Increase Meal-Making Efficiency Using Your Blender!

By Alice Osborne

Did you know you can meal-prep with your blender? It's an economical, energy-saving, and efficient way to get a meal going.

The blender is one of the most under-used small appliances in the kitchen. And that's too bad, because this kitchen tool can crumb, reconstitute, chop, grind, and liquefy--saving you a LOT of time.

That said, here are a few tips-DOs and DON'Ts for better blending:

DO put liquid portions of recipes into the container first.

DO place the cover firmly on the container before starting and stopping. It's smart to rest your hand on the cover when starting the motor.

DO use a rubber spatula when blending ingredients of heavy consistency. If the whirlpool ceases to form in the center, remove cover and with motor stopped, push the ingredients from the sides of the container to the center with the spatula until the whirlpool action starts again.

DO remove heavy mixtures through the bottom opening of the blender to another container (assuming you are using a blender that separates from the blade fixture). Pour mixtures of liquid consistency from the blender top.

DO allow hot mixtures to cool slightly before pouring into the blender container.

DO try the next higher speed if the motor labors during processing.

DON'T add firm ingredients unless cut into small pieces as recommended by your instruction book.

DON'T process mixtures too long. The job is done in seconds, not minutes. Check consistency after a few seconds so it will not over-blend.

DON'T overtax the motor with extra heavy or large loads.

DON'T force the container from the motor base. Lift straight up or rock gently to remove when the motor has coasted to a stop.

And now here are a few cooking shortcuts using your blender-simple ways to increase your meal-making efficiency:

Grate hard cheeses (to use as casserole toppings or in sauces).
Blend lumpy gravy or white sauce.
Chop thin strips of frozen orange or lemon peel, a half cup at a time (to use in pies, cookies, and breads).
Blend leftover vegetables and white sauce together (to use as a creamed soup).
Grate fresh coconut by dropping pieces into revolving blades.
Puree portions of family meals into baby food.
And then freeze baby food portions in your ice cube trays. When frozen, pop food into freezer bags or containers. You'll have healthy, affordable, REAL baby food (minus the preservatives, mystery ingredients, etc.) always on hand!
Make guacamole (no hand-chopping necessary and only one container to clean) and healthy sour cream (recipes below). Talk about efficient!

Blender Guacamole

Yield: 1 3/4 cups

Ingredients:
1 medium avocado, peeled and cut into cubes
1 medium tomato, cut in pieces
1/2 small onion, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in blender container; cover. Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.

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Blender Homemade Sour Cream

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups creamed cottage cheese (large or small curd)

Directions:

Place ingredients into blender container; cover and blend until ingredients are smooth and creamy. Use as a base for dips or in place of sour cream in any recipe. This thickens as it is refrigerated.