Breville Mixer

 449.  This past Christmas I was gifted with a new kitchen mixer.  I have used a Kitchenaid for 30 years and it was my right hand tool for baking.  Before the mixer, I would use a food processor, Sears brand that really did a great job but could over-mix batters or doughs if not careful.

My new kitchen appliance is a beautiful, Champagne colored Breville Stand Mixer.

This stand mixer is a game changer in my baking.  The model is lighter to pick up and the top does not move around when transporting from closet to counter.  The glass mixing bowl is significantly larger and 12 cups, wider and easier to add ingredients during mixing.  Initially, it took a few attempts to get use to the control being on the side of the stand but you adjust quickly.  There is a timer if you need to follow exact timing directions for whipping or frothing or, anything!

I think my favorite feature is the lower mix speed.  You dial the speed up or down as you need to and your flour or other ingredients do not fly out of the bowl.  My Kitchenaid speed was always so fast initially, I would turn the mixer off and on quickly just to gently mix anything.

There is a button at the top of the mixer to push down and release the mixing arm.  This was also an adjustment but I found it to be an easy adjustment over the lever toggle on the side.

Not only is it a sleek machine but is beautiful as well.  And I love the paddle attachment.  My Kitchenaid paddle rubber piece would always rip away or, the paint would rub off over time. 

When researching stand mixers, the Breville seemed to be the best all around mixer for a home baker but used by pros.  Once the choice was made what brand to choose, my final struggle was choosing the best color for my kitchen.  It was a toss up between Sea Salt White and Champagne.  The paint is not matte or gloss but a lovely finish that is easy to wipe clean.  It also arrived with glass and stainless steel mixing bowls.  Hello!!!   How many times I have wished for a second bowl without having to pay an additional $100?  Also, a cover was included to place over the glass bowl if refrigeration is needed and 4 attachments with a flour cover.

I just love it!!  Breville you have won me over!  This is a pro machine and has made my baking game so much better.  I'm so glad I stepped up in quality and the price is comparable if not better than the Kitchenaid in this size.

"If baking is any labor at all, it's a labor of love.  A love that gets passed from generation to generation."

~Regina Brett

Fresh Figs, part 1

106. A sweet little Italian friend brought a small container to me the other day. It was closed and wrapped up tight with paper towels wrapped tightly around it. She told me that this is something for our family from her tree in the back yard. Curiously, I asked her what it was...she responded, "Figs!" "Do you like figs?" To be honest...I have never had a fresh fig...where have I been?

I was so happy to receive this gift and promised her we would enjoy them and use them. Many times I have had dried figs, figs with almonds rolled in coconut and Fig Newtons! But never the fresh figs. There were large green figs and smaller brown figs both with glistening red centers. The small brown figs had a sweeter taste to them.

I began to search for recipes on line and in my cookbooks. One recipe was for Fresh Fig Muffins from Mele Cotte's wonderful Blog. These sounded delicious and easy, so I copied the recipe but made a few changes adding fresh grated nutmeg to the batter, eliminating the raisins, grinding the almonds to sprinkle on top and adding a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar to the top of each muffin. They were delightful!

The figs were ripe but were easy to dice.

And the recipe only called for 1 cup.

I served them with honey, jam and butter. They tasted like a dessert more than a muffin...and you could feel the little fig seeds crunching between your teeth. This recipe could adapt to any fruit: apple, plum, banana, peach...etc.

I only used 1 cup of figs...let's see tomorrow what I can make with the rest.

"Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig.

If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time.

Let it first blossom, then bear fruit then ripen."

~Epictetus