Equipment

Blender, Stick

You can use a traditional blender for soups but a stick blender will make life so much easier for you. Some manufacturers call this an immersion blender because the head of the blender is immersed in whatever you wish to blend. The one caution is to wait for hot recipes, such as soup, to cool a bit before blending.

Place the bottom of the blender against the bottom of the pot or bowl. This actually forms a slight suction and foods will tend to splash less. If you know you are going to blend with your stick blender, use a pot or bowl with higher sides to reduce any spatter.

Most come with a lot of attachments, and while the important one is the blender itself, the mini food processor attachment is as useful as the blender itself. It is perfect for dressings and spreads, such as pesto, where clean up of a food processor or blender would be a hassle.