I have a new friend in my kitchen: The NutriBullet blender.
Ooh-la-la
Now, you might be asking yourself why I would buy this when I have both a Vitamix and a Blendtec. I bought it for two main reasons, well, three kind of.
The first – AND MAIN – reason is for travel. The NutriBullet makes a great travel blender (or for having at work). Up until now I was using a Tribest Personal Blender for traveling, but it recently puttered out (it’s cute that Tribest advertises its motor as powerful with 200 watts, but the NutriBullet boasts 600 watts of power – now that’s rightly powerful). As I was researching the new options for a travel blender, I became aware of the NutriBullet, and after reading the great specs and reviews, I decided that it was the best option for me.
I also bought it because I am adding Superhero Superherb Superfood Tonic Elixirs into our life, and the NutriBullet fits the bill for making these (so does any blender though – for the most part).
The components. It’s a 12-piece set.
Furthermore, (the third reason) it’s no surprise that I enjoy protein shakes – um, hello, (normally) yummy Immortal Machine (read my updated review of this product). Although a lot of people just shake and go (mixing protein powder with water in a shaker bottle and physically shaking it), I prefer mine blended up (quickly) so they get really smooth (zero clumps). Well, my cute little NutriBullet does this great, and if I want, I can drink it right from the BPA-free carafe it’s blended in. Helpful in times of rushing out the door. However, I usually transfer it to a fancy or fun glass. Any blender does the job for blending protein shakes, but since I needed something for travel, I can use this as well. And, I’ll be honest, when I have new kitchen friends, I’m inspired and motivated for healthy living and foods, so whatever it takes, eh?
Tonic ingredients getting ready for a quick but effective blend.
A fully functioning raw food kitchen can be filled with all kinds of fun tools, appliances and gadgets. But, what do I recommend for a newbie? There are a couple of definite must haves. The list is longer once you get your groove on with your raw lifestyle, but these are a couple of items that I think every newbie should have.
1) A Great Knife! The thing you’ll do the most in your raw food kitchen is chopping, dicing, and mincing… more than anything else. Even if you’re going to use your blender, you’re usually still chopping something before you put it into your blender. So! Get a great knife! Here is my favorite: MAC Knife. I’ve had it for years and I love it. It’s light in my hand so I can chop for hours and my wrist and hand don’t get tired. A great, quality knife makes chopping fun! Seriously… FUN! Although, I think some people think I should reevaluate my idea of fun – haha.
2) A High Powered Blender! I’ll start by saying that I cannot imagine my foodie life without one of these bad boys! It’s true that you can make smoothies easily with a normal blender. But. If you want extra powerful smoothies (the high powered blender can bust through cell walls and pulverize seeds to release more nutrition) as well as the ability to make other great foods like raw ice cream, raw cheesecake, raw soup, raw juice (Yes, juice! By using a nutmilk bag to strain your blended mixture, you can have fresh juice), raw mousse, raw pesto, raw slaw, and so much more… then treat your health to a high powered blender. Obviously, if you don’t have a high powered blender, you can still successfully make some raw foods. It’s just easier, more fun, and usually healthier with a high powered blender. Here are the two brands that I have: Blendtec Vita-Mix
For my reviews on the two brands of blenders I have (Blendtec and Vita-Mix), read my blog post here. (Note: Since my baby Kamea came into our lives, I have been using my Vita-Mix more because it’s quieter.)
Like I wrote earlier, there are a bunch of other tools and appliances that I recommend in the long run, but to get you started… those are the two best items (a quality knife and high powered blender). Other things for down the road… food processor, spiralizer or turning slicer, juicer, dehydrator, fruit scoopers, water filter, mandoline, ceramic knives, fermenting crock pot, etc. Links to these great products (and more!) available in my Kristen’s Raw store.
Today’s recipe is a wonderful nutritious smoothie that starts out filled with gorgeous golden colors in the blender, but quickly turns to a vibrant green after blending. It’s unique and addicting. My kind of smoothie!
The nutrition is top of the line, too! Spinach (vitamins K, C, A, B2, and E, as well as iron, manganese, zinc, folate, calcium, protein, fiber, and more). Banana (vitamins B6, C, potassium, manganese, and fiber). Golden Kiwi (loads of vitamin C, as well as vitamin E, fiber, potassium, copper, and more). Hemp foods (complete protein, essential fatty acids, calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorous, magnesium, and more). Turmeric (manganese, iron, vitamin B6, and loads of antioxidants). How can you NOT get excited about all of that delicious nutrition that will make your heart, mind, and soul sing?
Gold To Green Smoothie Recipe by Kristen Suzanne of KristensRaw.com Yield approximately 1 quart
1 cup water (more if desired) 1 cup ice 1 banana 2 golden kiwi 2 big handfuls spinach 1 tablespoon hemp seeds 2 heaping tablespoons hemp protein powder 1/4 teaspoon turmeric (or more!) 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (or more! yum yum!)
I’m frequently asked which blender I like better: Vita-Mix or Blendtec. I love both my Vita-Mix and Blendtec blenders! Although, I tend to use my Blendtec more… it’s easier to clean. For a more detailed review, check out my blog post here.
(Keep in mind that companies change warranties and features so be sure to check with them after reading this post… I wrote this a few years ago!) Previously I wrote a comparison review for the new Vita-Mix 5200 versus the Blendtec that I’d had for quite a few years (and adored). Even though I loved my Blendtec for a long time, at the time of the review, I was impressed with Vita-mix’s BPA-free container as well as their warranty. I’ll say this… When it comes down to it, both blenders are phenomenal. They’re both high-powered and they both get the job done. (That picture is with the normal Blendtec container.)
Well, as you know from the last comparison, I decided to give more of my love to the Vita-Mix 5200 because of the aforementioned reasons. However! As of this writing, not only does Blendtec offer a BPA-free container, but they offer a new BIG container (I purchased mine separately). Nearly 3 quarts big!!! When I saw that, I knew I had to try it out. Some people say that the big container (and therefore, the longer blades) makes for faster blending… as a result, it seems that cold things, such as smoothies, are colder (as compared to using another blender) when you’re done making them because it didn’t take as long to blend them.
Here is my new review on Vita-Mix vs Blendtec:
I found that I am back to using my Blendtec more than the Vita-Mix. It’s so easy to clean and I really like that. I do notice, however, that my Blendtec blender seems to bounce around on my counter a bit more when I’m blending certain things. For example, I made two Raw vegan pumpkin pies yesterday (recipe for this delicious pie is in my Holiday recipe book). The large container really helped in this situation because the old container would get quite full once all of the ingredients were in it. The mixture is thick, too, so that probably explains the dancing of the machine that required placing my hands on it to hold it still. Keep in mind, my blender motor is probably 5 years old and perhaps it wouldn’t bounce around as much if I had a newer model – not sure. It’s also possible that because the Vita-Mix is heavier, it stays put better. Anyway… I love the big container I purchased from Blendtec. I love that it’s BPA-free. I love that it’s so easy to clean. I love how it fits on my counter top and doesn’t take up as much room.
However… the Vita-Mix 5200′s 7-year warranty still kicks the Blendtec’s ass (3 years). And, having a plunger, like with the Vita-Mix, can be helpful at times. I also like the controls of the Vita-mix 5200 better than the pre-programmed controls of the Blendtec. I find it easier to control and use. Gosh, my praise for certain aspects of the Vita-Mix 5200 would make you think I liked that blender more. Not only that, but the Vita-Mix is popular with chefs around the world. Do you ever watch cooking shows and notice that they’re always using a Vita-Mix? I’ve yet to see a chef on TV using a Blendtec, so Vita-Mix is definitely worthy.
Bottom line… in spite of the pre-programmed controls on the Blendtec and in spite of not having a plunger… I still find myself grabbing the Blendtec before I use the Vita-Mix 5200. It’s easier to clean, gets the job done, has a huge container now, and fits perfectly on my counter top. Therefore, I must be a Blendtec gal again. (They both rock though and you can’t go wrong with either one!)
PS… I’ve been trying out a new juicer these past few days. I’m still in the testing phase and will report on it in the near future!
UPDATE {Aug 2010}
I have been using my Vita-Mix 5200 a lot more these days because I have a newborn and the Vita-Mix is a little quieter than the Blendtec.
I also want to mention, however, that another reason for loving the Blendtec is that it’s easier to travel with because the base of it is smaller than the Vita-Mix. We spent a month in New York in 2009 and I packed my Blendtec Blender (sacrificing a couple of pairs of shoes – haha).
Friday, we made it to Whole Foods in Jacksonville, FL on our way to Pensacola. Thank heavens! We were all out of fresh organic produce and I was hungry.
I was elated to find that they make fresh organic green juice so I bought a large one that was made of kale, celery and a touch of apple. DELISH!!! Having access to green juice on the road at places like Whole Foods really saves me a lot of effort of trying to lug around my juicer, although I have heard of people traveling with their Breville (this model in particular). I’m tempted to try that next time, perhaps instead of taking my Blendtec. If I could talk my husband into him not taking any underwear, socks, and the extra pair of shoes, then maybe I could bring them both! ;)
I’ve been washing my hands a lot while on the road and using soap in the bathrooms of rest stops, fast food joints, and gas stations. It was making my hands quite dry. So, I was excited to find Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-One Organic lotion. I’m not one to use lotions very much, so I spent about an hour reading all the ingredients of various products in Whole Foods. Dr. Bronner’s was the best, and I’m very happy with it. It makes my hands extra soft.
Here’s a fun little video showing me in Whole Foods (trying to be stealthy and filming without getting caught). Traveling in the Raw is easy.
We arrived in New York safely. I love flying Jet Blue. They have Direct TV / movies and XM radio. They offer plenty of complimentary bottled water and snacks (although I passed on those because they’re not particularly healthy, ehem). We also opted to purchase seats with extra leg room, which was especially nice for my husband. And, we arrived in NY about 20 minutes early.
Here we are at the airport before departure. We checked our luggage, and mine just barely squeaked by, weighing in at 49.5 pounds. Yikes. I’m guessing the culprit is my Blendtec blender. A Raw girl’s gotta do what a Raw girl’s gotta do! Although I love my Vita-Mix 5200 (read my blog post reviewing the Blendtec vs Vita-mix), that thing is a monster in size and weight, so if I travel and have a kitchen accessible then I like taking my Blendtec. But, if I’m in a hotel room, then I like taking this awesome travel blender.
For my carry on backpack I came prepared with plenty of fresh Raw vegan foods for the flight. Ummm…. apparently I couldn’t wait for the flight before my stomach started grumbling so I’m munching away on an organic carrot here, while waiting to board the plane. I also packed a cucumber, red bell pepper, celery, prunes, Garlic Basil Chia Crisps, and an apple.
Here is a pic of some things I packed… water filter, sponge, glass mason jars, protein shaker bottles, Sun Warrior’s Raw Rice Protein Powder, as well as raw cashews, supplements, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, LOTS of prunes (you know the travel thing and making sure you’re pooping), dates, chia seeds, raspberry leaf tea, Dr. Bronner soap, and more. I wanted to make sure I had some stuff from home so I didn’t have to buy everything when we arrived. You can guess my luggage on the trip back will be considerably lighter. Too bad we’re not flying home for it to matter.
We’re going to have an awesome (long) drive home through the south, stopping off in Florida for a quick visit with my father-in-law as well as my friend in Texas (whom I met online), and she has MONKEYS!!!!! And, they love my Raw vegan recipes… check it out here. It can’t hurt to be around monkeys while I’m trying to get my own little Monkey to “stick” right?
We arrived at the apartment we rented and were very happy with it. It’s gorgeous. Small (of course, it’s New York), but gorgeous. We’re staying in an apartment in Trump’s Heritage building on the Hudson River. Here’s our living room. We have a nice kitchen with a huge refrigerator so I plan on shopping at Whole Foods today. Will share more pics and video soon.
Possible changes to our fertility plan.(I love this photo. I grabbed it from a blog discussing a documentary, A Child Against All Odds, but I can’t find the blog now.)
As you know, we came here with the intent on transferring a frozen embryo. But, while at the doctor’s office yesterday, where they did a sonogram of my ovaries and uterus, I inquired about the egg that I’m about to release naturally in the next few days. I thought it would be a waste to just let it go and asked whether we shouldn’t grab that egg while we’re here, fertilize it, and transfer it back this trip, if it makes it to 5 days successfully in the petri dish… and leave the frozen embryos in my “embryo bank” for future use (or to use on this trip in the event that the fresh retrieval doesn’t work). I’m all about getting as many healthy eggs at my young-ish age while I can, so I can store them for future attempts (whether for this first child or the next child), therefore giving me a better chance for success.
The doctor agreed that we could try that. We’ll see how things go. I’m due back at New Hope Fertility on Saturday for another sonogram and blood work to see if we can do this or if we should just proceed with the frozen transfer.
I’m having an affair with a Vita-Mix 5200. Am I ashamed? Well, it’s hard to be when you experience this awesome piece of machinery. For many years, I’ve had both a Blendtec and a Professional SeriesVita-Mix blender, and I’ve always told people that both are great, but if I had to pick one, I would have gone for the Blendtec. The primary reasons for me being that it fits neatly on my counter (under the cupboard – due to its overall height being shorter than the Vita-Mix) and because it’s easier to scrape food out from the bottom due to its two-pronged blade vs. the 4-pronged Vita-Mix blade. I’ve had both side by side all these years and I always just went to use the Blendtec. I figured that meant it was my blender of choice, not realizing that I was probably partial to the machine since I had it first and was very comfortable with it.
Well, all that has changed now. I recently got my hot little hands on the new Vita-Mix 5200 and immediately fell in love. First of all, the container is BPA-free (Hello! BPA-FREE!) with improved sound dampening so it’s not crazy loud. Secondly, obviously the blender is powerful, reliable, and awesome. Thirdly, the warranty kicks butt! Vita-Mix offers a 7-year warranty on both the container and base (under normal household use), while Blendtec offers a measly 3-year warranty on the base and only 1 year on the container (this is important for me which I’ll detail in a moment). There are other improvements in the Vita-Mix which make it easier to use such as the new lid (now it’s super easy to take on and off). Finally, the Vita-Mix has excellent customer service, which is important to me and always weighs heavily in the equation of whether I buy a product. I still feel like the food (most notably Raw cheeses and dips) are a little easier to get out of the Blendtec container, but not so much that I would now choose the Blendtec over Vitamix.
I wrote that the warranty was important earlier, as well as customer service. Regarding my Blendtec, I’ve recently not had the best experience. My Blendtec started blending at an unbelievably loud pitch. So loud you must plug your ears or it pieces them with pain. When I attempted contact with Blendtec about this – three times! – I received no response. After researching their website about the warranty, I read that my container was only under a 1 year warranty (testing the Blendtec’s sound with and without the container leads me to believe that it’s the container causing the new nasty noise). On top of that, my mom’s Blendtec (much newer than mine, but still over a year old) is doing the same thing!
My Blendtec (container noise problem) and new Vita-Mix 5200 experience both occurred within the last couple of months, and I wanted to share it with you, since for so long I’ve been saying, “They’re both great, but I’m a Blendtec gal.” Not so much anymore.
Move over Blendtec, it’s time for something greater! Vita-Mix 5200, you’ve won my heart.
UPDATE: I have updated my thoughts on the two blenders here.
Ten-hut (the full version: a-ten-hut) is the abbreviated military term for “Come to attention!” And, that’s exactly what this smoothie does…gets my attention! It’s sweetly delicious, reminds me of the army green color, and attention getting with great nutrition. Can you imagine if we fed our military with green smoothies? (They deserve the best after-all!)
I had it for lunch today (I love drinking smoothies and juices for breakfast and lunch because they’re easy to make, loaded with superior nutrition, fill me with unstoppable energy, and taste so dang great).
Sweet Army Green Smoothie Yield 1 quart
1 1/2 cups water 3 frozen bananas 2 medium leaves lacinato kale big handful cilantro 1 tablespoonVitamineral Green Powder(y’all know this is my fave!)
Today, I made a mother of a Plant Blood (my name for juice). Here is what it was and it kept me high on juice all day long (made about 3 quarts): 1-2 cups water 3 cups fresh, home grown sprouts 2 red delicious apples* 1/2 bunch celery 1 red bell pepper 2 cucumbers** 4 large rainbow chard leaves 4 large curly kale leaves*** 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice**** juice from 2 oranges****
* This variety is reported to have the highest level of phytonutrients! ** Great for your skin! *** Potent cancer fighting antioxidants in these babies! **** Say “hello” to Vitamin C! I used my Blendtec blender (the best high-powered blender on the market in my opinion) to liquefy my produce. Then, I strained it through a nutmilk bag into a large bowl, and transferred it to three glass mason jars (I filled them to the tippy top to reduce oxidation). I savored them all day long. Yowza! This plant blood was loaded with so many powerful nutrients. It rocked!
Daily Conversation Question: Would you like a quiet life of safety or a life of great adventure and uncertainty?
I'm Kristen, and welcome to my blog. I'm a wife, mom, author, and I love to eat so food is usually the topic of my blog posts. I'm a former (almost decade long) vegan turned back omnivore who enjoys reading, rebounding, coffee, and dark chocolate. More...
I'm Kristen, and welcome to my blog. I'm a wife, mom, author, and I love to eat so food is usually the topic of my blog posts. I'm a former (almost decade long) vegan turned back omnivore who enjoys reading, rebounding, coffee, and dark chocolate. 
