5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying a KitchenAid (Or Any Stand Mixer) Do you have a stand mixer? If you don't, it is probably on your standing wish list. Many people buy stand mixers this time of year (it is Christmas, after all!) so here are a few tips and questions for those of you picking out a stand mixer. Whether you're buying the ubiquitous KitchenAid or another brand of stand mixer, run through these questions and tips as you go about your mixer shopping. Do I need to buy a stand mixer? - The first question you should ask yourself is whether you really need a stand mixer. Yes, they are gorgeous on the countertop, and they are very handy for certain kitchen tasks. But we have found that a good hand mixer is just as useful for nearly every kitchen task. If you don't make bread, marshmallows, and a few other heavy-duty recipes, you don't really have to have a stand mixer. But does a stand mixer make everything a little easier? And if you make a lot of bread, it's very useful.

If I had a stand mixer, would I use it (on average) more than once a week? - This is an arbitrary standard, but I probably wouldn't have bought my own stand mixer if I didn't think I would use it about once a week, or frequently. If you are a yearly baker, you probably don't need a stand mixer. ninja blender bl660 youtubeThink over your baking and cooking habits, and try to imagine how often you will use the mixer. braun turbo 600w hand blender spare partsIs it worth the counter space if you will only use it once a month?kitchenaid stand mixer dosa Do I have space for a stand mixer? kitchenaid mixer clunk

- A good mixer is heavy and large. It's difficult to move it around the kitchen, so unless you have a built-in appliance lift or appliance garage, you will need at least a square foot of space on your countertop. Will I use my stand mixer for anything other than baking? - This is where your decision-making process may split amongst the different brands and models. blendtec twister jar sale couponIf you really want to use your machine for pasta-making, for instance, the KitchenAid is an excellent choice, with its separate pasta press attachment. antony worrall thompson blender spare partsOn the other hand, if your primary focus is bread, you might want to consider the Viking mixer, which is supposedly more powerful and better-suited to kneading bread.breville blend active bottle 600ml

How much can I afford to spend? - Once you have decided that you can afford the counterspace, and that yes, a stand mixer is a good investment for your kitchen and your cooking style, it's time to decide how much you are willing to spend. Stand mixers can be found for anywhere from about $100 to over $400. If you are into baking and plan on using your mixer for bread, do not even think about getting a lower-priced, lower-powered model. It is worth it to buy the heaviest, most powerful model that you can afford. But if you are just thinking of cookies, cakes, and other basic baking tasks, keep an eye out on Amazon for the occasional great deals that go through there this time of year. Also, if you are within driving distance of KitchenAid or Viking's factories, try to drop in and look for a factory-refurbished model (also available through their websites). Do you own a stand mixer? What do you like about it? What do you wish you could change? Any shopping tips to add to these?

More on KitchenAid Mixers:• Pimp Your KitchenAid Mixer• Help Me Break in My New KitchenAid Mixer!• Coming Soon: 90th Anniversary KitchenAid Stand Mixer• Should I Buy a Tilt-Head or Bowl-Lift KitchenAid Mixer?• What Do To If Your KitchenAid Stand Mixer Breaks KitchenAid Attachments:• Hot or Not? KitchenAid Citrus Juicer Attachment• Good Product: Beater Blade+ for KitchenAid Stand Mixers• Help! Why Doesn't My KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Work?• Product Review: KitchenAid Pasta Press AttachmentShow all reviewsGreat mixer, plastic attachments- not so.Color: Grey and Chrome|Did not work for kneading bread doughColor: Black|Thank u Hamilton Beach.Color: Black| So far I've been very happy with my decisionColor: Grey and Chrome|Does what I needed it for.Color: Black|... save some money and by the knock off mixer like Hamilton instead of the Kitchen AidColor: Black|good dealColor: Black|Color: Grey and Chrome|←Previous...Get fast answers from reviewers See all 218 answered questions

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Ghar ki roti, the kind ami makes. The kind that makes any dish from simple aloo gobee to more complex kardhai chicken go from great to jaw-dropping-great. The reasons to avoid making roti were legitimate: 1. Making roti is messy, sticky, business. 2. It's best fresh and thus can result in one making rotis on the stove and tossing them fresh to folks while you remain hungry until the end. 3. And honestly, our moms make great roti so why mess with perfection and just eat it when we visit or are visited? Considering all this my stock answer when asked to attempt the art of roti by my roti-loving spouse was simply my mom didn't start making roti until she had kids, when we have kids I'll make it too.And a little boy who adores all food desi. Sure he'll eat spaghetti but he positively does the happy dance if bhindi or aaloo gobee is the evening's main course. And when nani or dadi make roti? The look of bliss is unmistakable, so today, I decided to give it a try. I didn't have any desi-store atta around but thanks to internet searches and chatting with my mother, I made this recipe in our kitchen-aid mixer using grocery-store flour.

To our great delight the roti came out well! Ingredients: Makes six rotis 1 cup 100% whole wheat flour [I used King Arthur- I'm fairly convinced the desi store flour would be better, will try it next time and will update here if it makes a huge difference]. 1/2 cup all purpose flour [This helps soften the harder-textured whole wheat flour] 1 cup water [Start with 1/2 cup only. Add the other half as needed]. Pam cooking spray or canola oil Step one: Add your dry ingredients into the mixer bowl and mix on the lowest speed with the dough hook attachment for 15-30 seconds. Step two: Add in 1/2 cup of water slowly on level 1 [about two minutes]. Step three: Pause, scrape the sides, and trickle in a bit more water until the dough no longer sticks to the sides.  [note: the water really can vary, so just keep watching until its sticking together. It shouldn't take more than one cup of water.] Step four: Take out the dough, if too sticky for your liking knead in some more flour [I didn't], then break off a piece, make a ball and flatten it onto a well floured space.

Coat both sides with flour so its no longer sticky. Step five: Grab your roller and flatten until it is thin and round [Re-coat with more flour if needed to help the rolling go smoothly] Step six: Place on a preheated frying pan coated in either canola oil or pam [I use the latter for caloric reasons]. Not a perfect circle but we'll get there eventually! Step seven: Wait about two minutes and then flip. If you see bubbles forming, gently use a cloth and blot them down. Flip until both sides are golden brown. Step eight: Do the happy dance. For the love of a little boy, despite stickiness and a million reservations, a mother did what she thought she would never do, she finally learned to make roti. Eat with a desi dish of your choice, wrap in some grilled chicken, sauteed onions and mint chutney, or if you're like us and couldn't wait to create a second dish, scramble some eggs and dive in!If so, please do share how it turned out! What do you love to eat your roti with?