5 Reasons Why You Need a Food Processor

by Lisa P | More from this Blogger

31 Aug 2006 11:48 AM

1. Chopping onions. I love using onions when I cook, but I hate chopping them. I've got a great little food processor attachment for my blender and it makes chopping onions infinitely hassle free.

2. Breadcrumbs. Why buy breadcrumbs? Most everyone makes a point of having bread or crackers in their kitchen at any given time. With a food processor, just toast your bread and then chop it up into crumbs in the food processor. Crackers are even easier. In fact, my husband loves when I make meatloaf with Cheezits crumbs instead of plain breadcrumbs. Give it a try sometime!

3. Chopping nuts. Nuts add protein and healthy oils to our diets. By chopping them up into very small pieces, you can add them to virtually anything. By slightly chopping them, you can give a whole different texture to homemade cookies.

4. Grinding coffee. Did you know that it costs roughly the same to purchase whole bean coffee as opposed to ground coffee? If your grocery store doesn't have a coffee grinder, there is no need to go out and buy one if you have a good food processor. The more finely ground your coffee is, the more robust the flavor will be. Live a little! Buy yourself a pound of whole bean coffee and toss the Maxwell House! You'll thank me.

5. Grinding meats. I get my money's worth out of my food processor just for this alone! Whenever I cook a ham in my Crock Pot, I inevitably have leftovers. That is the plan. I chop up my leftover ham until it is ground fine and then freeze it to make pea soup with later. You can also use your food processor to grind up leftover chicken to make a great Chicken Salad Spread. Just throw your chicken, some onion and some celery together in a food processor and then add some mayo to make your sandwich spread.

Learn more about Lisa P

Lisa used to be a freelance writer and Community Manager for Families.com, but she has finally made the jump to novelist.

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