Because - lumps. Not good.

GO TO THE DOCTOR. Do not fool around with inexplicable lumps of any sort. Don't make me tell you why in graphic detail. (If it's shrunk, it's probably nothing serious. It may be lymph nodes, which would indicate an infection somewhere that you ought check on.)

During his last years, my dad pretty much lived on Ensure blended with cheap vanilla ice cream and syrup. He didn't want to eat anything, so that's how my mom snuck in some nutrients.

I blend often. It keeps my lassi costs down.

Ha! I got addicted to mango smoothies after my tooth was pulled. It's not *quite* a lassi, but it's pretty damn good.

I have a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer, a gorgeous blue beast, and a stick blender, and a food processor and my Old Skool Waring blender.

I am also lucky enough to have a fantastic two-tiered Lazy Susan under-counter cabinet to store the majority of these, even though the mixer lives on the counter.

No toaster oven, however.

One note about blenders - they are easy to use, but making sure the top and bottom are on tightly is essential (I once saw someone pick up a full blender container and the bottom hadn't been screwed on tightly ... not as bad as when the top's not tight, but still a mess). Also, the tops are usually a little stiff when they're new but will loosen up as they're used.

I will be stocking up on popsicles and Ensure and sorbet and ice cream in anticipation for Monday's epic Removal of the Thyroid. I will also be making hummus this weekend. Those of you that are hummus-makers - how long can it sit in the fridge if it's sealed in Tupperware?

Ugh. Went out for some beers last night. Feeling it a little this morning.

You could lose an eye that way!

Like Fay said, you can make soup out of leftovers. Any leftovers.

...anyone else slightly disturbed by this exchange? No? Just me then?

I blend often, but I use the stick blender and the big smoothie cup it came with. No lids at all.

No blender type gadgets (food processors, etc.) in my possession. Too much work - not the blending part; the cleaning part. Although, if the parts for a food processor that get washed can be dishwashed, I may have to reconsider. I'm still not quite used to having a dishwasher (love it though I do).

I always have had some form of toaster oven, however.

Those of you that are hummus-makers - how long can it sit in the fridge if it's sealed in Tupperware?

Depending on how much salt and lemon juice is in there, maybe a week? More? I'm not sure I've ever had any last long enough to go bad.

Also, avacados. Which, with salt and pepper, are my new favorite snack.