But, like they say, better late than never. I’ll admit I was kind of sad, thinking Will had forgotten to get me something for Christmas. He is a little forgetful sometimes… But today, our friends, Sherri and her husband, John, popped by unexpectedly just while I was getting out of the shower. Oh oh. No pants! Yep, Will retrieved my jeans but not my embarrassment. It seems they had been contacted by Will so they would order me a Breville food processor like Sherri has. It had come a bit late, but wow, here it was. (Once I got into my pants!)
My arthritis in my hands is getting worse so cutting multitudes of potatoes into chunks to can, dicing carrots to add to my mixed vegetables and dicing tons of veggies to make several salsas was getting painful. Sherri said she loves her Breville, as it slices any thickness, dices several sizes, and grates too. Perfect for all our canning. I’m not a kitchen gadget kind of girl, but this sure will make my canning more fun. I had to apologize to Will even though I hadn’t said a word about him “forgetting” my Christmas present.
Well, tomorrow we get up at 5 AM and go down to St. Lukes’s hospital in Duluth for my angiogram, which is before my heart valve replacement with a TAVR procedure. After them digging around in my arm for 15 minutes, trying to hit a vein for my CT scan a couple weeks ago, I’m sure not looking forward to it. Must be done, though. So, suck it up, buttercup! I know I’ll be glad to have that done, at least!
I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year! — Jackie
Oh a Breville!! I’m so jealous. Please let us know how you like it. Good luck with your medical procedure!!!! Puro
What a great gift! Will be praying for you!!
Thanks so much Lettie! I think it’s wonderful.
The first Christmas I was married I was 17 and pregnant. I got a baby blanket and a skillet as gifts. I wasn’t quite mature enough to appreciate not getting a personal gift. I do recall that I used that baby blanket to rags as it was the only one we had and, of course, I used the skillet for many years. Future years I was much more into the practical than the personal.
I made bread totally by hand for years, but arthritic hands now appreciate a mixer with dough hook. I’m on my second food processor which is about on its last days and am thinking of food processor attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer as a replacement.
Praying your heart procedure goes smoothly and you have a fast recovery.
I suspect (and hope) the giver(s) heart was in the right place. One year I got my mom a new electric mixer. Hers was old and heavy. The new one worked much better (first time doing mashed potatoes with it!). I’ve often wondered if I should have purchased something else for her (I was in early high school years). Water long under the bridge regardless. She’s passed away but the mixer is still in use.
Thanks so much Anna. I got my first blender from the dump and used it sporadically for such things as grinding hot peppers and making relish. Then my son, Bill, and his wife bought me a Ninja blender for Christmas and I was scared to use it for two years!! Hey, I told you I wasn’t a kitchen gadget girl. Finally, I started using it and now I can’t be without it as I make so many different pepper relishes, dips and other recipes that it makes so fast and easy. I, too, have had to switch from mixing bread dough by hand to using my (again Christmas present from son, David) Kitchen Aid hook.
Around here, one of our mottos is “work smarter, not harder”. Yes, I can still do it all by hand. But I sure like these labor savers!
My worst Christmas present ever was an electric leg shaver. Hmm was that a hint???
Drink a lot of fluids the day before to get those veins popping up.
Happy New year.
Yep, I do, but it’s still a no-go. My dad had veins like garden hoses. Mom, just like mine. Awful. Happy New Year!
Happy new Year Jackie Will and Family,
you’re gonna Love this kitchen gadget! vein searches can be a “pain’ praying for the more fortunate medical personnel for the next procedure .God Bless you ! you re gonna want to get into the kitchen to using the “gadget” an filling them new jars.
Oh i gave my daughter in law a subscription for lids for her gift this year. practical gifts that also brought a laugh when received!
Mary
Hey, that’s a cool gift! I’d much rather have those than foo-foo gifts you never use.
I’m looking forward to this year and all the blessings we receive. Happy New Year to you too, Mary!
So glad for you for your food processor.i got one last year for Christmas. It sure helps speed things up and yes it’s a lot more challenging when we get older 😁.. I love that mine dices too. Enjoy 🤗
I’m really looking forward to it. I’m going to give my microwave away as I haven’t used it in a couple of years, so I have room for the Breville. I’m excited to see what it does!
Praying that all went well with your angiogram and that the replacement will too. I have deep veins that are hard to find so they use a small butterfly needle to draw blood out of the back of my hand. It’s so much easier!
That’s a great looking machine you have there. I know you can’t wait to give it a test run. A belated Merry Christmas and may 2025 be a smooth ride for you and Will.
Yep, that’s how I have my blood draws and even some IVs. They needed a BIG vein in order to do a quick shove of the contrast for my CT and, obviously, mine was hard to find. Ugh!!
The angiogram was a piece of cake. But I was so scared my BP was super high. After, it had dropped to normal. Gee, I wonder why….
What a lovely gift!
Praying your surgery goes well and have a quick recovery!
Thanks. It’s not much of a surgery, more like having a stent placed, as they go in through an artery and shove the new valve in next to the old one. Sounds icky, but sure much better than open heart!! The recovery time is like a week of light work, then back at it. Not bad!!
My friend just had the TAVR, and she is doing great at 82. Still, I wish you luck! And I’m so happy you got the food processor. I can’t cut up hardly anything any longer. My present was an electric knife!
Best wishes, Jackie!
GREAT GIFT! I have an OLD Waring. Time to replace it.
Question: I am considering purchasing your pantry cookbook. But I don’t eat potatoes, or any grain. About what percentage of your recipes have potatoes or grains? Can the recipes be modified, conveniently to omit grains & potatoes?
Prayers for successful diagnostic tests and treatment. I’m in the midst of some diagnostic stuff, too, so sympathize with the uncertainty that involves. Take care!
Katherine
My prayers for your diagnostic tests too! So far, so good, with me. Everything looked good with the angiogram so it’s on with one more visit with the cardiologist and then schedule for the TAVR and a new valve. Hooray….
My husband had the TAVR procedure years ago. ITs great and not so invasive. Sometimes they had problems getting an IV started on him.. Then they used a paramedic. They always seemed to hit the vein. I hope your angiogram and TAVR go well! You will feel great getting that new valve!!!
I am jealous of your Christmas gift but now I have something to put on my list for next year!
Do it! Sherri loves hers and she cans almost as much as I do. The angiogram was a piece of cake. Whew!!! I’m thinking the TAVR will be pretty good, too. Then it’s on to planting in February, peppers!
Wow, great gift, Jackie! I am 76 and recently got arthritis in my hands really bad. I was considering a food processor but afraid the thing would come apart, explode, and fly through the air. Everyone is telling me I should get one. If you are brave enough for one, then I will break down and try one too. LOL
You also will be in my prayers for a good results and painless procedure. Hang in there and remember, spring is on the way!
Get one!! I was the same after my son, Bill and his wife got me one for Christmas. It took me two years to use that blender and now I wouldn’t be without it. Sherri loves her Breville to pieces. Thanks for your prayers!! I get the arthritis in the hands (and other places). Not for the faint of heart, for sure. But day by day. Each day is a gift from God!
Happy new year and good luck with the tests, hope they don’t find any serious problems. Will pray.
Happy New Year to you too, Howard. How are things going with you? Our high today was 2 degrees and a low tonight -18 F. Not awful, but it sure lets us know winter’s here!
The angiogram went smoothly, and they found no blockages or weird stuff. So, I’m all set to head toward the TAVR. Thanks for the prayers!!
Best wishes for a good result tomorrow and even more so with the upcoming event. All our love and prayers go with you and Will.
Cheers,
Best of luck to you. I’ve had two angiograms in the past and don’t envy your coming event. I sent the card too soon, but the message was heartfelt. I’ll be thinking about you, as I usually am up at that hour. You’ll have my prayers.
Thanks Everett! The angiogram was a piece of cake, compared to the CT scan (the deep IV part). No blockages or weird forked arteries, etc. Now I’m all set for the next step. Thanks for your prayers! How’s the knee replacement going post-surgery? Mine still hurt like sin.
I have the same appliance and I love it. It has saved me so much pain on my 72 yr. old hands. Dry winter here on our Missouri farm. I have followed you for years.
We’ve been having a dry winter too, here in Minnesota. We only have about six inches of snow on the ground. I know Sherri loves her Breville so I’m sure I will too. It’s good to know you’ve got one too and love it. Yea!!
Handy with a knife, but the food processor is a game changer! I use it every day and I’m sure you will enjoy yours.
Hoping for a speedy recovery from your surgery. We’ll all be thinking of you.
Yep, I’m good with a knife too, after years of using one. But after hearing Sherri rave about hers, I’m all in for trying mine. Can’t wait!! I’ll be 79 this summer and I know my arthritis in my hands won’t improve much.
Thank you for your good wishes!
Jackie, as always I so enjoy every one of your blogs, like a long-time friend. I got a kitchenaid a couple years ago to make einkorn sourdough, but after one fail (that flour is now around 5.00 lb.) haven’t got the nerve to try again. So put it aside this Christmas to be replaced by an air fryer I didn’t want; but hubby has always wanted. Have to compromise sometimes. He knows I don’t want my kitchen counter cluttered with appliances. I think I will, however, use Christmas gift money to buy a meat grinder attachment for the kitchenaid. I have a manual that you attach to counter, but there is no counter or table, nothing to screw it to for use; must attach it to our deck handrail outside, instead. Really not a good situation. So kitchenaid, it is. Praying for you and yours, from conservative, far north California.
Will got me an electric meat grinder several years ago and I use it all the time, not only for meat but also to grind tomatoes, onions and peppers for salsa. I have a friend who has the meat grinder attachment for his Kitchen Aid and he loves it!
To save kitchen counter space, I’m giving away my microwave, which I never use anyway.
Have you tried other sourdoughs? Einkorn is sometimes tricky until you get the hang of it. Sometimes mixing it half and half with regular unbleached flour helps.
Thanks for your prayers. I think we’ll need them!!
Praying for a successful surgery!
Thanks Cindy!!
Happy new year to Jackie and Will.your new food processor will save you so much time. my mother and sister had ‘rolling veins “ and it was an ordeal to draw blood. They dreaded any procedure. Good luck
Yep, I hear you! It’s always “I had it, but it went away. Oh, there it is….no, it rolled. Wait…I think I can feel it…” Yuck!!
Happy New Year to you Sue!!
Wishing you the best of luck on your procedure! I’ll be praying for you Jackie!
Thanks so much Wendy. I’ll sure be glad when it’s over and done with.
Awesome present for sure…I hope your heart procedure goes well .I had open heart surgery 6.5 years ago and I am still here doing well….getting older is not for the faint of heart is my motto..I hope your test will tell the doctor all he needs to know..take care
Wow! Jackie. What an awesome Christmas present. Those things aren’t cheap. Work smarter, not harder. If it saves your hands then it is money well spent. Good for Will. I hope you and your family have a wonderful, healthy, fruitful 2025. God bless you and may he help you during your procedure. May you feel like new.
Yes, they are, which is why I had never bought one before, although I did want one. I was sure tickled to open that box!!
Thank you so much for your good wishes. I’m hoping it’ll help me find more energy.
I’ve also experienced occasional pain prepping veggies and kneading bread dough. So, I got on ebay and found (and ordered 2) Oster kitchen centers. I owned one back when they were still being made, and lived it until a plastic gear broke and replacement parts were no longer available. Sadly, i threw all the still viable attachments to the curb. It doesn’t dice well, but happy with what it does do. Slice 3 thicknesses, shred, blend, mix, knead, grind. Plus it has blender, citrus juicer, and food processor attachments. The only part I didn’t buy was the pasta attachment.
I also dig out my bread maker a couple times a month.
Of course, my hands quit hurting after that purchase, so, it frequently just collects dust.
Wow, if it’ll make my hands quit hurting, it’ll be worth it. But I’m sure I’ll keep using it as I make so many different types of salsa and other recipes that need bulk dicing and slicing.
I’ve got a Kitchen Aid and Ninja blender (both Christmas presents from my sons) that get a lot of use. Yes, I can still do all that by hand, but it sure saves time to have those handy tools.
Breville is an excellent brand – I have a coffee grinder. And have been coveting their toaster for quite some time. Better half spied an Italian tomato press (he’s 3/4 Italian). Due to doing some research (aka time passed), we ended up saving $50 on it. I’ll take it. We’re not much on gadgets that pretty much just take up space – we can’t justify an air fryer for example. BUT I do have to admit I’m coveting your food processor.
A bit late but since dad has “challenging veins”, there is a unit to apply heat as well as a “vein” finder. You might want to ask/check it out for future use.
I’ve used the suck it up buttercup too – pretty blunt and to the point IMHO. Good luck but dang, aren’t there any night owls in the medical profession lol.
I hate foo-foo gadgets that just sit around. My kitchen isn’t all that big with two stoves and an island. So having stuff on the counter and in cupboards isn’t a happy thought with me. Sherri loves her Breville food processor and I’m sure I will too. I’ll just get rid of a few things on my counter that I don’t use often. Gone, but not missed.
Yeah, I know about the heat thing as they did it to a lot of folks when I had chemo back in 2005. Fortunately, they put in a port for me, so I didn’t have to do the vein-finding thing every time!!
The angiogram was a piece of cake! Just enough sleepy dope to let me drowse though the poking part. Yea!!