Stand Mixer

Every day Mike is engaged in some creative pursuit. Five evenings a week he spends time in his office writing. His calendar is filling up with band practices and shows that they're scheduled to play. Frequently when he watches TV he brings out modeling clay to work with or a wooden structure to paint. It seems that not a day goes by when he isn't making something new.

I, on the other hand, am at the opposite end of the spectrum. The extent of my creativity on any given day is trying to imagine what the Maury Povich show might be like so I can decide if it's worth changing the channel. I hit a high point in my creativity today when I thought of a way to use some leftovers that might convince Mike that it's a brand new meal and not just chicken that I've had forever.

Today though, all that's gonna change. Today, I've decided on the outlet for my creativity.

I'm gonna bake stuff.

See, today I got an early shower gift from Mike's parents...a fancy stand mixer. I've been wanting a stand mixer for a long time, although I felt slightly guilty about it. After all, I rarely bake. Up until recently though it wasn't out of any desire not to bake*...it was for the following reasons:

1. I didn't have any cookbooks

2. Although I was rapidly accruing the basic kitchen supplies I was still missing a few essentials, such as cake pans and cookie sheets

3. I could never eat all of my own baking before it went stale

Now I have a cookbook and someone who will eat the things I bake (or at least pawn it off on friends). And I also have a stand mixer. My first project will be on Sunday when I construct...BREAD!

Oh relax. If I can bake bread in a cast-iron stove or brick oven, I can make it in my kitchen here.

Also, if you have any favorite recipe websites, I'd love a link. Because this is not going to be like the time I tried to learn harmonica, or the time I was using a peg-square to weave an afghan, or the time I thought I could put myself through college by painting furniture. This is for real.



* I enjoy baking, but dislike cooking. I don't know why.