Repair Your KitchenAid Mixer

The holidays are coming which means it’s time to get your KitchenAid Mixers and blenders out and make sure they are in working order. If it’s not working properly, has a leak or is missing a piece it’s time to order the replacement part so you’re ready for baking season.

If you mixer is malfunctioning we invite you to give us a call, we can help troubleshoot the problem. 

800-339-9297

Happy Baking!

Blender Repair

When a blender breaks is it time to buy a new one or can it be repaired?

Blenders take a beating by occupation, although there are ways to avoid damaging your blender something may eventually need to be replaced. Depending on what is broken and the kind of blender you have it can most likely be repaired saving you money and the headache of shopping around for a new one.

Is it Under Warranty?
If your blender breaks look at the warranty, if it is still valid it may be worth while to have the manufacturer take care of the problem, especially if it is a Vitamix or a Blendtec blender. If the blender is under warranty don’t mess with it or the warranty may be considered void. Contact the company or an authorized service center.

KitchenAid Blade Assembly 

Available Replacement Parts
If the blender is not under warranty do some research online before you throw it away, find out if the manufacturer offers replacement parts. Brands like Oster, Hamilton Beach and KitchenAid all make replacement parts for their blenders that can be ordered online.

Some of the most common items that need replacing are the jar, gasket, blade assembly and drive coupling. These items are simple to replace with the exception of the KitchenAid blender drive coupling, for that part we made a video to show how to remove and replace it yourself.

If you have any question about blender repair our experienced technicians are happy to help, please give us a call. 800.339.9297

KitchenAid Slicer Shredder Attachment

For me one of the biggest reasons I don’t eat enough vegetables is because of the time it takes to prepare the vegetables. Between washing, slicing and actually making something with the vegetables I lose motivation and forget about them and they end up rotting in my fridge. I buy vegetables from the grocery store with all kinds of good intentions, promising myself that this time I’ll remember to and actually make a big salad for dinner. But when dinner rolls around I am often too hungry and impatient to think through making a salad. I don’t like how much time it takes to wash and slice the individual vegetables and grate the carrots . . . I don’t have a good track record cutting carrots, bad things happen and I end up in stitches.

A Cool Tool
For those who struggle in their quest to eat vegetables before they go bad the KitchenAid Slicer Shredder Attachment might be exactly what they need to get vegetables out of the fridge and onto the dinner table because it speeds up the preparation process. This is a great tool for vegans, vegetarians, raw foodists and those with celiac disease who spend lots of time rinsing, and cutting produce for their meals.

Slicer Shredder Attachment

This attachment can slice a cucumber in a fraction of the time it would take to slice it by hand. Also, slicing carrots is not nearly so dangerous, provided you use the food pusher and not your fingers, or other items, to push food through the rotary and always make sure to unplug the mixer before you attach, assemble, or disassemble the attachment from the mixer.

What It Can Do
KitchenAid recommends firm fruits and vegetables such as: apples, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, potatoes and zucchini. You can also grate or slice firm cheeses that have been thoroughly chilled or slightly frozen. Use this slicer shredder attachment to make coleslaw, sauerkraut, hash browns, or potato chips. Also try grating coconut, chocolate, walnuts, pecans, and dried bread for bread crumbs.

Firm Fruits and Vegetables

• Cucumbers
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Cabbage—coleslaw, sauerkraut
• Zucchini 
• Potatoes—hash browns, potato chips

Garnishes

• Chocolate
• Nuts 
• Walnuts 
• Pecans 
• Coconut 

Other 

• Hard Cheese—thoroughly chilled or slightly frozen
•  Dry bread—Bread Crumbs

The rotor slicer shredder attachment comes with four cones: a fine and coarse shredder cone, and a thin and thick slicer cone. Now the biggest problem will be deciding whether to shred or slice the carrots.

Your Thoughts

• Does anyone have this attachment and how do you like it?
• What have you done to make produce preparation faster? 

KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachment

Grain Mill Attachment

Milling flour at home is a great way to save money and it’s healthier than bleached flour from the grocery store because the wheat bran and germ have not been removed which is a natural fiber and contains several vitamins and minerals including vitamin b and iron.

For those with celiac disease a grain mill is a great advantage because it gives them control to make their own gluten free flour using their choice of alternative grains. Plus they know it hasn’t been contaminated because they milled the flour themselves.

The KitchenAid grain mill attachment is a great tool because it doesn’t require manual labor to make it work leaving both hands free to refill the hopper with more grain while the mill is running. Also, the grind on the grain mill attachment can be adjusted from fine to coarse. So if you need baking flour or you want cracked wheat for breakfast you have the choice.

• Have you ever made anything with fresh milled flour?
• What was it and how did you like it?
• Have you ever made flour using an alternative grain?
• What kind of grain did you use, what did you make and how did it turn out?

KitchenAid Pasta Attachment Set

My parents often invited friends over for dinner when I was a kid. We had three meal plans that were routine whenever we had guests because we usually had all the necessary ingredients on hand, it was inexpensive and it always tasted great. The most popular of these dishes was homemade spaghetti. Both the pasta and the noodles were made from scratch. Mom’s meat sauce was always a hit and the aroma made my mouth water and my tummy growl well before it was time to set the table.

Dad took on the process of making the spaghetti; just about the time our guests arrived he had the dough rolled out and ready to go through the pasta cutter. Our guests were immediately intrigued by this process and began rolling up there sleeves to get in on the fun. Several occasions I remember hearing our guests express their surprise that pasta could be made at home and then, of course, they wanted to know where to get the pasta machine.

            A 3-piece pasta roller and cutter attachment set for a KitchenAid mixer comes with a pasta roller and two cutters. The pasta roller flattens the dough to just the right thickness and assures the newly rolled sheet will fit in the next set of rollers. The fettuccine cutter cuts the dough into wide, hardy noodles that are excellent for alfredo or a thick meat sauce, while the Spaghetti cutter cuts round spaghetti noodles perfect for marinara sauce.

            There are endless ways to make pasta. Try making whole wheat noodles or green noodles using spinach. For those with celiac disease making pasta at home is a great advantage because pasta can be made using gluten-free flour. Don’t be limited to Italian dishes either; try making noodles for an oriental meal or even chicken noodle soup.

            Making pasta at home can be a lot of fun, it’s an opportunity to not only share a meal with your family but also the process of making it. Has anyone ever made homemade pasta before? What recipe did you use? How did it turn out? 

Pumice, A Better Way To Clean!

I remember being afraid of the toilet in my house as a child because the inside of the bowl was black with hard water deposits. No joke, black; it was like that when my parents bought the house. Mom applied various chemicals and lots of elbow grease to no avail. Then she discovered pumice. Using her new found Pumie Scouring Stick she brought that potty back from the dark side. (That’s right, a lightsabre for housekeepers) It was amazing, I thought my parents had installed a new toilet; nope, mom just found a better way to clean.



Pumie Toilet Bowl Ring Remover

Pumice is basically solidified volcano foam. So it’s all natural and works without the use of chemicals. Pumice is safe to use on porcelain, ceramic tile, iron, concrete, and masonry. It will remove hard water, lime, rust stains and more. WARNING! Do not to use pumice stones on polished metal, unbaked enamel, glass or fiber glass.

To apply this product simply wet the pumice stone and then use it to scrub the surface of interest by rubbing back and forth. A paste will begin to build which will aid in the cleaning process. When you are finished clean and rinse away the residue and rinse the stone. Finally, stand back and marvel as heavenly choirs sing in praise of your gleaming bathroom fixtures.

Give this amazing product a try in your home and see what you can make sparkle again. Share your success stories with us! Post a comment below.

KitchenAid Flex Edge Beater

KitchenAid has launched the new Flex Edge Beater. It’s a coated, flat beater designed with a silicone edge to scrape the sides of the bowl and mix simultaneously. The Flex Edge Beater eliminates the need to stop the mixer and scrape the bowl manually, saving you time and energy.

4.5 Quart Flex Edge Beater

While the only size currently available is for the 4.5 and 5-quart, tilt-head mixers, KitchenAid will have a Flex Edge Beater for the 5.5 and 6-quart bowl lift models available for purchase in the near future.

Other companies have developed beaters with silicone edges imitating the KitchenAid beater. WARNING: The use of an imitation beater will void the warranty on your KitchenAid Mixer. Genuine Flex Edge Beaters by KitchenAid are available on our Web site.

Has anyone used this beater yet? How did you like it? If you don't have one will you be likely to buy one in the future?

Happy Baking!

Canning Equipment Repair Needs

Have you ever brought home or harvested a Bushel (or two) of apples with the intention of making applesauce as soon as you got home and pulled out grandmas old Victorio 200 Food Strainer, only to discover that the there are a few repairs that need to be done before you can actually use it?

It seems this is the story of my life. I get a wonderful idea only to discover a small detail is holding me back, such as a broken or missing piece. Until I get the repair part I am stuck and my wonderful idea is put on hold until further notice or I have to come up with a different idea so the apples don’t go bad.

With this tragic possibility in mind I post the following thought:

Get you canning equipment out now before you need to use it! Test the gauge on the pressure cooker, check the seals and gaskets. Test your food strainer, make sure the seals and screens are still good and that you still have all the parts. That way you are ready to process and preserve when the produce is ripe.

If you are in the neighborhood bring your pressure canner over to our store and we’ll test the gauge for free. If you need a new part for your canner we’ll install it for you.

If you are not living in the vicinity call your local Cooperative Extension Office and find out if they test pressure canner gauges; some do and some don’t. If no one in you area tests gauges you can send the canner lid to us and we will test it and ship it back to you.

Testing the gauge on your pressure cooker is really important for food safety. Gauge’s ware out over time and loose there accuracy. If your gauge is reading high then you could be at risk of under processing your food causing it to go bad or worse making anyone who eats it very sick.

If the gasket on your canner is stiff, cracked or it’s falling out of your lid then it’s time for a new one. Worn out gaskets can prevent the canner from sealing and then your canner won’t get up to pressure. Find the model number on your canner and then order the gasket online. If you are unsure about your gasket, give us a call, we are happy to answer your questions.

If something does need to be replaced, like a vent pipe, overpressure plug, or gauge don’t panic. Most parts that need to be replaced on canning equipment are pretty self explanatory and very easy to install on your own. If you’re really having trouble installing it yourself, call us and we will walk you though it.

Have you got you canning equipment out yet? Have you ever had the gauge tested on your pressure cooker? Post your thoughts and questions below.

Hickery Holler Farm: 2010 Canning Tally

Imagine if 90 percent of the food you eat was grown on your own land. How cool would that be? This lady has got it down. Check out this Blog!
Hickery Holler Farm: 2010 Canning Tally

Seed Swap for Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day I would like to propose a seed swap. One advantage of a seed swap is that you can save money and still get a wide variety of plants in your garden and the seeds will get planted before they get too old to sprout.

To host a seed swap you will need:
• Small Envelopes
• Labels and Pens
• Location with table space
• Willing participants with non-hybrid seeds

Invite family, friends and neighbors to bring their extra seeds. You can make your swap into a bigger event by telling your guests to spread the word and bring their friends with them. By doing this you will have a greater variety of seeds to exchange.

Or you could keep it private and much more coordinated buy limiting it to a small group of friends and assign each person a basic garden staple like carrots, beans, corn or pea seeds; that way you can all save money on your basic seeds and still buy something unusual you’ve never tried before to share with you seed swapping buddies.

To save time instruct everyone to bring their extra seeds already packaged and properly labeled with planting instructions. Be prepared with envelopes and pens just incase someone needs them.

Decide before hand how you are going orchestrate the seed swap. There are several ways to do it. Some use a tally and ticket system others prefer to go by an honor code and trust that participants won’t take more seeds than they contributed. Be sure to plan ahead of time how you want to organize the actual exchange and any special rules or instructions so there is no confusion.

If there are any seeds left donate them to someone in need or to a local community garden.

Have Fun!



“Seed Swap” looks like in interesting documentary. Check out the trailer.
http://youtu.be/xUZ38FJfIhE


Comments appreciated!
How do you organize your seed exchange? What method works best? How could you improve on the next one?

A Time to Sow . . . Sow What?

As gardening season begins here are some ideas about what to plant in your garden depending on what food you want to preserve for the winter.

First thing to consider is what will you actually eat? If you don’t like beats don’t plant them. If you enjoy green beans plant some and plan on canning or freezing the excess. Home grown green beans taste great and are easy to preserve for the winter.

Vegetable soup is a tasty way to get your vegetable intake for the day. If you like soup, decide what kind of vegetables you like best in soup and plant them in your garden; like carrots, celery, potatoes, tomatoes and garlic.

Spaghetti makes a great meal and is even better when the sauce is made from scratch using produce you have grown yourself. It takes a lot of effort but it’s worth it in the end especially if you make a huge batch and seal it in jars using a pressure cooker. Plant tomatoes, onions and, garlic and depending on how ambitious you are you may even want to plant an herb garden for seasonings.

There are more reasons to plant pumpkins than for Jack-O-Lanterns. Making your own pumpkin puree is super easy and you can’t beat the taste of fresh pumpkin in homemade pumpkin cookies. Really it’s unbeatable.

With all the necessary ingredients grown in your own backyard you will feel a great sense of pride at what you have accomplished. That fresh produce from your garden doesn’t have to go to waste if you can’t consume it all; you can share it with your friends or preserve it for later. Invest in home canning equipment and begin the joyful and satisfying process of food preservation.

Make sure to use a trusted source for your canning recipes and that your jars have all sealed properly before you put them up for storage. Canning is not an experimental process and must be done properly to keep dangerous bacteria from growing.

Think of the possibilities! Decide what you want to can this year and then order the seeds to plant in your garden. Please post your comments below. We love comments.

Planning a garden design tool: Better Homes and Gardens
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/nature-lovers/welcome-to-plan-a-garden/

Planting Zones Map

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html

Fire Up the Barbecue!

It’s not unusual for a grill to get black and crusty, if it’s not cleaned regularly. However, cooking on a dirty grill will ruin the flavor of your food; thanks to residue from last weeks barbecue or smoke from grease buildup burning off. Aside from regular clean-up you should give your grill a thorough cleaning every year, so if you find that your grill is a mess, here are some tips get it ready to fire up for the season.

Cleaning instructions for your grill will differ depending of the kind of grill you have; charcoal or propane. Also, the surface of your grill will also determine what you can use to clean it; painted surfaces should not be exposed to some cleaners as it could damage the coating on your grill. Make sure you review your grills instruction manual before you begin cleaning.

If your grill is really crusty turn it on and let the flames take care of the chunky stuff for you. This may take about 30 minutes or more; you’ll know it’s done when the remains have burned to gray ash. Once it’s cool use a brass bristle grill brush to scrub off the ash. While almost any grill brush will work I recommend investing in a Brushtech Grill Brush because they are designed to last. They can be used on hot and cold grills and they have a well built handle so you can scrub as hard as you think is necessary.

If there is still stubborn carbon spots left you may need to use a carbon removing chemical like Sokoff, to remove any residual carbon. This product can be used from the very beginning in place of burning and brushing and will almost eliminate the need to scrub. Be sure to follow the instructions for proper use and application of chemicals. Always use rubber gloves and wash chemicals off with warm soapy water before grilling on that surface.

Don’t forget to clean the lid, drip pan and wipe down the outside of the grill. Also scoop out the ash and dispose of it properly. Never throw hot or warm ash in the garbage bin as it could cause a fire; wait until it’s completely cool.

Prevention is the best practice when it comes to grilling. According to Charbroil.com Applying a high-temperature cooking oil; such as peanut, canola, safflower, or cottonseed, to the meat will help to even the heat transfer thereby reducing sticking and make cleanup easier.

When you have finished grilling close lid and allow flames to burn off residual food for about 10 minutes. Scrub grate with a brass grill brush and clean out drip pans. If you clean your grill every time you use it, your food will taste better and cleaning will take less time in the long run.

Enjoy!



Links:
For more tips and tricks in grilling visit, http://www.charbroil.com/Recipe/index.aspx

Grilled burgers are a classic, but only if you know how to make them right.
Follow this link to find a recipe for grilling the perfect burger:
http://www.bbqreport.com/archives/barbecue/2007/07/27/recipe-for-grilling-the-perfect-burger/

Comments Please:
If you have any tips or tricks you would like to share please feel free to leave a comment below.

How to Prolong the Life of Your Blender

If you want your blender to keep working for a long time you need to use it correctly. Here are a few tips help to prolong the life of your blender, brought to you by the friendly technicians at the Mending Shed.

All blenders are not created equal. Don't think a $19 blender is going to work the same as a $99 or $199 blender. Cheap blenders are not made to handle the same kind of abuse that a more expensive model is made to handle.

Ice is rough on blenders; anything frozen should be set out to thaw for ten minutes. This softens food and ice just enough that you can process it without damaging your blender. If your ice is in large cubes I recommend crushing the ice in a bag using a rolling pen or hammer before you put it in the blender.

Make sure the blade has stopped spinning completely before you remove the jar from the base. Removing the jar while the motor and blade are still turning wears down the teeth on the blade assembly and the drive coupling.

Don’t move the jar around while the blender is running. Doing this will not improve the blending action and only damages the couplings on the motor and the jar assembly.

The blender jar is not designed as a storage container; when you are finished blending poor the excess mixture into a different container for storage. By exposing your blender jar to moisture, such as smoothie or wash water for an extended length of time will allow liquid to get into the blade assembly making it sticky and difficult to turn; especially if the blender goes unused for several weeks. 

Don’t stick anything in the jar while the blender is running for any reason; this is not only dangerous to you it is a sure way to damage the blade. Don’t do it. If you feel your mixture needs some coaxing toward the blade, shut off the blender and wait for the blade and motor to stop spinning before you stick something, like a spoon, in the jar to move the food around.

Even with special care, parts on your blender may ware out eventually. Depending on the brand and model, you may be able to buy a new replacement part. Contact the company that made your blender to find out if the part you need is available and where you can purchase it.

Happy Blending!

The most commonly needed replacement part for a KitchenAid blender is the drive coupling. The following is a video on how to replace a coupling yourself.

Let us know what you think about the video, post a comment below.

Power Wheels Battery Care and Storage

Power Wheels Battery Care and Storage

Spring is on its way and now it the time to dust off those Power Wheels vehicles and get them ready to roll for the season. One of the most common problems people discover is the battery is completely dead and won’t take a charge; time to order a new battery. The following are a few guidelines to help lengthen the life of your Power Wheels battery.

Power Wheels Recommendations

1. Charge an average of 18-24 hours to keep batteries in maximum condition.
2. Use Charger in dry locations only.
3. Never short-circuit the batteries.
4. Examine the battery, charger and connectors for excessive wear or damage each time you charge your battery. If damage has occurred or excessive wear is detected, do not use the vehicle until you have replaced the worn or damaged part as it could result in a fire causing in injury or property damage.
5. Examine the battery case for cracks of other damage which could cause acid to leak during the charging process. If damage is detected, do not charge or use. Contact your local service center for assistance.
6. Please take precautions to protect the surface on which you charge your batteries. It is not recommended to charge on kitchen counter tops.
7. Only adults should charge batteries. Never allow children to charge batteries.
8. Carry the batteries by supporting the bottom and sides of battery case. Never lift or carry batteries by wires or connectors.
9. Do not store batteries in extreme heat (85 degrees or higher) or extreme cold(-10 degreed or below) during snowy or rainy weather ,the vehicle should be stored inside or under a protective cover, remember to chare the batteries for 18 hours at least once a month while the vehicle is not in regular use.

Mending Shed Technicians Recommendations

1. Always keep it charged to capacity. 
2. Don’t leave it uncharged for long periods of time.
3. Never leave a battery on the charger longer than it needs to be there. When charge is complete take it off the charger.
4. Never charge the battery partially and then take it off the charger. It shortens the life of the battery; which means you will have to buy a new one more often.
5. When it’s time to store your Power Wheels vehicle for the winter, charge the battery to capacity and then store it in a dry place.
6. Take the battery out once a month and recharge it to keep it in working condition. You can store the battery and the charger together in dry location near an outlet to make monthly charging easier.
7. If you choose to store the battery in the battery compartment of your Power Wheels vehicle you should leave it disconnected from the vehicle to keep the battery charged longer.
8. As always, unplug the charger when it’s not in use.

Batteries do wear out over time, but following these guidelines will help to keep them working for as long as possible.