[Joe]

My sister was kind enough to get me a Cuisinart Food Processor for Christmas. I know this must sound dumb, but it wasn't until yesterday that I managed to clear off some counter space in my very messy kitchen, and unpack it and set it up.

We had our "wholly Macro" potluck and I made a stuffed squash recipe that called for ground pecans. The Cuisinart did a much better job of grinding/chopping the pecans than did the old VitaMix blender that i had been using. And I got rave reviews on the stuffed squash.

But I've never had a food processor before, so am totally in the dark about its uses/usefulness.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Sis got me the seven-cup Model DLC 5.

http://www.cuisinart.com/cgi-bin/pro...s&detail=DLC-5

It is pictured here:

 

[Thalia]

I was just talking to my mom about how I would like one. I only use a 30 year old osterizer blender. I have used my mom's food processor and find it is way better for things that tend to be bulky or thick. Nuts, like you mentioned. I wish I had had one when I made baklava. I made vegan parmesan-like topping by chopping up almonds and adding in salt and nutritional yeast. The food processor was the only good way to do this. Same thing for pesto. You have to add too much oil to get pesto to blend in a blender.

Baba and hummus work much better in a food processor too.

 

[soilman]

for chopping nuts I would get a little coffee-grinder thing or a small food processor. But I like to make nutbutter. You really need an expensive specialized nut mill to do that. You can do it in a coffee grinder or food processor, but it requires opening it up about 6 times to repositon the ground up nuts with your fingers, around the blade. I don't think there is anything else you can do with a food processor that you can't do faster with a chef's knife (including clean-up time in the comparison).

 

[soilman]

Of course a good chef's knife is not any cheaper than a moderately priced food processor, tho it's cheaper than the powerful well-made food moderate-sized processors.

 

[soilman]

I make hummus with a potato masher. It takes only a few moments to mash up a huge pot. The masher is cleaned up after use, in a few seconds. While my hummus doesn't have the precise uniform smoothness that hummus made in a fp may have -- i prefer it more "rustic" in texture.

 

[WonderRandy]

We use an 11-cup Cuisinart at work CONSTANTLY! Really the workhorse of our Kitchen. (the workpony, being the little clamshell grill that we bought for 10 bucks that we use to grill all the VeggieBurgers stuff... )

it grates green papaya and cabbage to make Green Papaya Salad.

it blends Feta cheese into a wonderful spread for the Abundant Bagel, with Roasted Red Peppers, fresh Basil, sprouts, and ...

Kalamata olive and Garlic paste! (also from the cuisinart)

We slice cucumbers, onions, carrots... we blend soups... we chop nuts (big time saver!)... we make pesto...

We make a wonderful dish with fresh local Taro root, organic bluberries, coconut milk, fresh ginger juice, and maple syrup! so ono...

Our cuisinart makes Tons of Hummus every week! Original Recipe, Roasted Red Pepper, Basil and Garlic, and Spinach Feta...

I used it to make Kreeli's Ring of Fire Pumpkin Seed Dip

 

[Joe]

Thanks, Randy! These sound like some great ideas!

I think I'm going to be just experimenting and probably trying more soups.

 

[mushroom]

I use my food processor nearly every other day. When I make stir-frys, latkes (potato pancakes) salads and dips. Terrific for large quantities!

Also excellent for making graham cracker crumbs and turning tofu etc. into a nice, smooth cheesecake.

 

[GhostUser]

glad to see this on the foord processers! For 9 years Ive been using the little attachment that came with my blender. Its like a food proccesser but a lot smaller. Its a pain in the can and I usually make things in batches b/c its so small. IT has been used so much too that I think the motor is going

I dont really have the money to spend but i have to do it! I think im going to love

 

[triumvir]

Food processors are great. I use mine every day. I would make falafel

 

[dvmarie]

If you have the plastic mixing blade, you can do up your bread dough in the food processor. I've done it - but I prefer the regular mixer/dough hook.

I grind/mix up my veggie burger ingredients in the processor.

(use pulse - and stop pulsing before it becomes mush *s*)

 

[GhostUser]

I use my food processor to make salsa. All summer long it is out on my counter and I just pick veggies out of the garden and feed all my friends salsa! They can never get enough! I love it!

I also use it to make hummus, shred lettuce and cabbage. puree tomatoes.

I use it to chop up my herbs that I grow. I add a little water to the puree, and pour into ice cube trays and freeze. works very well with cilantro.