Recently we got a comment from a customer on there order who has been having continuing problems with their mixer:

Here is there comment:  

Is this gear made from butter? Why does it break so easily? This is my third time ordering this gear, is it made of a weaker material?

They ordered a 9706529 KitchenAid 5 & 6 Quart Worm Gear, here was our response and hopefully it will help some of you fix your KitchenAid too!

You placed an order for the worm follower gear (9706529) and were asking what the gear is made of and why it breaks so easily.  I understand this is the third time ordering the gear, I do not show any previous orders through us so I am not sure where you ordered the previous gears or how long they have lasted for you, however here are a few things you might want to check and that might help the gear last longer.

The first thing you will want to do is take each gear out and clean off all of the grease, I find WD-40 and paper towels work really well, once you clean off each gear, carefully inspect each gear to see if you can find any damage on any of the gears.  If you notice a gear is worn, nicked or damaged in any way you need to replace it.  Please do not reuse any of the old grease, small pieces of the metal gears can be left in the grease and that can make the mixer run loudly and strip the gears. Here is a link to the gears:

The next thing to look for after you have inspected each gear carefully would be to check the bearings, thrust washers, snap retainer rings and the pin that holds the worm follower in place, if any of these items are worn or damaged please replace them.  Also be sure to check the transmission cover, in older models these were plastic, if you have a plastic housing, whether it is cracked or not, I would highly recommend replacing it while the mixer is opened up.

When replacing the gears make sure each gear is installed correctly, and coated with the KitchenAid Benalene 930-2 Grease.  Once reassembled make sure mixer sounds good, loud or rough noise indicates that there is still a problem with the gearing.

Lastly, when using your mixer make sure you follow the operating instructions, most importantly would be not to take the mixer over speed 2 when you are kneading heavy dough.

I hope this will help you get & keep your KitchenAid Mixer running.

The Mending Shed

Orem,UT

Lost Letter

Have you ever gotten someone else's mail?  I'm sure most of us have, and that is exactly what happened to us!  Last Monday we were going through our large bundle of mail from over the weekend and in the stack was maybe 1/3 of a torn up letter.

The letter was torn vertically, leaving us only with a return address.  So all the information we had was that the letter was from Elder Nate Harris who is currently on an LDS Mission in New York.  But we did not know who it was intended for, or anything about who this missionary was.  Some of you may be familiar with LDS missionaries (Mormon Missionaries) some may not.  But basically you have young men and women who have decided to dedicate their lives to teach about the LDS church and serve a mission.  Men who serve are gone for 2 years, I cant imagine spending that much time away from my family and friends, so we wanted to reunite this missionary with his letter.  We initially were just going to put the letter in an envelope and send it back to the Missionary so he could forward the letter to whom ever was suppose to receive it.



Hollie, the owner of The Mending Shed, thought about what to do with the letter, Since it was going to a missionary she thought about what her mom would do.  Ellen, Hollie's mom passed away a few years ago, and she loved Missionaries, they were one of her favorite things.  Having raised 2 boys of her own whom served LDS missions themselves, she loved to send care packages to her missionaries.  Anyone who was lucky enough to know Ellen Palmer could tell you what a sweet and caring person she was.  Knowing Ellen would not only return the letter to Elder Harris she would also send a care package, Hollie knew that we had to send this missionary a care package to go along with his torn letter.  Its hard enough being away from your family, and then to have you letter get damaged in transit and not get delivered would be hard both for the sender and the receiver of this letter.  So we got to thinking what fun way we could return this missionaries letter to him, both in Mending Shed style and honoring Ellen's love of missionaries.


So what did we do?  Knowing that we had to act fast as we aren't sure how much longer he would be on his mission or if he was changing locations we got right on our newest project.  We forced each of our employees to divulge what their favorite snack was to us.  After purchasing each snack, we had all of our employees write to our new missionary.  We broke out the 5"x8" index cards and had each employee write whatever they wanted.  We got everything from funny humorous notes to spiritual and uplifting messages for him.  From apologizing if he had an allergy to the nuts we sent him, to instructions on how the snack should be eaten and inspirational, keep your head up messages.



Now it would be weird to receive your torn up, personal letter you sent to someone with just a bunch of snacks and notes and have no idea who these people are that have received your letter.  So we also made sure to send a picture of each of our employees.  We had each employee pose for a photo so Elder Harris could get a really good look at the weirdos his letter was intercepted by, we attached the photos to each note and then to each of our employees favorite snacks.  It was a great way to waste time and not actually work for a while, you know a usual Friday project.  

After we had everything matched up we boxed it all up.  We also typed up a letter to put on the outside explaining what had happened to his letter and why we were sending him this care package.  We really hope this package reaches our dear Elder, and that it brightens his day and gives him a great story to remember from his mission.  Anyone who has been to the Mending Shed can usually tell we like to have fun, and we really hope that Elder Harris thinks we are as awesome as we think we are.   Well, Elder Nate welcome to our family, whether you like it or not... you are one of us now.

We are hiring 2 Customer Service Representatives

Are you looking for an awesome opportunity to join a great company and team? The Mending Shed is looking for 2 qualified Customer Service Representatives to join our team!! See the job description and application instructions below:

Job Title:
Customer Service Representative

Job Description: 

The Mending Shed is looking for an enthusiastic and hard working individual to join our Customer Service Team. This individual?s primary responsibilities will be to assist inbound customer phone calls. This individual needs to be able to problem solve and diagnose over the phone. This individual needs to be able to multi-task and be very detail oriented. It is a MUST that their customer service skills are professional and withhold the image of The Mending Shed. We are looking for a self starter and very pro-active that is always staying on top of what needs to be done and is willing to do more than is asked of them. 

This person must be able to lift anywhere up to 50bs which includes washers, dryers, microwaves, and heavy power tools. This individual must be able to effectively and efficiently use computers to look up parts and diagrams as well as a POS to ring up the customers. Must have a mechanical knowledge of how things work. Must have basic math and cash handling skills. Attention to detail and cleanliness will rocket this individual to success with this position. 

Job Duties include but are not limited to the following: 

• Customer service skills are a MUST 
• Answer inbound phone calls 
• Place orders over the phone 
• Respond to customers questions over the phone and via email 
• Lift up to 50lbs 
• Use computers to assist customers 
• Ring up customers with company POS 
• Basic math skills and cash handling 
• Self Starter 
• Attention to detail 

To apply, please send in your resume to customerservice@mendingshed.com ONLY. 

Please DO NOT call or come in to apply for this position. 

We will contact the qualifying individuals for an interview via phone or email.

We are hiring a Service Technician/Showroom Assistant!!!

Do you want to join an awesome team? The Mending Shed is hiring a Service Technician/Showroom Assistant for our retail showroom.

See the job posting below
and send in your resume to customerservice@mendingshed.com.

Please DO NOT come in to apply for this position. Qualified Candidates will be contacted via email or phone for an interview.

---

Service Technician/Showroom Assistant

Company Bio:

The Mending Shed first opened its doors in June of 1971. Today we are a thriving small business specializing in a wide range of repairs with a fully stocked showroom and a growing online store. We are an authorized service center for many name brands with an experienced team of repair technicians. Items we repair include: vacuums, clocks, lamps, electric shavers, microwaves, appliances (both large and small), power tools, canning equipment, and motorized toys like Razor Scooters and Power Wheels vehicles.

Job Description:

The Mending Shed is looking for an enthusiastic and hard working individual to join our Service Technician Team. This individual’s primary responsibilities will be to greet customers that come into our retail showroom as well as call them on the phone therefore it is a MUST that their customer service skills are professional and withhold the image of The Mending Shed. This person must be very detail oriented and able to problem solve and troubleshoot with our customers as they seek our assistance to solve their problems or fix their broken items. We are looking for a self starter that is always staying on top of what needs to be done and is willing to do more than is asked of them. We are looking for an individual that can lift anywhere from 50-75lbs which includes washers, dryers, microwaves, and heavy power tools, and must be physically fit to stand on their feet all day and go up and down a few flights of stairs. This individual must be able to effectively and efficiently use computers to look up parts and diagrams as well as a POS to ring up the customers. Must have a mechanical knowledge of how things work. Must have basic math and cash handling skills. Attention to detail and cleanliness will rocket this individual to success with this position.

Job Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Greet and assist customers
• Organize and restock inventory
• Lift 50-75lbs
• Physically fit to be on feet all day and go up and down stairs
• Answer phone calls
• Use computers to assist customers
• Ring up customers with company POS
• Basic math skills and cash handling
• Self starter
• Attention to detail
• Attention to cleanliness
• Customer service skills

To apply, please send in your resume to customerservice@mendingshed.com ONLY.

Please DO NOT call or come in to apply for this position.

We will contact the qualifying individuals for an interview via phone or email.

Facebook Giveaway Contest: FREE KitchenAid Blender

Have you entered to win the FREE KitchenAid Blender?!?!

(click on the image or link below to enter to the contest)

Use the link below to enter your name and email to be entered into the contest!! Share and like our facebook page posts to receive additional entries each day!!

Facebook Giveaway Contest

Utah Strongest Man and The Elevated CrossFit Summer Games

Come check out the 

Utah Strongest Man 

and 

The Elevated CrossFit 

Summer Games 

July 19th & 20th 

It is going to be off the hook!! 

Come see The Mending Shed & Victorio sponsored booth! We are going to have giveaways, demos and goodies!!

Tip Tuesday

Problem:  Front Tires Sagging, Bowing In on a Power Wheels


One of the common questions we get from our Power Wheels customers is how to fix the front alignment on the Power Wheels vehicles.  If there is too much weight in the vehicle the front end parts can become damaged.  In most cases if the front wheels are bowed in or sagging your steering linkage assembly is getting ready to let go.

There are several things that can cause this issue, mainly exceeding the weight limit of the vehicle.  The front end of the Power Wheels vehicle includes 2 front axles, a cross bar and a steering linkage.  The 2 front axles slide through the plastic brackets which are riveted to the steering linkage.  When these rivets become loose, or if any of the parts become bent the alignment of the vehicle will become damaged.

You will want to remove the battery from the vehicle and tilt the vehicle up.  Carefully inspect the front end parts.  The first thing to check will be the axles, these should be in a "L" shape and have a right angle.  These run through a plastic bracket which is riveted to a long metal bar that runs between the two front wheels.  Check to see if the rivets are loose, the brackets are damaged or cracked or if the long bar is bent.  Next you will want to check the crossbar which is a long metal bar that runs between the wheels and hooks onto the axles, make sure this bar is not bents.  The last part that you will need to check will be the wheels, depending on how long the front wheels have been bowing in/sagging out the wheels may have become damaged.

Here is a link to the parts you may need to replace:

Front Axle:  http://www.mendingshed.com/pwfrontaxle.html
Steering Linkages & Crossbars:  http://www.mendingshed.com/steerlinkage.html
Tires:  http://www.mendingshed.com/pwtires.html

Remember you will need to purchase one Push Nut Retainer Cap (Axle Cap) for each one you remove.

If you have any questions, or if you need help finding the correct parts call us with your model number and we will be happy to help.

The Mending Shed
Repair Team

Tip Tuesday

Problem:  Power Wheels Tires worn or cracked

Power Wheels vehicles are the No. 1 battery-powered ride-on vehicles for children.  With over 25 million sold and over 100 models these vehicles all have one thing in common: Big plastic wheels.

Because the wheels are plastic, they tend to lose traction causing the vehicle to slip and wearing out the wheels more quickly.  



Here are a few suggestions so your tires will last just a bit longer:

• Drive the vehicle on generally level ground only
• Use on grass, asphalt and other hard surfaces only
• Teach your child to stop the vehicle before switching directions
• Rotate the tires: swap the front with the back so the wheels wear evenly
• Teach your children not to allow the wheels to spin if they run into an object (use reverse if they run into something)

• While donuts, power slides and drifting may be fun, this will also very quickly cause significant wear on the tires.

Beware of traction bands, or other solutions that tell you to put rubber around the plastic tire.  Traction bands do improve traction, and reduce the wear on the wheels, however they can void the product warranty and pose both safety and reliability issues.  Your vehicle has a patented, electronic braking system that automatically stops the vehicle when your child's foot lifts from the pedal, when your have traction bands on the wheel this causes a lot of stress on the motor and gearbox, and will greatly decrease the life of the motor.

The truth of the story is, tires are tires and they are going to wear.  Use these tips and you should get several fun years out of your Power Wheels tires.

Remember here at The Mending Shed, we are an Authorized Service Center for Power Wheels, and can help you with all of your repair or warranty needs.

If you need wheels visit the tire page on our website:  http://www.mendingshed.com/pwtires.html

Thank you,

The Repair TeamMendingShed.com

Tip Tuesday

Problem:  Dead Power Wheels Battery

6 Volt Blue Battery

Spring is here, and now is the time to clean out the garage and dust off those Power Wheels vehicles!  One of the most common problems people discover when getting the vehicles ready for the season is the battery is completely dead and wont hold a charge.  

It's time to get a new battery.  Batteries do wear out over time, but following these guidelines will help keep the battery working for as long as possible.

12 Volt Gray Battery

Use these following guidelines to help lengthen the life of your next Power Wheels battery:

• Use Charger in dry locations only
• Keep battery charged to capacity
• Don't leave battery uncharged for long periods of time
• Never charge the battery longer than 30 hours
• Do not charge the battery partially, it shortens the life of the battery
• Disconnect battery from vehicle when vehicle is not in use
• When storing the battery for winter, charge battery to capacity, then store it in a dry place.  Take the battery out once a month and recharge it to keep it in working condition.  
• Battery should be charged 18 hours for the first time (should be charged before first use), and then 14 hours for each additional charge.  For best results do not charge the battery longer than 18 hours, over 30 hours on the charger will damaged your battery.

Extra tips from Power Wheels:  

1. Never short-circuit the batteries.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Please take precautions to protect the surface on which you charge your batteries. It is not recommended to charge on kitchen counter tops.
5. Only adults should charge batteries. Never allow children to charge batteries.
6. Carry the batteries by supporting the bottom and sides of battery case. Never lift or carry batteries by wires or connectors.
7. Do not store batteries in extreme heat (85 degrees or higher) or extreme cold (-10 degrees or below) during snowy or rainy weather ,the vehicle should be stored inside or under a protective cover, remember to charge the batteries for 18 hours at least once a month while the vehicle is not in regular use.

Remember, here at The Mending Shed we are a Authorized Power Wheels service center, and can help you with all of your repair or warranty needs.

Thank you,

The Mending Shed

Repair Team

5 Part Spring cleaning.  Tools to help you get the job done, quick and easy.

Part one:  Clean the Grill

Save yourself time, easily clean even the most burnt on food, on the largest grill in under a minute with this genuine Brushtech Heavy Duty Wide Faced BBQ Grill Brush!

It's easy to get any cleaning job done with the right tool, using this Heavy Duty Wide faced BBQ Grill cleaning brush will clean even the biggest grills in less than one minute! This brush will work on both hot and cold grills, the brass high tensile brushes will clean even the messiest burnt mess on grills and the bristles are long lasting!

This brush is made in the USA, and has a heavy duty, strong, sturdy construction. The brush head is a 7" spiraled bristle triangle, the bristles on the brush are stiff, high tensile strength brass bristles, this will provide you a long lasting brush that is even safe to use on porcelain grills! The handle is 9 1/2" long and made of durable black plastic, with a hanging string on the end so it can be stored on a hook. The brush is available in 21" or 16" in length from the handle to the brush and lets you apply as much pressure needed to remove burned food and grease from your grill.

Features and Benefits:

• Cleans grill in under 1 minute
• Heavy Duty high tensile strength Brass bristles
• Will not scratch porcelain grills
• Made in USA

16" Brush can be found here:  http://www.mendingshed.com/bbqbrush2.html

21" Brush can be found here:  http://www.mendingshed.com/bigbbqbrush.html

The Mending Shed

Tip Tuesday

Problem:  Oil Leaking from KitchenAid Mixer.

KitchenAid mixers are built to last.  We have customers call in all the time about mixers that are 30-40 years old and still going strong!  

One of the common problems we see with the KitchenAid mixers is oil leaking from the agitator shaft (beater shaft) or from the drip ring.


KitchenAid uses a Benalene 930-2 grease inside their mixers.  It is a dark, thick grease that can break down and leak out of the mixer, sometimes getting into the bowl/food.  The grease KitchenAid uses is a food grade, non-toxic vegetable based grease.  Over time, or if you do not use your mixer often, the grease can break down, and it will appear that there is oil leaking from the mixer. 

How to fix the mixer if grease is leaking:  
You will need to take the mixer apart, clean out all of the old grease, replace it with about 6 ounces of new Benalene grease .  To prevent further leaking, it is also recommended that your replace the o-ring on the center shaft and the gearbox gasket.  

Here is a link to these items:
Grease:  http://www.mendingshed.com/kagrease.html
O-Ring:  http://www.mendingshed.com/67500-55.html
Gasket:  http://www.mendingshed.com/mixergasket.html

How to Prevent the problem:
To prevent the grease from breaking down in the future, especially if you do not use your mixer frequently, it is recommended that you pull the mixer out and run it for about 2 minutes every 3-4 weeks, this should stop the grease from breaking down.

KitchenAid Grease

One other useful tool to help you get the job done would be the KitchenAid service manual.  This will walk you step by step on how to take the mixer apart, clean out the grease, and put everything back together correctly.  Here is a link to the KitchenAid Service Manual:  http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/mendingshed/kitchenaidservicemanual.pdf


This applies to mixer models:  K45, K45SS, KSM75, KSM90, KSM103, KSM110, KSM150, KSM151, KSM152, K5, K5A, K5SS, KSM5, KSM50P, KP50 AND KPM5. 

Don't forget, we are one of KitchenAid's largest service centers within the US, this means all of our parts are genuine KitchenAid parts, and we can help you with any repair questions you may have.

Thank you,

The Mending Shed
Repair Team

Power Wheels Tune-Up

As summer fast approaches, the children yearn to spend time outdoors after being cooped up all winter long.  They’ve begged you to get out their Power Wheels vehicle from the garage, but upon doing so, you discover that the car battery no longer holds a charge or the wheels are worn from the use the vehicle received the previous year.

Now what?

We, here at The Mending Shed, pride ourselves on helping our customers to get their Power Wheels vehicles running once again.  We carry batteries and chargers, replacement wheels, decals and too many other accessories to list.  If you have questions or concerns of any kind don’t hesitate to give us a call at 800-339-9297.  Our customer service staff will be happy to help you.


Don’t forget, we are an authorized Power Wheels Service Center, which means our replacement parts are genuine Power Wheels brand and we can help you with any warranty issues you may have.

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.