Spontaneity, months in the planning

If I have had the pleasure of your company in the last several months, then you have probably had the pleasure of hearing my Vitamix infomercial. Last May when I was visiting my sister, Jen, in Naples, she was showing me the wonders of Sur la Table and Whole Foods when we stumbled upon a Vitamix demonstration. I am always up for free food samples, so we decided to stick around for a little. After tasting the piping hot tortilla soup, the juice made from whole limes, apples, spinach, pineapple, and other fruits, and a frosty cool fruit and kale (yes, the green leafy so-healthy for you kale) sorbet, we were both wooed.

However, we both walked away from the demo sans Vitamix. It is quite an expensive kitchen appliance and it was hard to make that kind of an investment so quickly.

But the Vitamix itch did not go away. Jen and I both could not stop thinking about it. And then I started noticing it everywhere. Gwenyth Paltrow, featured in my Bon Appetit magazine, touted its magnificence. I read an article from pro chefs about how it is a kitchen must-have. And you really can't look at them in a store without a current Vitamix owner stopping to sing its praises and encouraging you to fork over $450 for 3-minute sorbet. It is more than a blender. It is not a gimmick.

So, last weekend, Jen called me on Saturday afternoon and said she was at Whole Foods and the Vitamix guy was back. They were on sale until Sunday. But I had been back at school with students for a week and swore that I would not do anything but rest for that weekend. That first week of school is exhausting like no other...

Thirty minutes later, Kari and I were in the car and heading down to Naples. We have never packed so quickly in our lives. After a few hours, we were all standing in Whole Foods watching Kari be mesmerized by the fresh veggies turning into hot soup in 5 minutes. And it is not only fast, but it is also convenient. There are no parts to unscrew and wash like the traditional blender or juicer. It comes with an 8 year warranty. Did you hear that? 8 years for a kitchen appliance! I think my parents go through 2 toaster ovens a year! The Vitamix is supposed to easily last 30-40 years with its powerful, industry-standard motor. I could go on and on - it's a whole other blog just to consider the health benefits.

But now if you want to hear my informercial, you can come and see a real demonstration. Saturday night, Jen bought the last red model available, and Kari and I took a brushed stainless! Sunday morning, Jen returned to Whole Foods with my mom and she also ended up with the stainless. With Jen we made Baked Potato, Bacon, and Cheddar Soup, impossibly creamy hummus, salsa, sorbet, and fruit and spinach juice. And this weekend, Kari and I have made Roasted Pepper Alfredo Sauce and a strawberry and key lime sorbet (it was supposed to be juice, but I put in too much frozen strawberries, so we had sorbet for breakfast - either way it's still healthy!).

Now my countertop babies are making friends.