 One doesn't need a $30,000-kitchen or spend thousands of dollars on gadgets and tools to produce scrumptious desserts. Still, a few things are very important and some are probably critical. For me, a reliable mixer and accurate scale are vital.
I've had my 5-quart Kitchen Aid mixer for more than 20 years and it's still an incredible workhorse. It's especially great for hefty cookie dough, bread or brioche dough and whisking up a nice quantity of egg whites for meringue or French-style macarons.
I cannot function without a scale. I started the habit of weighing ingredients some years ago and now find it so much more accurate than using say a measuring cup. For example, five people measuring flour in a cup will most likely produce five different weights. With a scale, everyone weighs flour the same. It also allows quick and accurate quantification of total weight of a batter or dough, making it much easier to divide amounts evenly between multiple pans or molds. |
