I succeeded in vacuum-sealing the Vitamix Ascent lids with an easier setup than my original DIY Vitamix vacuum lid. For information about why you might want to vacuum blend, see my vacuum blending post. Continue Reading →
46
This time of year my house is pretty cold, so ice-cold smoothies are not too appealing. Some smoothies are great warm, and this apple smoothie is one of them. It strongly evokes apple pie, and it’s ready in minutes. The pecans step it up a notch and give it a little pseudo-buttery deliciousness. Continue Reading →
I almost always use my Vitamix for healthy blends, but it is also a useful tool for making decadent desserts. Here’s a recipe for a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting that comes from a 1973 edition of Joy of Cooking. It’s listed as Easy Chocolate Icing, and it’s the one my mom has been using for chocolate birthday cakes for decades. Continue Reading →
My mom made this delicious soup last Thanksgiving. It was so good that I had to make it myself, but, by the time I did, chestnuts were already out of most stores, so I’ve been waiting to post it. I just saw fresh chestnuts at the market, so it’s finally time! The combination of chestnuts and mushrooms, enhanced with a little sherry, gives a deep and satisfying flavor. Continue Reading →
I enjoy fresh (uncooked) salsa, though sometimes it can be a bit watery. There are various tricks to make it less watery, which mainly consist of using less-watery tomato varieties and/or straining out some of the liquid. I had an idea to thicken the salsa with chia seeds, and I’m happy with the result. There is still some liquid that separates out, but the bulk of the salsa is satisfyingly thick. Continue Reading →
In recent years Vitamix has greatly expanded their range of containers. (Each container in the photo above is different!) Here I will explain which containers work with which machines. Continue Reading →
Cool off from a hot summer day with homemade snow cones! Crushing ice into “snow” in a Vitamix is easy as long as you don’t try to make too much at once. Just toss in ice and blend for a few seconds. Continue Reading →
Here’s a quick cool soup. On an absolute basis, I prefer gazpacho, but I also love variety. This soup is satisfying, and great for hot summer days. Continue Reading →
I made a vegan mayonnaise while working on my Aer Disc review, and it came together so easily in a standard Vitamix container that I figured I should write a separate post. To make it more interesting, here is a vegan aioli recipe. (I just added garlic to the vegan mayo recipe, and it worked perfectly.) Continue Reading →
Here’s my review of the Vitamix Aer Disc Container. Instead of blades, it uses a disc with holes in it, which makes it less aggressive. They named it Aer for aeration, referring to its ability to whip up foams. It can also extract flavor from ingredients for drinks, and emulsify sauces and dressings. It works on all full size (non S-Series) models, so that includes everything from the classic 5000 up to the latest Ascent models. As usual, if you order via my link, you get free shipping, and Joy of Blending gets a commission. Continue Reading →