Did anybody get any new gadgets for Christmas this year!! I got a really lovely big wooden butcher's block!! My husband thought I was mad wanting it!! But I told him that he had to buy it for me for Christmas as
A) I really wanted it
B) Couldn't buy it myself as couldn't lift it!!

I got a kenwood Breadmaker which was a Complete surprise!!

Oh yes, I got a new gadget alright! Not wishing to seem ungrateful but I was gobmacked when I opened a thing described as EuroChopper, have seen similar things in TV ads, you sort of put the food in and it has a series of blades to do the chopping. This contraption was bought by my mum who is well aware I have 2 food processors and a big blender. Of all the bits and pieces hanging round my kitchen this looks like one which will remain in the box. Wonder if she had been at the cooking sherry before she went shopping

Karen, have you used your Breadmaker yet? What do you think of it?

I got a got a coffee grinder which you have to use manuly,and it actualy works ,oh!!!!!! and the aroma.

I got a got a coffee grinder which you have to use manuly,and it actualy works ,oh!!!!!! and the aroma.

Ooops,i won't send it again.

Jill, I haven't had a chance to use it yet not enough room in the kitchen at the moment it's still full of Christmas food and drink. will let you know the results when i do try it.

Karen, we've got a Kenwood and it's brilliant when you haven't got the time to make bread by hand. I tend to use it for mixing dough and then do the rest by hand, i.e. proving, shaping, toppings etc. and then bake it in the oven. If I'm really pressed for time (i.e. bread for pack-ups the next morning) then I use the 1 hour facility but take the dough hook out when it's finished mixing so that the bread has only got a small hole in it. When my oven blew up I also used it for making cakes and they turned out ok.

Karen, thanks a lot, look forward to hearing about your results.

Karen,is it one of those that can make jam as well?Last year told bruv I wanted something for the kitchen like a breadmaker but he got me a steamer instead.The taste of potatoes that have been steemed in it is amazing,but found it didnt steen chicken fillets too well,they where a bit tough,I will stick to the pressure cooker for them!

Aya apparently you can make jam in it but I won't bother because I hate the stuff. Trudi you did well I could do with some new knives I tried to sharpen mine with the steel but it was still blunt (maybe it was my technique) I also probably need one of those japanese knife sharpeners so that the next set don't go the same way.

Aya, I can fully recommend the Kenwood breadmaker (it seems like Karen and I have got the same machine). I haven't used it for jam as, like Karen, we don't each much. We've also got a steamer and it is brilliant, I mainly use it for veggies and rice. Let us know how you get on when you use the breadmaker Karen!

Hi all!

I got a Kenwood New York Smoothie Maker.
I was so chuffed as I am into healthy eating and am looking forward to using my new gadget.
I think the next gadget I would like is a bread maker. A friend of mine has one and swears by it.
I used to make a lot of bread when I was younger but as soon as I started working I didn't have the time.
I love the smell and taste of freshly made bread and I think as bread maker would be ideal.

we are on our scond one the first one was so old that we decided to splash out and got a panasonic the smell in the mornings is divine fresh bread and fresh coffee mmmmmm (and it came in handy when we sold our house 2 years ago!!)

Well I tried the breadmaker yesterday and I obviusly need more practice. I decided to do a regular white loaf I measured the ingredients and followed the instructions but the loaf was a bit disappointing. It only rose to about 2 inches and the crust was rock hard although the middle was still doughy. any ideas what I did wrong??

I got a new 12" Chef's Knife, I've been managing with a cheap Sabatier set for years. I've only managed a small slice of finger so far. Karen - I'm interested in the breadmaker, it's my Beithday in a couple of weeks. Sorry the bread went wrong, but pleased to see that I'm not the only one who follow instructions to the letter and manages to get a completely diffrent result!

John I will try again and again and again until i get it right. I will let you know how I get on.

Karen have you tried it with one of the ready mixed bread things? don't lose heart sometimes Richards bread comes out more like a brick !! and hes been making ours for years!!!

I got a corkscrew but im left handed,,,any ideas??????

Karen - Don't give up, I'm sure that you will be making perfect bread in no time. Aya - my sister has a breadmaker and has also used it for making jam. I've not tasted any of the bread she made in it but the jam was delicious! Bet your kids would love it! :-)

Andy, I'm lefthanded as well, but I find the need to get into the bottle means I just turn it the other way!

WOW just had great success with the bread maker I made a large loaf instead of regular and it looks perfect smells delicious and is just waiting for the bacon to cook. I can't wait!!

Its all round to Karen's then! Blow the diet!! Sounds yummy!!!

congrats Karen there will be no stopping you now!!!!