Can you believe that it is already time for the November Bento Box giveaway? This will make the 3rd month already? I can’t. Time certainly flies when you’re having fun. So let’s see about what it takes to possibly win this month’s bento box.
Recently, I received a Kitchen Aid Classic Stand Mixer as a gift. Wasn’t that nice? I haven’t even had time to pull it out of the box yet, but I plan to very soon. Well as soon as I figure out what to do with it. There are so many possibilities running through my head. I could mix up some bread with it, make a cake, or something. But I can’t decide exactly on what.
To enter the contest, answer this question:
What do you suggestion I make as my first trial run with the Kitchen Aid stand mixer? Answer that question, and you get 1 entry into the contest.
And for an added bonus and twist to the game, those who suggest a savory item as opposed to a something sweet (like a cake or muffins) get an extra entry into the contest?
Why? Because I’m working on curbing my sweet tooth a bit. Plus, I’d like to make something that could go into my bento box and a main or side dish.
Who has a great suggestion out there? I’m anxiously waiting your suggestions.
Winner receives the above pictured rectangular Urara blue two-tier bento box with container of sauce bottles. The Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer is NOT part of the giveaway and will remain here at my house with me. Sorry guys! LOL!
Yummm….Twice Baked Potatoes. Check the instructions manual, I know the recipe came with mine 100 years ago (not actually). You could so use tiny fingerling potatoes to stuff into your bento!
Damn I was going to say mashed potatoes LOL
But I do not want an entry into your lovely contest because if I win, that would just sit on my shelf and I’d NEVER use it. Maybe I’d give it away in my next contest.
And yes, that is an AMAZING gift! The person who gave it to you must be one of the NICEST people ever who never has a bad thing to say about anyone else.
Well, I would try out that bread hook first to make soft pretzels…mmmm. But I have to say making homemade marshmallows is quite an experience. Just don’t make peppermint ones, I still get nauseous when I smell peppermint.
I’ve used a Kitchen Aid stand mixer (someone else’s not mine, sigh) to mix pasta dough to make ravioli. A surprisingly kid-friendly process — just set them to spooning in the fillings and sealing up the Raviolis — you may end up with weird shapes but have a lot of fun. However, I recommend using a pasta roller unless you want an intense upper body workout by handrolling the dough thin enough.
My suggestion would be a savory corn muffin this recipe is so easily varied with bits of vegan bacon or anything else that you may like
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Savory-Corn-Muffins/Detail.aspx
How about a baking sheet of cookies and as something not sweet try a bread with olives and bacon.
Have fun with your gift!
I use mine to make pizza crust. Depending on the day (and timing), I either use the recipe from 101 cookbooks (http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001199.html – hope it works – just copied from my favorites). That is for when we have time and want super-awesome crust. If I don’t have time, then I do this one:
INGREDIENTS:
•1 package dried yeast (1½ tsp)
•1/2 tsp sugar
•1½ cup lukewarm water
•3½ cups flour
•1½ tsp salt
•1 large egg
•olive oil
METHOD:
Sprinkle yeast and sugar into warm water and mix.
Allow to sit for 10 minutes until mixture begins to bubble.
Combine flour and salt in large bowl, make a well in the centre, pour in yeast mixture and beaten egg and gradually work in the flour to make a dough.
Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead thoroughly until smooth and elastic – at least 5 minutes.
Use only enough flour to prevent the dough from sticking to the surface.
Place in lightly oiled bowl, turn dough to coat with oil and cover with a clean cloth.
Allow to rise for 45 minutes, or until doubled in volume.
Punch down and then use as directed in recipe. (Use rolling motion with fists to force-stretch dough to size of pizza pan)
That one only needs an hour to rise, so it works great! Super fun and then we cook it at 400 until it looks right. I put veggies on mine, but my husband once did a “turkey leftovers” one with turkey, cranberries and sweet potatoes (he did not use regualar pizza sauce).
Wow! What a mixer!
I’d make a crepe batter in mine and serve with a savoury filling, roll it up, cut it in half and squash it into your bento box!
Or make some pastry and bake mini quiches.
Or mini yorkshire puddings.
Or use the dough hooks to make mini meatloaves.
Or fish cakes.
Ad maybe just a little chocolate mousse??
I bought myself a kitchen aid mixer last year as a xmas present for myself and have loved using it. I would recommend using it to make fresh pasta using the dough hook! Not only is it easy to make, you can customize it any way you’d like. Like pesto egg noodles or pumpkin gnocchi!
Rosemary bread..mmmmm……..
Garlic Cheese Biscuits just like Red Lobster. These are so easy and yummy! They will fit perfectly into your bento.
2 cups Bisquick Baking Mix
2/3 cup Milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Mix baking mix, milk and cheese until soft dough forms; beat vigorously 30 seconds. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Mix margarine and garlic powder; brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet. Serve warm.
(10 to 12 biscuits)
Mashed potatoes are super easy in the stand mixer! And I know you said savory but pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (or any baked goods) are super duper easy with a stand mixer
I was going to suggest pavlova/meringue but you’d prefer a savoury instead, hmmmm.
How about a souffle? Or how about making pastry, either savoury or sweet for quiches and pies? You can use it to mix ground meat and seasoning for burgers and meatloaf too, keeps the hands clean!
Ricotta gnocchi are the greatest thing in the world, especially now with a brown butter-sage sauce. Here’s a great recipe:
http://www.andreasrecipes.com/2009/05/14/the-daring-cooks-make-the-zuni-cafe-ricotta-gnocchi/
Enjoy!
-.- Cowboy Cookies!
I was going to recommend an herbed cheese bread. I love how my mixer can knead the thicker breads better than I can. You could also use the mixer to make a vegetarian roast, which uses ground cashew nuts and wheat flour to make a psuedo-meatloaf. I also have a recipe for a Carrot & Cashew Nut Roast or Butter Bean roast.
The fastest, most delicious recipe for KitchenAid mixers – the one that made me swear off any other method of making this recipe – homemade whipped cream.
(and whatever you want to put serve it with)
I’ve never seen such a huge bowl of fluffy delicious made so fast
Do you have a dough hook attachment? You can make some fantastic bread doughs.
Since I just got one myself, the first thing I made were regular rolls. They were ok, not great. Still tweaking recipes to make the perfect bread. Why not make a cheese and herb french bread of some sort? That sounds good to me!
Sourdough bread. I just polished off my first batch and it is so much better when you make it yourself. You have to make starter first which takes a week or so, but it’s worth the wait. It’s also dead easy, I just grabbed instructions off Goggle.
Well, I want the two entries, but some cookies just need to be said, so I’ll suggest my favorite cookie and a savory item.
Snickerdoodles or Oatmeal Raisin cookies (healthy as far as cookies go, right?)
And I would suggest doing a savory pie for the non-sweet. Something like an onion or meat pie. My aunt made one and it was AMAZING. I don’t know that she used her kitchenaid for more than just the crust, but still delicious!
Savory, savory, oh how about falafel?
(trying to think of something that works well in bento and isn’t a bread product)
http://mideastfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/falafelrecipe.htm
Next time I go to Egypt I have to check out the McDonald’s Falafel Sandwich!
Savory, hmmm? I’d go with a quiche, they’re a great way of using up leftovers. And I make mini crustless quiches in a mini muffin pan, perfect for bentos!
Just found your blog. Love it!
For the contest, hows about the following:
Foccacia
meatloaf/meatballs (you can even grind the meat!)
pasta (really easy with the attachment!)
I have tons more, but being italian, these first cam to mind!
Imagine how creamy your Thanksgiving sweet potatoes would be mixed in your new mixer with some maple syrup and butter.
I don’t have the kitchen aid mixer (but I do like to go to my sis’s and drool over hers), still I like to use my Oster stand mixer for pretzel bread. Good with a little brown mustard.
My KitchenAid mixer is going on 18 years now! I bet you will find lots of uses for it. I bet next time you make bean burgers you could mix it up in that! Or pizza dough. Pie crust for a quiche (since you said savory!) and the filling for the quiche!