The coldest days of the year are upon us and that means it's soup weather. And while your local deli or Chinese takeout or even a container of ramen noodles may do the trick when you're super pressed for time, there's nothing like homemade! Whip up a double batch on the weekend, then refrigerate or freeze in individual portions for after-work suppers that can be zapped in the microwave more quickly than the delivery person can get to your doorbell.Here's the equipment you need for the job. 1. Stockpot Choose an 8-quart pot with a heavy bottom, to prevent ingredients at the bottom from scorching during long cooking, and two short handles that afford a good grip. A pot that's higher than it's wide prevents too much liquid from evaporating. The one pictured is from Anolon and has a nonstick finish for easy cleanup. 2. Long-handled Wooden Spoon Is it just my imagination or does soup taste better when it's been mixed with a battered wooden stirrer? Wooden spoons are so reasonably priced, just treat yourself to one.

(But don't stress if you don't have one...it's no reason not to make soup.) 3. Blender After reading our report, you might have bought one last summer to whip up smoothies or margaritas but press it into action for really smooth velvety-textured vegetable soups. 4. Hand Blender With one of these whiz kids you can puree butternut squash to a sinfully silky consistency right in the cooking pot. vitamix cia professional series 1365See our review to choose the best one for you.5. margaritaville blender fujiFood Processor Like your potato and leek soup with a little body? kitchenaid 5-speed hand immersion blender - stainless steel (khb2571sx)

It gets rid of the chunks but doesn't leave your soup with the mouth feel of baby food. 6. A Food Mill is another good tool for pureeing soups so that they're neither lumpy nor totally smooth. The Rosle shown here is the Cadillac of food mills. 7. Soup Ladle Look for one that's generously sized to minimize the amount of scooping before you've filled the bowls. waring commercial blender extreme mx 1100 xtOne with a hook on the end of the handle can rest on the side of the pot between servings, rather than sink into the soup.hamilton beach hand blender 59765 c 8. Bowls In your house does everyone get served before anyone starts eating? kitchenaid stand mixer kv25goxmcOpt for deep bowls that will keep the first portions hot while the rest are being ladled out. vitamix barboss advance review

Feeding just one or two very hungry, impatient eaters? Try wider ones that will help the chowder cool off quickly. I'm partial to bowls from Emile Henry. 9. Cheese Grater There's nothing like a blizzard of Parmesan on top of a bowl of steaming Minestrone. For almost instant grating, choose a Microplane. 10. Storage Containers Glass ones with a tight seal like Anchor Hocking TrueSeal are your best bet for preserving freshness and microwave reheating.A word of advice: Starting with homemade chicken broth will vastly improve the taste of your soup. Here's an easy version.Now do you need soup recipes? We have lots, all triple tested by our test kitchen! > processors, blenders, juicers in Barrie Use Distance Search to find Ads based on where you are and how far you want to travel. Get an alert with the newest ads for processors, blenders, juicers in Barrie.Two powerful kitchen appliances have been brought together in this blender/food processor by Cuisinart. The heavy-duty motor base is up to both blending and processing tasks, and won't "walk" on the counter, even when it's crushing ice.

Use the blender with its dripless pour spout to make and serve 40 ounces of frozen drinks or to purée baby foods or soups; use the processor to prep up to 3 cups of vegetables, cheeses, nuts, and meats. With one motor base, it's simple to keep the blender out on the counter and then bring out the processor attachment for special tasks. This is an amazingly sturdy product, with tight-fitting lids, a heavy glass blender jar, and a motor that chops meat or ice with equal aplomb. Most attachments are dishwasher-safe, and the flat touch pad, which has seven settings (including ice crush and pulse), is easily wiped down with a sponge. This dual appliance comes with a booklet that explains how to use all the features and lists 48 recipes, from cranberry-orange mimosas to classic mayonnaise. Mixers & Food Processors Buy the best blenders, mixers and food processors online or in store from The Good Guys. You’ll get a good deal from leading brands like Sunbeam, Breville, NutriBullet, Kenwood and more that allow you to mix, blend and process food at the touch of a button.

Shop Mixers & Food Processors CompareAdd more to compareAddedAs the weather gets warm, we want to reach for something cold. How about a chocolate shake? Most of us need to drop the ice cream from this indulgence and it isn't hard if you own a blender.Snack Girl used to buy her blenders from Walgreens for $15 and then - she got married! Her friends, Rich and Patty, bought her a shiny new Cuisinart blender and it has lasted (along with my marriage) 7 years. I don't use it every day (maybe a few times a month), but it works great. I posted the link below.How do you make a 116 calorie chocolate shake that still tastes yummy?The key is unsweetened cocoa powder. We used it in the No Bake Brownie Balls and it gives this lovely bitter chocolately taste to the smoothie. It isn't super sweet. If you like it sweeter add more sugar, you will still be doing better than ice cream for the calories.This recipe is for 2 servings so be careful. If you aren't sharing with a friend, then use less milk and more ice to keep it within range.

I wouldn't worry about the calories too much because this smoothie has 2.5 grams of fiber, 16% of your DV of calcium, and 6% of your DV of iron.Smoothies are a great idea for a snack. But, they should be savored. This is a sweet drink and (while healthy), your body doesn't register the calories in drinks as well as it does when you are chewing your food.Studies have shown that your body will not calorie adjust (eat less) after drinking a sugary drink. That is one reason why the government believes we should be taxing Soda vs. chips and candy. Liquid calories are more dangerous to your waistline than solid food calories.Give it a try and tell me what you think! print   Pin ItChocolate Smoothie Recipe(serves 2)1 cup low-fat milk1/2 ripe banana2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa1 tablespoon maple syrup3 ice cubesToss in blender and blend until smooth.Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only.Want more recipes like this? Check out my bookCuisinart CBT-500 SmartPower 600-Watt Premier Power Blender, Brushed Stainless