I stood over the bowl of rugelach dough, pulsing and pulsing with a growing feeling of failure. Like a flash in the pan, I realized why I dislike food processors: I cannot see and touch the food. I teach kids and adults in classes that the two most important tools in their kitchen are their hands. And it's true: preparing food is a physical activity for me.

My new-fangled safety-minded food processor is equipped with three separate locks that must be in place for operation. I fight with these stupid locks every time I use the machine. Place bowl on base, press 'on', nothing. Twist lid tighter, press 'on', nothing. Pound top funnel, press 'on', finally a little action. It's all in the name of safety, of course.

Which brings me to the second thing I despise about food processors: the blade. How does a sensory minded cook remove dough from the bowl? I reach my hand in. I've been down the road of using a sissy silicone spatula and the blade tears those up.

So what do you think happened to my finger while trying to scrape out the dough?

You can picture the next scene in my dramatic break-up with the food processor: removing the blade with a now bandaged finger, I scrape the dough into a bowl with a spatula this time. The food processor has not even done its job so I clench the spatula with the injured finger at attention. I finish mixing the flour, butter, and cream cheese into submission by hand.

I am over trying to understand the implied convenience of a food processor. My two hands are almost as good and they've never hurt each other.

Of course I didn't take pictures during this fiasco! Tomorrow I'll share photographs of the final product, which turned out beautiful and tasty.