I've been reading here, and knowing my mom had a Kitchenaide that lasted over 30 years, after making several batches of Buttercream with hand mixers, then, taking my buttercream ingredients to my neighbors, and using her Kitchenaide stand mixer, that was it.

I got so bad, I could smell the coils in the hand mixer. I think it's by Hamilton Beach. It was a special on Black Friday,and I knew she needed a mixer of some sort.

I went to target, and bought the Kitchenaide stand up Mixer, for 199.00. I think the only difference between this one and the Artisian model is the wattage, and the splatterguard, which I got online and ordered when I got home.

Then, I made the chocolate chip cookies in the book that came with the mixer. I had forgotten how easy it was. I added ingredients, and stood back, and watched it mix. My Facebook Status is "Making Christmas cookies just got easier." They mixed so perfect. I can't wait to make a from scratch cake. This is going to be fun.

Oh I know what you mean I cant imagine being in a kitchen without my Kitchenaid Mixer..lol God bless

i love my kitchenaid!! no more kneading my own fondant thanks to the dough hook! congrats on your purchase!

I love my apple green machine the bread hook is great when making mmf. I got the glass bowl also it is a little bigger than the metal bowl and invest in the mixing paddle it saves time stopping and using a spatchula.

More happy days ahead for you to enjoy your baking.. Good luck

My Kitchen Aid is more than 40 years old and is still as awesome as the day I bought it. Glad you have the mixer of your dreams!

I think it's amazing that you can get a Kitchenaid for only $199

I wanted one for ages but the basic artisan was 500 ($715). I managed to order one from the UK for £430 ($670) with a free glass bowl and other attachments and it's amazing!!! I love it, and it's made my baking so much quicker and easier.

It's not artisian, doesn't have the second bowl, was 100 cheaper. making it totally affordable to me. I wish it were green...lol

I always loved my moms, who had hers for 40 years. So, when I started doing cakes, the hand mixer couldn't do it. I had nothing but trouble with icing. Cakes were only okay. From scratch things were the worst. Royal icing took a long time for the mixer to work. 10 minutes of griping a hand mixer isn;t fun. For 3 weeks of Wilton class, my icing was gritty. Twas time.

I have a bread machine for making bread dough, and I never cook the dough in the machine. I use it often.

I ordered a bowl splatter attachment. On my next payday, I'll get the spatula attachment.

It runs incredibly quiet. That one at sears is loud in the store, imagine it in a kitchen? The guy at Sears tried to tell me it wasn't loud, but it sounds like a jet plane.

And my question, icing should be made with the hard mixer hook. Mine is white, yours might be a different color? I'm going to make some today.

I use the flat beater for icing

http://compare.ebay.com/like/110681665906?ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

But mine is also white (Artisan)