Vitamix love

Last month I finally fulfilled a dream. I own my very own Vitamix! Yes the price was steep but I was able to get it on Amazon Prime so free shipping :] I used my blender and food processor out before leaving San Diego so I figured to save space and make a dream come true I would just get a Vitamix. It took a few months longer than expected, but it is finally mine!

The purchase also came with this awesome Vitamix cookbook that I have been getting great use out of. Since I am still unable to use my juicer {broke the pusher piece and the one I ordered isn't the correct one} we have been doing green smoothies every morning instead. I am loving them, but they do not fill me up like a huge thing of juice does. For now I am happy though.

 

ALMOND MILK

My first attempt... Not so good, I need the proper cloth or bag strainer to get all the residue out.

COCONUT BUTTER

First and possibly last attempt at making coconut butter. First off this bag wasn't enough for the tamper to even reach to help move things along so I had to run to the commissary to get more coconut. My second try I added too much and had to take some out. Then I hadn't realized that the oils were leaking out of the bottom! I had been wondering why it was so dry but I thought it was just condensation forming at the base. The blade piece had been knocked loose when I accidentally moved the canister while it was working. I should have taken a picture of the mess. Making my own is much cheaper than having to order some... but I really don't know when I want to try that again. It might be awhile.

SWEET GREENS SMOOTHIE

 

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup cucumber, peeled, chopped

1 cup fresh spinach, washed

3/4-1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries {I am using mixed berries from Costco}

3/4-1 cup pineapple chunks. It was lacking something... could still be tweaked.

 

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

2. Select Smoothie program.

3. Press Start.

4. Allow machine to complete programmed cycle.

This one wasn't a favorite of ours.... I may try to add more to it to see if that helps...



EVERYTHING SMOOTHIE

1/2 cup almond milk {or whichever you prefer}
1/2 cup grapes, red or green
1 medium orange, peeled, halved
1/2 peach, pitted {Since they are not in season we used frozen}
1/2 cup fresh pineapple chunks, core included
1/2 medium carrot
1/2 cup chopped fresh broccoli
1/2 cup fresh spinach, washed
1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries {mixed berries}
1/2 banana, peeled, frozen
1 cup ice cubes

1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Frozen Desserts program
3. Press Start.
4. Allow machine to complete programmed cycle.

We really enjoyed this one! Frank was worried because of the broccoli, but you can't taste it at all!

STRAWBERRY {MIXED BERRY} & GREENS SMOOTHIE

1 cup water
1 cup almond milk {milk of choice}
2 cups fresh spinach, washed
1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries {mixed berries}
2 bananas, peeled, frozen

1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Frozen  Desserts program.
3. Press Start.
4. Allow machine to complete programmed cycle.

Another top favorite!

IT'S EASY BEING GREEN SMOOTHIE

1 cup grapes, red or green
1 medium orange, peeled, halved
1/2 cup fresh pineapple chunks, core included
1 medium banana, peeled
1 carrot, halved
2 cups fresh spinach, washed
1 medium apple, quartered
6 cups ice cubes

 1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Frozen Desserts program.
3. Press Start.
4. Allow machine to complete programmed cycle.

So amazing! This was by far my favorite :]

TORTILLA SOUP

SOUP BASE
3 cups low sodium chicken, beef or vegetable broth
1 Roma tomato, halved
1 carrot, halved
1 stalk celery, halved
1 thin slice of onion peeled {minced onion}
1 garlic clove, peeled {minced garlic}
1 thin slice of yellow squash
1 thin slice of red bell pepper
1 thin slice of cabbage
1 mushroom
salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon taco seasoning {chili powder}
dash cumin

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup diced, cooked chicken breast
1/2 fresh jalapeno
1/4 cup pitted olives
1/4 cup unsalted canned corn, drained
2 ounces baked tortilla chips

1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Hot Soup program.
3. Press Start.
4. Allow machine to complete programmed cycle.
5. If adding optional ingredients, select variable 1. Remove the lid plug. Press Start.
6. Add chicken, jalapeno, olives, corn and chips through the lid plug opening.
7. Blend for an additional 10 seconds.

I was very excited about this. Since you can't really find vegetarian tortilla soup in restaurants I have only been able to taste Frank's. I had planned to cook up some chicken for Frank to add to his but never got around to it. Next time! For our soup we did not add chicken, jalapeno or olives {Frank doesn't like}. It was so so good :] Annoying part of it though is that my canister now smells of it and it won't go away. I need to soak the lid in vinegar, I did the canister and tamper and plug but not the lid. It smelled better for a little while but after I put the lid back on it was like I never did it. Thankfully it hasn't made a difference in my smoothies.

I also made almond butter this morning but was in a hurry and didn't get any pictures.

All of these recipes came straight out of the Vitamix cookbook.