Inspired by Vitamix!
by Gail Lynne Goodwin
A few months ago Vitamix asked me to help them compile a book of stories from customers and employees, highlighting ways that Vitamix inspires lives. As the founder of InspireMeToday.com <http://InspireMeToday.com/> , a website that provides free daily inspiration, I've had the privilege of interviewing and writing about some of the most inspirational people in the world, including Sir Richard Branson, Guy Laliberte, Seth Godin, Marci Shimoff, Jack Canfield and hundreds more. Recently I had the opportunity to interview John Barnard <http://www.inspiremetoday.com/archiveDisp.php?type=0&ref=887> , CEO and Chairman of Vitamix and the grandson of the founder of Vitamix.
When I was first approached for this project, I didn't own a Vitamix and had no idea the difference it would make in my life. I noticed the demonstrations at Costco or the local fair, but I never stopped to watch the presentation. I thought I knew about health- and I had a juicer, so I didn't need a Vitamix. Boy, was I ever wrong! Looking back, I can't imagine my life now without my Vitamix!
This machine has inspired me to be more healthy. It has enabled me to do things that my food processor, juicer, blender all combined still couldn't do! In the last month I have transformed from a consultant to a customer to a raving fan!
For the past few weeks I've been reading one inspirational story after another, submitted by you, the loyal customers of the Vitamix family. From empowering stories of becoming a gourmet chef to becoming strong and healthy from green smoothies, the list of benefits from a Vitamix is endless. Your stories have made me smile, wipe a tear and have given me goose bumps. They have inspired me to try new recommendations and be even more creative in the kitchen. They have convinced me to purchase a Vitamix machine for my parents and one for each of my grown children. They have reminded me of the incredible benefits of being a Vitamix owner.
If you haven't already submitted your story, please do so today <http://VitamixInspires.com>. The deadline is the end of this week and we'd love to hear from you.
We have had our Vita Mix since 1989 and it is about the only appliance I use on a daily basis. My husband calculated the overall cost....to us at 6 cents a day and it is still going strong!! Everytime he sees a demonstration in Costco he runs up to tell everyone this story. I'm sure they all think he is the brother of the demonstrater but he is a walking testimony to this machine. We recently purchased a new red one not because anything was wrong with the old one, but because I was doing my kitchen in red!! I loan the old one to friends who want to try it.
Today was the first day I used my Vitamix blender. Already I have made orange sorbet ice cream for my 3 year old son, made a spinach smoothie for my dad, and made tomatoe juice for the wife. I can honestly say that I plan to juice and cook with my blender everyday. I made the cranberry pancakes this morning and we all really enjoyed them. I grounded golden flaxseed into flour, which I used in the pancakes.
Again I would highly recommend this machine to anybody who is looking to changing thier lifestyle into a healthy one. I know I will be serving up alot of juices and smoothies for my very sick father. Without the preservatives or any other chemicals that are put into foods these days.
LIFESTYLE CHANGER!!!
Hello, I wondered if more experienced Vitamix users had some handy tips on making a simple eg., nutty or date and walnut type loaf? I don't have a dry unit at the moment so may not be possible to make bread? Not sure.,
Since you bought your VM what are the items that you absolutely must have on hand now?
These are my VM Must-Haves:
-Everything else varies with my mood and the season.
WHAT DO YOU KEEP ON HAND?
INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW.
Okay, well...maybe just me...
I am a proud new owner of a Vitamix. I am really happy ... One question so far is How do you Clean the Dry container? I just ground coffee beans, your not supposed to put water in it, so now what??? Any help or suggestions would be awesome.
Thanks
I just received my Vitamix and I made my first smoothie...it was awesome!!! The kids (19 months and 3 years) loved it and so did I! I also LOVED the clean-up which took less than a minute - WOO HOO!!!!! I can't wait to try all the recipes. I'm so excited to bring better health through whole foods to my entire family!
Guess I'm going to be the juice lady for now, but I wanted to figure out how to make the V-8 juice you see in the store. I experimented with several ideas and finally settled on this one. We love it and it is super easy to make and bottle for winter use. It evolved into V-12 juice!!
8 pounds vine ripe tomatoes (put them in a container and weigh them on your bathroom scale) Wash, core and quarter them and fill your Vita Mix container with them. Add about 2 cups water and puree. Repeat until all is done putting them in a large non-stick (if you have one) kettle.
Next wash and chop up in large chunks the following and put them in your Vita Mix: 1 medium onion, 2 big garlic cloves, 2 big carrots, a handful of spinach, 1/2 seeded anaheim chili pepper (it won't make your juice hot, flavor only), 1 medium green pepper, 1 medium red pepper, 2 sprigs of basil leaves & the stems, 2-3 sprigs of parsley with the stems, 2-3 sprigs of cilantro with the stems, 3 celery stalks with the leaves. This will fill the container and you might have to do it in two batches. Add a cup or 2 of water to process the vegetables in the Vita Mix. Add to kettle. Stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Skim off any foam.
Simmer 8-10 minutes and add 3-4 T sugar to bring out the sweetness of your vegetables. Turn off heat and add 3 t. Kosher salt, 1 t. Worchesteshire Sauce and 1 t. hot sauce. Stir and then bottle in quarts, add lids and put in steam canner for 35 minutes. Shelf stable for at least 1 year probably longer but I would want to rotate those out yearly.
This is not an exact science. I used a ratio of about 1 Vita Mix full container of vegetables to 3 full containers of tomatoes. You can mix and match vegetables to your own taste. Hope you like it!!
You guys!! I just made the most fabulous Apricot Nectar using the Vita Mix. I washed and pitted the apricots and put them in the Vita Mix with about 1 cup water and pureed them. I had about two batches to puree. Put them on the stove and thinned to the consistency I wanted with water and added 1/3 cup lemon juice. Brought it up to a simmer and added 1/2 cup sugar and simmered for a minute or two to make sure the sugar was dissolved. (could use Splenda) Turned off heat and added 1/2 t. almond extract and poured in pint jars. You could use quarts of course. Put lids on them and put them in a steam canner for 15 minutes. FABULOUS!!
Today is the 1st day in a while since I used my vita mix. My family and I are all set on loosing weight so we are looking for recipes. We range in age from 44 to 8 mon. old. If you have any suggestions please feel free to chat or leave a message on my wall.
Until next time. Aloha.
I will be picking fresh grapes - not sweet- and want to process them into juice and preserve using a canner. Has anyone done this? I am thinking that I can use the vita mix and then heat, add sweetener, put in jars and then hot water bath. Comments please.
Anyone made sourdough bread from sour dough starter? Wondering how it works or how to adapt recipe.
I am trying to decide betweent the 5200 model and the Professional 500 model. Any suggestions?
The only thing better than using your Vita-Mix yourself is the day your child wants to use it.
This is my son's favorite smoothie recipe.
Ingredients:
Frozen banana
Frozen strawberries
Apple juice
Directions:
No set amounts, he just eyeballs it.
Put all ingredients in your VM.
Turn to 10, then to high.
Enjoy.
I've made tomato juice for years the old fashioned way peeling tomatoes and putting them through a food mill....well I checked out the Vita Mix cookbook this morning and found their juice recipe. I did an experimental batch and can't tell you all how much I LOVE THIS MACHINE!! Easy, easy, easy even for beginners. I put the juice in the fridge and we will drink this batch but plan to do more. I did thin it out with about 2 cups of water to reach the consistency I wanted and added 1 t Kosher salt and a little fresh ground pepper. This is a new tradition around here, sorry Mom and Grandma we have a new dog in the house!!
Does anyone leave the greens on the top of the strawberries? Perhaps I'm getting lazy, but with the addiction to pulverization, I have a desire to leave the green leaves on the top instaed of cutting them off! :)
Any input?
My husband bought the vita mix 5200 for me as a mother's day gift. Actually, he bought me a plant which I've since killed. It is my intention to provide wholesome menu choices for my new family. Our son is almost eight months old and he loves smoothies prepared by me; my husband, not so much. I, of course, promised with the purchase of the mixer that I would provide healthy DAILY soothies for the entire family. At least C. gets them! I vow to make this a healthy start for our family starting tomorrow. And it's not even a monday!!!
I just got my vitamix 4500 today 8/24/10
I am so excited - I just got my vitamix yesterday. I have been in recipe heaven but have not had a chance to use it.
After many requests, here it goes...my awesome "Divine Green Smoothie" recipe: 1 cup green grapes, 1/2 peeled orange, 1/2 peeled banana, 1/2 slice peeled pineapple, 1/2 slice peeled cantaloupe...now begin vegetables - 3-4 small carrots, 1-2 slices of yellow squash and zucchini, 1/2 slice white cabbage, 1 cup spinach, 1 cup kale and 1 cup collard greens... 2-3 squirts of honey, 3 sprinkles of cinnamin spice and 1 1/2 cups of ice cubes. Finally, in your Vitamix 5200, begin on low speed and variable speed 1 and quickly increase to 10, then move low speed to high. Blend for 45-50 seconds until solid green color. Do not blend longer than 60 seconds to avoid heating of your green smoothie. Ready to serve.
Enjoy your Divine Green Smoothie...!