Help me love my Vitamix!

[melissel]

I've been wanting a Vitamix for years, and the other day I bought one after watching a demo at Costco (Merry Christmas to me! :tongue_smilie:). I was so excited, and everything the guy made during the demo was so delicious! Unfortunately, the first few things DH and I made involved a lot of carrots and apples (we're used to juicing), and they were so thick and pasty we were both kind of grossed out :(

 

So I need some awesome Vitamix recipes, preferably that don't involve dairy. Juice, smoothies, soups--what do you make that you love? Do you have a source for recipe inspiration? This is new to us, but I'm still trying to be excited!

 

TIA!

[pink&bluemommy]

bananas and frozen strawberries and whatever other fruit you have with a little lemon and perhaps 1/4 cup water depending on how many frozen strawberries and how thick you like your smoothies. They guy didn't give you any of his recipes? If you loved them that's where I'd start.

[itsheresomewhere]

They probably came from the vitamix cookbook. If you can tell me about what you had, I might be able to find them for you. I have the cookbook and the guy who demonstrates them in ours uses recipes from it.

[jennsmile]

Try some hummus from the cookbook, but be sure to add salt.

 

The tomato strawberry icecream rocks really.

 

If you want to juice in it and make say apple juice, blend the apples, then strain them to get the juice. ;) Makes yummy apple cider that way.

[meggie]

Did you not get a recipe book? It's supposed to come with an amazing recipe book and DVD. If you didn't get it, you should call the company.

 

I love the tortilla soup. You take three roma tomatoes, a carrot, a wedge of cabbage, a thick (2" or so) slice of zucchini or yellow squash, a sliver of onion, 3 cups of boiling water or chicken broth, a tablespoon of chicken base if you did the water and some taco seasoning. I just make my own, I think it's about a half tsp each of salt and chili powder plus a pinch of oregano and some black pepper and a few dashes of paprika. Then you puree that on high for 5 minutes or so. Then you turn the speed down and you can add a can of black beans or some corn and a cooked chicken breast or some tortilla chips.

 

I usually do apple juice for sweetener, about 2 cups. Then a bunch of spinach. Then I puree that on high til the spinach is liquified. Then I add two bananas and some frozen fruit. Costco here sells a blend of frozen strawberries, pineapple, mango, and papaya.

 

DH likes to make one with three oranges, a carrot, two bananas and the frozen fruit blend.

 

I also love the peanut butter and hummus. For the peanut butter you just use 3 cups roasted peanuts and puree it on high (must use the tamper for that one). The hummus I used was from the recipe book, I can't remember it off the top of my head. I tried making the almond milk once, it was beyond nasty.

[laundrycrisis]

I put romaine lettuce and carrots through the juicer. Then I add that juice to a frozen banana, some frozen berries and some soymilk. It makes a healthy shake the kids love.

[QuirkyKapers]

If it is too thick, I would add more liquid. We love ours! The lady at the Costco we were at emailed me her secret recipes. I can pm you if interested. The tortilla soup is awesome!!!

[Sandra in FL]

I use mine to make almond milk and pancakes from grain (buckwheat [for allergic ds], millet, brown rice, wheat). Also, the usual - smoothies, soups.

[JadeOrchidSong]

If it is too thick, I would add more liquid. We love ours! The lady at the Costco we were at emailed me her secret recipes. I can pm you if interested. The tortilla soup is awesome!!!

Can you please share with me, too?

I love to make humus, peanut butter, and other spreads. I love new ideas.

[KungFuPanda]

The BEST broccoli soup is just made with broccoli, water, and salt.

 

Simmer the broccoli in a little water and salt, then puree til smooth and serve hot. I was skeptical the first time I made this, but it is so easy and so creamy and good. I do this with a regular blender. Maybe the vitamix people can cook the ingredients in the blender and skip the simmering part?

[SonshineLearner]

I'm gonna make "Nutella" with mine

 

Homemade Nutella (someone's... don't know whose:()

1 cup hazelnuts

1/2 cup cocoa powder

5 TBS agave nectar (to taste)

1 TBS Vanilla Extract

1 TBS Hazelnut Oil (I'm going to use coconut)

Pinch of Celtic Seasalt

Roast the Hazelnuts at 350° for 8-10 minutes and smell fragrant. Transfer the hazelnuts to a towel and rub off the kinds if you can.

In a food processor (I'm using my Vitamix) grind the hazelnuts to a smooth butter, about 5 minutes, scraping the sides as needed. Add the cocoa, agave, vanilla, oil and salt and process until blended. (about a minute)

Stor in the fridge; bring to room temp before using/serving.

Edited December 8, 2011 by NayfiesMama
1/2 cup cocoa :)

[melissel]

I'm gonna make "Nutella" with mine

 

Homemade Nutella (someone's... don't know whose:()

1 cup hazelnuts

1/ cup cocoa powder

5 TBS agave nectar (to taste)

1 TBS Vanilla Extract

1 TBS Hazelnut Oil (I'm going to use coconut)

Pinch of Celtic Seasalt

Roast the Hazelnuts at 350° for 8-10 minutes and smell fragrant. Transfer the hazelnuts to a towel and rub off the kinds if you can.

In a food processor (I'm using my Vitamix) grind the hazelnuts to a smooth butter, about 5 minutes, scraping the sides as needed. Add the cocoa, agave, vanilla, oil and salt and process until blended. (about a minute)

Stor in the fridge; bring to room temp before using/serving.

 

OK, you win!!! :tongue_smilie:

 

Thank you everyone. I did track down the cookbook (DH had removed it to fiddle with the insides), and I completely forgot that the guy gave me his email address! I'll get to him right away. I definitely want to make that tortilla soup again, and the broccoli soup sounds good too.

 

This thing is sitting in front of me, taunting me :lol: I need to get to the grocery store today!

 

Thanks for all the advice, I can't wait to get it going again.

[HappyLady]

Run your juices through a nut milk bag, or cheesecloth, if you don't want the pulp. I make our apple juice that way, otherwise it's like drinking a watered down apple sauce. :)

[1GirlTwinBoys]

Coconut water

Kale

Pineapple

Blueberry

 

That makes a wonderful green smoothie.:)

[Kebo]

Here's a kid-friendly green smoothie that we make regularly:

 

1 cup of milk

1 small banana. We keep frozen on hand for this.

a handful of ice

a squirt of honey (2 teaspoons, maybe?)

a dash of cinnamon. Not too much.

a handful of baby spinach. About 2/3 cup, but can alter to taste. It does NOT taste of spinach at all.

 

Blend. Makes a nice healthy breakfast.

[melissel]

Coconut water

Kale

Pineapple

Blueberry

 

That makes a wonderful green smoothie.:)

 

Here's a kid-friendly green smoothie that we make regularly:

 

1 cup of milk

1 small banana. We keep frozen on hand for this.

a handful of ice

a squirt of honey (2 teaspoons, maybe?)

a dash of cinnamon. Not too much.

a handful of baby spinach. About 2/3 cup, but can alter to taste. It does NOT taste of spinach at all.

 

Blend. Makes a nice healthy breakfast.

 

Thanks! I meant to grab the coconut water when we were at the store this morning and forgot.

 

I did make a raspberry/strawberry/blackberry/blueberry/banana smoothie this morning, and I added half an avocado, a handful of spinach, and some pomegranate juice. Three of us liked it, one did not. But she's not a big fan of smoothies anyway.

 

If anyone has any others to add, I'm :bigear:!

[jjins]

Okay... if you are used to juicing, do not REPLACE your juicing with VM... it is not the same.

 

 

I love making smoothies (frozen fruit of choice, pineapple sorbet/sherbert OJ, sometimes fresh spinach or carrots) Turn on at level one move quickly through speeds until FULL speed... enjoy! This is a staple if anyone seems under the weather or if we are HOT from summer!

 

I like the potato soup recipe (dairy free with coconut or soy milk).

 

Frozen strawberry daquires (with whole strawberries and no ice) as well as FONDU have converted many a guest away from their 39 dollar blender. :-)

 

Also, there is a recipe for strawberry ice cream that is NOT dairy free, but is delicious and F A S T!!!

[arliemaria]

We also love the tortilla soup. After you make this a time or two you'll see you can do lots of different veggies and it still makes a delicious soup.

 

I make a strawberry syrup for pancakes that is super easy.

 

I like this crustless pecan pie a lot. http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/gluten_free_blender_pecan_pie/

 

I have made cheese sauce for a quick mac and cheese for my little one.

 

We make almond milk all the time, but you do need to get a nut milk bag. I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Nut-Milk-Bag--New-Improved/dp/B00158U8DU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323105976&sr=8-1

 

Salad Dressings, Mayo, etc.

 

I also have the dry blade and use it to grind my wheat berries. I can make a whole wheat loaf of bread from grinding the wheat to out of the oven in under an hour.