Fabulous Fall Spotlight - Cuisinart Premier Series 7-Cup Food Processor & a Giveaway

I absolutely love cooking.  My husband and I both really enjoy the process, and have made some wonderful memories in the kitchen. Cooking together is such a joy and with Fall right around the corner, we are gearing up to get back in the kitchen and make some tasty comfort foods. Sometimes these creamy comfort foods require a food processor, and we didn't have one, so as you might imagine we kept thinking about those things we couldn't make without one - homemade peanut butter, hummus, and sauces -you know the thick creamy stuff. 

The first name that came to mind when I thought about food processors was Cuisinart. Seriously, if I was going to get a new appliance I wanted the best, one that would last through grinding nuts and mixing bean paste, one from a company with a great reputation. 

The Premier Series 7-Cup Food Processor has all of the features I needed and some I didn't realize I needed. It comes with metal blade, which I have a feeling will be the one I use most. It is for chopping and pureeing, and probably the most multi-functional blade. It also has a dough blade for kneading breads. There are two disks as well, one for slicing, and one for shredding. I wasn't expecting these, but now that I have them I will use them often, as I do struggle with slicing things neatly. The machine was very easy to assemble for use and disassemble for cleaning, which is always nice. 

The very first thing we made was hummus. We really love hummus, but our local shop carries none at all. I was so happy, it seriously took under ten minutes to make, with setting up and cleaning included. Even if our store did carry it, it would have been faster to make it than go get it - I love that. 

In case you want to make some here is the recipe I used:

Hummus 
1 clove of garlic
1 small onion
1 green bell pepper
1 can of garbanzo beans 
1 tbsp olive oil
Lemon juice as needed for taste and moisture

That was just what we used this time, we often add whatever fresh vegetables we happen to have on hand. 

Up next we made some delicious black bean burgers. A problem I usually have with bean burgers is that they fall apart in the pan. Well, they don’t fall apart if make them in a food processor. They stayed together so nicely! I don’t think I will ever make them without the processor again. 

Black Bean & Rice Burgers

 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
 1 cup cooked brown rice
 1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic
 1 egg, lightly beaten
 1 cup bread crumbs
 2 tablespoons salsa

Directions
I tossed it all in the food processor. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; drop bean mixture by 1/2-cupfuls into skillet and flatten to 1/2-inch thickness. Cook until each side is firm and browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side.

Next time I will add some spicy seasoning, this time we topped it with salsa. 

Have I made you hungry? Are you day dreaming about what you could make with a Cuisinart? Have you been to the Cuisinart site to see all of the great products they offer? I recommend you browse a while, they have so many wonderful things to make your kitchen time, easier and more delicious. 

Keep your eyes here as Cuisinart has kindly offered one lucky reader a Mini Prep Plus Processor , everyday retail price: $39.95. The Mini-Prep Plus is the perfect little helper for small food preparation, from chopping herbs or bread crumbs, to finely grinding hard cheese. Its versatility lies in the special Auto Reversing Smart Blade, which makes it easier to process both soft and hard foods. 

Giveaway starts September1st! Please use the rafflecopter below to enter. Open to US residents 18 and older. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is drawn.  
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Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers. My Empty Nest is not responsible for prize fulfillment.