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Food

In these recipes, the blender is an ingredient

By By ELLEN FOLKMAN
Published June 7, 2006

Carl Wichern wanted recipes he could make in his blender, and Deborah Griswold shares a few of her favorites. She often makes a melon smoothie to go with Sunday breakfast. It's quick, easy and refreshing. Her creamy roasted tomato soup is perfect to serve with a grilled cheese sandwich. Deborah says the recipe for icy lemonade makes a cross between a slush and old-fashioned lemonade, perfect for a warm summer day. It can be made in minutes.

Jennie Miller shares a recipe her daughter got for her from www.allrecipes.com for autumn apple blender cake. Jennie says the aroma that fills the air while it's baking is delightful.

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For: Carl Wichern of Clearwater

From: Deborah Griswold of Dunedin

Recipe: Melon Smoothie

Melon Smoothie

1-1/2 cups seeded and chopped watermelon

1-1/2 cups seeded and chopped honeydew melon

Juice of 2 limes

1 cup vanilla low-fat yogurt

1 cup ice cubes

Watermelon or honeydew melon wedge of your choice

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and garnish with melon wedge.

Serves 4.

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For: Carl Wichern of Clearwater

From: Deborah Griswold of Dunedin

Recipe: Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup

Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup

10 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise and seeded

1/4 cup olive oil, divided

6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 Spanish onion, diced

1 carrot, diced

3 cups vegetable stock

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme

1-1/2 cups heavy cream

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place tomatoes in large baking dish and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with the garlic, salt and pepper. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft.

Heat the remaining olive oil in a medium stock pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot and cook until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the roasted tomatoes, garlic and juice from the baking dish. Add the stock and thyme and cook for 20 minutes. Place the cream in a medium sauce pan over medium high heat and cook until reduced by half. Transfer the tomato mixture to a blender and blend until smooth. Strain into a clean saucepan over low heat, add the reduced cream and cook 5 minutes.

Serves 4.

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For: Carl Wichern of Clearwater

From: Deborah Griswold of Dunedin

Recipe: Icy Lemonade

Icy Lemonade

1 large lemon, peeled, seeded and cut into wedges

1/2 cup white sugar, or to taste

3 cups cold water

6 ice cubesSlices of lemon, for garnish

Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and garnish with lemons. Serve immediately.

Serves 4.

*   *   *

For: Carl Wichern of Clearwater

From: Jennie Miller of Crystal Beach

Recipe: Autumn Apple Blender Cake from www.allrecipes.com

Autumn Apple Blender Cake

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup maple syrup

2 eggs

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 cup milk

1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped

Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Set aside.

In a blender, on low speed, combine butter, sugar, maple syrup, eggs and cream of tartar. Gradually mix in the flour mixture, then stir in the milk. Turn off blender and fold in the chopped apple.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool. Dust with confectioner's sugar before serving.

Serves 14.

Recipe requests

Deborah Griswold would like a recipe for New York crumb cake.

You Asked for It is a reader mail column. Send requests to You Asked for It, the St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or e-mail them to youaskedforit@knology.net Please put "Recipe request'' in the subject line. Be sure to include your full name, city and phone number.

[Last modified June 6, 2006, 12:47:04]