New Kitchen Toy: Oster 12 Speed Blender

While my ultimate goal would be a Blendtec blender, which would probably outlive me, I just purchased a 12-speed Oster blender from Target. It's reasonably priced ($29.99), reliable, and it could perform the role of 4 different kitchen appliances (blender, smoothie maker, soup puree-er, ice cream maker, margarita maker, etc). There are also unending possibilities for what you can make in a blender (beverages, salsa, guacamole, hummus, butternut squash bacon and apple soup, etc.

Perhaps there will be a blender series on all of my blender creations in the future. For now, some eye candy.

Update: I forgot to mention one of my favorite aspects of the blender. It can be a food processor!!! I used it to make a butternut squash-sweet potato-carrot-apple-bacon soup. I'll share that with you later. For now, here is a little guide to using a blender as a food processor (and coffee grinder!!!).

Food -- Processed Quantity -- Unprocessed Quantity -- Special Instructions

Breadcrumbs -- 1/2 cup -- 1 slice, torn in 8 pieces -- Pulse 1-4 times

Celery -- 3/4 cup -- 1 cup of 1in pieces -- Pulse 2-3 times

Cheddar Cheese -- 1 cup -- 1 cup of 1in pieces -- Pulse 2-3 times

Swiss Cheese -- 1 cup -- 1 cup of 1in pieces -- Pulse 5 times

(Semi-)Hard Cheese -- 1 cup of 1 cup of 1in pieces -- Chop continuously

Coffee Beans -- 1 cup -- 1 cup -- Grind 45 seconds for percolators/french press; 60 seconds for drip

Wafer Cookies -- 1/2 cup -- 10 wafers -- Pulse 3 times

Graham Crackers -- 1/2 cup -- 8 crackers -- Pulse 3 times

Peppers -- 2/3 cup -- 1 cup -- Pulse 1 time

Boneless Meat, Cooked -- 1 cup -- 1 cup of 1in pieces -- Chop continuously

Nuts -- 1 cup (250 ml) -- 1 cup (250 ml) -- Pulse 2-4 times