I would have to say my favorite item is the stand mixer. All I have to do is add everything in the bowl and turn on the mixer. I am able to do other things while I am mixing. I just have a really cheap one. I am hoping to save my money and get the kitchen-aid one so I can purchase the add on attachments.

Old Bay Seasoning of course. I use it to cook almost anything. It especially good with shrimp and crab cakes -- and crabs too. But it's also a delight with chicken, french fries, stews and is the flavor of the famous Maryland Crab Soup.

oh, I love my stand mixer too. It's not one of the higher end ones, but it works wonderfully for my needs. This thing is worth it's weight in gold during the holidays when I'm making tons of goodies and larger portions of food.

medako: I drool over your Kitchen-Aid mixer; and yet I don't think I'd use it enough to justify buying one. I know it's sooo versatile but what I really want is a strong enough mixer for kneading and mixing bread dough. And I think that's the Kitchen-Aid, and yet I do pretty good by hand. When I was in the Navy I worked in the Galley in the bakery for 3 months and we made lots of breads and other baked goods. We made tons of homemade bread everyday and sliced it up with a bread slicer. Ever since then I've wanted a mixer that was strong enough to mix bread dough and knead it. The Kitchen Aid Mixer is tough enough but what holds me back is the consideration of the cost vs how much nice bakery bread I can buy for money.

I totally agree about the cost. I got my KA mixer as a wedding gift. If it hadn't been a gift, I'd also be eyeing everyone else's. I can't justify the cost myself, but if someone wanted to spend a little on me (because hubby OBVIOUSLY isn't going to be the one using it), then who am I to argue?

I'm kinda lazy when it comes to breads. I love homemade fresh baked breads, but just don't have the time or patience to make them myself. The mixer does have a breadhook, which I've never used in nearly 3 years. *shrug* It's just so much easier to get fresh baked bread from the bakery. Maybe one of these days when I don't have a little helper tugging at my constantly, I might be more likely to give it a try - but who knows.