327716 Thu Sep 21 06:44:05 -0700 2006 17 41 Cookware 0 1891639 My beloved Sunbeam Food Processor's bowl fell apart after 20 years of use. I have been searching for a replacement, but to no avail. It was a gift from a very special friend and I hate to toss it, but I guess I have to. For the past 20 years I have blended my cookie dough with this processor. Tonight, I had to use a hand blender. It got me to think, do I buy a KitchenAid or another food processor? AND, what does everyone else use to mix their dough? I would appreciate your opinions and recommendations. TIA Thu Sep 21 06:44:05 -0700 2006 11540 mochi mochi 1 1891745 I usually use my KitchenAid stand mixer. Thu Sep 21 11:41:46 -0700 2006 1891639 10985 MMRuth 1 1891844 I use my KA mixer. Does Sunbeam no longer make your model? Have you looked on ebay? When my Cuisinart work bowl developed a crack I found a replacement bowl fairly easily but also got an entire replacement processor, new, off ebay. Fortunately the model is still available from Cuisinart so this may be the problem with your model if it's been discontinued. Thu Sep 21 13:20:07 -0700 2006 1891639 12335 cheryl_h 2 1892762 No, Sunbeam doesn't make the processor or anything like it anymore. I have checked eBay and nothing. I have been looking for about 2 years. I knew the bowl was going down the tubes. I even checked Great Britain and Canada for replacement parts. Thu Sep 21 19:00:13 -0700 2006 1891844 11540 mochi mochi 1 1891962 I do mine by hand with a mixing bowl and a large wooden spoon. Prefer it over machines. Thu Sep 21 14:17:27 -0700 2006 1891639 10510 Pupster 2 1892766 Wow, I haven't done that since I was a kid. You are the awesome! Thu Sep 21 19:00:48 -0700 2006 1891962 11540 mochi mochi 2 1892809 Same here - an old Revereware bowl and a wooden spoon. I feel like I have more control than with a mixer. Thu Sep 21 19:13:44 -0700 2006 1891962 27312 lvecch 2 1893865 I agree; wooden spoon for butter into sugar, then hands when it gets too stiff after adding flour. easier on the wrists. i find my dough gets overprocessed in the mixer(hand mixer). Fri Sep 22 01:03:30 -0700 2006 1891962 11108 galleygirl 1 1892151 I once had to make an enormous amount of dough for cookies and I nearly killed my hand-held mixer (it smelled a little burn-y at the end), but I did it. Ended up with 13lbs of dough, and I have proof: http://tenacity.net/2005/01/have-you-ever-seen-13-pounds-of-cookie.html *grin* Andrea in Albuquerque Thu Sep 21 15:31:49 -0700 2006 1891639 14632 tenacity 2 1892771 And to think you had to bake all of that dough too! Wow... Thu Sep 21 19:01:48 -0700 2006 1892151 11540 mochi mochi 1 1892316 Definitely a Kitchen Aid Mixer, or similar stand mixer. I would think a blender or chopper might be a little rough on the dough. You don't want to beat it up too much, or your cookies will be tough. Thu Sep 21 16:26:55 -0700 2006 1891639 11803 Alice Q 2 1892783 Nobody has ever complained about tough cookies... I guess I never thought about that. I think it gonna be a KA. OK guys, now what model? thanks. Thu Sep 21 19:04:21 -0700 2006 1892316 11540 mochi mochi 3 1894355 K5A made by Hobart from ebay for about 100 bucks. The thing is old, but it's built like a tank. I have one of its cousin, the K5SS, and it still purrs like a kitten. Fri Sep 22 08:44:08 -0700 2006 1892783 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 1 1892441 I use both the KA stand mixer and my Cuisinart. It just depends on what cookie recipe I am making. My almond macaroon recipe would never work with the mixer. Thu Sep 21 17:10:00 -0700 2006 1891639 10285 Candy 1 1894245 I use the KA to beat the butter, sugar, and eggs to get them light and fluffy. I add the dry ingredients by hand with a wooden spoon because that's the part you should NOT overmix. Overbeating flour creates a gluten network which is bad news if you're looking for a tender cookie. Fri Sep 22 06:12:01 -0700 2006 1891639 11504 amandine 2 1896447 It's good to beat the butter and sugar to get them fluffy - that gives you a light tender crumb - then beat in the eggs and blend the flour on low speed or by hand. They won't taste different if the butter mixture is creamed by hand but the texture might be a little gooier and they might spread more. Sat Sep 23 02:23:24 -0700 2006 1894245 11803 Alice Q 1 1894254 Wow, I had no idea I was a technological dinosaur. I make chocolate chip cookies all the time, just like my father taught me: two forks, one each hand, to cream the sugar and butter (imagine a quick right-hand, left-hand motion squishing through the butter with the fork tines), then a regular tablespoon to mix. It takes a lot of arm power, but my cookies always come out yummy. Fri Sep 22 06:18:28 -0700 2006 1891639 22011 Kitchen Imp 1 1895395 Have you tried to contact sunbeam directly? I have found that many times that they do have spare parts that are not publicly available, unless you ask. A friend recently bought a Kenwood mixer and is raving about it to anyone within range. I had a chance to use it once when we catered a wedding and it is quite impressive. They are not cheap, but it seems to be built much stronger than the recent Kitchen-aid mixers. Fri Sep 22 18:24:03 -0700 2006 1891639 22220 Kelli2006 2 1896604 Thank you, yes I did contact Sunbeam and they said it was too old a model. I will check out that Kenwood, but will "borrow" my dad's old-old KitchenAid for right now. Sat Sep 23 04:30:05 -0700 2006 1895395 11540 mochi mochi