Posted By Laura in Family Recipes, Featured, In the Home, Review | 1 comment

I was really keen to try out the Nutri Blitzer from JML – pretty much everyone knows this house is on a bit of a health kick these days. But alongside the husband kicking his T2 Diabetes I have a house filled with teen boys. Who seem to sprout another inch every time my back is turned (honestly – it’s genuinely alarming meeting a shuffling man-shape looming out of the dark on the landing at 2 in the morning…).

Of course I know that shakes and smoothies are a brilliantly easy way to get all manner of goodness into their constantly-hungry bodies which reject all suggestions of a healthy alternative to yet-more-pasta-and-cheese, or yet-another-slice-of-chocolate-toast (the 14yr old wouldn’t let a blueberry or spinach leaf past his lips usually).

So when it arrived, we gleefully unpacked it, and immediately tried it out (basic banana and strawberry because it’s what we had to hand).

Success! Smoothies were made and drunk to the point where I couldn’t keep up with the required fruit (funny how the spinach and carrot never make it in when I’m not the one concocting…)

But actually – you can see reviews of how the Nutri Blitzer is awesome at smoothies everywhere.
It’s so simple it’s ridiculous – add all the ingredients, screw on the top, turn it upside down and fix it to the base.
The 700w motor apparently spins those blades at 19,000 rpm (I can’t verify this. It goes too fast to see, let alone count that fast…). Absolutely everything is smooshed up in the vortex the ridiculously choppy blades create, and lo – beautifully smooth gloopy goo is ready to drink.

It’s used every morning for the husband’s protein shake – on top of his usual powder and milk he throws in a banana and some almonds or pecans, and he’s good to go, drinking it straight from the Nutri Blitzer mug.

Top Tip – do not fill past the MAX mark. Things get messy pretty quickly if you live on the edge and risk it.

But actually,  I love it most for the non-smoothie work it does for me.

Firstly, there’ a recipe in the booklet for a Rapid Rehydration drink which has become a firm favourite with the husband and No.1 son when they return scarlet and sweaty from a run. It’s so simple:

25% Watermelon
75% Coconut Water

(though I’m pretty sure they’re not that scientific – they just hack off a hunk of watermelon and top up with coconut water to the max level…) Coconut water is nature’s isotonic drink, it’s full of electrolytes and minerals, and add watermelon to it and you’re creating a super-drink packed with vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids. And it tastes lush!

But actually – I love it for the soups.
I’m a huge soup maker in the winter months – and usually I’d make a big pot, and use my stick blender in the saucepan. But often I’ll be making ‘adventurous’ soup for just the two of us – and I don’t want a great big pot full. If the husband’s out working, I’ll whizz one up just for me – it takes ten minutes, and I get a mug full of the most delicious, freshest soup. You can’t beat it on a  grey wintery day.
Here’s my current favourite – which I spotted in the Nutri Blitzer recipe book and have made once or twice a week since.

Spicy Tomato Soup.

What you need:

• 250g tomatoes
• 1 chilli (seeds stripped out)
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• 1tbs olive oil
• 50ml creme fraiche (though almond or coconut milk is delicious, too. )
• seasoning

What you do:

• Pre-heat oven to 180ºC/350F/GM4
• Place tomatoes, chilli & garlic clove on baking tray, drizzle with oil, season and bake for 10 minutes
• Once cooked and soft, add to Nutri Blitzer with creme fraiche (or milk) and blend using the extraction cross blade for a minute until smooth.

  Serve with crusty bread, crackers, or just in a lovely mug.
  Perfect.

The JML Nutri Blitzer can be bought direct for a berry under £80, and comes in Black, Berry or our personal favourite, Lime Green.