My boyfriend’s parents just sent him a Vita-Mix.

It's the mother of all blenders, so much so that I’m kind of afraid to look straight at it.

The Vita-Mix came with a cookbook packed with recipes for everything from dips to fruit and vegetable cocktails and salad dressings. But what blew both of us away, while watching the instructional DVD, is that this bad boy is supposed to be strong enough to blend a pitcher full of ingredients into a steaming soup in just four minutes. On the opposite side of the spectrum, a little fruit, plenty of ice and 40 seconds is supposed to be all it takes to make sorbet.

We decided to put this beast to the test by making Bacon Cheddar Potato Soup (made healthier with nonfat milk, turkey bacon and low-fat sharp cheddar) and, for dessert, orange sorbet.

I’m already thinking of what we can try next, as both recipes turned out exactly as Vita-Mix’s cookbook promised. Both Chris and I were a bit apprehensive about leaving the blender on at its highest speed for so long, but sure enough, the soup came out hot. The sorbet was quite refreshing, and made better with some fresh strawberries.

This amazing piece of kitchen gadgetry can blend just about everything you throw in it. I wouldn’t be surprised if I threw river rocks in and they came out as gravel.