I am planning on diving in and making my own fondant soon. I plan to use Michele Foster's recipe. I had been planning on using my new 6 qt KA to make it, but I just read a post suggesting this was a bad idea due to the possibility of ruining the gears if the fondant gets jammed.
Do most of you make your fondant by hand? How difficult is it? I have decreased upper extremity strength due to 3 herniated cervical disks, and have had surgical reconstruction of both thumbs due to arthritis. I can knead doughs, though, as long as it's not too long or too stiff.
What are your thoughts? Can someone w/ minor decreased arm strength do it by hand? Is my KA up to the task?
I think you KA will work just fine. I've made Michele Foster's recipe twice now in my KA and it didn't have any problems. As long as you keep your mixer clean it will be ok.
I've never made the MMF on my 6 qt KA but always make my double batch of wholewheat bread with that mixer without any issues. I don't see any reason it should be a problem for the MMF.
Your KA is a much better mixer than my Sunbeam stand mixer and I make Michele Foster's fondant in it without any problems. Before I bought my mixer I did make it by hand. It can be done but I'm saying that if you have a mixer USE it. 
The recipe will turn out better if you let the mixer do the work for you because it requires alot of kneading as it's making and the mixer can to that much faster and better than you can by hand. 
Keep in mind that MFF isn't going to form into the hard ball of fondant you are use to getting in the package while in the mixer. It will actually be in a thick, but still flowing pile of gloob when you pour/scrap it out of the bowl on to the plastic wrap to let it set up over night.
I've done it or a simalar recipe in my 6q several times. In fast last year I was doing at least double recipes of it, several back to back and didn't have a problem.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%