Troublesome day today

[Doe]

OK first off I received a Vitamix as an anniversary present (32 years) the first part of last month :D Also got shooting range type earmuffs. So I've been using it almost everyday.

Today I decided to make the Just Like Cheesecake. Now I have made nut butters by grinding smooth in the Vitamix and transferring to a small processor to finish. This cheesecake filling though did not want to turn and the Vitamix kept cutting off after only 10 to 12 seconds. So I had to keep waiting to let it cool down, and then would add a small amount of water, moving the goo first to let the water down to the blade. After several hours and a whole cup of water it finally was turning good and became smooth though quite runny.

During this process, while very frustrated and not paying attention I stuck the pusher in without the top on.:eek: Well, now my pusher is cracked. I checked very carefully and none of it got in the goo:o It is all still in one piece just cracked.

So now I have to order another pusher.:(

I tasted the filling while putting it into the crust and it was soooo sweet. I may use only half the raw honey next time. Also with all the water added there was too much filling to fit in the crust.

On a good note after adding 2 cups of water to what was left in the Vitamix to clean it I was rewarded with a wonderful thin milkshake. Also I used limes instead of lemons.

Lessons learned:

next time make the filling without the honey then stir it in
cut the amount of honey
when frustrated go for a walk instead of using high powered machineryHopefully it will thicken enough by tomorrow to slice. I am very well aware of the thickening power of cashews since they are my favorite nut. Have just never had them this thin expecting a thick end product the next day.

Will update tomorrow,
Teri

[millielu]

Hey Teri and all,

I too made a cheesecake today. My trouble was not with the filling, but with the crust. I was thinking it would come out better if I put it in the blender. Well I had a terrible time trying to keep the blender going and had to move the contents around with my rubber spatula. Eventually I decided it was too thick and used the other end of the spatula. This got stuck in the blades and when held like that, all the (plastic) pieces underneath just shattered and split off from the main housing. In other words, the darn thing broke! :eek: Yes, this was a cheap blender. And yes I finished the crust in my processor. So, I ordered blade replacement online and am wondering how I will make my green smoothies for the next few days while awaiting the arrival of my replacement part. :confused:

Anywho, I have learned my lesson and will start saving my coins for a better, more expensive blender. I am open to any and all suggestions. And am interested to hear your experiences and what you think is the best choice.

Please help.

Lost in Tulsa,

Millie

[Doe]

Sorry to hear that millilu. Yes, the processor is much better for the crust. Also, I did not use honey in the crust. I used almonds and raisins and left it crumbly. It stuck together very well when pushed into the pie plate.

Wow, hope you don't have it too rough without your smoothies.

Teri

[millielu]

Hey Teri,

Thanks alot.

Happy Belated Anniversary and kudos on the 32 years---amazing!

Millie

[Doe]

Well, guess what?...........We are eating cheesecake! Wasn't thinking about the other ingredients thickening in the fridg. Yea!! It's good and hubby agrees less honey next time. Real sweet.

Teri

[RowanC]

I do not use the blender at all for cheesecake.

I use the food processor to first grind the cashews very fine, then proceed.
I don't think my blender would do such a good job.

[MaineMomof4]

millielu maybe when you save enough money you could get the new Jack Lalanne
Healthmaster100 Blender. I've heard it is just like the Vitamix and it looks just like it for a fraction of the price. Here is a link to the website: http://www.mypowerjuicer.com/juicer_hm100.html
Hope this helps!! Let us know if you get it and how you like it! :)

[Ama]

Like Rowan, I don't use my blender. I have a K Tec which is very powerful but there are just somethings that are MUCH easier in a food processor. I don't bother with nut butters or thick fillings in my blender, I do all of that in my fp! I also think it's easier to get the filling out of the fp and easier to clean.

[Doe]

RowanC,

Thanks for the reply. I hear ya. I'd never have tried it before the vitamix. Prior to it I was making nut butters in small amounts the coffee grinder because the food processor was too much trouble. Grind, stop, scrape, grind, stop, scrape, and the blender was out of the question.

The vitamix grinds 2 or 3 cups of nuts to a smooth dough in about 15 seconds. After that it becomes a stop and scrape thing too. So I move it to the little processor to beat the dough ball into releasing it's oil.

So it really isn't a thing of the vitamix being inappropriate for the job of making cheesecake filling, just a matter of using common sense. Grind nuts first, add lime juice, warmed oil, and some water and blend again, then add the thick gooey honey. Or even mix the lime juice and water with the honey first. Yesterday I put it all in at once. (the brain was on vacation obviously)

To top it all off, last night while trying to go to sleep it hit me that I made the wrong recipe. It was a newer member's recipe I was wanting to use. Seems like it was 3 cups cashews, 2/3 cup coconut oil, 2/3 cup honey, 1/2 cup water. Don't remember the rest. Will look it up before making another one.

Teri

[Doe]

Found the right recipe and putting the link here so I don't have to go hunting next time, or make the wrong one. http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?p=209812&highlight=cheesecake#post209812

[Doe]

5 people have eaten some of my cheesecake and they all love it, yea!! One asked for the recipe.

teri

[Doe]

OK since the last piece vanished shortly after my last post I made another one. Big Difference. This one was so easy to make.

Put the dry cashew pieces in the vitamix with 1 cup water and it blended down in seconds - no problem. Then measured the hardened oil and honey into a glass, juiced the 4 limes on top of that and set the glass into a slightly larger container of hot tap water (our water heater is set at 105). Mixed the liquid together and poured it into the vitamix moving the nut paste with a spoon so the liquid reached the blades. Whizzed a few seconds and poured the filling into the crust I made while the oil and honey were warming. I can't imagine the whole thing took more than 10 min. Set it in the freezer and here I sit eating a piece.

Life is so much easier when one uses their brain.

teri

[millielu]

Thank you everyone for all your help and suggestions!

Hugs,

Millie

[rainbowgirl]

Does anyone know a good sub for cashews? My dd is allergic to cashews, peanuts, and hazelnuts.....along with wheat and milk products, lentils, and corn(and probably soy, my other kids are).

And I am nursing.

What other nuts thicken? How bout almonds (i don't think they do.....)

Any good subs out there, I'd love to make a cheesecake, and think dh might appreciate it!

Rainbowgirl

[JEN]

I would try macadamias.

[Tropigal]

maybe a mac nut pine nut mix??