Oster Versa Professional Power Blender — my tool for preparing great smoothies for over a decade.
Just over 10 years ago, I ordered a blender that was rated as being a good alternative to Vitamix … at a much more reasonable price: the Oster Versa Professional Power Blender.
In the decade since then, I’ve used that blender to create MANY different types of smoothies.
My favorites have been ones that include combinations of frozen blueberries or frozen bananas (removes the need for adding ice), yogurt, almond butter, almond milk, vanilla extract, and (my absolute favorite for taste) 4 spices that combine to create a unique flavor in a Vanilla Chai Smoothie (ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and ground cloves).
(By itself, cardamom is NOT a spice I would have ever considered using. But the combination of this spice, along with the other ingredients, creates a flavor that never fails to “pleasantly surprise” my taste buds. It also reminds me to never make assumptions about things I haven’t tried – whether it’s a new recipe, a new activity [like kettlebell lifting], or a destination.
My visit to Amsterdam in 1987 totally caught me by surprise, since I had zero expectations of that city before riding in a bus along one of the many canals there. Because of the people I met and the things I saw there, I now consider The Netherlands to be one of my favorite countries.)
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Being able to prepare a healthy (and delicious) drink for my breakfast once in a while is one reason I’ll always own a blender.
(The last time I searched for this model online, I noticed that it’s no longer available. I’ve heard good things about Ninja, though, so that may be the next brand of blender I own.)
