Kitchenaid Lust.

[Summary: This post is about obsessing over Kitchenaid mixers. With lots of research links. Just to warn you.]

So I've been baking lately, mostly out of boredom. I've baked molasses cookies (that recipe) five times in the past month, and I'll need to find a new favorite recipe soon, because I'm getting bored with that fantastic spicy flavor. (Say it ain't so!) But since I've been baking, and that recipe makes a pretty sticky dough, I've become very good friends with two stand mixers, a Sunbeam from the 70's (Mom's) and an even older Sunbeam (Grandma's). Lots of coaxing and hand mixing, so the motor doesn't burn out. Grandma's mixer's on/off/speed changer switch no longer works, so you have to plug it into a power strip with a switch to turn it on or off. One speed only. We became very good friends.

So that explains why I've been obsessed with stand mixers. Today as I was procrastinating on the internet (I swear I'll get the car washed tomorrow!), I found a Kitchenaid that's on sale on amazon (sweet sweet amazon!), and told my mother about it. Even though I won't be moving out any time soon, she advised that I buy it. That's probably the longest, most interesting, and most civil conversation I've ever had with her. Over a kitchen appliance. (A lovely, calming, pistachio green one!) It's a step in the right direction, I suppose. I just found the whole exchange bizarre. Here I am, still unemployed, looking at a $250 stand mixer. That I don't need. I guess it's more practical than a pair of shoes, but still.

And just in case anyone else wants to benefit from my research, here you go:

Kitchenaid
Kitchenaid store (they really need both?)
America's Test Kitchen (a pretty good article--18 mixer test.)
Cooks Illustrated review chart (pdf companion to ATK)
Consumer Search reviews
Fanboy account of visiting the Kitchenaid factory

In a nutshell, Kitchenaid wins, hands down. Although they're pretty heavy. If you do bread a lot, a more powerful motor (pro 600) is better. The lower end Kitchenaids (classic, artisan) can handle it, but they kinda jump around, and take longer to knead bread. The artisan has a bajillion colors to choose from (Tangerine. Grape. And then the expensive metallics.) I'll stop there.

But honestly, it's like when you get a new car, or a trendy shirt. You start seeing it everywhere. I was watching Ugly Betty (I dig it), and her family had two Kitchenaid mixers. I always thought their family was supposed to be kind of poor (in one episode they couldn't afford a Christmas tree!), but if Kitchenaid pays for product placement, then I guess a struggling Latino family in the Bronx can afford two of 'em. Maybe they're refurbished. I hear those are a good deal.

Man, I should really look into that LJ-cut hack for blogger.

But wait! Pictures for dessert! I haven't abandoned my picture-a-day thing--although I've missed a handful--but I don't feel like organizing them now. Have some cookie photos instead.

Grandma's mixer. The piece of paper wrapped around the middle informs you that the dial doesn't work.

Batch #1. They're like a soft gingerbread. Or a gingersnap.
But with a big spicy punch.

Batch #3. Look how uniform and puffy!
I wish they always did that. So cute!

Batch #4. Not enough spice! But so pretty.

Grandma's scary old molasses. No one got sick, but still. OLD.