Immersion blender is Alicia's new favorite tool

I’ve got a new favorite kitchen tool. It’s an immersion blender, also known as a stick blender or hand blender. Basically it’s a blender you put into the food instead of the food into the blender. And it’s perfect for pureeing soups as well as mixing drinks, blending individual milk shakes and more.

If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for the chief cook on your list, this is it. Available at mart-type stores, kitchen stores and scads of online stores, immersion blenders are priced from under $25 to over $100 depending on the brand and attachments.

Because these handy tools are so easy to clean (most are dishwasher safe – check before buying), they’ll score high with the chief dishwasher, too.

My friend Pauline Byron turned me on to the glories of the immersion blender when she shared her terrific recipe for Broccoli Cheese soup. If you don’t own an immersion blender you can transfer the soup to a regular blender to puree. But, oh my -- blending directly in the pot is so much easier!