Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Smoothie Day







Today is Fat Tuesday, and  today is also my Kale Tuesday. I wanted to have Fat Kale Tuesday but realized that for all my ideas I have only a half  bunch of kale and a few kale leaves from my own tiny garden. While working in my greenhouse, I was debating with myself on which side to go: fat or healthy, By midday I got hungry for a nice cold smoothie: today was in a mid 60sF (17C), kinda hot for February!


This "toy"  has three horse power! 


During hot summer months our Blender lives on the kitchen counter, and we make smoothies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and in between. 
After changing five (yes, 5!) blenders, we decided it's time to invest in a good one, that can serve our needs. Umm, actually, one that serves my kids and husband's needs to have frappuccinos. A few months of savings, six months to be exact,  and a good Costco discount, and one day we brought home a new kitchen "toy" Blendtec blender - with a three horsepower motor! 


Tomato in a greenhouse was sparkling in a morning dew...


So, after a nice few hours of work in my garden and in the greenhouse, I pulled the blender from it's winter hiding spot and put all those three horsepower to work! I looked at the ingredients in the refrigerator: pineapple, kiwi, kale? Yes, Kale! Lets see what it would taste like. 
25 seconds later and I had a pleasure moment to enjoy: cool Kale smoothie. 
Why I didn't make it before?! It tasted great! 


"Mmm, I am good!"

***
I am a victim of the saying: "I am not so rich to buy chip things", in reverse though. We always go for a chipper stuff and end up spending more. Because we stepped on a same rake over and over by buying chip only to realise that it's not what we need or to find out that's not working properly, we are wiser now, a little... 
We do our research before we buy (actually, we always did), think it over and over, and then we make our decision weather to go with chip or more expensive item. 
Blendtec was worth every saved penny: powerful (crashes ice to a perfect Starbucks consistency, well, Starbucks uses Blendtec too! I think that's how my husband figured out we needed this model...:); easy to clean (very important); versatile - I make my own flour, sunflower butter, almond milk, you name it - this three "horses" can do it all!  


Do you have a favorite kitchen "toy"? 
Or do you dream about one?




Until next time,
Cowboy country vegetarian

32 comments:

  1. After all the food merriment around our house lately a winter smoothie is in order. These are three favorites that we always have on hand this time of year. Can't wait to make this!

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    1. Let me know how you like it. I tried to add honey to one just to try.

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  2. I don't know about toy blendtec blender. But I have Vita mix( its not toy but big)and it is great for green smoothies.Everything gets churned up, nothing is wasted.
    Marina, I am sharing my liebster award with you. I hope you will accept it.

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    1. Thank you Balvinder. Blendtec is another brand, similar to Vita Mix.

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  3. That smoothie looks amazing! I have a blender and it wasn't cheap, but I'm not crazy about it. I've thought of investing in another one....one day!

    My favorite kitchen toy is my mixer and my immersion blender. I use them like mad!

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    1. Thank you Ann. You know, I've never used the immersion blender in the cooking for some reason. I use mine when I make cosmetic products only. :)

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  4. The smoothie looks amazing...kitchen toys..hmmm it is still very basic for us...but one day I dream of buying a proper cake mixer...:-)

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    1. Suchi, I am a every basic person too. I got my Kitchen Aid mixer two years ago for Mother's day. I am still learning to use all the technology.

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  5. Love my kitchen aid mixer. I have never had kale before... Kind of scared of it. Is it like similar to another veggie?

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    1. April, don't be scared of kale! Lol.. It is from same Brassica family along with Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kohlrabi, Mustard, Rutabaga, Turnip. You've had some of it, I am sure!

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  6. That is one good looking smoothie; quite the industrial machine you have there. I have to admit I have too many toys to name just 1. I am the gadget queen around here.
    Rita

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    1. Thank you Rita. I'll keep in mind that you are the Gadget Quin, next time I have question, I know where to go!

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  7. This looks ever so nice. Great smoothie. I fancy something like that. THanks for sharing this. X

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  8. I use my food processor so much that I asked for a smaller version for Christmas. Love the processors. I'd love to have a really nice stand mixer one day.

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    1. I want a stand mixer I saw yesterday. It's like a Porsche in the kitchen!

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  9. I love to make smoothies and need to try this healthy combination! I like my old fashioned juicer, too! Thanks for your comment and encouragement on my new venture! I sure appreciate it! ♥♥♥

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    1. My juicer is in the winter hiding spot too, waiting for the season to begin. Although, I can make carrot and celery juice. Thanks for reminding me about juicer!

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  10. I would like to have this toy some day,I love smoothies.This is yummy and healthy.

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    1. Nadia, I wanted this toy for a long time and when Costco had a big event on it, we just jumped to this opportunity. We use it a lot, especially during summer. Good luck!

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  11. Kale sounds great for smoothies! Right now, my favorite gadget is my blender and my stand mixer (although I haven't used it much lately).

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    1. Thank you Ruth! I was surprised how good was kale in smoothie, it didn't overpowered any other ingredients, it was smooth... :)

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  12. I use my food processor alot - its just a hand held one the you can also attach to a small bowl but I love it. It is however a fairly cheap one and I think I should definitely have been like you and researched it more and bought something that will last longer than the 6 months I give this.

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    1. It seams we don't have much luck with a chip kitchen gadgets: they brake or don't work. It was with blenders, food processors, and juicers. Do you really get what you paid for, as my friend always says?

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  13. I have a Blendtec grain mill and I love it so much that I am thinking of devoting a whole post to it. They are a great company.

    Your smoothie looks so healthy. I am a bit nervous of veggie/fruit smoothies, but I totally see the goodness of them.

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    1. I'll be glad if you do this post on Blendtec grain grinder. I am close to getting one: I don't like that flour in the store is enriched, bromide, bleached, and who knows what else was done to it.
      Kristen, veggie/fruit smoothie are very good and tasty, really. Try to use proportion 1 part veggies to 2 parts of fruits in the beginning.

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  14. wow the smoothie looks awesome, very appetizing. I need a new blender too. actualy I need a kitchen, an oven, a grinder, a hand mixer, a microwave oven, ice machine, steamer, deep fryer and a juicer. uff...
    My favourite kitchen gadget.. I d say the fridge!

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  15. Your smoothie is so pretty and sounds delicious! I have often drooled over these blenders at Costco!

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    1. Yep, So did I for quite some time. It's a good product and good investment too: we don't buy cold drinks anymore, and that itself is a big saving!

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  16. Adele, Welcome to my place. Thank you!

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  17. This looks yummy and healthy, definately a must try :)

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    1. Thank you, Marina! Healthy is my latest food fashion trend! :)

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Your warm comments put a smile on my heart.