Let us begin

After countless failed attempts at keeping a blogs of personal ramblings, a friend convinced me to move on and try something more appropriate for a larger, public arena.

Let's see how well this works out.

Recently, my dear man bought me something I have been lusting after for quite awhile:

A KitchenAid 5qt, Pro-series, HD, direct-drive transmission with all steel gears, 10 speed stand mixer with all-metal construction, 475-watt motor with auto-shut off protections, and electronic speed sensor. In Empire Red. I love this man.

To show my appreciation, I filled his belly with delicious offerings assembled lovingly with the new mixer.
A whole-wheat and honey crust pizza with a roasted garlic alfredo sauce, feta, mozzarella, spinach, grilled chicken and tomato toppings.:

While it looks lovely, and was incredibly tasty, the crust itself did not hold up the toppings very well. The next batch of dough will be doubled to help build a thicker crust, and cooked before adding the toppings to help maintain structural integrity. One could decrease the amount of toppings piled, but that would just be silliness. 

For dessert, I couldn't help myself. We indulged in a treat my Gramma used to make during the summer, with a personal spicy twist: 

Strawberry shortcake (homemade shortcakes!), with a cinnamon-whipped cream frosting. Oh, yes, it was a lovely ending. The mixer is amazing, whipping up soft peaks of creamy love while I finished the dishes. I rather adore my new toy.