This pistachio sorbet recipe uses the same technique as my previously described chocolate sorbet. I’ve come to realize that high-performance blenders like Vitamix and Blendtec are particularly well-suited to making nut-based sorbets. They can blend nuts to a smooth consistency, and they can easily make a sorbet/“ice cream” without needing an ice cream maker. Continue Reading →
If you’ve been following this blog you may have noticed that all of my smoothie recipes are without bananas. I strongly dislike the smell/flavor of bananas*, so I avoid them altogether. While browsing other people’s smoothie recipes, I’ve found that the majority use banana. If you are like me and can’t stand bananas, you’ll be glad to find that all recipes on this site are banana-free. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with bananas, but even if you like bananas, you may still enjoy some more variety to your smoothies. Read on for banana substitutes in smoothie recipes. Continue Reading →
Here’s a sweet blueberry smoothie recipe. I added lemon juice to brighten it up, and mango and almonds to give it a bit of body. Since we’re using high-performance blenders, I used almonds instead of almond milk.
1 cup water
⅓ cup almonds (raw)
1 cup blueberries (frozen)
1 cup mango (frozen)
1-2 tsp lemon juice (~¼ lemon)
Makes ~2.5 cups: two small (but satisfying) servings or one medium-large serving. Continue Reading →
Everyone knows that Vitamix blenders spin fast, but what are the actual Vitamix RPM speeds? And are there differences between the speeds of Classic and Next Generation Vitamix motors? In this post I answer these questions by measuring Vitamix RPM speeds. (For details about which models are Classic and Next Generation see my Vitamix comparison page.) Continue Reading →
Summer is around the corner, which means basil is coming into season. It’s time to try some basil smoothies! I love basil, but I usually serve it with tomatoes or use it for pesto. It turns out that it can be excellent in fruit smoothies as well. This combination is delicious, refreshing, and just a little out of the ordinary. Continue Reading →
. The product page has a message that suggests purchasing the container with a Vitamix machine, but last time around QVC had no problem shipping it alone. Shipping is $7.97. Apologies for the three shopping-related posts in a row, but they’re all time-sensitive so I wanted to get them up. I have some other content on the way; in the meantime you can browse the published recipes list. Continue Reading →
Dec. 2014 Update: After extensive testing, I finally posted my hands-on review of the Vitamix S30. See that page for many more details about the pros and cons of the S30.
Vitamix just released a new model: the Vitamix S30. This is the most radically new Vitamix introduction since the early 90’s when they released the model that, with a few tweaks, became today’s 5200. The S30 seems to be inspired by the Magic Bullet/ Nutribullet: it is a compact size that makes one or two servings, and it has a blending container that doubles as a smoothie cup.
This chocolate sorbet recipe requires two phases of preparation, but it’s still quite easy. The idea is to first blend a chocolate liquid emulsion, freeze it, and then re-blend it. No ice cream maker needed! I kept the ingredients list simple for a pure chocolate flavor. Continue Reading →
As I mentioned in my last post about vanilla, I usually like to keep the ingredients simple when using vanilla so that it doesn’t get lost among stronger flavors. This smoothie maximizes the flavors of orange and vanilla. It’s not an attempt to replicate an Orange Julius, it just draws inspiration—slightly creamy, orange-vanilla goodness. I didn’t add any sweeteners other than the oranges, so this will not be as sweet as a traditional Orange Julius. You could of course add sweetener if you like. Over time our taste buds can adjust, and if you cut down on sweets you will likely find that you don’t need as much sugar for things to taste good. Continue Reading →