I Got It From a Rushkie...

While baking an amazing cake this evening (Pistachio/Buttercream Cake...750 calories/slice!) I had to utilize both mixers, the KitchenAide stand mixer and my little handheld General Electric. I got that one from a Rushkie.

Back in 1992, I was living in the family housing complex for UCBerkeley. Hubby (at the time) was working on his PhD. My kids were 3 months old and 2 years old. We were broke!

Our next-door neighbors were from Russia. They had invited us over for dinner several times. Interesting meals...beef roasts with absolutely no salt. Polenta with stinky cheese. Actually, though, the food was good.

One day, while walking by their doorway, I noticed a box of junk on the ground. I looked inside and saw this mixer. I didn't have a mixer, so I knocked on the door and ask Luinka what she was planning on doing with it. She said, in her strong Russian accent, "Oh, we were going to give it to a poor person. You can have it, I suppose..."

I still have it and I'm not as poor anymore.