Wednesday, September 12, 2007

New Toys

I recently made my own pasta for the first time a couple of weeks ago. AND rolled it by hand, which wasn't that hard really, just a bit of a pain more than anything.

I knew about it the following day when I went to roll out my homemade pizza dough (yes, I do like baking!) and my hands killed me. The palms of my hand where the rolling pin hits when you roll. Ouch. My Mother-In-Law-One-Day recommended me buying a pasta machine. A lot easier she said.

She was right.


On Saturday I bought my pasta machine from 'House'. (As much as I love 'House' I am not a fan of the one in Cairns. It doesn't feel right being served by a early twenty-something male/boy who wears rock t-shirts and no apron. In stores like this I expect to be served by people like this...) I put the boy/man through his paces by questioning the difference between the 3 pasta makers on offer and why the price difference. I ended up with the Avanti one. Mainly because a) I have heard of that brand and b) it was $5 cheaper than the other one in my budget range and c) it is the most popular and no one has returned it to the store.

I didn't just buy a pasta machine however on Saturday. I also bought a Food Processor. I've been wanting one since I got my mix master for Christmas last year. It seemed before I had my mix master every recipe I wanted to make said 'mix with electric beaters' (of which I didn't have any!) Then after getting my mix master, every recipe seemed to state to 'place in food processor and beat'. Typical eh? I think I have all gadgets now. For the time being any way...

I bought the Sunbeam Multiprocessor from Good Guys, only to return it the following day. I did buy the last one on offer (ie. demo model) which I won't be doing again. I got home to find it was missing some of the most important pieces. The main chopping blade, the whisk attachment, the dough attachment and the middle 'spindle' part.

I rang up and said that "I'm not happy".

They offered to replace the processor for another brand (No, I do research on these things! I know what I want!)

Order in the missing parts. (No, that would mean a 5-10 business day wait before I could use my new toy)

Get my money back (Yes please, so I could go up the road and buy exactly the same processor at Myer for the same money AND earn Myer One points!)

You can only guess what I did on Sunday then.

I walked out happy. I came home happy. I used my processor happily.

The pasta I made and cooked yesterday was delicious! The machine worked a dream and I cannot wait to make spaghetti next time!

Ahh...the life of a Domestic Goddess. Just call me Nigella.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Man Melody......here is a moment where I'd pay good money to have you as a neighbor. Making your own pasta? I'd be dropping by every other day just to see what you might be cooking up. To a guy like me who does well to get the frozen pizza in the oven this is very impressive!

Ms Mac said...

Hello Nigella. I bought a food processor for the first time a few months ago. What a toy! I love it!

I knew that the link was going to Prue & Trude. Graysh! (The BBC has just started showing Season 3 K&K, can you believe it. I'm still watching it though and laughing my head off.)

Anonymous said...

I agree with Sarch! I want to be in your neighborhood (not just for homemade pasta, but because other than having like the deadlist fauna in the world, who wouldn't want to live in Australia?? I would LOVE to see the beach!!).

I've never had homemade pasta before, but I can imagine it is heavenly! You should be proud of your domestic skills....I can barely operate a microwave.

Anyway, Michele sent me to say hello to you today, and I'm glad she did, I've never seen your blog before...I'm going to have a blast reading through it!

Bobkat said...

It's always great to have new toys :)

I'm sure your pasta was delicious adn I am glad you were firm with the store. I couldn't agree more about the appearance of the store assistant. It seems good customer service is often a rare thing these days.

I just wanted to thank you for your kind comments on my blog. I have been incredibly upset but it meant alot that people like you reached out. {{{hugs}}}

Star said...

You are such an ambitious cook. Enjoy the new toy. Good for you for doing some research first.

Anonymous said...

Our toys just change as we get older, don't they?

I just bought a tupperware food processor that works by hand. Then I had to make pesto just so that I could use it!

Red Dirt Mummy said...

Wow, Nigella indeed! I love my food processor and use it heaps. I'm kind of desperate for a mix-master - we got one from e-bay but it's not so great. But I need a new house with more kitchen cupboards (7 doesn't really cut it!) before I can add any more toys to my collection.

Anonymous said...

New toys are fun (whatever your passion) and getting a bum toy really stinks. Glad you got it resolved.

BTW - thanks for visiting and I will try to bump up our reading curriculum. 1000 books you say...

Anyway, I also wanted to point out your link gets a little wonky because that site insists on using 'www'. Try this link instead. http://www.kathandkim.com/threw.htm

The Turmanators said...

I am SOOOO impressed! I love to cook, too (got a food processor for Christmas and adore it) but don't have the time and patience to do all that stuff anymore. Besides, the Short People are picky eaters and I have a hard time coming up with menus that are 1)healthy, 2)relatively quick, 3) something the grownups like, and 4) something the Short People will touch. I am amazed at your culinary feats and would love to know how you find the time. Great work, Melody!

Anonymous said...

You made your own pasta? Girl??? I could not do that. I wouldn't even know where to start. Now pizza dough I've done but even those cup in those little envelopes.

As for Bob-kat (below) that just broke my heart into.

jeanie said...

I am most amazed that you have made do without a food processor before now! How?

I love my food processor - although it is now 8 years old so the plastic bits are starting to show wear and tear.

I once shared with a friend and we had 2 Oscar food processors - it was bliss!!