Almost famous article link change.

It was recently brought to my attention that the Pioneer Press (Twin Cities) link to the very nice article written by Beth Gauper that features my cooking classes has been discontinued. Anyone wanting to read it can go to her excellent travel website and read it at; www.midwestweekends.com/plan_a_trip/arts_culture/learning_vacations/cooking_classes.html As a point of note, the lovely and talented Lisa and I will be taking the month of February off for some well earned vacation time. Vacation time for us usually ends up involving a culinary trip of some kind but we haven't decided what to do. Anyone out there have a good idea or two for us? My cooking classes will resume in March with a great Chinese menu.

The small appliance conundrum.

First of all, Happy New Year to everyone and thank you "Tina" for posing your Cuisinart question. Let me answer you this way, don't get rid of your stand mixer (I'm assuming you have some sort of Kitchenaid???). Although I use the Cuisinart for a great many things, and it does work well for almost any kind of dough or batter, the stand mixer still excells when it comes to making heavy bread doughs, long-whipped egg concoctions and any mixture that has chunks of ingredients in it that you don't want to get chewed up (by the Cuisinart blade). One must also be very careful when translating recipe methods from "mixer" to "food processor". Food processors work very quickly and it is easy to over mix or over blend things, so caution and common sense must be employed at all times. My best advice, throw out (or donate) something that you don't ever use to make room for your new Cuisinart and keep the mixer!