Pretend for a minute that for some strange reason we could only own two small kitchen appliances. What would your choices be? My choices would, without question, be my Instant Pot and my Vitamix. I use them both every day and wonder all the time how I ever lived without them. (And I bet I’m not alone in these choices!)

FIRST, WHY THE INSTANT POT: (See it any of these reasons match yours…)

Speed and Efficiency: Cooking time for anything is significantly reduced. I “bake” several potatoes in it every week. Having cooked spuds in my fridge has been a meal-making game changer. It takes 15-17 minutes (depending on potato size) as opposed to the hour it would take in the oven. And they always come out tender and without the over-dried skin that was common to oven-baking. I also use it exclusively now for hard-cooking eggs. 5 minutes at high pressure, 5 minutes for steam release, and 5 minutes in an ice water bath. And peeling is a breeze!

Enhanced Flavor: More tender meat, richer sauces, more flavor, period. All because of high temperatures and reduced cooking time.

Multi-Functional Versatility: Don’t you love this? Besides pressure cooking, you can sauté, sear, steam, and slow cooker. It’s saved me so much cupboard space because I could get rid of my steamer and slow cooker.

Lastly, Convenience and Ease of Use (thanks to its digital display and preset programs), and Healthier Cooking (thanks so being able to reduce or even eliminate oil/fat and quicker cooking times, which protects nutrients).

SECOND, WHY THE VITAMIX (or ANY high-speed blender):

Versatility: It can handle a wide range of blending tasks. I can make smoothies, sauces, date paste, hummus, nut butters, and even hot food (think soups, for instance.)

Power and Performance: The powerful motor and its unique jar design create smooth, consistent textures, even with thick or frozen ingredients.

Durability: This blender is designed with high-quality, heavy-duty parts and a powerful motor that can handle frequent use and demanding tasks. I saw my first Vitamix demonstration 40+ years ago at the Benton/Franklin County Fair in Kennewick, WA. The demonstrator dropped a block of wood in the blender and we all watched, stunned, as it was ground to a face-powder consistency. I bought that baby right then and there! Thirty years later I passed this same blender on to our oldest daughter, ONLY because my husband, thinking I should have the latest and greatest edition, gave me a new one. That same blender was rockin’ it!

Recipe Resources: Vitamix provides a wealth of recipes and resources, continually inspiring me to push the envelope in discovering this machine’s full potential.

Texture and Taste: I’ve never found a blender that does a better job at creating a creamy smooth green drink. For instance, this morning I made one with spinach, beet greens, kale, chia and flax seed, matcha green tea powder, spirulina powder, old fashioned oats, raw almonds, banana, apple, berries, raisins, rhubarb, celery, and a red beet. Before my Vitamix, I kept burning up blender motors trying to create this smoothie.

And finally, Healthy Habits: My Vitamix makes it so easy to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, and other healthy ingredients into my daily diet.

I’m glad I’m not limited to just two small appliances, for sure. But boy do these two make life easier! To thank you for reading through, I’ll share a favorite Instant Pot recipe everyone in our neighborhood makes (over and over). Everybody around here LOVES this. Besides its deliciousness, it calls for minimal ingredients, takes effortless preparation, is versatile, is super quick, and is beginner friendly. It’s ready in 20-25 minutes. See what you think:



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    Alice Osborne
    DVO Newsletter Contributor since 2006
    Email the author! alice@dvo.com