What do you use your Blender for ?

[mrboilwash]

When I grew up my mother had a 60`s Kenwood Chef and the only thing she used the liquidizer attachment for was to make us kids a banana shake or maybe grinding nuts for baking.
I only have a stick blender now because space is precious in my kitchen and admittedly it doesn`t get much use.
But still curious what others use their handsome countertops for on a regular basis.

 

[tolivac]

Choco-banana smoothies and fruit smoothies-real fruit and frozen-My collection of Vita Mixes handles those jobs with no problem!Blendtecs as well.Also peanut butter-planters cocktail peanuts or Carolina nut brand flavored peanuts.Use my rare SS containers for this.Do not want to scar up my lexan containers.Also have made hot cocoa with the VM-just run it for about 6 min.DElicious!!!

 

[turquoisedude]

You'd be surprised.... I use mine most for recipes where ingredients have to be chopped and mixed into liquid. Muffins are a good example - you mix the liquid ingredients (milk, eggs, oil) then add any fruits or nuts that you want chopped. Full disclosure - I still pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ones and mix by hand!

I make my own mayonnaise and variations thereof in the blender, along with salad dressings which benefit from the 'chop in liquid' approach above.

Soups are a something I make a lot - not just Vichyssoise or Borscht in the hotter months, but vegetable/meat combinations made with fresh or leftover veggies.

I have a couple of cake recipes (adaptations of European torte recipes) that have ground nuts in the batter and I make these in the blender too. I prefer making a regular shortening-type case with one of the mixers, however I do make a few with the blender just to prove to people that you can... LOL

I could write a book about what I make with the blender.... Oh wait, I did! It has been rejected by every publisher I sent it to so far though....

 

[launderess]

Frozen daiquiris, margaritas...

 

[polkanut]

Homemade Irish Cream

 

[joeekaitis]

 

Double-strength Abuelita or Ibarra Mexican hot chocolate.

 

Grind a whole Abuelita or Ibarra Mexican chocolate puck to a powder.  Turn off the blender and add 2/3 cup powdered nonfat milk, a pint of just-boiled water, a teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 heaping teaspoons of instant decaf.

 

Hold the lid in place with a folded dishtowel and start the blender on low, working your way up through the speeds to minimize splashing and overflow.  When you've reached the ideal speed (no overflow), let it run for 2 to 3 minutes.  Switch off the blender and quickly divide the contents into 2 20-ounce mugs so both get the same layer of foam on top.

 

When it's really cold outside, pour a jigger of coffee liqueur into the bottom of each mug.  DON'T stir after pouring in the hot chocolate.  You want those little pockets of coffee liqueur as you sip.

 

[tomturbomatic]

In the 70s, the book that came with the Panasonic blender had a recipe for banana bread. It was pretty neat to add the bananas at the end through the hole in the top and watch the fruit spiral around as it got pulled down into the swirling batter.

I still like it better than the food processor for cole slaw where you chop the cabbage in water and then drain it into a colander. The water seems to remove the strong flavor from the cabbage.

I must admit that newer appliances have taken over the blender's duties, but I used it a lot when it was the only appliance like that.

In the 60s, at a friend's house, we used to make what we called Billy's Bubbling Burpee Brew in their Waring Blendor. We would dump a can of frozen orange juice on top of the blades in the jar then turn it on and slowly add water. The resulting orange juice would have a really good head on it and a really sweet, mild flavor. The collapsing bubbles in the gut produced tremendous burps, belches and eructations when the brew was consumed rapidly.

I read that the band leader Fred Waring first saw the drink mixer at a resort where the band played. He was so impressed that he bought the patents and rights from the bartender-inventor. That is why only the Waring machine can be spelled "Blendor."

 

[gusherb]

For years I was using a Nutri Bullet for my vegetable smoothies in the morning, then I stayed with my sister for a bit and used her Vita Mix E310 and realized how much better of a job that thing does at blending. It tasted like I was drinking a creamy smoothie and not a cup of vegetable pulp that would make me gag like what comes out of the Nutri Bullet.

Since then I dug my grandmas 1975 Harvest Gold Osterizer in near mint condition out of the closet and started using that, does a much better job than the Nutri Bullet blending the vegetables into an actual smoothie. Also was using it to make my mocha frappe’s

The Osterizer is decent, but needless to say a Vita Mix is going to be my next big purchase.

 

[rp2813]

Save Yourself Some Money

If you own an Osterizer of any vintage, you can get a "Fusion" blade for it and effect results nearly as good as from a Breville or Vita-Mix.  There's also a milkshake blade available.

 

Osterizers are the most versatile of blenders IMO, offering a few different blade options depending on the task, and the ability to fit any size of standard-mouth mason jar onto the blade assembly for either small jobs or instances where you want to blend and then store.

 

I don't "regularly" use my blenders, but when I do it's almost exclusively for drinks, be they non-alcoholic smoothies (a beautiful  black/silver/blue Lady Kenmore Osterizer clone -- thanks Nate!) or typically blended cocktails such as margaritas, grasshoppers, pina coladas, various fizzes, and when I feel inclined, slightly slushy gimlets like my friend's mom used to make.  

 

My bar blender is a vintage Waring that consists a "rocket ship" type base and "waterfall" carafe with an unusual blade that crushes ice with ease.  Its slim footprint takes up less space than any other blender, which allows me to keep it out on the bar to admire.

 

I did recently use my LK blender to make sauce for shrimp culichi.  That was the first time I'd used it for cooking purposes in I don't know how long.

 

[moparwash]

We store coupons in it

 

[DADoES]

 
I've used mine twice. For a packaged smoothie mix (that was kinda gnasty) and a cheesecake recipe that instructs for blender prep (was lovely except it has no crust so leaked out of the springform pan until it set-in).

 

[lordkenmore]

Currently, it's used to collect dust...

 

[lordkenmore]

Thinking back, the only thing I can remember using a blender for is pureeing soups.

 

[xraytech]

I have an Osterizer Cyclomatic 50th Anniversary and a Lady Kenmore blender
I use it pretty much only to make an occasional chocolate-cherry milkshake and to make vinaigrette dressings.
On rare occasion I use while making a small batch of applesauce, usually I make so much a Foley food mill is easier.

 

[countryguy]

I use mine to make margaritas as well as sorbet and instant ice cream.

Gary

 

[thomasortega]

I Have a Kitchenaid "Diamond jar" blender and also the Kithcenaid 5-speed hand blender.

I use them very often, always with excellent results.

THe blender i use if more often to prepare Toddy (Yes, toddy still exists in Brazil and every time family opr friends come to the USA I ask them to bring a 2kg box) It tastes MUCH better than Nesquik, similar to 100% cocoa and a bit of sugar.

The hand blender I use for toddy if the blender is dirty or in the dishwasher, and I love to use it to "pull" chicken straight in the pot I'm using.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I have an older KitchenAid Ultra Power and a Hamilton Beach single serve. I used to use the Hamilton Beach for protein shakes.

The K-A I thought I would like but I haven't used it much. Mainly because stuff always manages to drip between the jar and base cover, and I didn't like having to take it apart each time to clean. It also needs a new gasket. The one I have was an aftermarket item and leaves black specs in what I'm blending.

 

[frigilux]

My Breville is most frequently used to make Salsa Verde and Jell-O recipes that incorporate cream cheese.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The Oster ice crusher blade is superior to the regular blade for everything, not just ice.

 

[rp2813]

Agreed Tom.  I keep the ice crusher blade in my Osterizer all the time.  I have the fusion blade as well, but I only use that one if I'm doing a smoothie from scratch. 

 

Most of the time I make the orange smoothies from the packets.  They're the closest thing to an Orange Julius even though they can't compare to the real thing.

 

[tolivac]

Oster blenders-the OLDER ones were the best-you can use the newer blades and containers on them.Those are a good alternative to VM.Vintage and commercial Warings are good-same with commercial Oster if you can find them.

 

[circlew]

I occasionally use mine to make a chocolate shake, but more often I use it when I make French salad dressing.

 

[justjunque]

Nothing, lately

I was gifted Mom's circa 1970s Osterizer when I first got my own place.
I used to use it to make the occasional milkshake.
Although I hate to say it, because I really like the thing, I haven't used it in years.

Barry

 

[gusherb]

This is the blade mine has, the ice crusher blade. From what I can tell, the second one is the Fusion blade, but it doesn’t specifically say so on their site. I’ll have to give it a try, along with a glass jar as I’ve already managed to scuff up the plastic jar this one originally came with.

 

[norgeway]

As with all other appliances

I have probably 150 or more blenders, I use them all the time, Right now on the counter is a GE from the 60s and a mid 50s 2 speed Osterizer, The one Turquoisedude had in the picture is a Montgomery Ward, I think Dormeyer made it, I have one, I have a Braun that is really good ,I have the first Waring , you turn the jar to switch it on, the best way to make cole slaw is with the blender, I use it making meatloaf,to chop the onions , make the bread crumbs etc..

 

[ultralux88]

I've got Grandma's avocado and chrome Osterizer, the Oster mixer, blender food processor thing, and a Nutone food center that I don't have installed. Generally I just use Grandma's, usually just for making tasty things to drink. If I ever get into the habit of cooking more, I'm certain I'll find even more uses... Cooking to me means, what can I make that will involve the most different appliances and gadgets in the kitchen. It can get to be a bit much...

 

[rp2813]

I accumulated a few of the Oster small food processor units that can be used on the blender (or Kitchen Center) base.   They do a decent job, and give me an excuse to pull out an attractive vintage appliance.

 

I gave away a few Osterizers when we moved, and included the mini food processors with them. 

 

[wayupnorth]

I have a chrome beehive Osterizer that hasnt been used in ages. I have no use for a blender now, cant bother. Want something simple in my old age.

 

[mrboilwash]

This is quite an impressive list, thanks and keep them coming.
I`ve recently seen a beautiful modern three speed beehive chrome Oster in a showcase in Spain, very reasonably priced, was tempted but had no space in my suitcase and it would have been too heavy anyways. Then I thought would I ever use it ? What would I throw out to make room in the kitchen for it ?

I remember when I was a kid, must have been sometime in the late 1970s, there was a sales-demonstration for a push button Osterizer on the place in front of a supermarket. This was the one and only time I`ve seen an Osterizer offered in Germany. Anyways, The guy made among a hundreds of other things which I don`t remember anymore a delicious wine mousse. He even threw in a few eggshells to demonstrate how finely they`d get pulverized saying calcium was good for our health. Back then it obviously wasn`t considered a problem at all to hand out a sample of an alcohol containing dessert to a child. Even had a refill
Another thing I still remember is when he demonstrated how to rinse and slice cabbage for Krautsalat (the German way of coleslaw) in one simple step.
Even as an 8 or 9 year old I was thinking how can he do this to the vitamins. But it was impressive what else you can do with a good blender when you add water and then drain everything in a colander.

 

[maytagbear]

I use mine............

for pureeing soups, for salad dressings, the (very) random smoothie, and my monthly/weekly milkshake-frappe-cabinet (milk/flavoring/ice cream).

Currently have two Oster, and one Waring. No stick/immersion blenders at the moment. Want an immersion blender very much. Immersion blenders are great for soups...just stick the business end into the soup pot, and let it rip!

Lawrence/Maytagbear