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Health & Fitness

Vitamix Bliss!

My nephew and his adorable new bride inspired me to write a blog post with some simple recipes for the new Vitamix they received as a wedding gift. 

If you don’t have a Vitamix, I highly recommend getting one.  Though similar to a blender, it’s far more powerful with endless possibilities towards delicious healthy eating! You can make beverages, soups, dips and spreads, sauces, breads, desserts, baby food, dressings and marinades.  The Vitamix is built to stand up to demanding commercial use and decades of use at home. With its ability to chop, blend, cream, purée and more, it’s the only appliance you need!  Another advantage? It’s self-cleaning.

I use my Vitamix at least once a day for my morning smoothie and usually more.  I’m not including a smoothie recipe here since everyone has his or her own personal preferences and there are so many online.   I will say however, I find that smoothie supplements like chia seeds are easily ground up with a Vitamix.

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Almond Milk

I love using homemade, completely additive-free almond milk as the liquid base for my smoothie, and with the Vitamix, it’s a breeze to make.  Nut and seed milks are high in protein, contain the “right” fats and provide calcium. 

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1 cup almonds, soaked 12 hours or overnight

4 cups purified or filtered water

Rinse and drain soaked almonds.  Place almonds and water in Vitamix and process on high until completely broken down.  Place nut milk bag (or cheese cloth) into large pitcher or bowl, positioning so that the bag stays open.  Pour nut milk mixture into bag, allowing liquid to drain through to container.  Gently squeeze with hand to press all liquid through the mesh bag. 

Compost the pulp or freeze for later use in inventive recipes.  Have fun trying milk made from other nuts and seeds, or try blending different kinds.  Each has its own unique flavor.

Peanut Butter

My husband smears peanut butter on everything – toast, crackers, apple slices, and celery. Freshly made, and without additives, it’s not only nutritious, but has a special taste.

Ingredients:

3 cups unsalted roasted peanuts

1.     Place ingredients into the Vitamix container and secure lid.

2.     Select Variable 1.

3.     Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High, using the tamper to press the ingredients into the blades.

4.     In 1 minute you will hear a high-pitched chugging sound.  Once the butter begins to flow freely through the blades, the motor sound will change and become low and laboring.  Stop the machine.

5.     Store in an airtight container.

Attention: Over processing will cause serious overheating to your machine.  Try making other nut butters too!

Avocado Tortilla Soup

This soup can be made from start to finish in your Vitamix  - you can’t get any easier or quicker than that!

Ingredients:

2 cups chicken broth

5 Roma tomatoes, quartered

1/3 bunch cilantro

1 garlic clove

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ avocado, peeled and pitted

½ lime, peeled

½ cup canned black beans, drained

½ cup canned corn, drained (You can use frozen too but thaw first.)

2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed

1.     Place all ingredients except corn, beans, and tortilla chips into Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.

2.     Select Variable 1.

3.     Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.

4.     Blend for 6 – 7 minutes or until heavy steam escapes from vented lid.

5.     Reduce speed to Variable 2 and remove the lid plug.

6.     Drop in corn, beans, and tortilla chips through the lid plug opening.  Blend for additional 10 seconds.

7.     Garnish with a tortilla chips, sour cream, and a sprig of cilantro.

Vitamix’s powerful motor actually cooks the soup!

Strawberry Yogurt Freeze

Ingredients:

1-cup non-fat, plain, vanilla or strawberry yogurt

1 pound frozen organic, unsweetened strawberries

1/3-cup sugar (Coconut or pure cane sugar) (Omit sugar if using flavored yogurt.)

1.     Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.

2.     Select Variable 1.

3.     Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.

4.     Use tamper to press ingredients into the blades.

5.     In about 30 – 60 seconds, the sound of the motor will change and four mounds should form in the mixture.

6.     Stop machine.  Do not over mix or melting will occur.  Serve immediately.

Try experimenting with other frozen fruits and yogurt flavors!

The Vitamix is amazing and will change your eating habits.  I suggest attending a demonstration to understand how it works and its possibilities.  Most places that sell them offer demos frequently.  Visit Vitamix.com for more wonderful recipes.

For more green living tips, visit greenwithbetsy.com.

 

 

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