Hand-Blender Caddy

Hand blenders - there are at least two dozen brands of them - are great additions to any kitchen.  And you can go from the basic to the more expensive models. The hand blender's one great advantage over the counter top models is its portability and  ability to be used directly in the pot at or by the stove top.

I'm a late convert to the movement.  However, I saw right away the point that some folks bring up - the additional clutter of accessories they make on the kitchen counter top that get the homeowners to keep them in the drawers with other kitchen tools, hidden from out of sight when not in use. But soon, it is out of sight, out of mind. That's a shame, of course, because the quick work, ease of functionality and its versatility and great results are negated by the perceived bother that it entails.  It is, in my opinion, just the perception of having to take them out and putting them back inside the drawer that poses a public relations problem for the hand blender. 

So, before I clicked on that "place your order" button, I thought ahead of what I knew my wife was going to say.  So, I too knew immediately that there was going to be a woodworking project if I were to keep the harmony in the kitchen at equilibrium.

Pureeing chore to make a nice squash soup is literally done in seconds, when that used to take time with a fork, even after the cubed squash had tenderized from boiling.

And, how about, avocado and banana smoothie?

So, a hand blender caddy for a project, it is.

Towards the end of the woodworking part is another hand blender recipe for the summer; in Texas, for my readers not too familiar with our climate stage, spring is a such a short curtain raiser for us because we just go almost straight to summer from winter at the end of February; spring a mere, almost ephemeral interlude.

A word on how these holes (below) are drilled.  This tool that started my woodworking hobby is an aptly named tool, made in Ohio, "Shopsmith", that I purchased back in 1981, which continues to serve well.  I bought it at a time that we could least afford it but, hey, it was on installment at $25.00 a month. Don't ask about what the interest rate was at that time. But, we didn't have much to buy furniture either, so ..

This tool - still being sold today - does not occupy more space than two parked bicycles.  And the only one commercially available that will bore horizontally, if so configured, although it can easily be repositioned as a vertical drill press.  Not to mention that it is a table saw, a disc sander, drum sander and a lathe.  A 5-in-1 woodworking tool! The downside is that it now costs four times more than in 1981.

A half inch groove was created on all sides of what would become a mitered box

Painter's tape is invaluable in setting up the corners before glue up

Making the trim pieces

Probably not necessary, corner brackets along the mitered sides insure strength of the joinery

Threaded inserts, with threaded brass rods make temporary but strong attachments

Cutting the brass threaded rods to length 

Before assembling the handle.

Cutting the top edge of used water filter cartridges. These are otherwise thrown away to recycling.

Note same cartridges used on the utensil caddy

Cantaloupe/banana smoothie; didn't take long to create my own recipes.

Topped with two scoops of coffee ice cream

A favorite - watermelon/honeydew with half a cup of cranberry juice

I like to chill the smoothie for at least an hour or more in the refrigerator

 I opted for the middle of the road, price wise, German blender, made in Poland, while almost, if not all the blenders (in the U.S. market, at least) are made in China.