Cooking, however, is much more forgiving. A pinch or handfull of this and a drizzle or splash of that, added to my favorite savory dishes, have produced delicious variations I can claim as my own. When baking, such compulsive additions and inexact measuring can almost certainly destine any cake, cookie, candy, pie or pastry for the trashcan.
Baking is an exact science I just haven't mastered. Nor do I care to memorize ratios of one ingredient to another or the culinary science behind leaveners and such. Yet, this may all change with the addition of one essential appliance to my collection of cooking hardware.
Santa (a.k.a. my dear husband) splurged on a red KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer for me for Christmas. For years, I've been limping along with a wimpy substitution my mother passed along to me after she purchased her KitchenAid. At the time, I was green with envy but thrilled about the hand-me-down until I pulled it out to make flour tortillas. An inferior brand, it lacked the necessary heft to bring the ingredients together. Even on the lowest speed, it danced about my kitchen counter. My full weight was required to restrain the jitterbugging mixer while the dough hooks kneaded my dinner. With every use, I complained loudly. I had to in order to be heard above the din of my gyrating appliance.
Thankfully, my hubby heard my cries, but I don't think his gift was an altruistic purchase. With it comes the expectation that I will bake, and regularly. I've hastily rearranged my kitchen countertops to make room for this gorgeous machine. I'm throwing out my stockpile of boxed Better Crocker brownie mix and perusing the unread pages in the baking chapters of my cookbooks.
Here's where I need you, my faithful reader. I humbly request that you comment with your tips and tricks for successful baking. Or, be so kind as to share your best recipes for sweets. Santa wants more treats! I promise to make every every last one of your submissions and blog about them of course.
Yours truly,
The Domestic Foodie
Your mother here! And your all-time fan! TIP for bakers: Keep a desk ruler in your utensil drawer for cleanups. Scrap that flour and dough off your working surface with the straight edge of the ruler. The ruler takes up little room in the drawer and performs a service when you need it.
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