Thank you Uncle Visa.

In an effort to streamline finances (Thank you Dave Ramsey), my husband has been paying off and closing all of our credit card accounts. One such account had some "points" accumulated. I could use these points for a multitude of things, including a catalog of goods. J told me to use the points before the account closed, as we didn't want to lose the benefits promised to us.

Now, what I would have usually done is gotten a gift card and tried to maximize the value through a sale or something. It would have also been a possibility that I would have purchased something necessary, or something that we were planning on getting anyway. However, I really wanted to get something "frivolous."

I panned through the kitchen goods, and considered buying a larger food processor. I realized that I could likely talk J into buying that for me. So, I continued my search for something that he would never go for me buying on our own. Then I found it. Something I had drooled about on the food network. Something totally unnecessary, but also totally fun.

A KitchenAid Immersion Blender, heaven in a high powered portable blender.

Now, when I got this, the ball and chain ridiculed me for it. He thought it was a completely unnecessary and un-useful purchase. Truthfully, you can do just about everything it does with other small appliances already in your kitchen. It's just that this is SO MUCH EASIER to get in and out of your cupboard. It's so simple to change out the components. And clean up is a SNAP.

So far, with my new toy, I have created:

velvety smooth tomato soup (homemade, of course)
homemade pizza sauce using blended chunks of sauted tomatoes as thickener
pesto sauce in the bowl that I served it in
9 crushed bananas for banana bread in about 30 seconds
the creamiest whipped cream I have ever had (using the wisk attachment)
chopped garlic (using the chopping attachment)

This weekend, I also plan on trying the blender out on whole strawberries as I make them into freezer jam. I'm sure it will take the muscle right out of the berry crushing job that my husband usually inherets. I also plan on making creamy potato leek soup sometime this week.

So, if you like to cook like I do - this is a GREAT little tool.