Speaking of Christmas gifts

My son has suggested that my dear daughter-in-law would like a blender/smoothie-maker. Any suggestions as to brand and model?

I thought I my suggest to my boys that I could use a food processor. Again, anysuggestions as to brand model?

Haven't had the best luck with blenders, so won't recommend there.

But for you- I highly recommend a Cuisinart 11cup Food processor. Mine is a work-horse in my kitchen. I was w/o one for years and now I can't imagine being w/o it. The Cusinart really is wonderful: very powerful, and easy to clean plus a lot of funtionality with blades. Mine even came with a DVD to show you how to use it.

Deb

Thanks for the recommendation, Deb. I presently have a blender, stick blender, and my beloved Kitchen mixer. I'm not a baker. So baking aside, would you mind giving me a few hints as to what you use it for?

I also have all three you mention. Off the top of my head, here's what I have used it for very recently ( excluding baking):

Slicing potatoes for Au Gratin ( in 10 seconds flat)
Shredding large quantities of cheese
Shreding cabbage
Thin slicing vegetables
Puree of larger amounts than in the blender or with immersion blender
Chopping nuts
Grinding crackers into crumbs
Making pie crust for Pot Pies
Making bread crumbs from old bread

It does most of these dry ingredients far better than a blender ( don't get jammed up on the bottom).

Does that help?
Deb

Cool! Thanks Deb.

Couldn't even think of making onion soup without my Cuisinart.

If you have the money, this is the only blender you will ever need...

http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=unsafe

Dan, I've watched so many of those Will it Blend vidoes that it isn't funny. It really does blend ANYTHING. Thanks for the linkie.

Yes the videos are fun to watch! I do wonder however if a lot of the other blenders wouldn't do the same thing, just that nobody is nuts enough to try it? Besides who needs to blend an iPod, flashlight, etc.?