8
RECIPE TIPS
The simple recipes that follow include some old Cui sinart favorites as
well as some creative combin ations that are sure to p lease your friends
and family. Thanks to the super ior ice crushing power of the Cuisinart®
SmartPower Classic™ Blender, you’ll also be able to make delicious fro-
zen drinks.
Chopping Nuts: Place ½ cup shelled nut s in the blender jar a nd cover
blender. Select Chop and pu lse until desired chop i s achieved. Pulse
fewer times for coarsely c hopped nuts. For best r esults process small
amounts, ½ cup or less.
Bread, Cookie or Cracker Crumbs: Break or cut bread, co okies or
crackers into pieces ½-i nch or less in size. For best bread results, us e
day-old bread (drier br ead works best). Place b read, cookie or cracker
pieces in blender jar. Sele ct Purée and pulse to c hop, then blend con-
tinuously until desired tex ture of crumbs is achieved. For best results
process 1 cup or less at a time.
Crushing Ice: A dd up to 10 standard ice cub es to the blender jar.
Cover. Press the Ice Crush but ton, using short burs ts, 10 times, or until
cubes are the consistency of snow. Press STOP button. Pulse fewer
times if coarsely chopp ed ice is desired.
Grating Fresh Cit rus Zest: For be st results, blender ja r and cutting
assembly must be clean and dry. Remove zest from f ruit in strips using
a vegetable peeler; use a sharp knife to remove the bitter white pith
from the underside of th e zest. Cut strips in ha lf. Process no more than
8 strips at a time (zest of 1 medium lemo n). Add strips and 1 or more
teaspoons of sugar or coarse salt (fr om recipe) to the blender jar. Cover
blender jar. Select Purée; blend for 15–20 secon ds. Press STOP button.
Baby Food: Combine ½ cup cooked vegetables, f ruit or meat with
3–4 tablespoons liquid (water, milk, fruit juice, b roth, or cooking liquid)
from the family’s meal in the blender jar. Select Liq uefy. Blend for
15–20 seconds until a smoot h purée is reached. Add more liquid as
necessary and proc ess further until des ired texture is reached. For
“junior” type foods, se lect Purée and use the pulse. Always consult
with your pediatrician/fa mily physician concerning the best foods for
your baby and when to introd uce new foods to his/he r diet.
Grinding Hard C heese: Cut cheese into ½-inch pieces; re move all
outer hard rind. Place che ese in blender jar. Select Chop or Mix.
Pulse to chop cheese, 10–12 times, a nd blend until desired grind is
reached. For best results , grind no more than 3 –4 ounces of chee se at
a time.
Grinding Spices : For best results, b lender jar and cuttin g assembly
must be clean and dr y. Add ¼–½ cup of spices/see ds/peppercorns to
blender jar. Select Chop an d pulse 10–15 times. Then blend continu-
ously until desired texture is achieved. Press STOP but ton.
Whipping Cream : If possible, chill ble nder jar and cutting assembly in
refrigerator for 15 minutes. Add 1 cup heavy or whipping cream to
blender jar. Cover jar. Select Stir (1-second pulses) 20– 30 times until
cream is thickened. (Do not overprocess – bits of butter will begin to
appear.) If desired add 1 t ablespoon sugar and 1–2 teaspoons of
vanilla or other flavoring. Co nsistency with be that of a thickened but
not fluffy whipped c ream and is most appro priate for topping desser ts
or coffee drinks.
When using the Cuisinar t® SmartPower Classic™ Blen der to purée hot
mixtures such as cream ed soups and baby foods, strain the solids
from the liquid, reserv ing the cooking liquid. Th en place the cooked
solids in the blender ja r along with ½ to 1 cup of the reserved cookin g
liquid. Use the Pulse to chop, then blend until desire d consistency/
purée is reached. Blending hot mixtures is often better done in several
batches.
Allow hot foods to cool slightly before blending to p revent steam build-
up which may cause the lid to lift up from the blender jar. Cover top of
covered blender jar with a clean dish towel and hold down gently before
and while blending.
Keep your blender out on the counter within easy reach and you will be
surprised how often you will use it.
Keep ice cubes made of juices, yogurt, milk or fruit purées on hand
and use instead of plain ice to make smoothies a nd frosty beverages
without diluting the drink.
For quick cleaning, add 1 cup of warm water and a drop of liquid dish
soap to the blender jar. Cover and blend on Mix for 3 0–40 seconds.
Discard the soapy water and rinse blender th oroughly before the
next use.
Xanthan gum may be added to dressings and marina des to prevent
separation.