It's All About the Gadgets...

... and I should know! You see, I'm a gadget freak... if it's quirky or fun or interesting or just a little bit Star Trek, there's a good chance that I'll love it :-) Of course, there are different categories of gadget... there are office gadgets (and I have a fair few), garden gadgets, general household gadgets and - of course - kitchen gadgets! Hold on a second while I throw something at the Other One.... *thwack*. She's sitting in the corner sniggering and muttering about "other" gadgets. Got her mind in the gutter! To give you an idea, she's slouched over drinking her martini's straight out of the shaker with a straw! I think that she's more than gotten into the holiday "spirit". Anyway - where was I?


Oh yes, gadgets. Well... as you all know, today is Christmas Day and as you can imagine, it's been a day of gifts and family, food and laughter and as I sit here, the cold meats & salad of lunch are still keeping me full and don't get me started on the trifle :-) Yum, but way too filling :-) So Christmas is always a great time in our home. NOT because of the gifts I receive (although that's pretty good too), but because I get to spoil the people I love. Even in a year when I'm financially a bit strapped. The Other One wouldn't know what that's like, but at least I know that Miss Twinset knows how to budget. Of course, as I mentioned before.... it's also a crazy busy baking time of year and I've spent the whole week baking Christmas cake. I kid you not... Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. It would've only been Tuesday and Wednesday, but Ruby had a bit of a laugh at my expense... I can laugh about it now, but it really wasn't terribly funny at the time. Miss Twinset has started to laugh so hard in anticipation of this story, that her champagne just came out her nose! Disgusting, but at least it wasn't eggnog ...


Ok, so what had happened was that Tuesday wasn't really my day. It was hot and humid and it had been a busy and irritable kinda day. Then to top it off, the outside door handle broke off of the drivers door of my car... Not my day. Then of course I started baking. Normally, this is a very relaxing activity for me and one I look forward to ... even when I don't really feel much like baking :-) For me, it's the calming effect of the measuring and mixing that makes a world of difference at the end of a long day. So, I set to work doing all the prep. I ran through all the ingredients and when all was prepared and the cake mix was ready to pour, I thought something looked a bit "odd", but I couldn't figure it out. I ran through the list of ingredients - twice! - and couldn't see anything I'd missed, so I spooned the mix into the dishes and popped them in the oven. Four (4) hours later, I opened the oven to discover the world's only fruit filled, slightly liquorice flavoured "toffee". The cakes had flopped and I was in such a state. How could this be?? The recipe is foolproof.... 24 hours later, when I baked round 2, I realised that although the recipe is foolproof... the chef is only human! As I said... Ruby was messing with me on Tuesday night.... You see I double checked the ingredients twice and never saw the word "eggs" at all. Yup... I never put the eggs in. Feel free to say "duh" in your loudest, most superior way. It still won't beat the Other One (who couldn't bake a brick) tormenting me all week about it. Naturally, the next two batches were perfect and my folks say the fruity liquorice toffee isn't that bad. Pity there's just under 3 kilo's of it (about 6 pounds).



So this morning, my folks woke up at 5:30 eager to get to their gifts, which was so much fun! Of course, I was keen to see what Santa had brought me too. Apart from an awesome book and CD which I'd asked for, I also got some really awesome - just for you and your kitchen - gifts! *picture high-pitched squeals of delight*. It started with a DVD on sugarcraft which is exactly what I was looking for as I really want to step up my decorating skills. That was followed by a book that is thicker and heavier than the average family bible... Kitchen by Nigella. I just skimmed through the book this morning, but I can already see that I'm going to love it!! Neither one of these was on my Christmas list and because I love surprises, they are perfect. Because I love things to do with my kitchen... they're splendiforous! I have to say, that Santa guy sure is paying attention to us good kids :-). If you've been paying attention so far - and not dwelling on the image of eggnog coming out of Miss Twinset's nose - you'll be wondering which part of Christmas involved gadgets. Don't worry, you haven't missed it... I haven't told you yet. You see, inside each person who loves to bake, there's a kid who would LOVE to have the gift I got today... and for this particular gift, I'm very grateful :-)



You see, I unwrapped a large - heavy - unassuming package and inside I found the most amazing kitchen gadget EVER! A Kenwood mixer! A large, beautiful, accessorised Kenwood mixer that is my newest member of the family. The Tipsy Tarts have already been warned that I will destroy ALL their booze (even the stock they thought I hadn't found, that they'd hidden in the Winter wood pile) and I think that it's a fairly good incentive for them to keep their paws off of my baby. She is the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time and not only because she is going to make my life so much better! I think this is the start of a long and faithful relationship. I promise to care for her... accessorise her and use her only according to instructions. I also promise to try new and exciting recipes and to feature her when I can in this blog. As you can see... she's quite a looker. With a 6+ litre bowl, there's not a lot to limit me here. I'm really looking forward to seeing what attachments I can get and to trying her out. I know that many of you will be shaking your heads at the gushing praise that I'm heaping on an appliance... but out there, I'm sure that there will be some of you that have experienced the same sense of "love at first sight" when you see something that you need... something that you want.... even if it's "just" an appliance.



My kitchen gadget collection includes all manner of things and some are tiny. I coveted a small whisk that can be used in a mug and didn't rest until I had it. I needed (couldn't live without) a citrus zester and then there was the micro grater that does everything. I have juicers, mixers, blenders, donut makers, sandwich toasters and a collection of knives that makes me very happy whenever I see them, but pride of place in my kitchen is going to be MY Kenwood (my precious) lol.



I'm going to love and leave you now as I hear my cherry brandy trifle calling me from the fridge.... but I hope that you've all had a fantabulous Christmas! Here's to many new kitchen adventures for me to share with you all in the years to come...


Until next time....