An ode to the kitchen appliance

When it comes to investing in a piece of kit, these gadgets really do outperform and help you. Needless to say, I am a big fan.

My kitchen appliance inspiration came from reading “Deliciously Ella”. A beautiful book, full of useful information and nutritious recipes. The tips regarding kitchen and pantry set-up convinced me to go all in and reimagine my tool kit in terms of function and efficacy. The first recommendation given in the book is to ready a broad selection of grains and pulses and things, stored in lovely jars, waiting for incorporation into a quick meal. The second major tip I took onboard was to invest in a kitchen appliance or so. Little did I know how much I would come to appreciate these shifts. My culinary repertoire has improved in leaps and bounds.

When I needed to write a collection of stories for a monthly newsletter on behalf of a kitchen appliance company as part of my Copywriting training, I felt it was a no-brainer, having benefited by investing up front in a lifetime of better meals already. Food is medicine, for body and soul. I like to pack as many nutrients into any given meal as I can, and kitchen appliances help with that. Being able to make a wide variety of things to eat, in less time and with greater ease is hugely satisfying. Plus, appliances are just fun to use (I do love whipping egg whites…).

For home cooks wanting to make haste, improve their abilities and be better prepared for when guests arrive, kitchen appliances are more than worth their salt. So thank you, Ella Woodward, a.k.a. Deliciously Ella, for opening my eyes and for being correct: shelling out for these babies was a sound decision, one that has given back ten-fold. Seriously, heartfelt thanks to my ingenious Magimix Cuisine System 4200XL, gorgeous Dualit 89303 Hand-mixer and indispensable Magimix Le Blender 11610. Here is an ode to the kitchen appliance, written gladly, on spec for a kitchen appliance company:

1.     Learn how to save time and make complicated recipes easy with a food processor.

When it comes to making cooking simpler and less time-consuming, we could all use a helping hand.  Investing in a quality food processor is one of the best ways to simplify cooking, empowering you to prepare a greater range of delicious recipes in minutes.

Food processors are the most versatile of kitchen appliances, used for blending, chopping, whipping and combining dry and wet ingredients to make pesto, meringue and pastry in an instant.  It is an indepensable piece of kit you will wonder how you ever did without.

Many difficult-to-master staples, such as pastry, can be off-putting  especially when we are short of time.   A food processor makes things easy, for example see our quick and easy shortcrust recipe below, perfect for quiches and pies:  

• Add 125gr butter (cubed), 250gr plain flour and pinch of salt to the main bowl, fitted with the dough mixer. 

• Pulse until you have coarse breadcrumbs.  Add a tablespoon of iced water and pulse. 

• Add further tablespoons of water until the dough is just coming together. 

• Tip out, shape into a small, flat round and refrigerate for 1hr or overnight. 

Owning a food processor means you can effortlessly build your repertoire of go-to recipes by taking the hassle out of preparing meals for yourself, family and friends. 

2.     Blend delicious soups and smoothies in minutes for lunch on the go.

Modern lives are incredibly busy, yet at the same time we want to enjoy nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals that nourish and sustain us.  While in a hurry or working from home, grabbing a quick, a delicious lunch bite, can be a real life-saver.

This is where a great blender steps in. It is the perfect appliance for assembling a quick lunch all year round.  Choose a model with a glass container for added versatility. The beauty of owning a blender with a glass container is that it can handle both hot and cold ingredients, with the added advantage of being easy to clean. 

In summer, try a lovely gazpacho.  Slice cherry tomatoes and other raw vegetables of your choice (such as cucumber or green pepper), add a dash of sherry vinegar, garlic clove, salt and pepper and olive oil then refrigerate.  Add a little Spanish smoked paprika or a few chilli flakes, as you wish. When it comes around to lunch time, combine all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.  Serve with a hunk of bread or cheese.

In winter, a hearty, warming bowl of soup is food for the soul.  Simply add vegetables of your choice and/or left-over chicken for example, to a frying pan and sauté using a little oil or butter until golden.  Season and add stock or water and simmer until the vegetables are tender.  Transfer the mixture to the blender and blend until smooth or to your desired consistency.   This works so well simply using chestnut mushrooms, an onion and 2 potatoes chopped into rounds. Fry the ingredients in a little oil and butter. Add water or stock and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Blend and add optional crème fraîche.

3. How to choose the best mixer for you.

Mixers come in a range of shapes and sizes with different functionality.  This essential kitchen appliance can make all the difference to the success of your baking, soups and sauces.  You’ll want to compare different models and choose the mixer that meets your requirements.

Mixers are perfect for whipping and whisking and making cake mixtures.  You’ll want a mixer that is powerful and robust yet comfortable and convenient.  There are two main categories – the free-standing hand-mixer with easy to attach blades and the mixer with a bowl and stand.

The free-standing mixer gives plenty of flexibility over which bowl and which surface you may use.  This is especially handy if you tend to move around in the kitchen or have less room.   Look for power and compactness and a design that is easy to hold.  Cordless is also great feature.

The mixer attached to a mixing bowl is great for larger kitchens and for those who bake a wide variety of cakes and tarts.   The advantage is the rotating bowl and extra power.  If you already have a food processor you may not need an extra appliance with a bowl and stand, though with the different functionality this hand mixer is an equally great investment.

ENDS.

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