4.5, 5, 6 or 7 ????

My lust to own a Kitchenaid blender final came to reality.  As a young bride, the one thing missing from my trousseau was the shiny Kitchenaid.  Every few years, I would revisit the idea of owning one.  I would get caught up in the pricing, or color. My indecisiveness would end up confusing me and I would just avoid the consideration. In later years, barring baking or watching TV cooking shows, I rarely thought about it.

A recent visit to Sur la Table for a cooking class re-ignited my interest with my longing for fresh gluten free pasta.  I went into study mode after a state of confusion trying to decipher the kitchenaid codes.

Firstly, "Design" vs "Artisan" vs "Pro or Professional" series. These terms have to do with the wattage of the motor size. Thanks  "Trendy Kitchen" blog for helped me out. http://trendy-kitchen.com/artisan-vs-classic-plus-7-deal-breakers/

Professional: 600 Watt
Design: 550-575 Watt
Artisan: 325 Watt
Classic: 250 Watt
Classic Plus: 275

Other areas of difference are base sizes and bowl sizes.  The smaller 4.5 stainless steel bowl has a smaller base whereas, the larger Design series has the larger base and comes with a glass bowl.  One criticism of the 6-quart glass bowl was the bowl is so large the beaters don't touch the bottom of the bowls. This is problematic when beating just one egg. The advice from the Kitchenaid help line was to beat 3-eggs rather than one.

Bowls sizes vary from 4.5 to 7 quart.  I recommend to decide what you want to do with your blender before you make the plunge. The Kitchenaid box describes mixer sizes as to the amount of cookies one can make in a single batch such as "makes 11 dozen cookies in one bowl", or "makes 9 dozen cookies in one bowl". I don't know when I will ever get the chance to make that many cookies, but I make make a double cake or bake bread.  Even this could be a stretch with my busy schedule.

Other options to consider, when buying larger bowl size and larger motor sizes, stainless steel hooks are included. These are not dishwasher safe whereas plastic hooks are dishwasher safe.

Check online outlets such as the Kitchenaid website, Amazon, Sur la Table and of course Costco. Other outlets are Target for
the smaller size 4.5 quart bowl that comes in MANY different colors.

The attachments are my favorite part! I look forward to making ice cream, pasta and perhaps one day sausages!!!!!

Amino Acids Build Strong Cells.

A large proportion of our cells, muscles and tissues are made up of amino acids, meaning they carry out many important bodily functions, such as giving our blood cells their structure. As I understand it, we want to keep the structure of our blood cells with hard fixed edges. There are 21 different types amino acids in the body. All important to the body and produce differing reactions.

Bodybuilders, older adults, those with dietary restricts, and vegan lifestylers choose Amino acid powders or protein powders to augment their diet. 

Whey and Casein powders in the 21st century are mainly used as a food suppliment to a smoothie after your daily workout.  According to Dr. Jeff S. Volek, Ph.D., R.D., "These two milk proteins are both excellent sources of all the essential amino acids, but they differ in one important aspect—

whey is a fast-digesting protein and casein is a slow-digesting protein.

During the pasteurization process milk is heated and the Casein peptides are agitated to form a gelatinous material that becomes relatively insoluble. This is the basis for a slower rate of digestion but steady release of amino acids into the circulation. Whereas, Whey is fast digesting and moves through the body faster resulting higher blood amino acids. Whey protein is superior at augmenting protein synthesis rapidly, but this positive effect is short-lived, and requires a higher intake.

For those with lactose intolerance Casein and Whey powders made from animal products are not acceptable. Lactose intolerance is not an allergy but a systemic intolerance.  Some bodies are not able to digest sugar lactose in milk, and this can be life threatening.  

For those choosing against animal based Protein powders Hemp, Pea and Brown Rice protein powders are now being commercially manufactured. All with the same amino acid building ingredients. One criticism against these powders is they taste terrible. Many vegan powders don't contain sugar and the taste suffers, while others are mixed with chocolate to boost flavor.  In the long run, it's better for the consumer to control their sugar intake. 

Of course, the best way to increase your amino acids to eat organic foods.  See the list of the top 10 amino acids and where they're found in food.

Table 3. Protein & Amino Acid Content of Plant Foods RDA for a 130 lb Person
USA Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) protein in g   |   amino acids in mg
	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
RDA - per kg of healthy body weight	0.8	14	19	42	38	19	33	20	5	24
RDA for 130 lb. person	47	827	1123	2482	2245	1123	1950	1182	295	1418
Soy
Food	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
Edamame Serving: 0.50 cup (78 g)	8.4	207	233	577	577	204	638	257	98	251
Number of servings to meet RDA	5.6	4.0	4.8	4.3	3.9	5.5	3.1	4.6	3.0	5.7
Soy Milk Serving: 1.00 cup (245 g)	9.2	174	353	590	439	213	644	277	105	345
Number of servings to meet RDA	5.1	4.8	3.2	4.2	5.1	5.3	3.0	4.3	2.8	4.1
Tempeh Serving: 0.50 cup (83 g)	15.4	387	730	1187	754	305	901	661	161	764
Number of servings to meet RDA	3.1	2.1	1.5	2.1	3.0	3.7	2.2	1.8	1.8	1.9
Tofu - firm Serving: 0.50 cup (126 g)	10.2	284	559	917	582	177	1013	518	155	573
Number of servings to meet RDA	4.6	2.9	2.0	2.7	3.9	6.3	1.9	2.3	1.9	2.5
Legumes
Food	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
Black Beans - cooked Serving: 0.50 cup (86 g)	7.6	212	336	609	523	197	627	321	90	399
Number of servings to meet RDA	6.2	3.9	3.3	4.1	4.3	5.7	3.1	3.7	3.3	3.6
Garbanzos (Chick Peas) - cooked Serving: 0.50 cup (82 g)	7.3	200	312	517	486	193	569	270	70	305
Number of servings to meet RDA	6.5	4.1	3.6	4.8	4.6	5.8	3.4	4.4	4.2	4.6
Kidney Beans - cooked Serving: 0.50 cup (89 g)	7.7	214	339	613	527	198	631	323	91	402
Number of servings to meet RDA	6.2	3.9	3.3	4.0	4.3	5.7	3.1	3.7	3.2	3.5
Lentils - cooked Serving: 0.50 cup (99 g)	8.9	251	386	647	624	193	680	320	80	444
Number of servings to meet RDA	5.3	3.3	2.9	3.8	3.6	5.8	2.9	3.7	3.7	3.2
Peanut Butter Serving: 2.00 T (32 g)	8.0	204	284	523	290	202	746	276	78	339
Number of servings to meet RDA	5.9	4.1	4.0	4.7	7.7	5.6	2.6	4.3	3.8	4.2
Peanuts - dry roasted Serving: 0.33 cup (48 g)	11.4	289	401	740	410	286	1055	391	111	478
Number of servings to meet RDA	4.1	2.9	2.8	3.4	5.5	3.9	1.8	3.0	2.7	3.0
Pinto Beans - refried Serving: 0.50 cup (121 g)	6.4	175	303	544	448	143	529	235	76	369
Number of servings to meet RDA	7.4	4.7	3.7	4.6	5.0	7.9	3.7	5.0	3.9	3.8
Nuts & Seeds
Food	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
Almonds Serving: 0.25 cup (36 g)	7.6	199	251	532	207	122	562	214	77	292
Number of servings to meet RDA	6.2	4.2	4.5	4.7	10.8	9.2	3.5	5.5	3.8	4.9
Cashews Serving: 0.25 cup (34 g)	5.2	137	250	440	280	191	439	203	81	356
Number of servings to meet RDA	9.1	6.0	4.5	5.6	8.0	5.9	4.4	5.8	3.6	4.0
Pecans Serving: 0.25 cup (25 g)	2.3	65	83	148	71	83	158	76	23	102
Number of servings to meet RDA	20.6	12.7	13.5	16.8	31.6	13.5	12.3	15.6	12.8	13.9
Pistachios Serving: 0.25 cup (31 g)	6.4	158	294	492	367	216	496	216	87	388
Number of servings to meet RDA	7.4	5.2	3.8	5.0	6.1	5.2	3.9	5.5	3.4	3.7
Pumpkin seeds - roasted Serving: 0.25 cup (30 g)	8.8	227	373	704	360	272	823	291	168	460
Number of servings to meet RDA	5.4	3.6	3.0	3.5	6.2	4.1	2.4	4.1	1.8	3.1
Sunflower Seeds Serving: 0.25 cup (32 g)	6.2	172	309	451	254	257	489	252	94	357
Number of servings to meet RDA	7.6	4.8	3.6	5.5	8.8	4.4	4.0	4.7	3.1	4.0
Walnuts - chopped Serving: 0.25 cup (29 g)	4.5	114	183	342	124	130	327	174	50	220
Number of servings to meet RDA	10.5	7.3	6.1	7.3	18.1	8.6	6.0	6.8	5.9	6.4
Grains
Food	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
Amaranth Serving: 1.00 cup (69 g)	9.3	268	401	606	515	288	600	384	125	468
Number of servings to meet RDA	5.1	3.1	2.8	4.1	4.4	3.9	3.2	3.1	2.4	3.0
Bread - white Serving: 2.00 slice (50 g)	4.1	89	161	290	112	159	320	121	48	180
Number of servings to meet RDA	11.5	9.3	7.0	8.6	20.0	7.1	6.1	9.8	6.2	7.9
Bread - whole wheat Serving: 2.00 slice (56 g)	7.3	78	125	227	93	130	256	97	52	152
Number of servings to meet RDA	6.5	10.6	9.0	10.9	24.1	8.6	7.6	12.2	5.7	9.3
Buckwheat - groats roasted Serving: 1.00 cup (168 g)	5.7	133	213	356	289	171	327	217	82	291
Number of servings to meet RDA	8.3	6.2	5.3	7.0	7.8	6.6	6.0	5.4	3.6	4.9
Corn - kernels boiled Serving: 1.00 cup (165 g)	4.5	119	243	446	272	188	421	205	54	297
Number of servings to meet RDA	10.4	7.0	4.6	5.6	8.3	6.0	4.6	5.8	5.5	4.8
Flour Tortilla Serving: 1.00 med (46 g)	4.0	90	141	276	98	154	322	113	49	164
Number of servings to meet RDA	11.8	9.2	8.0	9.0	22.9	7.3	6.1	10.5	6.0	8.6
Oatmeal - boiled Serving: 1.00 cup (234 g)	5.9	126	271	505	316	335	568	225	236	374
Number of servings to meet RDA	8.0	6.6	4.1	4.9	7.1	3.4	3.4	5.3	1.3	3.8
Quinoa - cooked Serving: 1.00 cup (185 g)	8.1	235	290	483	442	295	496	242	96	342
Number of servings to meet RDA	5.8	3.5	3.9	5.1	5.1	3.8	3.9	4.9	3.1	4.1
Rice - brown, med grain Serving: 1.00 cup (195 g)	4.5	115	191	372	172	156	402	166	58	265
Number of servings to meet RDA	10.5	7.2	5.9	6.7	13.1	7.2	4.9	7.1	5.1	5.4
Rice - white, med grain Serving: 1.00 cup (186 g)	4.4	104	192	366	160	195	385	158	52	270
Number of servings to meet RDA	10.7	8.0	5.8	6.8	14.0	5.8	5.1	7.5	5.7	5.3
Seitan Serving: 3.00 oz (85 g)	31.0	671	1293	2247	656	1077	2915	839	0	1498
Number of servings to meet RDA	1.5	1.2	0.9	1.1	3.4	1.0	0.7	1.4	0.0	0.9
Spaghetti - white Serving: 1.00 cup (140 g)	6.7	136	258	456	127	292	498	176	85	284
Number of servings to meet RDA	7.1	6.1	4.4	5.4	17.7	3.8	3.9	6.7	3.5	5.0
Spaghetti - whole wheat Serving: 1.00 cup (140 g)	7.5	175	290	510	165	275	566	200	97	323
Number of servings to meet RDA	6.3	4.7	3.9	4.9	13.6	4.1	3.4	5.9	3.0	4.4
Vegetables
Food	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
Baked Potato Serving: 1.00 med (173 g)	4.3	93	175	260	263	121	351	157	67	244
Number of servings to meet RDA	11.0	8.9	6.4	9.5	8.5	9.3	5.6	7.5	4.4	5.8
Broccoli - cooked, chopped Serving: 1.00 cup (156 g)	3.6	82	180	216	234	88	244	152	48	212
Number of servings to meet RDA	13.1	10.1	6.2	11.5	9.6	12.8	8.0	7.8	6.2	6.7
Carrot - 5 12 inches long Serving: 1.00 small (50 g)	0.5	20	38	51	51	52	51	96	6	35
Number of servings to meet RDA	100.6	41.4	29.5	48.7	44.0	21.6	38.2	12.3	49.2	40.5
Kale - cooked, shredded Serving: 1.00 cup (130 g)	2.5	52	148	173	148	56	215	111	30	135
Number of servings to meet RDA	18.9	15.9	7.6	14.3	15.2	20.0	9.1	10.6	9.8	10.5
Romaine Lettuce - shredded Serving: 1.00 cup (56 g)	0.7	16	58	54	58	22	60	42	6	48
Number of servings to meet RDA	67.5	51.7	19.4	46.0	38.7	51.0	32.5	28.1	49.2	29.5
Tomato Serving: 1.00 med (123 g)	1.1	17	22	31	33	18	50	33	7	22
Number of servings to meet RDA	43.0	48.7	51.0	80.1	68.0	62.4	39.0	35.8	42.2	64.5
Fruit
Food	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
Apple Serving: 1.00 med (138 g)	0.4	7	8	18	17	2	9	8	1	17
Number of servings to meet RDA	118.2	118.2	140.3	137.9	132.1	561.4	216.7	147.7	295.5	83.4
Banana Serving: 1.00 med (118 g)	1.3	91	33	80	59	20	69	33	11	55
Number of servings to meet RDA	36.4	9.1	34.0	31.0	38.1	56.1	28.3	35.8	26.9	25.8
Orange Serving: 1.00 med (131 g)	1.2	24	33	30	62	39	62	20	12	52
Number of servings to meet RDA	39.4	34.5	34.0	82.7	36.2	28.8	31.5	59.1	24.6	27.3
Strawberries - whole Serving: 1.00 cup (144 g)	1.0	17	23	49	37	12	59	29	12	27
Number of servings to meet RDA	47.3	48.7	48.8	50.6	60.7	93.6	33.1	40.8	24.6	52.5
Seaweed
Food	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
Spirulina - dried Serving: 1.00 tbsp (7 g)	4.0	76	225	346	212	126	375	208	65	246
Number of servings to meet RDA	11.8	10.9	5.0	7.2	10.6	8.9	5.2	5.7	4.5	5.8
Protein Powders
Food	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
Naturade Soy Protein Serving: 0.33 cup (28 g)	24.0	618	1178	1939	1552	640	2184	912	305	1157
Number of servings to meet RDA	2.0	1.3	1.0	1.3	1.4	1.8	0.9	1.3	1.0	1.2
Naturade Soy-Free Protein Serving: 0.33 cup (28 g)	22.0	533	1182	1785	1455	445	1957	918	228	1115
Number of servings to meet RDA	2.1	1.6	0.9	1.4	1.5	2.5	1.0	1.3	1.3	1.3
Animal
Food	PRO	HIS	ISO	LEU	LYS	MET CYS	PHE TYR	THR	TRP	VAL
Beef - ground, 15% fat, pan-broiled  Serving: 3.00 oz (85 g)	20.9	681	924	1631	1733	745	1459	811	108	1028
Number of servings to meet RDA	2.3	1.2	1.2	1.5	1.3	1.5	1.3	1.5	2.7	1.4
Chicken - roasted Serving: 1.00 leg (52 g)	14.1	417	708	1028	1152	562	1004	583	158	684
Number of servings to meet RDA	3.4	2.0	1.6	2.4	1.9	2.0	1.9	2.0	1.9	2.1
Egg - hard boiled Serving: 1.00 large (50 g)	6.3	149	343	537	452	342	591	302	76	384
Number of servings to meet RDA	7.5	5.6	3.3	4.6	5.0	3.3	3.3	3.9	3.9	3.7
Milk - 2% fat Serving: 1.00 cup (244 g)	8.1	178	447	808	569	464	768	251	98	532
Number of servings to meet RDA	5.8	4.6	2.5	3.1	3.9	2.4	2.5	4.7	3.0	2.7
Tuna Serving: 3.00 oz (85 g)	21.7	638	999	1762	1992	874	1579	950	243	1117
Number of servings to meet RDA	2.2	1.3	1.1	1.4	1.1	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.3
Protein is measured in grams   |   Amino acids are measured in mg PRO = Protein |   HIS = Histidine |   VAL = Valine |   MET CYS = Methionine + Cysteine ISO = Isoleucine |   THR = Threonine |   LEU = Leucine |   PHE TYR = Phenylalanine + Tyrosine TRP = Tryptophan |   LYS = Lysine |   IBW = Ideal Body Weight

Read more about amino acid intake for vegans in Vegan Health. requirements http://veganhealth.org/articles/protein
https://www.nutritionexpress.com/showarticle.aspx?articleid=787
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/casein-allergy-overview#1