Forgotten Appliances

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Do you have an appliance that you rarely drag out, but when you do, you wonder why you’ve been putting it off for so long?

(source)

 

For me, it’s my Oster food processor.  It’s heavy and a pain to clean, so I hardly ever use it.  But when I do, it’s like magic!

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What does the food blender make best?  Banana Soft Serve, a recipe created by Gina of Choosing Raw.  When she wrote about this simple but healthy dessert, it swept the blog world like a craze (her post with the recipe on it has over 500 comments!).  I’ve only made it once before, but I was feeling inspired last night!

 

The most amazing part of Banana Soft Serve?  It includes just one ingredient:  frozen chunks of banana.  It works best to use two bananas so the food processor has a little to work with.  And it REALLY tastes like frozen yogurt or ice cream – I swear!

 

For breakfast, I had an almond buttah and strawberry jam sandwich à la mode.

 

The best part?  The whole wheat cinnachip bread!

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This was truly a decadent tasting – but healthy – breakfast.

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What appliance do you ignore too much?  I’ve been ignoring my waffle iron – perhaps I need to bring it out of hiding!

{ 97 comments }

 

  • Amanda @ Eat to Live, Live to Run July 13, 2010, 9:14 am

    I don’t use my Kitchenaid stand mixer nearly enough. Some odd appliances that I do get a fair amount of use out of though are my: bread machine, my Blendtec blender, and my waffle iron.

    I discovered that I can make my son healthy “waffle sandwhiches” by putting blending cooked butternut squash (or apple sauce, pumpking, etc) with cottage cheese, a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon and then spread it on bread and cook it on the waffle iron. He loves it and I feel good about him eating something semi-healthy 🙂

  • Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) July 13, 2010, 9:14 am

    now i want me some banana soft serve. and waffles. :p

  • Therese July 13, 2010, 9:17 am

    My boyfriend had an automatic juicer that was never even used until I pulled it out last month! He had actually forgotten he had it! Made the best homemade orange juice!

  • Angharad July 13, 2010, 9:25 am

    I am desperate for a waffle iron! The husband and I would use one all the time – need to just suck it up and get one! I also need to try making this soft serve – my oh my!

  • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin July 13, 2010, 9:27 am

    My live in boyfriend is a chef so we have a ton of strange appliances that don’t get much use – including a deli style slicer that rarely comes out. I tend to shy away from using my blender because its not a great one and its so hard to clean, but the thing that gets the least use is probably my large food processor. I have a mini one that I use but stay from from the large one for the same reasons as you!

  • Alyssa @ bride to be fit July 13, 2010, 9:30 am

    My slowcooker!! I was obsessed with it for the first month after I got it, but it’s been collecting dust ever since. Have any good slow cooker recipes???

    • caitlin July 13, 2010, 9:32 am

      I used to be a slow cooker freak and then I became a vegetarian – it doesn’t seem as fun with beans or vegetables.

  • Marina July 13, 2010, 9:31 am

    I need to use my waffle iron more!
    But I fail so badly at making waffle batter, that I’m just too afraid at using it again 😀

  • Jessica @ How Sweet July 13, 2010, 9:32 am

    I really don’t ignore any of the appliances I have. We use everything. I use my food processor, blender, stand mixer almost every single day!

  • allison @ thesundayflog July 13, 2010, 9:33 am

    SUCH a good take on the pbj & banana sandwich! i miss my juicer. it broke and i have yet to replace it. ive also been neglecting the waffle iron and panini press!

  • Bethany @ More Fruit Please July 13, 2010, 9:34 am

    Mmmm…. I love rich tasting breakfasts! I have a Belgian waffle maker that is great…. but only gets used maybe once a year!

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman July 13, 2010, 9:34 am

    I have so little storage space in my kitchen that most of my appliances are forgotten. I was on a mandolin kick for a while, making awesome salads with super-thin veggies, but it’s a pain to clean and store.

  • Carly (Swim, Run, Om) July 13, 2010, 9:35 am

    For the longest time, I ignored my George Foreman. Now, I can’t live without it! Currently I’m ignoring my slow cooker, which I know is another waste.

  • Jill@MySoCalledHealthLife July 13, 2010, 9:37 am

    My blender gets neglected a lot. It’s a biatch to clean!

  • Courtney @ Three Months July 13, 2010, 9:37 am

    We have a great panini press that we’ve used like…once maybe! I should really be using it to spice up lunches and quick dinners!

  • Anya @ Fitness & Sunshine July 13, 2010, 9:38 am

    What a yummy breakfast! 🙂

    I could definitely make good and delicious use of the bread machine… it just seems like such a large contraption though!

  • Kelly July 13, 2010, 9:40 am

    I love banana soft serve! This morning a threw a few cherries in with it and it was divine!!

    I have a big food processer that I have never used (I use my small ‘chef’s chopper’ instead) and have only used my waffle iron once..

  • Maria @ Oh Healthy Day (Formally A La Mode) July 13, 2010, 9:42 am

    Now that’s a breakfast you want to wake up to!
    I really want to try soft serve, but don’t have a food processor. Costco had really small ones that don’t look like they are too difficult to clean/handle, so I might pick that up this weekend. All the blogs have me sold on this yummy “dessert”.

  • mary & christina July 13, 2010, 9:42 am

    I love “banana whip”. A few local ice cream shops serve it…they actually use the champion juicer to make it. Unfortunately those are expensive. I guess the food processor is a good stand-by. We always top ours with PB cups…actually just got one last night! I love the use of the banana whip as a topping for your breakfast. Looks delicious!

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers July 13, 2010, 9:43 am

    I ignore my indoor electric grill- it just doesn’t give that “grill” flavor.

  • Brittney July 13, 2010, 9:47 am

    I’m completely addicted to Banana Soft Serve right now. I keep buying like two giant bundles of bananas every time I go to the store so I can add more to my freezer. It’s slightly out of control…

  • Becca July 13, 2010, 9:47 am

    The pressure cooker my best friend got me as an engagement present. I’ve used it on occasion, but as we practically go vegetarian during the week and then eat out at weekends, it’s not often. Also – I had a colleague with horrific burns from a pressure cooker accident as a child, and the instruction manual comes with such terrifying warnings that I’m quite frightened to use it!

    I would really love to try making the soft serve. I told my sister about it because her friend is trying to juggle a modelling career with being an ice cream junkie! Chocolate-Covered Katie did a beyond-yummy-looking black forest thing recently that is definitely worth checking out as well.

  • Cyclist Kate July 13, 2010, 9:48 am

    My food processor is my life! I use it at least 3-4 times/week, sometimes every day–pesto, bread dough, banana soft serve, hummus, pie dough (it’s the secret to easy and excellent pie dough), biscuits, grinding nuts…LOVE IT.

    I don’t use my waffle iron very much…maybe that’s breakfast today!

  • Laura@FindingAHealthyBalance....after a 100+ Pound weight loss!!! July 13, 2010, 9:49 am

    I saw that post! I so need to make that……….YUM!

  • Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter July 13, 2010, 9:49 am

    I ignore my blender simply because it is horrible. I hate to use it. Such a decadent breakfast!

  • Camille July 13, 2010, 9:51 am

    I have an amazing expresso maker that steams milk and does the whole Starbucks business. Unfortunately it is sitting in the back of a cabinet somewhere gathering dust…

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit July 13, 2010, 9:52 am

    I use my food processor all the time (I never used to bc of the cleaning issue) even though it’s SO loud! I’ve been neglecting my ice cream maker though… 😉

  • Sarah July 13, 2010, 9:56 am

    Mmmm…I love me some banana soft serve. I use mine quite a bit for that and hummus.
    I don’t really use my bread maker. I should..I know I could make some healthy and delicious bread, but it hardly ever sees the light of day.

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) July 13, 2010, 10:00 am

    i definitely ignore my slow-cooker way too much…it’s so incredibly helpful and healthful when i actually take the time to use it!

  • Kim July 13, 2010, 10:01 am

    Sadly it’s my slow-cooker :/ Ever since I gave up meat it’s been collecting dust. I’m thinking maybe I can drag it out come fall to make some soups or something but there doesn’t seem to be all that many veg-friendly dinner recipes for it.

    I have yet to try banana soft serve but I think I might freeze some bananas this week to get some made on the weekend.

  • Jen July 13, 2010, 10:08 am

    Wow! So bizarre that you posted this! Just this morning I dragged out my Foreman grill, which had been in hiding for the past 4 years! A friend gave me two giant squashes – one green, one yellow – from her garden. I just sliced them and they’re marinating. Can’t wait to grill them and have them on hand for awesome meals this week!

  • Nicci@NiftyEats July 13, 2010, 10:09 am

    I hadn’t used my processor in months and I used it last week to make some gauc.

  • Sarah for Real July 13, 2010, 10:13 am

    Send ME your food processor! I need one so badly but don’t have one. Most recently I wanted to use one for making dough. I’ll have to read reviews before I pick one so it’s not hard to clean like yours.

  • JenATX July 13, 2010, 10:15 am

    my magic bullet! hahaha i love infomercials 😉

  • Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly July 13, 2010, 10:15 am

    I am bad about using my food processor too! It is a pain to clean and it is heavy!! haha!

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) July 13, 2010, 10:18 am

    My juicer! It’s just so huge and bulky and such a PITA to clean! But every time I make a fresh juice, it’s soooo worth it:)
    I always use my food processor!

  • Jill July 13, 2010, 10:20 am

    I ignored my blender for a while, then I used it everyday, now I’m ignoring it again. I’m so appliance moody.
    By the way, I’ve made that banana soft serve before and it’s great just with banana, it will blow your mind if you add a bit of Barney Butter and/or a sprinkle of cocoa powder to it.

  • Orla July 13, 2010, 10:26 am

    My Juicer. It was a complete steal at just 29.95. Reduced from 79.95. However, I now know why. It is a complete bi*ch to clean.
    I will go made for about 3 days in a row every 6 months or so but then will put it in the press and avoid its stare when I open the doors!
    Can’t do without my Kenwood Patissier though. Use it at least 3 times per week. Addicted!

  • Julz @ freshman5k July 13, 2010, 10:33 am

    My panini press was left in the cabinet for a long time, now I have a panini at least 3 times a week! I really want to try that banana soft serve!

  • skinnyrunner July 13, 2010, 10:33 am

    ive been ignoring my margaritaville mixer because i didnt have any ice in the house. so sad, huh. time for a margarita!

  • Wei-Wei July 13, 2010, 10:34 am

    Apparently we own a pasta maker?! And I think that waffle irons are the most ignored appliance, ever. When I make Banana Soft Serve it makes a ton of noise when the frozen banana coins rattle around in my Blendtec. Eh, for that precise reason I’ve only made it once. 😛

    Wei-Wei

  • Jessica @ Jessica Balances July 13, 2010, 10:36 am

    No joke, that breakfast looks AMAZING! Wow. I guess I don’t use my blender enough, even though I LOVE smoothies and always want one. It’s just a pain to clean…

  • Jessica @ Jessica Balances July 13, 2010, 10:36 am

    No joke, that breakfast looks AMAZING! Wow. I guess I don’t use my blender enough, even though I LOVE smoothies and always want one. It’s just a pain to clean…

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) July 13, 2010, 10:37 am

    I hate cleaning the food processor, but I swear the thing does magic! I have been making waffles like crazy lately! We did waffles a la mode the other morning and the kids thought they had died and gone to heaven! I love throwing a curve ball in there for them! Makes life fun! I think I am pretty good about using my appliances equally. The blender may be the most neglected though. Have a great day Caitlin! Although after that breakfast…I would say you definitely started out on the right foot!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing July 13, 2010, 10:42 am

    I looooove banana soft serve! That breakfast sounds amazing!!!!

  • Robyn @ Frugal 'n' Fit! July 13, 2010, 10:50 am

    I would be totally lost without my blender (Green Monsters!) and food processor (hummus!), but I’ve never even used my Cuisinart stand mixer. It’s so cumbersome to deal with that I’d rather just use my arm and stir!

    I really have to try this banana soft serve some time. I think I know my bananas’ destiny…

  • KMattrn July 13, 2010, 11:00 am

    I have a waffle iron I’ve never used and I don’t have good luck with my slow cooker, so that stays put too.

    A few suggestions for people who’ve said various appliances are difficult to clean:
    *for blenders – put in some hot water and dish soap, blend it for a few seconds and rinse. Eventually, you do have to take it apart and give it a good cleaning, but this works:)
    *I have a mandolin slicer from the Pampered Chef that’s all dishwasher safe. I couldn’t live without it.
    *my food processor is also dishwasher safe. I have hand-washed it, but why not throw it in the dishwasher?!
    *my juicer is a Breville and it was a bit pricey, but it works like a dream and the juicing parts are all dishwasher safe also. It’s still messy and a pain, but I imagine most juicers are difficult to clean. I guess home-made lemonade and fresh OJ are worth it:)

    How does one clean a waffle iron? LOL

    Kepp that processor out and make some hummus!

    • caitlin July 13, 2010, 1:47 pm

      Really great tips!!!

  • Rosey Rebecca July 13, 2010, 11:07 am

    I ignore my waffle maker too much. It’s also a pain to clean. Maybe I’ll make waffles tomorrow, though.

    That bread looks so delicious!

  • Dominique July 13, 2010, 11:08 am

    My parents bought me a Breville juicer last summer but I haven’t gotten around to using it at all this year. It’s a shame, I know. I also haven’t used our ice cream machine in ages but this past weekend I pulled it put and used it to make honey lavender ice cream and it was amazing. I then made chewy lavender cookies to make ice cream sandwiches and it was even better but I’m a bit of a lavender fanatic.

  • Krystina July 13, 2010, 11:15 am

    Probably the crockpot. It only gets used a few times a year.

  • Run Sarah July 13, 2010, 11:17 am

    I need to use my waffle maker more often – I’ve only tried it out once or twice since I got it for Christmas!

  • Tonyne @ Unlikely Success Story July 13, 2010, 11:18 am

    I am obsessed with banana soft serve. It is amazing. Seriously. Amazing.

    I would have to go with crock pot. I LOVE the simplicity and ease of crock pot cooking…yet I rarely do it. Do you know how amazing it is to come home from a crazy busy day at work (which is every summer day with my job) and have dinner already ready and your house not 100 degrees from having the often going? It’s amazing. I did it yesterday and it reminded me. I love my crock pot from 1970. It’s brown, old and simple and I love it.

    I feel a crock pot mission coming on.

  • Stacey @ Tipping the (Kitchen!) Scales July 13, 2010, 11:24 am

    Boo to my food processor being broken, so I don’t know the delights of banana soft serve! Your breakfast looks drool-worthy!

  • The Linz @ Destination 26.2 July 13, 2010, 11:34 am

    Yay for the soft serve! I made this for the first time last weekend and it was truly amazing. My little nieces were over and I wanted to show them healthy ice cream, they loved it!! 🙂

  • Mary @ What's Cookin' with Mary July 13, 2010, 11:34 am

    Definitely my large food processor! I use the small one for mincing garlic and making dressings, but ever since I got my Vita, I don’t think I’ve used my large processor once :X

  • Allison B July 13, 2010, 11:37 am

    I wanted to thank you for your post the other day. Your saying “It is ok to be uncomfortable” has really helped. If you do not feel uncomfortable, you are probably not going to improve! I, too, am working on my speed and I have been saying it to myself on my last couple runs and it is inspiring. So, thank you!

    • caitlin July 13, 2010, 1:47 pm

      Awesome 🙂 Glad I could help!

  • AngelaOSG July 13, 2010, 11:38 am

    I have been ignoring the waffle maker too…when we made them they totally stuck to the iron…huge mess! And the batter poured out the sides. Makes me not want to use it again lol

  • Deva (voracious vorilee) July 13, 2010, 11:41 am

    Our least-used appliances are probably the blender and waffle iron. I always forget I want a smoothie until it’s too late to make one!

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople July 13, 2010, 11:45 am

    I use my magic bullet daily, my food processor at least every other day, but I use my electric skillet so rarely that I am trying to think of where it even is….and I can’t remember!

    Oh and my crock pot. Because I rarely am home for hours and hours at a time. And I don’t trust it on by itself without someone home.

  • Kacy July 13, 2010, 11:46 am

    I have wanted to make banana soft serve so badly lately, but I’m too lately to bust out the food processor. Sigh…

  • Lindsey July 13, 2010, 11:52 am

    I like to put my frozen banana in the food processor, take it out before it turns into soft serve, then mix some strawberry yogurt in with it. YUM.

    (Or sprinkle some chocolate chips on it;) )

  • Kelly July 13, 2010, 12:16 pm

    I’ve been neglecting my blender and crock pot. In fact I think they got moved to the basement!

  • Candice July 13, 2010, 12:23 pm

    Now I’m craving banana soft serve – your breakfast looks delicious!

    Hmmm…I’ll go with our slow cooker and maybe our George Foreman grill. I never use them anymore, but they’re so handy!

  • emily July 13, 2010, 12:41 pm

    My ice cream maker! But we made key lime pie ice cream yesterday and after tasting that I’m pretty sure it will get a lot more use! 🙂

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) July 13, 2010, 12:41 pm

    I ignore my big fondue pot (the kind you use with oil or broth) and my breadmaker.

  • Angela July 13, 2010, 12:42 pm

    I don’t ignore my appliances – I just don’t have any 🙁 My boyfriend and I did move recently though and I definitely think its time to stock up. I use my handmixer for most of my cooking when an appliance is required and clearly there are so many recipes I can’t try.

    PS: You’re breakfast looks so amazing.

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin July 13, 2010, 12:44 pm

    I always forget about my waffle iron too. I don’t think I’ve pulled it out in almost 3 years!

  • Janna (Janna's Keeping it Real) July 13, 2010, 12:50 pm

    I don’t really have any applicances i don’t use…but i have an ever growing list of appliance “wants”, a food processor being one of them!

    That “soft serve” looks too good to be breakfast! I must try this simple treat, SOON! (i think i’ve said that about 18 times on your blog…you always have such neat treats up in here!)

    • caitlin July 13, 2010, 1:48 pm

      Thanks 🙂

  • Christine @ Grub, Sweat and Cheers July 13, 2010, 1:00 pm

    I think my crock pot and food processor are both equally dusty. I have a tiny kitchen and tend to shove these away and then get too lazy to pull them out.

    How can only a couple bananas look – and no doubt taste – so good? I must check that recipe out.

  • Ellen@FirednFabulous July 13, 2010, 1:22 pm

    The only appliance I really even OWN is a toaster! And I use it quite a bit because I like the bread on my sandwiches to be crispy. I really want a coffee maker and a waffle iron, and ONE DAY a food processor. I tend to dream big 😉 Oh and those bananas look AWESOME!!!

  • Megan (Braise The Roof) July 13, 2010, 1:23 pm

    I always forget about my immersion blender (also known as a stick blender)! It’s actually super easy to clean and is easy to stash away, plus there’s no set up…why have I not been using this thing more!!?? Maybe I need to cook something that needs blending tonight… 🙂

  • Holly B July 13, 2010, 1:42 pm

    oohmygosh- you should try toasting the cinnachip before makign the sandwich and topping with the bss. Soooooo amazing!

  • Tammy @ Defining Wellness July 13, 2010, 1:49 pm

    That is a GENIUS way to use the banana soft serve! My favorite way to use it is over oatmeal and topped with toasted pecans. Thank you, Gina, right? 🙂

  • Kristina July 13, 2010, 2:17 pm

    it’s funny you ask this TODAY… this morning I dragged out our JUICER and made us some apple – carrot – ginger – lime juice.

    YUM YUM, but the juicer is SUCH a pain. worth it, when you are drinking delicious juice.

  • Heather July 13, 2010, 2:21 pm

    I have a smoothie maker that I was thinking of dusting off the other day, haven’t used it in ages.

    I have my friends food processor on loan, so I’m totally going to try that Banana soft serve. I’ll hold it hostage for a while longer before he starts bugging me to give it back to him, ha!

  • Claire July 13, 2010, 2:21 pm

    haha…I’ve been neglecting my waffle iron,too.Protein pancakes are just more convenient:-)cc

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) July 13, 2010, 3:07 pm

    The food processor is a pain. It is an old model and hard to clean. But I need to use up some bananas so I think this will be dessert either tonight or tomorrow and I’ll let Hunni clean it :0)

  • Natalie (The Sweets Life) July 13, 2010, 3:41 pm

    I love kitchen appliances and try to be good about using them. I use my kitchen aid mixer almost daily and my food processor weekly. In addition to that I have a waffle iron, toaster oven, blender, and panini press that all get loving too 🙂 What can I say, huge appliance nerd! We don’t have room for any more!

  • Michelle July 13, 2010, 4:28 pm

    I ignore my juicer! And every time I take him out, I apologize to him. Also, my food processor! Makes pie crust so easy!

  • mm July 13, 2010, 4:57 pm

    It’s funny that you mentioned the waffle iron – that’s the one I recently re-discovered after we moved. So glad that I got it out again and started using it!! Other than that, I’d say the slow cooker. I’m crockpot challenged for some reason.

  • Lacey @ Lake Life July 13, 2010, 6:18 pm

    I got a panini press as a present and have never even taken it out of the box. I usually just cook for me so I use the George Foreman instead.

    • Morgan @ Life After Bagels July 13, 2010, 8:26 pm

      I love my panini press so much . . . plus you totally save money, I mean panini’s at cafe’s near my house are like 9 bucks – TAKE IT OUT you’ll love it

  • Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ July 13, 2010, 6:45 pm

    Now that’s a breakfast. 🙂

  • Amanda @ Eat to Live, Live to Run July 13, 2010, 6:48 pm

    Just wanted to let you know that your blog about Forgotten Appliances inspired me to use some of mine today. I wrote a blog about it … wanna hear it? … here it goes.

    http://eattolivelivetorun.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/domestic-diva/

  • BroccoliHut July 13, 2010, 7:00 pm

    I tend to ignore my waffle iron too, plus my Spiralizer. I keep them both in the cabinet–out of sight out of mind!

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels July 13, 2010, 8:25 pm

    I just made banana soft serve for the first time the other night (don’t ask me what took me so long) . . . so I am soooooooooo “in” to this breakfast idea

  • Gena July 16, 2010, 1:09 pm

    C,

    Every year, soft serve takes a hiatus, and then summer hits, and I can’t get enough! So happy you enjoyed it 🙂

    G

  • Lauren @ Healthy Delicious July 16, 2010, 3:32 pm

    my blender! I use it like 3 times a year. So sad.

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