The first step to overcoming an addiction is admitting you have a problem, right? Well, my name is Jennifer, and I have an addiction to kitchen gadgets. The Blendtec Designer 725 is indeed another kitchen appliance, but can you give me a pass if I prove to you how it replaces all the other appliances on my counter? I used to be a pretty bad cook. My repertoire consisted of pasta with jarred sauce and grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup (also canned). My kitchen was complete with a few hand-me-down pots and pans and a spatula. Then I discovered that I have a severe gluten intolerance and for health reasons I would have to follow a strict gluten-free diet. This was before gluten-free options filled supermarket shelves and every restaurant has a special menu. If I wanted to eat, I was going to have to learn how to cook. In my excitement to improve my cooking skills, I started to build my new appliance collection lining my kitchen counter. I had to get a new toaster to replace the old gluten-filled one.

Then when I started baking for myself, Santa brought me a professional level stand mixer. Next came the food processor, blender, immersion blender, margarita maker, ice cream maker, rice cooker, and toaster oven. Now, some of these appliances are used very frequently – I keep my stand mixer on the counter to encourage me to bake more. Some of them are even multi-use. My rice cooker has a steamer basket to cook veggies at the same time. braun hand blender parts 4191But I started to wonder if I really needed five different appliances to puree, mix, combine and blend food.vitamix tnc 5200 oder thermomix Even with all of these appliances to perform various tasks, they didn’t always work the way they were supposed to. hamilton beach blender 52400

I tried to puree butternut squash soup in my $30 blender and ended up with hot soup sprayed across the counter. The immersion blender worked a bit better, but I still haven’t gotten the hang of the suction to the bottom of the pot when I turn it on. The margarita machine was just a joke. Thank goodness it was a garage sale find because I would never pay for the watery margaritas it produces. So how does the Blendtec Designer 725 replace these appliances?kitchenaid mixer best denki I’ve been trying out some of the most common things I make with various appliances, and I’ve been extremely impressed.kitchenaid mixer + dropshippers The Blendtec is without a doubt an improvement over my $30 blender. tribest personal blender pb-250 bpa free

I have no clue what power was behind my old one, but I can guarantee it’s less than the 1725 watt Blendtec Designer 725. I’m also a big fan of the blunt safety blade and one-piece jar. I cut myself a few times on the sharp blades of my old blender when I was trying to take the jar apart to clean it. I’m a stickler for a clean kitchen, so the clean cycle and easy-to-clean touch screen are ideal for me.oster blender 6662 I can’t imagine my old blender serving any purpose that the Blendtec Designer 725 couldn’t handle, so the cheapie is going in the donation box. I primarily use the immersion blender to puree soups and sometimes to whip up a quick vinaigrette. As I already mentioned, the immersion blender has often been difficult to use and the sound drives my dog crazy. While it doesn’t take up much space in the kitchen, I could ditch it for the sake of streamlining my drawers. The broccoli soup I made from the Blendtec recipe book was supposed to be a bit chunky but I was so excited at how the Blendtec heated my soup that I got a little overzealous with adding time.

Lucky me, because the broccoli cheddar soup was smooth and velvety – almost whipped. Instead of cooking and heating your ingredients in a stockpot, then using the immersion blender, the Blendtec executes every step of the soup in the blender jar. I would be embarrassed to serve the margaritas that my old novelty appliance served. That thing has been gathering dust for months. Since I got the Blendtec, I’ve been making delicious smoothies every morning with frozen fruit and almond milk. I can’t wait for the next time I have friends over so I can impress them with different flavors of frozen cocktails. With the super-easy clean cycle there’s no down time between switching flavors. Guys, I’m not even going to lie to you. I have never used the ice cream maker sitting in my cabinet. It’s just one of those appliances that takes a lot of prep work and a lot of time; way more effort than picking up a pint of Häagen Dazs. I’ve been making most of my smoothies for breakfast, but I confess I made one with bananas, peanut butter and chocolate syrup that would be perfect for a dessert treat.

I might have talked myself into kitchen appliance recovery. My stand mixer is still my baby, but I can’t wait to continue testing the Blendtec with all my other recipes for blending, pureeing, crushing and pulverizing. Here’s what I’m going to try next:6 Tips and Tricks for Your First Blends Sometimes the best recipes are those you create yourself, and the Vitamix is the perfect tool for experimenting with new taste sensations. Occasionally, culinary adventures go awry. There’s no reason to throw away a smoothie that somehow went south. Turn around your smoothie experiments with a quick fix, then be sure to make a note of it in your recipe book. Try these tips & tricks for quick fixes for your first smoothie blends: If Your Smoothie is Too Thick: Add small amounts of water, milk, or juice. Work your machine back up to its highest speed, and process for 10-20 seconds. Tip for Next Time—Load the container in the following order: liquids first, then soft fruits or vegetables, greens, and ice on top.

If Your Smoothie is Too Thin: Use or add frozen fruit (especially bananas), add more ice, or add frozen yogurt. Work your machine back up to its highest speed, and process for 20-30 seconds Tip for Next Time—Add a variety of fruits/vegetables or greens in an assortment of textures. If Your Smoothie is Too Bitter: Pineapple and oranges both add lots of fruity sweetness. Banana, in addition to being sweet, seems to neutralize bitter flavors. Strawberries are also good choices for green smoothies. Also try adding a bit of vanilla bean or vanilla extract, agave, cacao, or unsweetened cocoa powder. Flavored protein powders will also mask the taste of bitter greens. After adding these ingredients, work your machine back up to its highest speed, and process for 10-20 seconds. Tip for Next Time—Baby greens are generally milder than mature greens. Tastes do change and adapt to new eating habits. Try working up to bitter greens by combining small amounts of them with the spinach in your smoothie.

Then gradually adjust the ratio as your taste buds adapt. Chalky taste: Add more fruit and/or other ingredients in the recipe. Work your machine back up to its highest speed, and process for 10-20 seconds. Adding more protein powder can give you too much of a good thing; use amounts recommended on the label. If Your Smoothie is Too Sweet: Add a touch of lemon juice or frozen lemonade concentrate. Tip for Next Time—Fruits add their own natural sweetness, so use a balance of sweet and citrus fruits and reduce or eliminate other sweeteners like honey or agave. If Your Smoothie is Not Sweet Enough: Add honey, agave, maple syrup, Stevia, dates, grapes, or a little sugar. Using watermelon in place of water will sweeten a smoothie. Tip for Next Time—A little sweetener goes a long way, so add small amounts at a time. If Your Smoothie is Not Creamy Enough: Avocado is ideal for adding creaminess to smoothies. Its mild flavor disguises its nutritional wallop.

After removing its skin and pit, you can add a whole avocado to your smoothie, or save some for the next day. As an alternative, add ice cream, frozen yogurt, or vanilla yogurt for more creaminess. Tip for Next Time—Smoothies need a good blend of liquid and solid ingredients to achieve just the right texture. Try these easy smoothie recipes for your first blend: Going Green Smoothie - A beautiful blend of sweet fruits and fresh spinach, and a great starter recipe for someone who's new to green smoothies. Banana Avocado Drink - Sweet and creamy, this smoothie is a great way to use any extra bananas you might have in the kitchen. Banana Blueberry Orange Smoothie - Kids love the delightful purplish color of this refreshing snack! Just add ice to turn it into a delicious sorbet. Basic Fruit Smoothie - With just three simple ingredients, this thick and creamy smoothie is a great way to join the smoothie revolution. How to Create Your Custom Green Smoothie