn't have been
scavenging in the first place.
I've never regretted my decision to plunk down the cash
to walk off the lot with the dirt covered mixer. The machines
are legendary for their ability to take the heat in the
kitchen. What was a little outdoor wear and tear? I took
it to a fix it guy who cleaned up, and greased it's "wheels".
It was good as new. That was 15 years ago. It's still running
strong.
Scouring Amazon for deals this holiday, I came across their
ad for Factory-Reconditioned
KitchenAid RRK5AWW 5-Quart Mixer, White on White.
I could hardly believe the price: $129.99! If you've always
wanted one but haven't had the spare cash, this is one deal
I'd spend some time contemplating especially if you cook
a lot. My stand mixer is as essential to quick cooking as
my oven and stove.
Amazon.com
Review
KitchenAid's stand mixer is a substantial piece of equipment—325
watts of heavy-duty mixing power that makes child's play
of creaming butter, kneading dough, and whipping cream.
The kid in you will appreciate how quick and easy it becomes
to mix up a batch of cookie dough; the aspiring pastry
chef will appreciate that the 5-quart bowl can hold enough
dough for three loaves of bread.
This model comes with three attachments: a flat beater
for making batter, meat loaves, and all textures in-between;
a wire whip for egg whites, mayonnaise, and more air-infused
creations; and a hook for mixing and kneading yeast doughs.
All three are solidly constructed and easily secured to
the beater shaft with a simple twist; untwisting them
is a bit trickier because the attachment stems are short
and can be hard to grasp, especially if they get the least
bit greasy. This model also includes a two-piece pouring
shield for guiding ingredients to their proper destination,
and the bowl itself locks to the arms that lift it toward
the beater with the easy lift lever.
Standing 14 inches high, jutting out a foot, and weighing
more than a grown woman's bowling ball, this stand mixer
isn't the sort of appliance you'll wipe down and put away.
Better to find a square foot of free counter space for
easy access; besides, this machine is as pretty as it
is rugged—you'll want to show it off.
To complete the package, KitchenAid includes a spiral-bound
guide with instructions, mixing tips, and 67 recipes—from
crispy waffles to a caramel walnut banana torte. —Betsy
Danheim
Editor's
note: This
is a reconditioned small appliance. Reconditioned generally
means that the appliance has been returned to the manufacturer,
which brings it back to like-new condition. Some appliances
may contain cosmetic blemishes.
|
