OFF TOPIC - stand mixers

On Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:17:36 -0500, Cheryl Isaak wrote:
which one do you have - the wooden handle on my grandmothers snapped (I
think she inherited it) and three different ones I've gotten aren't up
to pie crust. This dough it 2 eggs, 1 pound of cold butter, 1 cup of
sugar and 6 cups of flour. (It is straight out on my MIL cookbook)

I was taught to make piecrust and shortbread with two or four tableknives.
Throw the ingredients in a big bowl and cut through them with the knives
till mixed. It's faster than any pastry blender I've ever found.
If you're using 4 knives, rubber band the handles together in pairs
in a couple of spots so the blades point the same direction. g

DH comes from a family that loves kitchen gadgets. I like a minimalist
kitchen. Based on my kitchen tools, he couldn't believe I cooked. At
the time,the extent of my kitchen automation was a toaster and a
hand-crank eggbeater.

Kay

On 11/30/11 5:42 PM, Kay Lancaster wrote:
On Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:17:36 -0500, Cheryl wrote:
which one do you have - the wooden handle on my grandmothers snapped (I
think she inherited it) and three different ones I've gotten aren't up
to pie crust. This dough it 2 eggs, 1 pound of cold butter, 1 cup of
sugar and 6 cups of flour. (It is straight out on my MIL cookbook)

I was taught to make piecrust and shortbread with two or four tableknives.
Throw the ingredients in a big bowl and cut through them with the knives
till mixed. It's faster than any pastry blender I've ever found.
If you're using 4 knives, rubber band the handles together in pairs
in a couple of spots so the blades point the same direction.g

DH comes from a family that loves kitchen gadgets. I like a minimalist
kitchen. Based on my kitchen tools, he couldn't believe I cooked. At
the time,the extent of my kitchen automation was a toaster and a
hand-crank eggbeater.

Kay

hmm

the recipe (from the German) wanted the cold butter and sugar creamed.

but I have to wonder if your method could work, if I was in better shape.

I can cook and make adjustments with ease.

Not so with baking. Have to follow the rules there.

Cheryl

On 12/1/11 7:30 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:22:06 -0500, Cheryl Isaak
wrote:

On 11/30/11 5:42 PM, Kay Lancaster wrote:
On Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:17:36 -0500, Cheryl wrote:
which one do you have - the wooden handle on my grandmothers snapped (I
think she inherited it) and three different ones I've gotten aren't up
to pie crust. This dough it 2 eggs, 1 pound of cold butter, 1 cup of
sugar and 6 cups of flour. (It is straight out on my MIL cookbook)

I was taught to make piecrust and shortbread with two or four tableknives.
Throw the ingredients in a big bowl and cut through them with the knives
till mixed. It's faster than any pastry blender I've ever found.
If you're using 4 knives, rubber band the handles together in pairs
in a couple of spots so the blades point the same direction.g

DH comes from a family that loves kitchen gadgets. I like a minimalist
kitchen. Based on my kitchen tools, he couldn't believe I cooked. At
the time,the extent of my kitchen automation was a toaster and a
hand-crank eggbeater.

Kay

hmm

the recipe (from the German) wanted the cold butter and sugar creamed.

but I have to wonder if your method could work, if I was in better shape.

I can cook and make adjustments with ease.

Not so with baking. Have to follow the rules there.

Cheryl


Shortbread (true shortbread) is Scottish, not German !!!!
that almost requires a smiley face Sheena!

the recipe is Muerbe Teig - from my MIL's cookbook

On 11/30/2011 6:17 AM, Cheryl Isaak wrote:
On 11/29/11 8:28 PM, Susan Hartman wrote:
On 11/28/2011 4:12 PM, Cheryl Isaak wrote:


I challenge you to mix a shortbread dough by hand


Cheryl -
I always do my shortbread by hand...but I can't do it without a good
pastry cutter! That's what I love about shortbread...it takes about 15
minutes from start to putting it in the oven, and it's so impressive
when it comes out. People think I slaved, and there's really nothing to
it. (But don't tell them!)

sue



which one do you have - the wooden handle on my grandmothers snapped (I
think she inherited it) and three different ones I've gotten aren't up
to pie crust. This dough it 2 eggs, 1 pound of cold butter, 1 cup of
sugar and 6 cups of flour. (It is straight out on my MIL cookbook)

C

The wire ones don't work well. The one I have looks like this:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...astry-blender/


That little thumb rest really helps!

sue

--
Susan Hartman

On 12/2/11 4:31 PM, Susan Hartman wrote:
On 11/30/2011 6:17 AM, Cheryl Isaak wrote:
On 11/29/11 8:28 PM, Susan Hartman wrote:
On 11/28/2011 4:12 PM, Cheryl Isaak wrote:


I challenge you to mix a shortbread dough by hand


Cheryl -
I always do my shortbread by hand...but I can't do it without a good
pastry cutter! That's what I love about shortbread...it takes about 15
minutes from start to putting it in the oven, and it's so impressive
when it comes out. People think I slaved, and there's really nothing to
it. (But don't tell them!)

sue



which one do you have - the wooden handle on my grandmothers snapped (I
think she inherited it) and three different ones I've gotten aren't up
to pie crust. This dough it 2 eggs, 1 pound of cold butter, 1 cup of
sugar and 6 cups of flour. (It is straight out on my MIL cookbook)

C

The wire ones don't work well. The one I have looks like this:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...astry-blender/


That little thumb rest really helps!

sue

will add to my Amazon wish list

On Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:31:12 -0500, Susan Hartman
wrote:


The wire ones don't work well. The one I have looks like this:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...astry-blender/

I went to the restaurant-supply store today, to buy aprons for the
kitchen committee at church, and in wandering around afterward, I
noticed that they had both the wire type of pastry blender and the
knife type. I didn't examine the knife type to see whether it was as
nice a blender as the one in the link, however. The wire type was at
the front edge of the counter, and I thought it a better blender than
the wire blender I have -- the arch of the wires is narrower, and a
bit more gothic, which would allow you to exert more force, and make
it easier to stir.

An important consideration is that you don't want any joints or seams
in the part that goes down into your food -- unless you habitually
boil your tools between uses.

(Above message wouldn't send yesterday; I'm trying again to see
whether it was a passing glitch.)
--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://roughsewing.home.comcast.net/
The above message is a Usenet post.
I don't recall having given anyone permission to use it on a Web site.

On Nov 25, 8:24*am, Cheryl Isaak wrote:
I have gleefully smoked the all in one mixer, blender, food processor I
got years ago as a gift (not something I'd have bought)

who has a favorite stand mixer? and why

I"m getting a new one for the holidays

Cheryl

I don't have or need a stand mixer, BUT I would caution you on
anything Cuisinart. I have their waffle iron and it's a hunk of
junk. One side not as hot as the other, and the knob fell off the
control. I glued it together, but there's too much play in the
control now. Have to flip the waffle to do both sides right.

On 12/5/11 3:51 PM, Kalmia wrote:
On Nov 25, 8:24 am, Cheryl wrote:
I have gleefully smoked the all in one mixer, blender, food processor I
got years ago as a gift (not something I'd have bought)

who has a favorite stand mixer? and why

I"m getting a new one for the holidays

Cheryl

I don't have or need a stand mixer, BUT I would caution you on
anything Cuisinart. I have their waffle iron and it's a hunk of
junk. One side not as hot as the other, and the knob fell off the
control. I glued it together, but there's too much play in the
control now. Have to flip the waffle to do both sides right.


the entire line gets terrible reviews

On 12/5/11 5:18 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:40:37 -0500, Cheryl Isaak
wrote:

On 12/5/11 3:51 PM, Kalmia wrote:
On Nov 25, 8:24 am, Cheryl wrote:
I have gleefully smoked the all in one mixer, blender, food processor I
got years ago as a gift (not something I'd have bought)

who has a favorite stand mixer? and why

I"m getting a new one for the holidays

Cheryl

I don't have or need a stand mixer, BUT I would caution you on
anything Cuisinart. I have their waffle iron and it's a hunk of
junk. One side not as hot as the other, and the knob fell off the
control. I glued it together, but there's too much play in the
control now. Have to flip the waffle to do both sides right.


the entire line gets terrible reviews


Depends - my Cuisinart food processor circa 1975 still works like a
charm, I did replace the main blade about ten years ago though.

My Cuisinart drip coffee maker, just made coffee yesterday that people
liked. It tasted as good as it smelled.
I suspect I should have qualified that as the newer items (last 3-5
years or so)

C

On Dec 5, 5:18*pm, wrote:
On Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:40:37 -0500, Cheryl Isaak









wrote:
On 12/5/11 3:51 PM, Kalmia wrote:
On Nov 25, 8:24 am, Cheryl *wrote:
I have gleefully smoked the all in one mixer, blender, food processor I
got years ago as a gift (not something I'd have bought)

who has a favorite stand mixer? and why

I"m getting a new one for the holidays

Cheryl

I don't have or need a stand mixer, BUT I would caution you on
anything Cuisinart. *I have their waffle iron and it's a hunk of
junk. *One side not as hot as the other, and the knob fell off the
control. *I glued it together, but there's too much play in the
control now. *Have to flip the waffle to do both sides right.

the entire line gets terrible reviews

Depends - my Cuisinart food processor circa 1975 still works like a
charm, I did replace the main blade about ten years ago though.

My Cuisinart drip coffee maker, just made coffee yesterday that people
liked. *It tasted as good as it smelled.

I should have qualified that - it's about 3 y.o. and is also
dangerously hot ( brushed stainless exterior) - I wouldn't want a kid
anywhere near it. I'm sure the older Cuisinarts were far superior.