Kenwood Ken

If you’ve been wondering why I’ve been so quiet lately, you can blame it on technology – or more specifically, on the technology of modern bread machine mixing tins.

I’m sad to say I’ve had to pension off Breville Bev for no other reason than her mixing paddle spindle seized, and I was unable to fix it – or replace the mixing pan for a reasonable price.

I have to say from the outset that I have been thoroughlly underwhelmed by the quality of some bread machine components. What idiot thought it was fine to mount the kneading/paddle spindle in a nylon bush? It was only ever going to be a question of time before the whole show seized, rendering Bev inoperable.

So once I realized there was nothing for it but to buy another machine, I settled on a slightly more upmarket machine, a Kenwood BM250 – aka Kenwood Ken. (Mind you, Ken has the same basic baking pan flaw . . .)

But, for the time being, Ken’s a doozie! And I am still coming to terms with his differences compared with Bev’s previous simplicity.

I’ve already wacked an oat-n-seed loaf through him, and was pleasantly surprised with the first-time-novice result . . . and my posse has been wondering how we managed to put up with store-bought bread for as long as we did.

Kenwood Ken wasn’t bargain basement (as was Breville Bev). He set me back $169 – twice Bev’s cost – but that was still knocked down from about $220.

I’ll be working Ken into the Heininger routine in coming days, and will report back on appropriate recipes and techniques. So stay tuned for more from the Kitchen Loafer!