I’ve been in love for years.  This may come as a shock to my friends because I’m totally single, but it’s true.

It all began when this beautiful machined arrived on my doorstep.

I remember it like it was yesterday… I won $100 from a friend (I won’t go into detail about that) and decided I would use the money to purchase a KitchenAid Mixer.  You see, making dough by hand is not as much fun as you might think, and experimenting with cookie recipes had become my favorite thing to do.

“It is time,” I said to no one in particular. “…time for KitchenAid.” Pistachio in color, it looked gorgeous atop my Formica counter.  I wanted to cradle it in my arms and sing it a lullaby, but I refrained.

It was my new best friend.

Alas, all was not great with this incomparable mixer.  It came with a painted paddle attachment, which was below par.  After using it for a while I noticed the top of the paddle had started to chip.

I wasn’t happy about it, but thought it was still good.  It was naive of me to assume it had chipped during a wash or in the drainer.  I was sooooooo wrong.  Of course, it was possible the chips were landing in the dough.  Oh, no!

There was nothing left to do but buy a burnished paddle attachment.  When you compare them side by side there’s no question where the quality lies.  With the polished paddle, the chance of something chipping and landing in your dough is nil.  Um…that means there’s zero chance.  Plus, what kind of baker would I be if I continued to bake with a faulty attachment?  Please, don’t answer that question.  It haunts me when I think about it.

The bottom line is this: KitchenAid, you have an amazing product.   Don’t ever forget that.  You’ve been around for 90 years and are synonymous with quality craftsmanship, but the painted paddle attachment is a joke-it’s beneath you.   Please remove it from your catalog.  You’re so much more than that and as loyal customers, we deserve better.  Wouldn’t you agree?