Conference turris::cooks

    I received a flyer in the mail the other day for a Vitamix, and it
    talked about a recipe book that would come with the mixer, also a video
    you could order.  Maybe you could order these separately if they didn't
    come with yours, their # is 800-848-2649.
    
    I requested info about a super-efficient vacuum cleaner they make,
    too-I guess that's how I got on their mailing list.
    
    TW
    

    I have been wanting to purchase a vitamix for several years and could
    never justify the cost.  Now my 'cheap' foodprocessor and 'cheap'
    blender are both on their way out and discovered that I am only going
    to buy the best from now on.  I plan on purchasing one in Jan.  How do
    you folks like yours.  Do you find that you use it enough to balance
    the cost?  Do you think the commercial model is worth the extra $49.00?
    
    Joyce

    We probably could use ours more often than we do, but it's a pain to
    clean.  We use the Cuisinart instead.
    
    --Karen

    
    Do any of you own a Vitamix?  Is it all the advertisement
    sais it is?  Does it in fact make good juice, grind flower,
    knead dough, etc?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Adele
    

    I don't own one but I have seen them demonstrated at the Springfield
    Fair (here in Massachusets), and have tasted what is made in them such
    as soup, ice cream, juice.  From what I've seen they work great but are
    expensive.
    
    Liz

   I own a Vitamix, and while they are very expensive, they do work very 
well.  The thing I have mainly used it for is to make bread (I used 
regular flour, however, but it will grind wheat).  You can mix all 
ingredients for the bread, put it in a pan an then into the oven.  No more 
kneading, kneading, & more kneading!  It can make some great drinks from 
fruits.

   My problem is that I don't use it enough!  It's very easy to use & 
clean.  The book that comes with it has some great recipes.

   We originally bought it to make baby food for my son, but we put it on 
lay-away and didn't pay it off 'til after he grew out of the baby food 
stage!

- Audrey

    
    Thank you both.  It is expensive but I think it's a good investment
    because it's a few gadgets in one - a chopper, grinder, blender and
    food processor so if you add them up it's cheap.
    
    So it kneads bread, I like that idea since kneading can be theraputic
    if you have time it can be fustrating and sticky when you don't.
    
    thanks again,
    
    Adele

    Ok, for you Vitamix users... Here's a recipe for a fruit drink I
    requested when I originally started this note.
    
    	Name of drink: Hell -- I dont know.
    
    	Stuff you will need:
    
    	Pineapple juice	2 1/2 cups
    	cabbage         2 good size leafs
    	carrot          use peeler, peel 20 thin carrot sheets.
    	lemon           one thinly sliced piece, with peel naturally
    	banana          whole banana -- do not put the peel in here!
    	fresh beet      nice slice of fresh beet
    	Apple		The whole thing core and all.
    	Orange		break in wedges and use the whole thing
    	honey		2 1/2 to 3 table spoons
    
    	Directions:
    
    	pour pinapple juice in mixer
    	cut apple in quarter
    
    	turn mixer on high speed
    	drop in apple quarter and let mix 30-40 seconds by itsself
    	while still mixing add the follwing
    	lemon slice (remember this should be thin slice)
    	orange
    	banana
    	cabbage
    	carrot slices
    
    	let this mix an additional 30 seconds
        add honey
    	and now for the magic, and the slice of fresh beet. This must be
    	garden fresh, the canned variety will make this taste yukky.
    
    	While the beet get processed the drink takes on a strawberry 
    	appearance, looks and smell's really nice!
    
    	Finally add 2 to 3 cups of ice and you will have one of the 
    	healthiest drinks you have ever had in your life.
    
    	My wife and childrren love it, and often request it over
    	icecream... it will energize you with vitamins galore, it will
    	make your finger nail unbreakable, for you balding guy/gals some
    	say it will grow hair on your head if used long enough... (Ok
    	only kidding) hope you enjoy -- my family does.
    	
    
    
    	Michael Gaines

.0>  Also if any of you own a VITAMIX please post your favorite 
.0>  meals/beverages here.
    
    Something I do frequently is make chicken spread with leftover chicken
    that doesn't look appetizing enough by itself to serve again. It's a
    way of making use of something that might otherwise be thrown out,
    depending on your upbringing and income.
    
    Chicken Spread (very much a personal recipe :-)
    
    Leftover Chicken (with or without skin, chef's choice)
    Mayonnaise to taste -- I'd guess about 2T per C of chicken
    Celery to taste
    Pickle Relish to taste
    Salt (optional)
    Cayenne Pepper (for the adventurous)

    Cut the chicken into inch-long pieces and dump in the container. 
    Cut celery into fairly short pieces. Set motor speed to HIGH.
    Use the Tap-release technique: 3 or 4 short bursts at a time.
    Use a spatula to push down the mixture towards the blades and
    repeat tap-release process. During this add mayonnaise slowly,
    pickle relish and salt very slowly. It takes about 10 minutes of
    (tap-release / spatula-push / add ingredients) to get the texture
    of a smooth spread. The only real problem is adding too much mayo,
    so you want to be careful with that.
    
    Once you've achieved the desired consistency (about that of peanut
    butter), use the spatula to remove the spread from the mixer and 
    refrigerate in a covered bowl. You can serve the spread on crackers,
    but I prefer to use it as a sandwich filling with lettuce and tomato
    on toasted white bread.
    
    I wouldn't call this my favorite Vitamix recipe, but it is one I make
    fairly frequently since we cook a whole chicken every week or two.
    
      John