One of the basic small appliances that you will want to have in your kitchen is a good stand mixer. There is a wide variety of mixers available in all colors, sizes and prices, but my favorite is the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer (model KSM150PSER). This is a versatile, durable mixer that will last for years. I have also started adding some of the optional attachments such as the pasta roller and have had great success with all of the attachments. Some cooks and bakers are fine using only a hand mixer and if that is your preference you can find some excellent examples of those online. I prefer the stand mixer for a variety of reasons. The main reason is that the mixing bowl is attached to the stand. Sounds basic but it means you don't have to chase a bowl around your countertop when you are trying to get the beaters into those pockets that haven't mixed thoroughly. The other main reason for me is motor strength. Most hand mixers will have motors that are around 200 watts in power, with 3-7 speeds. That's fine for whipping cream or a light batter but it won't do the job for heavier batters or bread dough.
Features
Most stand mixers have motors that start at 300 watts and go to 650 watts. This KitchenAid has a 325 watt motor and 10 mixing speeds. It comes with a whisk, a flat beater paddle, a dough hook and a splash guard. I was amazed to find that it is available in over 20 colors. With that many colors to chose from you should be able to match any decor. There is a good sized 5 quart bowl that is stainless steel. You can make a double batch of your favorite cookie recipe in a bowl this size. The whole mixer unit and stand are made from die cast steel and it is sturdy. The head tilts back easily for access to the bowl and the bowl snaps in tightly to the base. Besides the optional pasta roller and cutter there is an optional grinder attachment. You can use this for fruits and vegetables or for grinding meats. The options are priced separately and work well with the power hub on the front of the mixer.
This has been my favorite mixer for over 5 years. I bought it as a birthday gift for myself and it has been a wonderful tool in my kitchen. I recently started baking bread and the kneading hook is a real work saver. Along with a good set of baking sheets this mixer means that you will always be able to whip up a batch of cookies easily and quickly.
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