Lodge Color Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6 qt. : Cast from molten iron in individual sand molds, each piece features two layers of baked-on enamel. The 6-quart size is perfect for soups, stews or buttery peach cobblers, and easily goes from stovetop or oven to table to freezer. The deep colors make them excellent for serving. Product Features Oven-safe to 400 degrees F Freezer-safe Tightly fitting lid seals in moisture and the knob is oven-safe up to 400 degrees F Chip-resistant enamel cleans easily. No seasoning required. FDA approved Limited Lifetime Warranty.
I received one as a Christmas gift (in blue - so pretty) and love it. I use it at least 2-3 times a week. I have used it to sear, braise, and roast and it's a champ at everything I've tried. Although you can't put it in the dishwasher, the enamel coating makes it very easy to clean. The only con is its weight which is expected any time you are dealing with cast iron, and the pros outweigh this con by far. I would definitely buy this again & again, and it makes a great gift, too.
KitchenAid Pro 600 Stand Mixer KP26M1X : Driven by a potent 575-watt motor, KitchenAid's largest, most powerful mixer can handle even stiff, heavy mixtures, and the 6-quart stainless steel bowl is large enough for double batches of cookie dough. Makes up to 8 loaves of white bread, 13 dozen cookies or 8 lbs. of mashed potatoes. Product Features Bowl-lift mixer style Rugged, die-cast all-metal construction provides sturdiness required to support the raw power of this machine Direct drive transmission for durability Commercial motor protection for many years of reliable service All-metal gears Soft Start helps prevent ingredient splash-out and flour-puff at startup 10-speed slide control ranges from a very fast whip to a very slow stir High-performance, 67 point planetary mixing action insures ingredients are thoroughly mixed without frequent scraping or rotating bowl 14-cup flour power 6-quart mixing bowl capacity Electronic speed sensor maintains selected speed regardless of load Multi-purpose attachment hub Locked rotor protection - safeguard for the motor by automatically shutting down if the mixing action becomes obstructed 575 watts Model number: KP26M1X 25 lbs. 11 1/4"W x 14 1/2"D x 16 1/2"H. Assembled in the USA 1yr free of charge warranty Includes Professional wire whip Burnished flat beater and dough hook Clear, two-piece pouring shield with enlarged chute for easy addition of ingredients 6 Quart stainless-steel bowl with contoured handle Burnished PowerKnead spiral hook - handles 20% more dough than previous models
I received this as a wedding anniversary gift and am spoiled now and forever more. I will never be able to use a hand mixer again without thinking of how much better it could be with my KitchenAid.
Not only can you make sweets with it, but you can mix bread dough, meatloaf... pretty much anything you can think of that needs mixing can be done with this machine.
All the attachments available (ice cream! pasta!) also make it very versatile and a great multi-tasker in the kitchen.
I would buy this over & over again but fortunately, given the quality of KitchenAid products, I probably won't have to!