Need fun ways for family to play with new Vita-Mix!
Posted by Cephi on Dec 21, 2007 · Member since Feb 2007 · 371 posts
My parents are kind of awesome.... they're giving me a Vita-Mix for xmas! :D :D :D
I'm really excited about it. They were going to get it sent directly to me here, so that I wouldn't have to bring it back on the plane, but they decided they wanted to play with it too ;D So they've got it at their house.
So what should we do with it? What are some fun/tasty things that we can do with a new Vita-Mix? Bonus points for things you CAN'T do (or do well/easily) with "normal" blenders/processors. I want to convince them their money was well-spent!
(PS My parents are culinarily adventurous and not at all weird about vegan things like tofu, fake milks/creams, etc so that stuff is fine)
omg, cephi. you got one?! i am so jealous.
soups,
smoothies (it doesn't matter that this isn't adventurous, because they will be the best ever),
nut butters?
hummus
dressings
i don't even really know.... what WOULD impress someone about the vitamix? i just figure the fast speed that it makes everything good and creamy would be cool.
>:( <--- envy
Check out some raw food sites. I've tried to make some raw recipes that require blending and things have to get smoother than I get 'em in a food processor or ho-hum blender.
The (talking about) eating raw! club, or hespedal specifically (there are more rawists but I can't remember who they are). The Another Vitamix Question thread has some ideas.
Edit: hespedal posted while I was composing. I was right, she's the expert! http://bestsmileys.com/happy/5.gif
Edit: hespedal posted while I was composing. I was right, she's the expert! http://bestsmileys.com/happy/5.gif
awww... i'm no expert! in fact, i am probably the worst raw chef you have ever come across! probably due to my lack of a vitamix.
Aw man, I'm jealous! I know that if I had my own I'd take a stab at grinding sprouted wheatberries and other grains and attempt making my own flours.... ;)
I'd make flour!
huh. soo jealous. now we have to find a way to get that spousal hire plan to work so that i can play with it also (in exchange, i have some sweet appliances myself).
i would make a pie. because pies are fantastic. maybe one of the tofu + melted chocolate + ?? = pies kind. they are always yummy.
ohhh... good idea. yesterday i was thinking what might just be the best darned things you've ever tried is: melted choc+ricemellow+avocado+pb (you wouldn't taste the avo, it would be for texture), you should try it!
i think it would be fun to grind up your old crappy blender inside your fancy new vita-mix! take that old brown osterizer!
*Mad vibes of jealousy toward Cephi*
jk, that's sooooo awesome! :D
Can't you use the Vita-Mix to make juices without removing all the goodness in the pulp? That's what I really want one for.
Have fun with your new toy! :)
Can't you use the Vita-Mix to make juices without removing all the goodness in the pulp? That's what I really want one for.
i was thinking about this earlier--the whole fruit/veggie juice possibilities. can you make a video and talk about the thickness/texture? i would imagine it would be more towards "smoothie" than "juicie"
Oh man. I second this. Vita-Mix porn would be fabulous.
:D
First, you will now be able to liquefy tofu like never before. So definitely make some pies. Either a tofu chocolate or a tofu pumpkin are my favorites. Next, try some smoothies. Frozen fruits, frozen banana, cold juice and you can blend it till its ice cream! Yummy!
After that, you can use the low speeds to chop up fixings for salsa. Then whip out the dry container and toss in frozen wheat berries to make your own flour. You can also add in the rest of the ingredients and have the vitamix kneed the dough! It should be in the recipe book.
Do try out some soups too. I think soup would rock in the Vitamix. Though I must admit, mine is really only been used for tofu blending and smoothies. Though I did make some superfine sugar in the dry container once!
Hey Cephi! I just whipped up an awesome Quiche base in my VitaMix. Tofu, Olive Oil, splash of Soy sauce, Nutritional Yeast, and mustard. Toss it into a pan with sauted onion, kale (or chard), mushrooms and garlic. Spice with basil and bake over a batch of cooked rice for 45 min. Yummy yummy!
Hey all, thanks for the suggestions -- what with traveling and christmasing, I've been away from vegweb for a few days. I definitely want to make a pie before I leave! Especially since we're almost out of the awesome vegan pumpkin crisp that my mom made... the omnivores went wild for it at our big family gathering!
I've made several juices already, and I've LOVED them. I haven't followed any recipes yet. First thing I did was throw in a whole apple, a whole peeled orange, a whole peeled banana, a whole carrot, and some soy milk and ice. My latest lovely snack was a carrot, a stalk of celery and some orange juice. That one was really good, the flavors actually combined very well! They are, of course, somewhat pulpy, which I like. Although "pulpy" seems misleading; the chunks are much smaller than ordinary pulp. It's more that the liquid is just sort of thicker than juice usually is. You can strain with cheesecloth if you want "normal" juice.
That quiche sounds good and easy too cali... i'll have to try that. But, my priorities being what they are, i expect that first stop will be some big chocolaty concoction.
Ooooooh, those juices sound awesome! I like pulpy juices too.
But, my priorities being what they are, i expect that first stop will be some big chocolaty concoction.
Awesome. Glad to see you've got your priorities straight.
Have fun ;D
big chocolate concoction? hmmm... if memory serves me cephi, you live pretty close to me so in case it ends up being more chocolate than you can handle just let me know. i'll even bring something to pulverize!
Hey Cali - Keep us updated with good VitaMix recipes. I too got one from my parents for X-Mas and I am loving it. It has so much power that when I have it on high speed I feel like its going to start smoking and blast off into outerspace! :D
I think my primary use is smoothies and I am forever looking for new tasty recipes!
i must say i am jealous of all you vitamix getters >:( well, as jealous as i can get.
Me too BP!
Dear Cephi:
Sorry to bounce your thread off topic, but I f'ing love you! POST MORE BIATCH!
Hey Cali - Keep us updated with good VitaMix recipes. I too got one from my parents for X-Mas and I am loving it. It has so much power that when I have it on high speed I feel like its going to start smoking and blast off into outerspace! :D
I think my primary use is smoothies and I am forever looking for new tasty recipes!
I will try KendraKat! I have this craving for a creamy vitamix soup. Something like roasted garlic and cauliflower in an unsweetened soy milk roux. Of course, I have the makings of a pie to do first. hahahah