KitchenAid Stand Mixer Pasta Extruder

• $152
• Amazon

We have an extensive review of this pasta press attachment for KitchenAid stand mixers in the archives. But I wanted to bring it up and feature it again during Pasta Week; it's just so fun to make fusilli, rigatoni, and all the other fancy shapes. This thing works like a dream, and it's fast, too. Great for making big batches and freezing them for later. More

Q: Please help me pick a automatic drip coffee maker! The fall is here and my early morning work schedule (out the door before 7!) is back in full swing. My lovely French press is no longer going to cut it. I desperately want a coffee maker that I can set up the night before so I can wake up to a pot brewing.

The numerous options are leaving me a bit overwhelmed with coming to a decision and I was hoping for some good advice as to brands or particular models I should consider. I was told that cone shaped vs flat bottom filter areas are better?

I'm on a budget (under $100) and obviously taste is of the upmost importance.

Sent by Anna More

In the world of stand mixers, one name stands above the rest: KitchenAid. When I was putting together my wedding registry, one of the first items I added was a pear-green KitchenAid stand mixer, crossing my fingers that someone might be nice enough to buy it. But then I was given a Breville 5-quart stand mixer to try out and test for review here, and a week later I took the KitchenAid off my registry. Why did I change my mind? More

Starbucks announced recently that they will be yet another brand to enter the world of K-cups come November. No doubt you've come across these coffee makers and their many pod variations. They're certainly convenient, but do you use K-cups? More

My husband and I have suddenly become juice fiends this summer. We drink it straight, mix it with fizzy water, and of course, use it in fresh-fruit cocktails. We've been considering getting a counter-top juicer so we can make our own fresh juice, but hoo-boy, can these juicers get expensive. Do we really need one? More

Q: I live in a house that has been divided into efficiency apartments, which means I have a kitchen so tiny I can't spare the room to put a toaster. I remembered seeing spatula-like stove top toasters in old movies. When I searched for what I thought that would be called, I came up with articles describing an $8 stove-top toaster that used to be available from MoMA, and it's exactly what I was thinking of! But they no longer seem to sell it. Any ideas on where I could find something similar? It really seems like the perfect solution to my toast problem.

Sent by Morgan
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We like to stay on top of kitchen products of all sorts. In this roundup, however, there's one thing we're interested in: Good products for the small kitchen. Here are some good small-kitchen products from The Kitchn's archives: More

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker

• $49.95
• Amazon

I reviewed this ice cream maker last year, and so I just wanted to note it again now, as ice cream season kicks off. This little machine does a fabulous job. It's quieter than its predecessors, and very, very quick. Don't let the title put you off: this is for ice cream as well as frozen yogurt and sorbet.

The turquoise color is new and is available here.

Q: I cook for one, and have a wildly varying schedule. I bought a small CrockPot thinking it would be a fairly simple way to boost my overall nutrition and "home cooked meal" count. I put in my ingredients and run it overnight. However, I am having varying success translating the recipes I find into smaller quantities. Often, the results are just too mushy. I gave in and bought a larger one with varying sized crocks but they still make too much and after freezing the balance, I am either uninterested in the leftovers or again find them too mushy.

Are there any good rules of thumb on cutting down these standard CrockPot recipes for the smaller crocks?

Sent by LK More

Q: I'm setting up my first kitchen and after doing things by hand for 6 months I'm ready to invest in some appliances. Given how much I bake I've already settled on getting a stand mixer. I probably will splurge and get a KitchenAid. But I also make a lot of sauces and soups so I am considering getting either a food processor or a blender as well.

But do you have any advice as far as what gets more of a work out between a food processor or blender or perhaps even a suggestion as to something that could bridge the gap between the two?

Sent by Stephanie More