Patrick - 101 Things to Do With a Blender

1. Remove the base from the regular blender container. Place ingredients in a pint-size mason jar in reverse order. Screw the base onto the mason jar. Make sure it is nice and tight. Invert the jar and place on the blender. Blend as directed. This is especially convenient with sauces, dressings, and dips because you just blend and store!

2. Be sure to add ingredients as listed. Adding liquid ingredients first, followed by fine or powdered ingredients, then finishing with larger ingredients like quartered vegetables helps the mixture blend easier.

3. You may need to pulse a mixture a few times to get the ingredients to begin blending smoothly.

4. Blenders are quick and easy to clean. Just rinse the blender pitcher and add a small amount of dish soap with about 2 cups warm water. Run on high for 30 seconds and rinse.

5. Always leave room in the pitcher for the mixture to expand.

6. Cooked vegetables blend more smoothly than raw vegetables. For a finer soup, saut vegetables prior to blending or blend after the soup has simmered.

7. Be very careful when blending hot mixtures. Fill the pitcher only half full to avoid spilling over.

8. To reduce fat and calories, substitute reduced-fat foods such as skim milk, light or fat-free sour cream, and light or fat-free cream cheese.

9. When using fresh garlic, 1 clove garlic equals 1 teaspoon minced garlic. Using fresh is much more cost effective than using bottled minced garlic.

10. It is possible to roast garlic in the microwave! Peel off paper layers and wrap each whole head in plastic wrap. Cook on high for 1 minute. Let cool and extract pulp by squeezing each clove.

11. For onions, 1/4 cup fresh minced onion equals 2 tablespoons dried minced onion.

12. When measuring herbs, 1/4 cup fresh herbs equals 1 tablespoon dried herbs.

13. Fresh or frozen vegetables, steamed, can be substituted for canned vegetables.

14. As always, be creative! Most ingredients can be adjusted to your own liking.