I'm at a point in my life where I am developing a taste for quality, and can finally afford the kind of quality I desire. I like to dabble in the kitchen, so I've been building my arsenal of kitchenware recently. I've invested in some high-quality cookware and utensils, and started working on some appliances. I've got an 11-cup Cuisinart food processor, but that tends to be overkill for a lot of smaller jobs - I hate all the cleanup involved with making a cup of guacamole dip, for instance. I like to use peeled whole tomatoes to make tomato sauce for pasta dishes, but my wife doesn't care for chunks of tomato in the finished sauce. No problem... I just dunk the stick blender right into the can of tomatoes and out comes a nice thick puree with all the rich flavor that pre-made sauces seem to lack.
This stick blender came highly recommended by an acquaintance, and it doesn't disappoint. With its high-power motor, variable speed settings and versatile accessories, this is a compact and high-impact kitchen tool. Easy to clean, too. I would urge caution if you've never used one of these before, especially when working with very watery liquids as they can end up getting blown right out of your container if you're not careful.