If you dig back in the back of your cabinet somewhere, chances are that you will find a blender. Many people buy a blender for some special happening such as a diet or even a party where drinks are to be served. When that special event is over, they shove that blender back to the back of a cabinet and forget that it is there.

If you found your blender, dig it out and lets have some blender fun. If you did not find a blender, then make the investment in this useful little machine.

If you have a baby, try making your own baby food. You can place small quantities of the food that you have made for your own family in the blender and puree so that the baby can eat it. It is a much healthier alternative to canned baby food. Soups, stews, vegetables and even chicken breast can all be pureed into baby food in a blender.

A blender can be used to make a fruit smoothie or even a blended iced coffee. Add ice cubes, artificial sweetener or sugar and milk. Blend and serve for a nice cold refreshing treat.

You can use a blender to grind coffee beans. You do not need a special appliance to grind the beans. Use your blender on the low setting and grind to the desired texture. You can have fresh tasting coffee with the beans that you grind yourself. Just be sure that you do not blend too long or the beans can burn.

The blender is also a good spice grinder. It works best on the low setting and is perfect for cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper or other spices. Remember that the flavor of these spices will be more intense than the pre-ground spices.

You can use your blender to chop nuts. A short blend time will give coarsely ground nuts, a few more seconds gives the fine ground variety. If you want fresh peanut butter, then try making your own in the blender. Add a some roasted peanuts and grind until they turn into peanut butter. Add a few peanuts after the butter forms and grind a little longer for chunky peanut butter.

Try making fluffy scrambled eggs or omelets by using the blender to whip the eggs. You will think you are eating a a really good restaurant for breakfast.

Perfect gravy without any lumps is made possible by blending the finished product. Be sure that your blender has a glass container and do not fill over the half way mark to prevent overflow.

Yes, you can still use the blender to mix drinks. It is a must have for margaritas or pina coladas. Virgin versions are great for non-drinkers or kids. Slushes can be made by freezing juice in ice cube trays and blending with juice that has not been frozen.

One way to ensure that your blender gets more use is to find it a prime place on top of the counter. Unfortunately, sometimes blenders are out of site, out of mind appliances. If you put yours where it can easily be seen, it will remind you of all those great things you can do with a blender. Blenders are great appliances and very useful if you just do not forget that they are there.