basil lemon-limeade recipe

Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 3/4 lemons - peeled, sliced and seeded
• 1 lime sliced
• stevia to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• about 1 cup ice, cubed or crushed

Directions

1. Place all of your ingredients into the Vitamix
2. Beginning at speed 1 turn machine on and slowly increase to 10, then to High.
3. Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached.

I started with the recipe I found on the vitamix site and made it my own. :) 

buckwheat zucchini pancakes recipe

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup milk - I used my homemade almond milk
• 2 cups chopped zucchini
• 2 large eggs or equivalent egg substitute
• 1/4 t salt (optional)
• 2 T sugar or other sweetener, to taste
• 1/4 t ground cinnamon
• 1/4 t ground ginger
• 1 1/2 cups buckwheat flour - I made the flour for this using my dry blade container right before combing these ingredients.  
• 2 teaspoons baking powder 

Directions

1. Place milk, zucchini, egg, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and ginger into the Vitamix container and secure the lid
2. Starting on variable 1, turn machine on and slowly increase to variable 5
3. Blend for 15-20 seconds. Remove the lid and add flour and baking powder
4. Replace lid and blend for 5-10 seconds or until mixed

almond milk recipe

• 
• 

• 3 cups water
• 1 cup raw almonds
• a sprinkle of cinnamon (optional, but recommended)

1. Soak almonds for about 12 hours - this is optional, but almonds are better for you after soaking.
   • it removes anti-nutrients like phytates, tannins and goitrogens
   • it helps to neutralise enzyme inhibitors
2. Add almonds, and water. If desired, add flavoring and/or sweetener now too. Raw cacao, strawberries, vanilla beans or cinnamon are great for flavoring. Agave or dates are great for sweetening. The only thing I add is the cinnamon.
3. Turn blender on, bring the speed up to high speed quickly. I highly recommend using a vitamix for this if you have one. It does a much better job of pulverizing/pureeing the almonds.  
4. I strain mine and keep the almond meal for later projects/recipes, using a nut milk bag. Their cheap and perfect for the job.

The Blender Girl gives a great explanation about the health benefits of soaking grains, nuts and seeds and it's important.

homemade butter

So, I made butter for the first time today using my vitamix. . .

2 cups (16 oz.) heavy whipping cream (I used organic)
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon salt, to taste (optional)

1. Pour the cream into the vitamix and place the lid
2. Starting at variable 1, turn blender on and slowly increase the speed to variable 10, then to high
3. Blend until the cream thickens and you hear a change in the sound of the machine
4. Stop the machine, using a spatula, scrape down the sides, pushing the whipped cream into the center of the container
5. Using variable 5, blend for 5 seconds, stop and scrape sides again
6. repeat this a few times until you begin to see liquid, you'll also notice that the sound changes and the blades seem to move more easily
7. Blend for a few more seconds until solid butter sets up in center on top of blades
8. Using a fine strainer, drain the butter. What drains is buttermilk. I didn't save mine this time around, but I intend to next time
9. Put the butter into a bowl and add salt to taste. Manipulate the butter using a spatula or a spoon to push out as much liquid as possible
10. I used a small mason jar to store mine. I'll probably take half of it for storing in the freezer. We simply don't go through butter that quickly.

If you don't have a vitamix, try using a blender, a mason jar or a food processor. 

strawberries, chocolate & cream

1 cup frozen strawberries
1 Tbsp agave
1 Tbsp raw cacao powder
3 Tbsp raw cashew milk
1 vitamix

Such a wonderful, refreshing, tasty treat! And (mostly) guilt-free!