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!

Cheesecake Brownie Dessert when one slice is never enough

Today I met a handful of friends for lunch.  One dear friend was in town visiting from Washington and we rarely get to see her and her husband. So those of us who don't work in the corporate rat race all got to spent a short but most wonderful time.

For fun I baked Cheesecake Brownie as a surprise for all.  Tis one of my favorite desserts and only made for special occasions!  My recipe makes an 8 1/2" round  dessert.  Eight Slices of pure delight!

A bottom layer of Rich chocolate brownie topped with fluffy cheesecake and then drizzled with white chocolate gauche.  YUMMY!

Will be adding to the 1k shop for ordering!  A small 4 slice cake, an 8 slice cake and a 10 slice cake.  Available for hand delivery in the Anchorage area or mailed overnight express to all other US states. 
Great for those birthday parties for those who have exotic taste buds or just a simple family get together. 

Yam It Up

Soup of any kind is one of my favorite quick and easy meals to plan and create.

Leeks are fast cooking and bring a wonderful flavor to any meal.  After a friend and her children visited the other day; I decided to just do soup for dinner and wanted something fairly fast.  I had already had my leeks sliced, and had been in a water/salt rinse for over two hours. 

All I had to do was cook them.  Taking the sliced leeks out of the rinse bath and then running fresh water again over them, they were tossed in the soup pot with butter, spices and one frozen cube of chicken stock plus 4 cups water.  Within 40 minutes dinner was just about ready.  Wanting more color I decided to add one yam.  Peeled it, then sliced and diced into small cubes to cook quickly.

Ta Da: Yam it up Leek Soup ~

Rounding out the meal a new bread I have discovered ~ I visit Carr's grocery store on Dimond and Jewel Lake every few months...had been there the day before and had picked up fresh baked mini loaf of bread: Black Pepper/Blue Cheese.  This mini loaf is unbelievable delicious! 

All I can say is "Perfection!"