[KIC1975]

I love, love, love my Kitchenaid mixer! Couldn't live without it. I do bake some, so yes I use it. Cakes come out heavenly when you beat them in the Kitchenaid. But I also do my mashed potatoes (they whip up really nicely - no potato glue there!), meatloaf, any blended veggies (I do a butternut squash lasagna that I use my Kitchenaid for).

I don't own a hand mixer. I find that my Kitchenaid does everything my hand mixer did, only better.

It is indispensable for baking. Not just cakes, but whipped cream (of course!), frosting, bread...anything that needs mixing/beating. I've even been known to cut my shortening/butter into the flour when I make pie crust (though I do mix my water in by hand).

It's wonderful. Plus you can get attachments for making pasta, grinding meat, etc...

Along with my Kitchenaid, I use my blender (no matter how wonderful my Kitchenaid is, it just can't make a good daquari ), a good colander and a good set of pots/pans. I have Scanpan which I love and they have a lifetime warranty. I've replaced a few and they are super good about just sending me a new one - even when my MIL burned the pan! Scanpan Cookware, Free Shipping on Scanpan Titanium nonstick cookware

Good luck with all the cooking! I recently got a cookbook by Cat Cora that is wonderful and really straightforward. Amazon.com: Cooking From the Hip: Fast, Easy, Phenomenal Meals: Cat Cora, Ann Krueger Spivack: Books Though, I admit, she doesn't cook low/no fat. Some of the recipes are better than others, but it's not WW.

Hope this helps.
-Kristin