The little mixer that could . . .

I have a larger stand mixer but for small mixing jobs (small batches of cookies, mashed potatoes, whipped cream), I love my KitchenAid hand mixer. I have the 5 speed version which meets my needs. Newer versions have up to 9 speeds which would come in handy at times, but for 95% of all kitchen tasks, 5 speeds are sufficient.

One of the things I like best about this mixer are the wire beaters. They do an excellent job of mixing ingredients and are much easier to clean than flat metal beaters. The mixer is sturdy enough to stand up to stiff cookie doughs but is not too heavy to hold comfortably for up to 5 minutes or so (anything longer and I use my stand mixer). However, my son likes to lick the beaters when I'm done and he says the wires don't hold enough cookie dough for his tastes :-)

This is a great little mixer for anyone who likes to cook. People who infrequently use a mixer could probably get along with this instead of a stand mixer. It won't handle bread dough . . . but then I've never seen a hand mixer that will.

It is a bit more expensive than other hand mixers, but it will stand up to years of use. If mine ever dies, I'll definitely buy another Kitchen Aid.