Thanksgiving is over. This year, Hanukkah started before the turkey leftovers could be “souped” or “a la Kinged.” And Christmas is rapidly approaching at break-neck speed. So in the spirit of the holidays, I thought it might be fun to talk about what to get the vegan in your life. Now if you want to get “This” Vegan something, cash is always best as long as it is in small, unmarked, non-sequential bills. However, if there is another vegan in your life perhaps I can shed some light on some possible gift ideas.

Now, I realize there are lots of great things out there on the market today for the vegan kitchen. There is the counter top rotisserie with dual action laser / infrared cooking technology . The amazing missile blender has tornado alley like action. The stop-n-chop makes mountains of fresh cut French fries and salad toppings. The Wonder Skillet cooks anything in half the time using half the oil using its patent pending volcanic convection system. And the marvelous 6-in-1 kitchen tool is a spatula, knife, peeler, spoon, hammer and paintbrush all in one.

The possibilities are truly endless, and some of the items above might just be what every vegan chef is looking for this season. However, I am not a gadget guy. My kitchen is fairly Spartan. Aside from your basic pots, pans, spoons, spatulas (silicone & metal), and a chef’s knife, I don’t own many gadgets. It is probably my OCD coming through, but I can’t stand clutter in the kitchen. Less is more in the world of the Grassfed Carnivore.

But all that changed last year. You see I asked Santa to bring me a VitaMix Blender for Christmas. Turns out, the jolly fat man didn’t have room in his sleigh and my new blender wasn’t under the tree Christmas morning. It sort of reminded me of the year I asked for a new bike. However, while Santa didn’t come through, my wife did. I guess I wasn’t on her naughty list, or she was just tired of eating chunky, not-so-smooth smoothies for breakfast.

“But why a VitaMix, Bob?” Well, in the year 2012BV (before VitaMix), I had gone through 3 different blenders. I will not name any of them here; however, I will say that the one blender that might be good at using nun-chucks and throwing stars didn’t last longer than 6 months. No, I needed something durable and strong enough to make daily smoothies while being delicate enough to produce cream sauces and salad dressings. And I found all of that and more in the VitaMix. And just to set the record straight, I am not getting paid for this endorsement. But here are the pros and cons about one the best tools I have in my kitchen.

Pros:

–          Heavy duty with a strong motor and stainless steel blades

–          Easy care and maintenance requiring a simple rinse to clean

–          Powerful enough to grind rocks I think?

–          Endless uses including making peanut butter and ice cream

–          It is a manly appliance vaguely reminiscent of power tools

–          Aerodynamic with clean lines and a sleek design

–          It is just bad-ass and will make the other kids jealous

Cons:

–          It is pretty hefty, but you get a good workout lifting it onto the counter

–          It doesn’t come in designer colors, just red and black

–          It only grinds, purees, mixes, pulverizes, emulsifies, and macerates

–          It won’t watch the kids or bring you breakfast in bed

–          It can’t navigate carpool or drop people off at karate, ballet, art class, or soccer

–          It can’t wash dishes, do laundry, or make beds

–          It doesn’t open wine bottles or produce 18 year-old scotch

It is clear to see that the Vegan in your life would love a Vitamix Blender. It truly is a gift that keeps on giving all year long. So, go ahead, splurge this holiday season and give your loved one what they really want. I promise they will treasure it more than the 6-in-1 kitchen tool. And you will be rewarded with awesome treats for years to come. Just make sure you have a good corkscrew since the VitaMix Blender can’t do everything. Longer Letter Later.

Love, Bob aka The Grassfed Carnivore