Bought a New Blender and Finally Started Using it.
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
Midland, Michigan
February 19, 2018 11:09pm CST
I mostly bought the blender to puree diced tomatoes when making chili since my daughter doesn't like it chunky however small the chunks might be.
She'd been wanting to make smoothies so bought several bags of frozen fruits and said I could use them too. A few days ago I made my first one using yogurt, semi-thawed, frozen fruit, and some fresh spinach. I couldn't taste the spinach although I did notice when I was cleaning the blender that all of the leaves didn't get thoroughly blended. Now I know I should run it a bit longer maybe.
She uses the partially thawed frozen fruit, yogurt, milk and a banana. I guess I threw a banana in mine too, but since the fruit was partially thawed I didn't need the additional milk.
I did purchase an inexpensive juicer some years back and used it one summer and one other time. I also had some other similar appliance but it took a lot to clean it and I quit using it. The juicer had a gasket that disappeared so I decided I might as well toss it since it wasn't doing me any good.
I have pictures to upload from my phone. If it's still working to slow tonight do get them on here, I'll try again in the morning if I have time or else upload them to my computer and do it that way.
The picture will show the blender with spinach on top of the ingredients, and the glass has the finished product.
13 people like this
16 responses
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
22 Feb 18
I used to have a Vitamix blender when I was trying to regain my health but after a while I got the idea that I was destroying the nutrients with the blender.
Now, I use a a juicer that squeezes the juice out and breaks down the fiber which I collect both juice and fiber and eat it as a soup so that I don't waste anything.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
15 Mar 18
@MarshaMusselman It is my theory as far as a blender damaging some of the nutrients. I have no proof.
The juicer I use squeezes the fruits and vegetables and masticates the fiber at a very slow speed and I collect both in a big bowl, stir it and eat with a spoon like a soup.
Is it healthier, I don't know but that is what I do.
Please enjoy your journey to better health! 
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Mar 18
@1hopefulman I'm sure it's not any healthier than eating the fruit or vegetables whole, but it's got to be better than only eating the thinner portion and throwing away or forgetting about the pulp portion.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Mar 18
I doubt that a blender can destroy the nutrients, Felix, but when we don't eat the pulp with the rest of it, I'm sure much of it is being lost that way. I used to save my pulp to use in soups, but never got around to doing that. I like using the whole thing that gets blended although I drink mine rather than using it in a soup.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
9 Mar 18
great gadget to have - no doubt you'll get to use it a lot
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
9 Mar 18
@MarshaMusselman doh, yes, just noticed I posted twice - I remember reading it but hadn't noticed I'd already commentated
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Mar 18
@arthurchappell not a problem. At least you didn't repeat yourself verbatim. There are times when I think I've found a post I'd not seen before and make a response only to discover after reading several comments that I was there before and practically said exactly the same thing even though time had passed.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Mar 18
I hope to use it more eventually, but it takes time to prepare the foods I'd like to use to make smoothies and there's only so much standing I want to do in a day. Once two wounds on my foot close up completely, then maybe I can get back into doing more around here including using my blender.
If it would wash itself, I think I'd use it more. I did pre-blend spinach and yogurt and then split it into small portions for freezing. I've been able to use a few of those which saves time for completing a smoothie. I may have to consider whipping up several ingredients at a time for freezing and then I could have them more often.
You probably forgot, but you already visited this post. In fact, I was trying to catch up when I went to your page.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71659)
• United States
20 Feb 18
I eat things way past their expiration date. I wasn't sure how the chocolate powder would go with the berries either so I bought the vanilla.
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
20 Feb 18
Someone reminded me recently about protein powder. We have some my husband didn't like, but I think it's chocolate. Not sure how it would taste with the berries, though. It may be too old too, will have to check.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58438)
• Philippines
21 Feb 18
I need to get a juicer/blender as well.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
21 Feb 18
How you intend to use it may depend on what type and how expensive you want to go on the unit you get. I had a juicer and most tend to remove the pulp, which some use in soups later and maybe in other foods too. The blender, or at least the one I have, uses whatever I put into it.
I may try other vegetables with it at one point to see if they get pureed as well as the spinach did. At one time with my previous juicer I used several types of vegetables including cauliflower, broccoli, a small onion and an apple and some pineapple chunks. I could taste the onion, but it was sweet to drink too. Probably not for everyone, and I don't know as I'd use an onion again, but it was still good.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
20 Feb 18
How nice to know Guinness loves Marsha I hope Marsha loves Guinness too?
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
20 Feb 18
@MarshaMusselman We do not bother with Valentines day to be honest. We think it is just a way to make proprietors richer and us poorer!
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
20 Feb 18
That's a funny take on the glass. Our store was handing them out for free with free engraving. That's what my husband picked for valentine's day of all things. I really didn't want him wasting money on a card, but hoped for some flowers. He probably knows full well that I will get more flowers myself eventually.
Also, for many years now, we've not had the funds to give each other much. Now we are doing better but we seem to have kept the old mind sets.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
21 Feb 18
@garymarsh6 True, but the small, unexpected tokens are nice once in a while.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Mar 18
You are still doing the diet you began last fall? How is that working for you?:I did check it out but since I'm rarely home for meals I don't think it would work well for me right now. If I still need to lose pounds once I retire, maybe I'll check it out again then.
1 person likes this
@just4him (305424)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Mar 18
@MarshaMusselman It's working great! I'm down 32 pounds now.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Mar 18
I used to own the older types some years back, but I think I got rid of them since I hadn't used them for years and they were taking up space. I should have kept at least one. Maybe I'll end up finding one stored somewhere in the basement once I have time to go through those cupboards. Although, I don't remember noticing it when I looked there the last time for something else.
@LadyDuck (457340)
• Switzerland
20 Feb 18
@MarshaMusselman I like fresh pineapple and in this season I love oranges and mandarins.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
20 Feb 18
I like fresh fruits too, but more so in the warmer months. I wasn't feeling so good yesterday and a smoothie after I was better would have been great but I wasn't sure I could stand the noise just yet. I did have fresh pineapple to help me get rid of laryngitis.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
20 Feb 18
try puttin' yer spinach'n the bottom. a tad confused why y'all use semi-thawed fruit? i chunk mine 'nto the vitamix frozen myself. lots 'f folks don't use their blenders'n such oft. i purty much live off mine, usin' such 'p to 6x's a day. great way to get lots 'f nutrition'n an easier to digest/absorb formula.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
20 Feb 18
Hey there, I didn't realize you were back again. I'm not here as much but try to check in with a few folks weekly or so. Maybe one day I'll get back at it, not sure when though.
My daughter tried blending the frozen fruit but it wouldn't work that well so she had to add more milk. She suggested I let them thaw a bit before trying it myself. They weren't completely thawed though. I might have put the spinach on the bottom had I remember that I bought it for that purpose. I remembered it after blending the fruit already.
If I decide at a later date to purchase a better blender, then we'd probably be able to use the frozen fruit as is.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
21 Mar 18
It was. I ended up blending all the spinach with a bit of yogurt, I think and then freezing it in small containers. That way I can take a portion out periodically and then add my other ingredients to the mix. I still have some left as I've not made any more for a few weeks now. That's mostly due to the fact that part of the blender is waiting for me to wash it before using it again.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
20 Feb 18
I have a ninja a few years ago and I love it.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
20 Feb 18
I didn't want to spend a lot on an expensive juicer or blender since at that time I didn't know how much I would be using it. This blender is also a basic type and only cost me twenty dollars. If we do end up using it a lot I might invest in a better one down the road.
I've also edited my post. Not sure when you got your comment in, but I started it on my smartphone which had trouble with each word with many pausing in between for some reason. I decided to get up and finish it on my desktop instead.
