When you've grated 19 shortbread cookies...

...you realize that maybe a food processor would be a good idea after all. Or even better, the food processor attachment for my mixer.

Hopefully my finely ground cookies will turn into the perfect crust for the cheesecake I'm going to bake for my Secret Santa.

Stay tuned for pictures in a couple of days!

This may be the perfect complement

My favorite and only kitchen appliance is my Viking Stand Mixer. My mother, who usually buys me brand-named purses or Nike workout clothes, gave the mixer to me for my birthday a couple of years ago, because "she noticed that I was taking an interest in baking." I found my mom's reasoning to be somewhat compromised since I could have sworn that they had a couple of mixers lying around the house to begin with (my parents have been on a buying craze for the past few years and end up buying lots of random things "in case" they need to give someone a gift so they always have a few DVD players, Swarvoski crystal swans and handheld massagers on hand).

I love the mixer because it looks so industrial and less bubble-shaped than other mixers - it is like a Jaguar in a sea of Beetles. As perfect as it is, I think I may have found the thing to make the mixer even better.

Behold! the Disc Slicer/Shredder attachment. It turns the mixer into a mini food processor, which is amazing because I wanted a food processor, but I don't have enough room for another kitchen appliance and I HATE shredding carrots and cheese by hand. The only downside is that the attachment is $110 which is like a cost of an actual food processor and three times the cost of a mini food processor.

So, it's not exactly economically practical, but if anyone's feeling generous this Christmas, I'm putting this on my list. Hey, it does come with three different blades.