Kitchen Love an affair to enjoy!

I love gadgets of any type.  If they make cooking easier I want it!  For many years I only use a hand held electric beater. 

I desired a stand mixer.  I left little hints.  Well okay HUGE hints I wanted a stand mixer.  My eyes desired a Kitchen Aide Stand Mixer.  They looked like they could handle anything I desired to mix up.

I heard they are work horses of the mixers.  I grew jealous of those who own a stand mixer.

It seemed my guy's ears where full of wax when my hints became a daily adventure into the virtues of stand mixers.

My birthday came and went.  Christmas came and went.  Still no Kitchen Aide Mixer. 

Then one day out of the blue my mother called.  Now Mom retired at 65...but did not like being a home body so went back to work in the retail field for the last 15 years.  She loves working - what can I say.  

Anyhow the retail store that is a national chain was closing the store that she had worked part time at for the last 15 years.  All stock had to go.  The prices where unbelievable on many items.

My mother  bless her heart got me my dream machine!  Thank you so very much MOM!!  It arrived in June.  Carried by hand from St. Louis to Alaska by my younger sister on her first visit to Alaska.

OMG I now understand why they are the best!

My little beauty:

I have been enjoying my baking all the more!  Whip cream is a breeze!  My cake batters are amazing.  And I have joy in my heart!

Anchorage, Alaska Saturday Farmers Market

My farmers market only has a few short weeks left before the season of outdoor selling by the farmers ends.  I will sorely miss the fresh grown items.  The first few weeks of  June we eagerly await the few veggies that the early days of summer bring. 

As the summer months begin to become longer days each Saturday at Farmers Market new and larger veggies appear. 

I have not met a veggie that I really don't like...well except for Peas and Lima Beans.  Both are the only two that I do not like and will avoid as must as possible. 

I did come home with Green Cauliflower, as well as Purple Cauliflower, a fresh stalk of Brussels sprouts, and radishes.  Several delightful meals for the week ahead!

We already had a bag of potatoes, fresh spinach, onions, and a friend just brought us a bag over of his home grown carrots that are "rainbow colored"  Red, Yellow, Pink and Orange Carrots ~ so cool I'm going to make a Carrot soup with them all!

Veggies for Soup Stock

As on any Saturday during the summer, I head out to to Anchorage Saturday Market. The local farmers from Wasilla have their wonderful veggies ready for purchase. Since we eat mostly a Vegetarian diet I crave fresh veggies. Fruits are rather hit and miss here in Alaska unless its berries of different kinds. So I do have to rely on the supermarkets for what is in season for fruit during each month. Today at the farmers market I got fresh squash, broccoli, yellow turnips, carrots, lettuce. As soon as I had the veggies cleaned, I select a handful of them to chop and slice for making a veggie soup stock for the weeks usage.