Cuisinart SPB-600MP Manual - Page 19

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 SmartPower® Deluxe™ 600-Watt Blender, you'll also be able to make delicious frozen drinks. Chopping Nuts Put ½ cup shelled nuts into the blender jar and cover blender. Pulse on Low or High 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). Put bread, cookie or cracker pieces in blender jar. Set on Low or High and pulse to chop, then run continuously until desired texture of crumbs is achieved. For best results, process 1 cup or less at a time. Crushing Ice Put up to 10 standard ice cubes into the blender jar. Cover. Pulse on Ice Crush, using short bursts, 10 times, or until cubes are the consistency of snow. Turn blender off. 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. Process no more than 8 strips at a time (zest of 1 medium lemon). Cut strips in half. Put strips and 1 teaspoon sugar or coarse salt (from recipe) into the blender jar. Cover blender jar. Run on Low for 15 to 20 seconds. Baby Food Combine ½-cup cooked vegetables, fruit or meat with 3 to 4 tablespoons liquid (water, milk, fruit juice, broth, or cooking liquid) in the blender jar. Run on Low for 15 to 20 seconds until a smooth purée is reached. Add more liquid as necessary and process further until desired texture is reached. 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. Put cheese into blender jar. Pulse on Low to chop cheese, 10 to 12 times, then run until desired grind is reached. For best results, grind no more than 3 ounces of cheese at a time. Grinding Spices For best results, blender jar and cutting assembly must be clean and dry. Put ¼ to ½ cup of spices/ seeds/peppercorns into blender jar. Pulse on Low or High to break up, then run for 20 to 40 seconds. Whipping Cream If possible, chill blender jar and cutting assembly in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Put 1 cup heavy or whipping cream into blender jar. Cover jar. Pulse on Low 20 to 30 times until cream is thickened. (Do not overblend - bits of butter will begin to form.) If desired, add 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 to 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 blender to purée hot mixtures such as creamed soups and baby foods, strain the solids from the liquid, reserving the cooking liquid. Then put ½ to 1 cup of the reserved cooking liquid into the blender jar along with the cooked solids. Pulse on Low to chop, then run on Low or High until desired consistency/purée is reached. Allow hot foods to cool slightly before blending to prevent steam buildup, which may cause the lid to lift up from the blender jar. 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 to substitute for plain ice when making smoothies and frosty beverages to prevent 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 run on Low or High for 30 seconds or more as needed. Discard the soapy water and rinse blender thoroughly before the next use. 2