Cooking & Baking
Related: About this forumI got the most wonderful gift yesterday
My sister, who owns the 2-family house that she shares w/ my Dad, cleaned his kitchen this weekend. There, sitting on the countertop, was my Mom's Kitchen Aid standing mixer, which has been sitting there since Alzheimer's Disease rendered her unable to bake--something at which she excelled and something she very much enjoyed doing.
It's now in my kitchen--complete w/ a dough hook and paddle attachment. The whole smash.
Next month (one month from today, actually) it will be two years since Mom left this world.
When Sis asked me if I wanted it, I broke into tears. I had thought about asking for it, but felt uncomfortable doing so. You never know what people will be attached to, or how strong those attachments may be.
Honestly, I don't think any of my brothers and sisters would use it. Maybe one of my nieces. But I wanted it.
I always feel my Mom's presence when I'm in the kitchen. Sometimes I imagine I hear her talking to me--reminding me of her recipes and offering suggestions. Now I have her equipment with me.
I'm going to have to look online for a user's manual. I've never used one of these machines. (Yeah, I know, that seems surprising, but I've only started baking in the last few years.)
magicarpet
(14,113 posts)badhair77
(4,208 posts)After my mother passed I asked my father for her mixer. It was well-used and a natural connection with her memory. Im so glad you will have that also. Enjoy! What will you make first?
Emile
(22,460 posts)were always suppose to get it. Now you got my eyes all watered up.
Yesterday I gave my 9 year old granddaughter a full set of state quarters. This little girl loves saving money and loves it when mom, dad and sis borrow money from her. It's like she is running a little slush fund. Anyways when I gave her that complete set of quarters her little eyes watered up and she said grandpa I will keep this the rest of my life. I have a pretty valuable collection of coins and someday it will be hers.
if you don't find a manual I would be happy to scan mine and send you a pdf, or I could even print it. but I bet it is on line. everything is, it seems.
mine is the larger artisan, I think. with the regular base, not the lift.
Jilly_in_VA
(9,940 posts)I am drooling with envy. I would gladly swap my hated food processor (a whole other story) for one of those, no matter how old.
Lonestarblue
(9,958 posts)Fla Dem
(23,573 posts)70sEraVet
(3,472 posts)with holiday cooking.
The chopping of cabbage during Macy's Thanksgiving Parade for the best coleslaw.
The sight and smell of a golden, crisp-skinned turkey.
A moist cake with pineapples on it.
MissMillie
(38,526 posts)I think mostly because she ALWAYS got the crust right.
We have a big family (6 kids, plus 2 foster kids that lived w/ us for 3+ years). One year for Thanksgiving she vowed to make us all our favorite pies. There were few of us that had the same "favorites." She made them all--apple, lemon meringue, chocolate cream, blueberry, pumpkin... etc.
The effort seemed Herculian at the time, but as I think of it these days, I also marvel at the cost. Our family struggled to make ends meet. That's a LOT of flour, butter, fruit (let's face it--blueberries are not in season in November), whipping cream, etc.
sinkingfeeling
(51,436 posts)1999 and the other, a red one with glass bowl was from Dec. 2019. I sold the red one in my estate sale and brought old Trusty with me to my apartment.
niyad
(113,029 posts)blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)I used to help my mom make peanut butter fudge every Christmas. She used one certain pan to make it. When I looked for the pan I couldn't find it. I'm pretty sure my sister took it since she had a key and lived close. Oh well, I still have the memories.
dixiechiken1
(2,113 posts)Up until the last few months of her life, my mom was always cooking. Always. Frijoles, menudo, arroz, albondigas, chile rellenos, carne de res... you name it. Her house always smelled soooo good. To me, this was/is what comfort and love smell like.
When she passed a little over a year and a half ago, my brothers and I met in her house to discuss arrangements, etc. The first thing I asked for was her "olla" (pot). It was her favorite pan - she used it for everything. I haven't used it myself yet ( still working through some "stuff" ) but that "olla" is one of my prize possessions. I can literally feel her energy in it.
I'm glad you have her mixer. 🥲
patphil
(6,144 posts)My wife has cooked countless cakes, loaves of bread, and prepared dough for perhaps 1000 pizzas. Not to mention a literal mountain of mashed potatoes.
When you use it, remember your mother, and your love for her will become part of whatever you are making with it.
Jughead
(42 posts)blue sky at night
(3,242 posts)By a guy who repairs those Kitchen Aides took the whole top apart as the gears had broken teeth from a spatula that fell into the beaters great machine worthy of fixing vs. replacing. Nice for you to have the sentimental value as well.
TNNurse
(6,924 posts)in small local restaurants. He died when I was 10. 31 years later when Mother died and we cleaned out the house, kitchen utensils and such were treasures. We (the three of us) had to negotiate who got what. I use them...no appliances but big spoons and forks for cooking make me smile.
I love my Kitchen Aid mixer. I have a treasured cake recipe from my father's sister that requires "beat for 20 minutes". The mixer motor gets a little warm. Whipped cream takes moments, bread dough....there are so many things.
It does sound like you were the one who should have it. It will bring back memories and that is a treasure.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,315 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,374 posts)I got one of the newer "Artisan" models (bought about 10 years ago) and they are all very simple. One side has a mechanical slide switch to lock or unlock lifting the top motor assembly that holds the beaters, and the other side has a a slider switch that controls the speed (a series of increasing numbers, usually up to 10). I never went much above 4 - 6.
The thing is a tank and I even had mine take a tumble off the counter and it was still going on the floor and was just fine.
I grew up with what I think was a Sunbeam stand mixer and as kids, we always thought they were a hassle - heavy and took up too much space, and had a glass bowl for mixing which could break if we weren't careful, so mom eventually got a hand mixer.
Once I was an adult and after years of various hand mixers, I appreciated the stand mixer for those times when something needed stirring or beating or creaming for 5 - even 10 minutes, and you could just set it and let it go and do other things. I haven't used it for kneading dough since I have a breadmaker that does that perfectly, but that is another great use for them when you use a dough hook.
The other thing about the KitchenAid is that at the front of the motor assembly, you can remove the little cover and add all kinds of attachments that will use the motor (e.g., for slicing, grinding, pasta making, sausage-making etc).
Traildogbob
(8,670 posts)Awesome story. I bet all your creations will pass on memories of your mom as well. Thanks for a happy, good feeling story. We need more of those. Enjoy her presence every time you use it.
Snackshack
(2,541 posts)Sorry for your loss.
Its been 18 years now since my Mom moved on and even now after all this time it still feels like it was just yesterday. This new reality that she is not a part of still feels foreign to me and I dont like it.
The Jungle 1
(4,552 posts)My mother always used the same face powder. I have some of it. The smell makes me smile. The problem is I do not know the brand. The powder is in a ceramic container with no label. I just went over and smelled it.
I have a jacket my father wore. It is like a hug.
BWdem4life
(1,644 posts)I just used mine for the first time recently, then used it again.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1157115406
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1157114469
lillypaddle
(9,580 posts)What a fantastic and loving surprise gift. Enjoy!
ETA: spelling/grammar corrections.
hippywife
(22,767 posts)I'd been away from the site and wasn't aware.
I'm so glad your sister thought to gift you her stand mixer. What a wonderful keepsake to have and use to keep her memory alive.
central scrutinizer
(11,635 posts)Best kielbasa in the world
brer cat
(24,515 posts)I too feel my mother's presence when I'm in the kitchen although we are very different cooks.