8
RECIPE TIPS
The simple recipes that follow include some old Cuisinart favorites as
well as some creative combinations that are sure to please your friends
and family. Thanks to the superior 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 nuts in the blender jar and cover
blender. Select Chop and pulse until desired chop is achieved. Pulse
fewer times for coarsely chopped nuts. For best results process small
amounts, ½ cup or less.
Bread, Cookie or Cracker Crumbs:
Break or cut bread, cookies or
crackers into pieces ½-inch or less in size. For best bread results, use
day-old bread (drier bread works best). Place bread, cookie or cracker
pieces in blender jar. Select Purée and pulse to chop, then blend con-
tinuously until desired texture of crumbs is achieved. For best results
process 1 cup or less at a time.
Crushing Ice:
Add up to 10 standard ice cubes to the blender jar.
Cover. Press the Ice Crush button, using short bursts, 10 times, or until
cubes are the consistency of snow. Press STOP button. Pulse fewer
times if coarsely chopped ice is desired.
Grating Fresh Citrus Zest:
For best results, blender jar and cutting
assembly must be clean and dry. Remove zest from fruit in strips using
a vegetable peeler; use a sharp knife to remove the bitter white pith
from the underside of the zest. Cut strips in half. Process no more than
8 strips at a time (zest of 1 medium lemon). Add strips and 1 or more
teaspoons of sugar or coarse salt (from recipe) to the blender jar. Cover
blender jar. Select Purée; blend for 15–20 seconds. Press STOP button.
Baby Food:
Combine ½ cup cooked vegetables, fruit or meat with
3–4 tablespoons liquid (water, milk, fruit juice, broth, or cooking liquid)
from the family’s meal in the blender jar. Select Liquefy. Blend for
15–20 seconds until a smooth purée is reached. Add more liquid as
necessary and process further until desired texture is reached. For
“junior” type foods, select Purée and use the pulse. Always consult
with your pediatrician/family physician concerning the best foods for
your baby and when to introduce new foods to his/her diet.
Grinding Hard Cheese:
Cut cheese into ½-inch pieces; remove all
outer hard rind. Place cheese in blender jar. Select Chop or Mix.
Pulse to chop cheese, 10–12 times, and blend until desired grind is
reached. For best results, grind no more than 3–4 ounces of cheese at
a time.
Grinding Spices:
For best results, blender jar and cutting assembly
must be clean and dry. Add ¼–½ cup of spices/seeds/peppercorns to
blender jar. Select Chop and pulse 10–15 times. Then blend continu-
ously until desired texture is achieved. Press STOP button.
Whipping Cream:
If possible, chill blender 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 tablespoon sugar and 1–2 teaspoons of
vanilla or other flavoring. Consistency with be that of a thickened but
not fluffy whipped cream and is most appropriate for topping desserts
or coffee drinks.
When using the Cuisinart
®
SmartPower Classic
™
Blender to purée hot
mixtures such as creamed soups and baby foods, strain the solids
from the liquid, reserving the cooking liquid. Then place the cooked
solids in the blender jar along with ½ to 1 cup of the reserved cooking
liquid. Use the Pulse to chop, then blend until desired consistency/
purée is reached. Blending hot mixtures is often better done in several
batches.
Allow hot foods to cool slightly before blending to prevent 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 and 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 30–40 seconds.
Discard the soapy water and rinse blender thoroughly before the
next use.
Xanthan gum may be added to dressings and marinades to prevent
separation.
