Dee,
I'm curious: If you are not sure what to do with it, why are you buying a blender?

Sheesh! I used to have one a long time ago and used it to make ice cream drinks and fruit smoothies, but I was wondering if people use it for anything else? I guess I should have been more specific. ;)

dee we use our about every night. since both dh and i are ice cream lovers but have to watch our sugar intake, we make a "creamy" shake for dessert. use frozen bagged un-sweeten fruit, skim milk, sweetner to taste, and wa-la! a farily low in sugar smoothie.

dh used to do a protein morning breakfast. he used juice, powder, and frozen banana chunks. (peel slightly ripen bananas, chuck, and freeze in baggies)

save that lumpy gravy! in smaller batches and be careful since it is hot, blend your dinner gravy if it's gotten lumpy...gives it a good texture almost (gag) like out of jar...

i've made home-made mayo..not since the egg scare but oh my it was really good...

didn't have super fine sugar for a recipe... blended that..

if you like frozen margaritas...

usually most machines have a nice little recipe book...

"Did you get it and then stick it away out of sight never to be used?"

Yep.

I use to use one all the time when I got it as a wedding present 32 years ago, then gradually not so much. When my son was younger I used it to make ice cream milk shakes and fruit smoothies. Today I use a stick blender. I find that a lot more versatile. Have you thought about getting one of those instead?
Clare

Mine is over 20 years or so old - used to use it, when my husband was alive, almost daily - haven't used it in a year and a half - it's stuck up on the highest shelf in the pantry!

I rarely use my blender. I have a stick blender with mini chopper and whisk attachments that I prefer. I use the mini chopper the most but when I do need to blend something I usually use the stick blender but I don't think it would work very well for blending ice.

My mom used to make her potato pancake batter in a blender.

bought one, rarely used it, couldn't sell it in a yard sale even so I gave it away on Craig's List. LOL!

I have one and DH uses it to mix up pancake batter....But I do use it when I'm canning tomatoes...I just put everything in the blender and turn it on....Makes the best puree or juice....

I use mine to make enchilada sauce/red sauce for my Mexican food.
Leslie

We use ours all the time. For smoothies. I can't think of anything else other than Margarita's that we have ever used our blender for.

Trish

I have an Osterizer blender...that works great. It's on a shelf in the closet(took up too much space and was gathering dust on the kitchen counter), and I haven't used it in years.

I also have a Farberware stick blender that does everything the Osterizer did...but takes up only a few inches in a drawer. This one I use.

I am on my third blender. My first one was avocado green back in the 70s. I don't use mine on a regular basis but I couldn't do without it. In the summer I use it to make iced lattes. I also use it to mix ingredients that need to be blended together.

I use my blender regularly for guacamole,picante sauce, body powder (made of natural ingredients), impossible pies, quiche, baby food for visiting grands and great grands, fruit smoothies, milkshakes, superfine sugar, colored sugar for sprinkles, etc.. It is a very handy tool!

Peach ice cream shakes, Louisiana Sunsets;
Dutch babies for breakfast (like Yorkshire pudding);
cream soups

Louisiana Sunset
Vanilla ice cream
Canned cling peaches
Mai Tai frozen drink mix.

Defrost and mix the Mai Tai concentrate with 3 cans of water. Pour one cup of the mix into your blender. Add 10 slices of peaches. Add about 1 quart of vanilla ice cream. Blend. Serve in a tall glass. Makes 2 shakes.

I originally had this with rum in it, but I make it without. It is good either way.

Thanks for the replies. Grammahoney, I would love to have your recipe for red sauce for Mexican food. I love fruit smoothies, but not so sure my husband will like them. I got the blender on sale at Penney's. It's a kitchen aid. I'm going to make strawberry smoothies for an evening treat tonight. I hope he likes them.
Dee in Michigan

I have a Kitchen Aid and an Osterizer. I keep the Osterizer in the club house and I use the other one in the house. I don't use it as much since I have the food processor, but have been meaning to get it out and mix up some low cal milk shakes using dried milk and ice cubes and things. Have to find my recipe. I used to use mine a lot for making tomato juice.

Sue

Margaritas!

Marilyn Sue, do you just blend up fresh tomatoes for the tomato juice or do you also have to 'cook' the juice? My hubby would LOVE fresh tomato juice every day.
Dee in Michigan

I grate potatoes for potato pancakes and chop cranberries/apple/orange for relish. So use it maybe 2-3 times a year.

Any chance a stick blender would grate potatoes and chop cranberries? It would sure be easier to store.

I usually used cooked tomatoes to can, but guess you could try some fresh! Might be real tasty. I can't remember what all I used to use mine for before except maybe cabbage in water and chop and strain, oh and carrots for carrot cake. It has been awhile.

Sue

I use mine for milkshakes and frozen cocktails. I once made blender gaspacho.

I use mine 2-3 times a year, for things like pureeing strawberries for jam and stuff like that.

I have a blender and a food processor. My food processor is used more than the blender. It does a great job on more solid things and lets me control the size or density of the finished items.

I wouldn't be without the blender for liquids like pureed soups,sauces or anything pourable. If you look at the way it's made with the blades pushing things up and over and the tall pitcher like container you can see it's designed for those uses. It also does duty as an ice crusher. It's a must have for frozen or properly blended cocktails or frozen lemonade etc.