Category Archives: Blender Bests

Vegan Cheese Ball

81D4611D-F6B2-4E2A-A87A-AC0411DE1E38

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cup          Raw Cashews, soaked for at least 3 hours, drained and rinsed.

1/4 tsp              Lemon Zest

2 Tbs                Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Tbs                Nutritional Yeast

1 clove             Garlic

1/4 tsp             Onion Powder

1/4 tsp             Fine Sea Salt, plus more as needed

1/4 tsp             Pepper

1 1/2 tsp          Thyme, dried

1 1/2 tsp          Rosemary, dried

1/2 cup            Pistachios, shelled, roasted, salted and chopped

1/4 cup            Cranberries, dried

4 to 6                Belgian Endives, ends trimmed and leaves separated

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a food processor, combine the cashews, lemon zest, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic, onion powder, salt and pepper and process until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides with a spatula every so often, Add the thyme and rosemary and pulse until herbs are well distributed. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Line a small bowl with a cheesecloth or plastic wrap and add the cheese. Using the cheesecloth or plastic, for the cheese into a ball. Refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes.

Spread the pistachios and cranberries over a shallow baking dish or large plate.

Remove the cloth or plastic from the cheese ball and gently roll the cheese ball over the pistachios and dried cranberries, pressing them in. Continue until the cheese ball is coated all of the way around.

Transfer the finished cheese ball to a serving platter and serve with the endive leaves or crackers of your choice.

Leave a comment

Filed under Blender Bests, Fall/Winter Favorites, Holiday Menus, Inspiralized, Party Picks, Vegetarian Fare

Original Hummus

CFCED56E-0438-48A3-9DEE-20C7F576B451INGREDIENTS:

1 can (15 oz)          Chickpeas (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)

1/4 cup                    Lemon Juice (one large lemon)

1/4 cup                    Tahini, well-stirred

1 clove                     Garlic, minced

2 Tbs                       Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for serving

1/2 tsp                     Cumin, ground

tt                               Salt

2-3 Tbs                    Water

Dash                         Paprika, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

In a bowl of a food processor, combine the tahini and lemon juice and process for 1 minute, scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl then process for 30 seconds more. This extra time helps “whip” or “cream” the tahini, making the hummus smooth and creamy.

Add the olive oil, minced garlic, cumin and a 1/2 tsp of salt to the whipped tahini and lemon juice. Process for 30 seconds or until well blended.

Open, drain and rinse the chickpeas. Add half of the chickpeas to the food processor and process for 1 minute. Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl, then add remaining chickpeas and process until thick and quite smooth; 1 to 2 minutes.

Most likely the hummus will be too thick or still have tiny bits of chickpea. To fix this, with the food processor turned on, slowly add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water until you reach the perfect consistency.

Taste for salt and adjust as needed. Serve hummus with a drizzle of olive oil and a dash of paprika. Store homemade hummus in an airtight container and refrigerate up to one week.

Leave a comment

Filed under Blender Bests, Healthy Lunches, Party Picks, Starters, Vegetarian Fare

Quacamole Nirvana

FC9A8E3C-B636-4552-9B5F-56322EE09A37.jpegINGREDIENTS:

3 ea            Hass Avocados

1 clove       Garlic, finely grated

1 ea             Serrano Pepper, finely chopped

1 qtr           White Onion, finely chopped

1-2 Tbs      Lime juice, freshly squeezed

tt                 Kosher Salt

DIRECTIONS:

Smash three ripe avocados with a potato masher, fork or molcajete (Mexican mortar and pestle) until very coarsely mashed. It’s okay if there are some chunks of avocado as it will continue to break down as you mix in the other ingredients. Stir in the other ingredients and season liberally with about a teaspoon of kosher salt.

A word on cilantro: while it’s traditional to add it to quac, there are some times when it is best not used. If served as an appetizer with corn chips or corn fried tortillas, definitely throw some in. If putting out as a condiment with a taco, put it on the side so guests can build the tacos to their own tastes.

Leave a comment

Filed under Blender Bests, Holiday Menus, International Inspirations, Party Picks, Starters, Summer Favorites, Vegetarian Fare

Berry, Beet, Mint, Lime and Chia Seed Smoothie

IMG_5531

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup       Almond Milk

3/4 cup        Blackberries and/or Blueberries, Frozen

1/4 cup        Beet, grated (about 1 small)

1/4 cup        Mint Leaves

2 Tbs            Lime Juice, fresh

1 Tbs            Chia Seeds, ground

1 Tbs             Honey

DIRECTIONS:

Using smoothie or ice crush setting, puree almond milk, blackberries, beet, mint, lime, juice, chia seeds, honey, salt and 1/2 cup ice in a blender until smooth.

Leave a comment

Filed under Blender Bests

Tortilla Soup (aka taco soup)

IMG_4613

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup            Chicken, Beef or Vegetable Broth, low sodium

1 ea                Roma Tomato, halved

1 ea                Carrot, halved

1 ea                Celery Stalk, halved

1 slice            Onion, thin and peeled

1 clove           Garlic, peeled

1 slice             Yellow Squash, thin

1 slice             Red Bell Pepper, thin

1 slice              Cabbage, thin

1 ea                  Mushroom

tt                      Salt and Pepper

1 tsp                Taco Seasoning (or taco sauce)

dash                Cumin

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup             Chicken Breast, cooked

1/2 ea                Jalapeno, fresh

1/4 cup             Olives, pitted

1/4 cup              Corn, canned and drained

2 oz                     Tortilla Chips, baked

Place all soup base ingredients into the Vitamix or other blender in order listed and secure lid – I like to double all ingredients for our family of four.  Select hot soup program.  If adding optional ingredients, select variable 2.  Drop in optional ingredients and blend for an additional 10 seconds.

Leave a comment

Filed under Blender Bests, Fall/Winter Favorites, Super Soups, What's for Dinner?

Spring Green Smoothie

IMG_4177

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup          Green Grapes

1 ea                  Orange, peeled, halved and seeded

1/2 ea             Lemon, peeled and seeded

1/2 ea             Cucumber, cut into large chunks

1/2 ea             Green Apple, seeded

1 cup               Kale, pine removed

1 cup               Parsley Leaves

1 cup              Pineapple Chunks, frozen

2 cups           Ice Cubes

Place all ingredients in the vitamix or other blender in the order listed.  Select smoothie program and complete cycle.

Leave a comment

Filed under Blender Bests