Why Every Homesteading Kitchen Should Own a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer

If there was one gadget in my kitchen I just couldn't live without, it would have to be my KitchenAid Stand Mixer.  It has to be one of the most diverse instruments in my entire kitchen.

Now, just the mixer itself is an incredible piece of machinery.  Out of the box it will whip, mix, and knead to your little heart's contentment.  Add some accessories and the sky is the limit!

Here's the list of accessories that I think are the best deal going:

The Fruit and Vegetable Strainer and Grinder -  This is my go-to, must-have item for making fruit syrups, jellies and homemade ketchup.  It's quick, easy, and is much easier to clean up than a traditional hand mill.

Roto Slicer/Shredder - Makes shredding potatoes for homemade hash browns a breeze!  Also good for quick grating of carrots for cakes or dehydrating.  If you buy hard cheeses by the brick and want to shred your own this works great for this also. 

Food Grinder -  This has two different size plates and is what I use to make ground chicken or ground turkey.  If you hunt and process your own deer, your could easily make your own deer burger with this also.

Pasta Plates - These little plastic darlings fit in the food grinder in place of the metal disc and food knife and can make angel hair, spaghetti, and lasagna noodles in a breeze. 

Ice Cream Bowl - Okay, this one might be just for fun, but nothing in this world will taste as good as making your own homemade ice cream.  Vanilla is fabulous, but add some home grown strawberries and you have the makings of an epic dessert.  Our nephew stayed with us last summer and thought we made the best ice cream ever.

Something new that I'm considering:

KitchenAid just came out with a grain mill that also works for the stand mixer.  The reviews look promising but the price is still in the $150 catergory.  If the price comes down a bit I might give it a try, but it looks a bit high at the moment.

There are a few things that I still want to get, and one of them is an extra bowl!  Especially around Christmas time when I make a lot of different kinds of cookies that require chilled dough, I would love to be able to just pop the bowl in the fridge without having to empty it into another container (since I need the mixing bowl for another batch).  Also, some bowl lids would be helpful and would avoid all the wasted plastic wrap.

Anyhow, if you don't have one already, I would really recommend checking it out.