5 Things I Make In My Vitamix
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The Vitamix blender is the King of my kitchen. It is one of the best investments I have ever made in my health, food prep, and sanity. Dropping those initial $500(ish) was scary up front but it has paid for itself in its quality, durability, versatility, and the sheer joy it brings me.
I have had mine for 10 years and it is going strong as ever. The Vitamix is an indispensable part of any healthy kitchen. Here are five things I make with it both on a regular basis and from time to time.
Protein smoothies | Smoothies are what I most make most often with my Vitamix. My smoothies have stayed pretty consistent over the years: almond milk, frozen mixed berries and/or blueberries from Costco, a tablespoon of flax, a tablespoon of chia, frozen banana, and most recently, a big scoop of dark chocolate Vivo Life Protein Powder. This protein powder has upgraded my smoothies to the -nth degree of yumminess and nutrition. I even wrote a whole blog post on why I love it so much. Other optional add-ins include: handful of fresh spinach, two tablespoons of oats, or the raw nut mix below to boost protein content. Regardless of what you include, the Vitamix grinds it so well you end up with the smoothest and creamiest healthy treat.
Raw nut mix | The aforementioned raw nut mix is a fairly new concoction I came up with. I take approximately a quarter cup each of whole, raw: almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flax and grind them up to a powdery consistency. I store the nuts in an airtight glass container in the fridge, and they keep fresh for weeks. I drop in a tablespoon into smoothies or sprinkle a bit over salads, or in oats (cold overnight or cooked warm). It’s a great way to get the nutritional benefits of a wide variety of nuts without going overboard or dealing with texture issues. The Vitamix grinds them up so smooth so no matter how you have them you hardly even notice them.
Green juice | Not to be confused with a smoothie, the Vitamix is a great way to make whole food juice that is smooth and not all grainy or gross. Unlike a juicer, making green juice in a blender keeps the fiber content. Both blender juice and extractor juice have their benefits and their pros and cons. I’m not down on juicers - I have one and use it - simply pointing out that in a blender you also get the fiber. I usually include: a whole peeled cucumber, a few stalks of celery, a few handfuls of spinach, occasionally parsley, small chunks of turmeric and ginger, and a whole peeled lemon. I start with less water and then add a bit as I go depending on consistency. When it’s done you can run it through a sieve to smooth it out even more, or drink it as is. The lemon and ginger give it a much more pleasant taste. I actually prefer lemon and ginger to adding an apple for flavor or sweetness, though that’s perfectly ok too. I store mine in glass containers in the fridge and they keep fresh for several days.
Butter | Yes, you can make your own dairy butter at home. It’s important to start out with a high quality heavy cream. The Vitamix makes quick work of the actual “churning” part. It does require a few steps afterwards but the result is so yummy and creamy. Rather than go into detail about how the process works, this video might be more helpful. Total honesty: I don’t make butter as regularly as I make smoothies, but it’s always worth the time and effort when I do.
Almond Milk | Almond milk, at least the way I make it, is super fast and easy. I start by blanching whole raw almonds in cold water for a few hours, popping off the skins, and then whizzing through the Vitamix with water. I don’t cook with measurements so I can’t offer exact cup amounts. As Rachael Ray says, I “eyeball it,” but usually start with less water and then add more as needed. Once it’s smooth I strain the liquid through a large fine sieve lined with a paper towel. I add a pinch of salt, some agave, and a drop or two of vanilla, just enough to give it “something” though not exactly full on vanilla flavor. You can also leave it totally plain without the agave, vanilla, or salt to use in savory cooking. Though I recently started incorporating small amounts of grass-fed dairy milk back into my diet, almond milk is still my go-to milk for smoothies, oats and certain types of baking. Like butter, it’s not something I make as often as smoothies or green juice, but always worth the effort when I do, and the Vitamix always renders the right consistency and texture.
And though I’ve never made it, with a Vitamix you can also make nut butters, as well as soups and sauces and so many other things. This playlist on the VItamix website offers lots of useful info and ideas. Vitamix has expanded their line to include hand helds, food processors, and other items. Check them all out here at the Vitamix Store on Amazon.
While there may be other high quality blenders available on the market but for my money, I’m #TeamVitamix forever. It has been one of the best investments ever, and one I can recommend wholeheartedly.
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