Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker

Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen 


Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker

Housed in brushed stainless steel with an embossed logo, this fully automatic small appliance makes frozen yogurt, sorbet, and homemade ice cream in as little as 25 minutes. The frozen-dessert maker features a heavy-duty motor and a double-insulated freezer bowl that holds up to 2 quarts of frozen dessert at a time. Simply add ingredients, turn the machine on, and frozen drinks and desserts are ready in minutes. Its large ingredient spout allows for easily adding favorite mix-ins, and an instruction book and recipes come included. A fun addition to any birthday party or backyard barbecue, the frozen-dessert maker measures approximately 8-1/4 by 8 by 11-1/4 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.





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Kitchenaid Stand Mixer,

KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Empire Red


A wonderful appliance - good customer support
My wedding gift mixer (a Sunbeam Mixmaster) turned 33 a week before Christmas, and my husband thought it was time for me to have a new one.

He gifted me on Christmas with the KitchenAid 5 Qt. Artisan in white. I love this mixer and leave it out on my counter, something I never did with the Mixmaster. I recently purchased the citrus juicer attachment from Amazon and am very pleased with it as well.

I have not read all 109 previous reviews on this site, but I have read a few that were disgruntled because their Artisans did not mix well. I initially had the same problem with the beater/bowl clearance. It is very simple to remedy.

There is a beater adjustment screw on the mixer and the manual describes how to make the adjustments. I got even better instructions by calling customer support at KitchenAid. The technician told me to drop a dime into the empty bowl, turn the mixer on (about setting 2) using the flat beater, and it should move the dime 1/4" to 1/2" each time it rotates around the bowl. This is the right clearance for the beater to mix everything at the bottom of the bowl, but not low enough to cause wear on the beater from constant friction with the bottom of the bowl during usage.

I tweaked the screw setting 1/4 turn each time until I got that dime moving. At this setting, I can now beat a single egg white to stiff peaks in the 5 qt. bowl. That's impressive.

This mixer is as sturdy as a tank, and you can hear the quality as it mixes. Although I had previously purchased a KitchenAid mixer for my daughter as a gift, I would never have splurged on one for myself. I am so happy my husband thought I was worth it!

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Appliance Warehouse

Kitchenaid KUDE70FXSS Superba Series EQ Dishwasher

Our first d/w was a Maytag that cleaned very well. Unfortunately, in 2 years time we had to replace the latch handle twice, it was recalled because of a potential fire, and ultimately, the tub warped and we replaced it with this Kitchenaid.

Having done extensive research, there is no one d/w that everyone loves. That being said, Kitchenaid comes up as one of the brands that most people prefer. Why not go with a middle level Kitchenaid? Again, all the research I turned up said that it was necessary to go with the higher end in order to get better quality. The higher end uses a different drying and washing process than the mid-range.

Another consideration was that only the top two models have the third tray for utensils. Both my husband and the appliance salesmen minimized the importance of this feature. Having now had the d/w for a month, it's one of my favorite features. Because of food allergies and because we homeschool, we run our d/w four times a day. I need every bit of space available for larger items. By using the upper utensil draw, I can place more items in the bottom drawer.

As I mentioned, I cook a great deal and use a 12 quart stock pot about once a week. I was concerned about being able to fit it in this d/w. Our previous Maytag was a tall tub and had a very large clearance from the bottom rack to the sprayer. No problem with the Kitchenaid.

There are several different options of cleaning cycles, and I do find myself using them. There's even an option for a shorter wash cycle. It's just as efficient, just not as energy-conscious. I haven't used it yet, but am thrilled to know it's available.

As everyone mentions, it's quiet as a whisper. I can talk on the phone right next to it with no problem.

When researching, I did turn up some concern over the side venting of the door. Have to say that our install left the vent just outside the cabinetry. No problems whatsoever.

If you do a great deal of cooking, this is the dishwasher for you!

Update: I wanted to post an update that as time has gone by my love for this dishwasher only continues. I run it roughly four times a day and have now used the 1 hour wash cycle. It's been an invaluable time saver. I've even washed our super large stock pot on the 1 hour cycle and it comes out clean.

My husband had expressed concern over the lack of a food grinder and my habit of not scraping the dishes immaculately before loading them. However, we've had no problems. I rarely remove the filter to clean it, and when I do I'm just rinsing it. It really isn't even necesssary. Almost a year later, and I still couldn't recommend it more.