Do you have a huge blender sitting on your counter? We do. We love our Blendtec but now that the weather is cooling off we don’t make smoothies quite as often. Since our Blendtec takes up such important counter-top real estate I make sure to use it all year long. Same goes for those of you with a Vitamix!
Here are a 4 ways to use your blender all year long, even when smoothies are off the menu.
1. Savory Soups
I love soups in the fall. While chunky, hearty soups definitely have their place I love smooth creamy soups as well. You don’t have to follow a recipe although my Slow Cooker Potato Soup and Tomato Soup are both good choices. Any soup, especially those that are bean or veggie based will blend nicely. Try adapting your favorite soup recipes.
2. Dips
I’m a sucker for dips. We used to have a “snack nite” on the weekends. The whole family loved it. Salsa, Jalapeno Hummus, and most recently my Spinach Artichoke Dip are pretty much guilt-free.
Get creative and mix your favorite flavors together. I love to start with white beans as a base like in my Green Chili White Bean Dip. You can adapt it by adding roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes or fresh herbs and spices. Slowly add liquid until it reaches your preferred consistency.
3. Salad Dressings
Similar to dips, salad dressing are easy to make in a blender. They need a lot more liquid but don’t add too much too fast. I make Creamy Italian Salad Dressing and Sweet and Tangy Salad Dressing most often but I love making salad dressings with fruit too. Blueberry Vinaigrette and Cranberry Salad Dressing are both oil-free.
4. Make Your Own Oat Flour or Instant Oats
I buy Gluten Free Whole Grain Rolled Oats in bulk from Amazon and use them for more than oatmeal. Toss some oats in your blender and pulse for a few seconds at a time to make Instant Oatmeal. It will cook quicker since it’s broken down into smaller pieces. You can continue to blend it into a fine flour to use in gluten-free baked goods.
Do you used your blender for more than smoothies? How do you use your blender?
If you don’t have a good blender I highly recommend Blendtec. It’s a great investment in your health!
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