Chocolate Labradors Rhys & Thom | Country NikNaks Blog

Oooh … the Kenwood Kmix in cream … or correctly described … the Kenwood Kmix in almond.

I’m not normally one for gadgetry. Ubiquitous contemporary devices marketed to make life ‘easier’ are a horror to me. I simply do not have a large enough spot to store the accompanying weighty manuals, or is it a 3000 GB download nowadays?

Noooo, I do not want to navigate through cutting edge 21st century engineering in order to open a tin or make a cup of coffee. That said, the arrival of the Kenwood Kmix in the kitchen has brought with it some very positive results.

Baking is a magical art akin to alchemy … grasping the exact science, is to me within the cognitive realm of quantum physics. Ingredients need to be measured down to the minutest of particles, or one of my sponges could indeed end the earths cycle if allowed to breakthrough the atmosphere and collide with it.

Embarking on the baking journey involves deconstructing many years of red wine cooking. All savoury orientated, my dishes evolve as they go along … a sprinkle of this, a slug of that, a slosh in the pot and a slosh for the cook. This is not a pattern I can repeat in the baking world. After measuring as per instruction, my first Victoria sponge was assembled using a small electric hand whisk found at the back of a cupboard. Not one fit for the job. Despite the use of tea-towels to catch the centrifugal butter and sugar … the debris flung out to the far corners of the kitchen … each one caught expertly however by my estatic labrador, Thom … who displayed more energy than I have ever seen him muster, while snapping up gleefully each tasty morsel of airborne batter. A very messy affair, finally producing a flat dismal effort that would have been fitting as a granite block for restoration work upstairs.

Hmmn … I recalled the contestents on Masterchef popping all pudding ingredients into a magical cauldron, electrically run. Not only did it complete all of the work for you, it was clean, efficient and the results were spectacular. After internet research, the brave new world of kitchen stand mixers opened up to me. Granted, some could only be purchased by the head of Barclay’s or similar … but the Kmix in comparison … was at a ‘fairly manageable‘ princely sum sans a banker’s annual bonus.

The descriptive text informed me, not only does the Kmix mix cakes, muffins or any other sweet treat one could wish for, it kneads bread and has optional attachments to grate, pulp, blend and … make sausages! That was it! … Convinced I clicked, bought and waited in anticipation.

The shiny Kmix arrived, delivered promptly to my door … 21st century technology with an old fashioned charm.

Once unpacked … as per Masterchef … I measure carefully … (no wine involved here) … pop all said ingredients into the spanking silver bowl and at the flick of a switch … we have a cake batter to die for. The whole concoction stays cocooned within the bowl … so clean … so efficient.

My Victoria sponges are now light and fluffy … I have embarked on the fine art of muffin making and the bread hook is amazing (more on this later).

I am so happy … husband is so happy … we are all convinced with the Kmix purchase.

Thom the labrador is not.

Bye for now

Kenwood Kmix Cream / Almond

Kenwood Kmix Red

Kenwood Kmix Black

Kenwood Kmix Blue

Kenwood Kmix Yellow

Kenwood Kmix Barcelona

I do love my dogs!

They are such joyous creatures, grinning, wagging and so happy to start a new day every morning. Ah … pure happiness. The mud, mess and lack of emotional physical restraint are balanced by the unconditional love emmitted every second of their precious lives. I know that with four paws on my shoulders and two over enthusiastic tongues lapping at my head, this is indeed part of the labrador package.

My two boys, Rhys and Thom are chocolate. Please do not scoff game shooters … I will state proudly and with 100% certainty that Rhys will retrieve as good if not better than any black or yellow lab …… and Thom … is well … Thom. Thom is fantastic at sleeping infront of a roaring fire and dreaming about retrieving … he’s more senior management.

I repeat everyday to them how handsome they are and they reward me with their regal upright pose and tilted head.

I will one day stay true to my self made promise and paint them, a portrait, probably in oils surrounded by an ornate gold gilt frame, befitting of their status.

In the meantime, I have found some labrador must haves. It has long been a country tradition to adorn your home with animal motifs … the hare … the fox … the pheasant … and so too the labrador retriever …

Is there anything on this earth more adorable than a handsome hound … (yes husband, I love you too).

Bye for now