7 Ways With a Blender

Your blender can do so much more than make milkshakes and the occasional breakfast smoothie. Set it free with recipes for zesty pasta sauces, company-worthy crepes, and a creamy soup. Next to the microwave, you may find that the blender is your favorite time-saving kitchen gadget. Sensational smoothie recipes

Frozen raspberries take a quick ride in the blender to make a beautiful blood-red purée sangria that's mixed with tequila, triple sec, lime and crushed iced for a delicious twist on the frozen margarita. Make the purée up to a day ahead of time.Recipe: Raspberry Sangre Margaritas

Sun-dried tomatoes and a splash of lemon juice transform plain olive tapenade into a wonderfully flavored spread that's great on sandwiches, cooked fish, or slices of toasted baguette. Make it in the blender and store for up to two days.Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade

Elegant as they seem, the batter for these dessert crepes is a snap to make using a blender and five basic ingredients. Stuff the crepes with cream cheese and drizzle with a quick blender sauce made of cooked fresh blackberries enhanced with a splash of brandy.Recipe: Blackberry-Cream Cheese Crepes

This popular New Orleans sauce is made easily in the blender by puréeing fresh celery, garlic, Creole mustard, oil, and a few fragrant spices. Spread it on crab cakes, grilled chicken or sandwiches to add a bright kick of Big Easy flavor. It's also a good sauce or dip for shrimp and veggies.Recipe: Rémoulade Sauce

Four ingredients and a blender are all it takes to make this easy pesto flavored with pistachios, mint, and parsley. Toss it with hot pasta, use it in a cold pasta salad, or combine it with mayonnaise to make a sandwich spread or easy dip. Make a big batch and freeze any extra for later use. Recipe: Parsley Mint Pistachio Pesto

Add miso (soybean paste), tahini (sesame seed paste), orange juice, soy sauce and oil to the blender and whip up a quick, flavorful Asian dressing perfect over salad greens or cooked noodles. Leftover vinaigrette doubles as a great dipping sauce or a marinade for salmon, chicken or shrimp. Recipe: Sesame Miso Vinaigrette

This easy 8-inqredient soup pairs sweet butternut squash with roasted garlic and leeks for a savory main course soup. Serve it with crusty artisan bread and a big salad. Don't have time to roast garlic? Sauté it in the pot before starting the soup.Recipe: Butternut Squash-Leek Soup