We've been talking a lot about mixers this week, so it was fortuitous that a Kitchn reader sent us this visual guide to all the ways mixers help out in the kitchen. In short, 12 mixer accessories can replace 25 kitchen items. Curious what they are? See the whole guide below: More

While booking it through the Home + Housewares show yesterday in Chicago (there is so much to see), Faith and I passed these gorgeous pastel machines, and immediately stopped to ooh and aah. "Ankarsrum," I read on the booth sign. "Swedish quality since 1940." The shape of the machine was interesting, and we were particularly intrigued to see a few units lying on their side. What were we dealing with here? A stand mixer? Juicer? Blender? Meat grinder? Turns out an Ankarsrum machine is all those things, and more: More

The stand mixer market is really dominated by KitchenAid (earlier we showed you their new colors for 2013), with some competition from Cuisinart and Breville. So we were really fascinated to see a few fresh new options at the Home + Housewares show yesterday — most notably this stylish machine from Bodum, who is more commonly known for coffee and tea ware than small appliances. Want a closer peek? More

Yesterday Cambria and I spent a day in Chicago at the International Home + Housewares Show, the massive annual trade show where new products for the kitchen and home are introduced. There's always a dizzying array of stuff on display, much of it not worth mentioning, but we spotted a few gems we thought worth telling you about.

And we're starting with everyone's favorite little tidbit: the new KitchenAid mixer colors for 2013! Vibrant green, bubblegum pink, and read on to see a photo of the Watermelon... More

When I moved from a college dorm into an apartment, my mother helped me stock my kitchen, allowing me to use precious Greenbax Stamps to purchase a sleek white hand mixer. When she saw it, she asked to trade, offering me her Iona avocado green mixer, a wedding gift from my father’s college friend English McCutchen. The mixer was only 20 years old then, and in fine condition. 

My uncool kitchen tool is so uncool, it might just be cool again. With its discolored white plastic body and red, white, and blue, chunky sans serif logo, my Robot Coupe food processor is clearly showing her age. But when it comes to performance, reliability, endurance and, let's face it, quirky charm, she rates A+ across the board — even with a broken-off handle and a scratched work bowl. More

Q: I enjoy baking desserts that often call for nut flours or ground seeds. I've been using an old metal meat grinder to grind my own flours, which resulted in a nice fluffy flour, but it has not aged well. I have tried using blenders and grinders but generally end up with more of a butter than a flour. Help!

Sent by Nicole

Last week we asked you, our readers, to share the one kitchen item you'd recommend splurging on. The response was overwhelming, but right on in our view. If you've ever wondered what's worth the money in the kitchen, read on for some valuable insight: More

Aw, we like sweet stories, and this is a great one: the owner of this Hobart N50 mixer, Matt, wanted to turn it into an awesome gift for his girlfriend. She loves to bake and the couple love San Francisco, so those facts spun into this: a mixer that looks like a San Francisco-style cable car, complete with a gold roof and a working bell! More photos and more about the project below: More

Q: I'm on the hunt for a slow cooker. I've never owned or used one before, but love the thought of coming home to a warm meal that's ready to eat. I don't have a lot of counter or storage space in my apartment and am mostly cooking for two. Any suggestions?

Sent by Vanessa