Whole lot of cooking going on...

While there hasn't been that much fiber going on here I have been spending some time in the kitchen. I managed to get my Christmas present early last week from my Hubby. I have lusted after one of these babies for years but with limited space and funds really didn't think I'd get one. Although they are expensive at least I can say it will probably still be in use in my kitchen when I have grandchildren. Take a look... I think it looks just lovely on my countertop! Well - having this on my countertop for the last week or so has promtped me to do alot of cooking that requires mixing! Saturday I decided to bake some
bread to see how it would handle the kneading process and to try out that nifty dough hook. And while I really enjoy baking bread by hand and kneading the dough myself when I am trying to produce all the bread my family eats sometimes I just need (knead!) to get it going and into the oven and into our bellies more quickly. I let the machine do most of the kneading and then finished it up by hand to see how it had done and I was very pleased. I have heard you have to watch out for overkneading with machines so I was careful not to let it go for long. But it did in about five minutes what it takes me about twenty minutes to do with my hands so on baking days when time is pinched this will be a very handy tool!
    Saturday turned out to be a big baking day as I went on to replenish the kids granola supply and to roast pumpkin seeds (didn't turn out - I let them go too long) and to get a pumpkin ready to make pumpkin puree for pie baking. I've never made a pumpkin pie from scratch before and wanted to give it a try. I roasted the pumpkin on Saturday and made the pie crust (with the new mixer) on Sunday and popped the pie in the oven . I have to say that although I went a little too heavy on the cinnamon I baked a pretty good pie! I ended up making two pies; one for home and one to take to work on Halloween to share. I did offer fair warning to my coworkers that I had only made two pies before (in the last twenty-four hours no less) so I wouldn't be offended if it wasn't very good but I got no complaints. I was very pleased and I thought the pie was pretty good. I got the cinnamon level right on the second pie but it could have been a bit firmer. Pumpkin pie is easy - why do people buy that nasty looking stuff in the cans for their pie? Roasting the pumpkin took just a little time and was very simple. I plan to do a couple more for Thanksgiving to take to the many different places where our attendence is required.
    The only knitting really going on has been on the Latvian socks. I finished the first sleeve for the little man's sweater but just can't bring myself to cast on for the second one - it's just too much effort. So I've been picking up my first Latvian sock - the pattern has been committed to memory and it's easy to pick up for a row here and there. I've just completed my sixth pattern repeat on the sock and the following picture was taken with my wallet inside to show off the pattern better. They still look a bit on the large side to me but I do like how the pattern is emerging so I'll stick with them. I'm pretty sure I'll be pleased with the end product. That's pretty much the extent of my knitting this week - it's ever present but not very focused. I can't seem to really settle to anything and so just knit on the first item that comes to hand in little bursts of available time. I need some more time to sit down and spend with a few of my projects - they've been a bit neglected.

Comments

[secret pal]

Wow a Kitchen Aid mixer. I've dreamed of having one but it will have to wait for a bigger kitchen like a lot of other "fancy" kitchen items. :) I love pumpkin pie too.

Your sock looks fabulous. It looks like it will beautiful when it's finished.

Loved the photo of the kids for Halloween. Gives me a few ideas.

[terri]

Your grandchildren will use that Kitchen Aid for making pies for *their* grandchildren.

[Kim]

I have been lusting after one of those KitchenAid's forever~ What a nice hubby you have!

Hmmm.........I LOVE pumpkin pie!

[Jody]

It's times like these when I wish I lived closer to Memphis so I could mooch some baked goods. :) You new mixer looks fantastic and I'm remembering how much I want to make those socks again. Now that the sweater is almost done, I'm looking forward to my next sock...

[--Deb]

I'd be lost without my KitchenAid--one of my best birthday presents ever!

Your pie looks beautiful, but I have to say, I don't know where you got your recipe from, but the one time I made one completely from scratch like that, I swore never to do it again. Trying to carve that pumpkin into reasonable-sized pieces was HARD! We don't even do jack-o-lanterns at our house, but that doesn't involve cutting the entire pumpkin into small chunks. A cleaver probably would have helped, but . . . ugh. WAY too much work, and really? The puree from the can tasted just the same. That's one short-cut I can live with (grin)--but I'm really glad yours worked out for you!

[Liz]

Beautiful KitchenAid! I love mine (got it as a wedding gift) and it does make breadmaking so much easier. And cookie dough too. Have fun with it!
And glad you discovered the joy of baking a pumpkin pie from scratch. Even though James makes the crust, I love to roast the pumpkins. :)