What is it with kitchen gadgets? I absolutely love them and already own more than I need or is necessary (as my husband regularly reminds me) but there’s always something I’ve got my eye on. A new gadget that I convince myself will change my life and make cooking and baking easier and more enjoyable. Some people obsess over shoes and bags (okay, yes I have the bag obsession too) but for me it’s kitchen gadgets.

I’ve wanted a good food processor for a while now, ever since I first watched Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals and subsequent 15 Minute Meals. He seemed to whip up these super quick family sized feasts with the help of a food processor – for all the time consuming prep work. This multi-use machine seemed to hold the answer to all my kitchen and meal making issues.

After years or hinting to my other half, Christmas and Birthdays came and went with no sign of this much requested gift. He did get me other very lovely gifts might I add, I’m not ungrateful for what I did get, it’s just the food processor never appeared.

This little story came up over a morning catch up with my friend Rosie from Mummy and Boo a few months ago. We were chatting about food blogging and how we both had our eye on some new kitchen gadgets (and iPad minis but that’s a different story). I even showed her my 30 and 15 Minute Meals cookbooks and the recipes I wanted to make. Can I just say that this chat was a lot more lighthearted and funny at the time, I guess you had to be there.

Anyway, fast forward a few months and the lovely people at AO contacted Rosie and asked her if she’d like to do a Valentine’s Day gift swap post with a friend. She agreed and asked me to be her gifting partner, which I of course said yes to!

We were both sent a list of 15 items to pick from, a list that you’ve guessed it included a brilliant all singing, all dancing Kenwood MultiPro Excel FPM910 Food Processor. I’m guessing Rosie remembered the conversation we had because much to my delight the Kenwood Food Processor turned up at my door a few days ago.

Okay, so now that I have a top of the range Food Processor what I can I do with it? Well, it can chop, slice, blend, mix, whip and grind to name a few things. With 12 accessories including; a citrus press and grating disc, it allows me to make more exciting meals, that would have taken way too much prep time before. For example, the Multi Mill attachment easily chops up nuts and blends spices, which is perfect for curries and tagines. It also has a strong pulse function for making soups and smoothies to your ideal consistency.

It even has a storage box for all the sharp accessories, which helps to keep everything stored away safely and neatly.

To be honest this processor makes lots of my older gadgets (including; my liquidiser, chopper and smoothie maker) redundant as it literally does everything in one!

Yes, it’s big and yes it comes with lots (and I mean lots) of attachments but it does so much! I can make cakes using the whisking tool, make slaw in seconds or slice potatoes to make gratin in moments, even finely chopping onions and garlic (the base of so many meals) can be done in no time.

Thank you so much Rosie and AO for letting me be a part of this fun campaign. I’m thrilled with my surprise gift!

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post but as I’ve already mentioned, I was sent this item as a gift to review.