If you want the Cadillac of blenders for mom, buy her a Vitamix this year. And don’t mistake the word “blender” to mean this is just any ole machine you can stop by your local Walmart and pick up. This is a workhorse of a machine that will do so many things in the kitchen mom will probably be able to retire many of her other appliances if she desires.
So just what does this machine do?
Most people have probably seen some of the late night infomercials on blenders such as the Ninja or Healthmaster, etc. These are cheaper but they are cheaper for a reason… they are not built like a tank like the Vitamix, they break down, they leak, they have numerous issues which simply do not happen with the Vitamix.
I did a ton of research (eg.Vitamix vs Ninja) beforepicking up my Vitamix and in the past year that I’ve owned this machine I have enjoyed every minute of using it. My family has become healthier as we make tons of smoothies (but it is not just a “smoothie machine”). I really enjoy the summer because there is such a great variety of fruits and berries, and I do so love my fruit/berry smoothies.
So one use for your Vitamix is smoothies of course. And what a smoothie it makes! Even blackberries are pulverized, making a nice smooth and refreshing summer beverage. I have a favorite recipe which I’ll go ahead and post here because it is so yummy. One large peach (pitted), about 3/4 cup of fresh blackberries (you can use frozen but it won’t be as tasty), about 1/2 to 3/4 cup milk, about 3/4 cup ice, and if you wish a bit of sweetener, about a teaspoon or so of sugar. Massive deliciousness!
Anyway, the Vitamix will make short work of this combo and you will have a most tasty drink in just a minute. Other cheaper blenders would have a very hard time with the blackberry seeds.
Now, on to the other things mom can do with her new Vitamix (and of course the whole family can enjoy it, so it is a great “shared” Christmas present). Of course you can make veggie smoothies as well. In fact, there are 5 “magic” vegetables that you can throw into any fruit smoothie to make them super healthy and you cannot taste them. Those are spinach, carrots, yellow squash, zucchini, and cabbage (red or green). If mom is looking for a way to get the kids to eat more veggies, this is a great way to go about it.
Amazingly, soup can also be made easily in the Vitamix. Yes, soup! You get a very nice spiral-bound recipe book with your new Vitamix and the recipes will be included, but you simply throw in the ingredients and turn on the machine and let it run. It around 5 minutes or so you have steaming hot soup. It’s really cool! And tastes great too.
You can also make nut butters such as peanut butter, almond butter, hazelnut butter, etc. The Vitamix can easily handle these nuts and makes a nice smooth fresh butter free of preservatives or additives. Really good stuff.
The Vitamix is not a new machine that is going to disappear from the market in a few months or years. They have been around since the 1930s and do not plan on going anywhere. So if you do have any problems you will be covered by warranty and can easily get your Vitamix repaired. But not to worry because these things are built like a tank and last for many many years. I recently saw an older one at a flea market that was running absolutely perfectly and was about 20 or 30 years old.
So in a nutshell, here are the main things you can do with your Vitamix:
Smoothies of course. We have already talked about that and it should be mentioned that this machine will grind up ice like nobody’s business. You can even make snow cones if you wish. But it certainly will not have any problems with any fruits or veggies whether they are frozen or fresh, and of course ice.
Make soft serve ice cream/sorbets. Whip up a frozen dessert in a minute with the Vitamix.
Blending is accomplished lickity split. Make salad dressings, mixed drinks, smoothies, nut butters, et cetera.
Puree in a jiffy. Mom can make her own fresh homemade baby food and avoid all the dangerous additives and preservatives in store-bought jars of food.
Chop carrots, olives, onions, eggs, cheese, cabbage in seconds.
Grinding can be accomplished easily with the addition of the dry blade container. With this attachment you can grind fresh flour, grains, and beans. Takes only a minute.
Knead your dough in the Vitamix and make some homemade bread.
Blend fruits, cook hot soup, grind grains, make fresh butters, knead dough, make fresh salsa, mix up some guacamole, blend up some creamy dip for your chips, churn fresh butter, whip fresh cream, blend pesto, make a flavorful marinade, cook fruit syrups, prepare fresh tomato sauce….honestly there are so many things you can do with the Vitamix, mom will be using it 2 or 3 times a day. I love mine and don’t know what I would do without it!
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