My Salsa Secret -- the Cuisinart Mini-Prep

Author's Rating:

Pros: Makes a nice gift. Useful for chopping small veggies, grinding coffee beans -- and SALSA!

Cons: Not a big machine, useless for big jobs

The Bottom Line: 
The Cuisinart Mini-Prep is excellent at small jobs, but I've found it excels two you wouldn't think it might: making salsa & grinding coffee beans

Author's Review
As some of you will already know -- I'm a gadget freak. I'm the guy that calls in at 1AM to purchase Ron Popeil's latest machine. I just can't help myself. So you won't be suprised to hear that I have this little beauty.

It all started when I got married. I got to run around Macy's and register for all these cool little kitchen knick-knacks. If my wife wasn't watching, I was scanning everything in sight! One of my best finds was the Cuisinart Mini-Prep.

When we sorted through all our booty, I set this guy up first. He's small (about 7 inches high and about 1 foot in diameter) so he'll fit just about anywhere. After reading the directions, I figured out what I'd use him for -- mostly small jobs, chopping nuts, carrots, celery, etc.

But little did I know what he'd really be good for. This little guy is a Salsa-making maniac. That's right. Now I don't buy any store bought salsa anymore. I open the lid on the Mini-prep and I throw in baby plum tomatoes (about 3), sweet onions (1/2) and some hot peppers (a handful). Then I toss in about three pieces of fresh cilantro and hit the low speed button. It's done in thirty seconds. All my friends rave about the salsa -- and they all want the recipe. Little do they know about my secret salsa weapon!

The second thing that the Mini-Prep does a great job with is grinding coffee beans. I went to the store to buy some starbucks coffee -- thinking that it was already ground. When I got home and showed my wife the bag of coffee beans that I'd bought, she just about killed me (we were expecting company imminently). Mini-Prep to the rescue. If you use the high speed button, you can grind coffee beans up in less than one minute! You do smell smoke when you do this, so I think that it's best to use short bursts and not overtax the machinery.

As stated, the Mini Prep has two speeds -- Low and High. You can easily switch between them, using the two large buttons. Because the machine won't spin with out the top fastened and the buttons down, the MiniPrep is a good gift for young and old alike. There's almost no risk of injury!

Cleanup is a snap, as the blades, lid and chopping canister snap out and can be rinsed in the sink. Storage is likewise not a real problem as the Mini really is "mini" at about 2lbs and 5 inches (L) by 5 inches (W) by 7 inches (H).

The Mini comes in white or black, so you can color coordinate with your kitchen. I love my Mini and heartily recommend it to all.