Kenwood FP 110

I bought this blender as a replacement when the bowl attachment for my 'stick' blender conked out after being challenged rather too much with frozen stuff. I have a toddler and enjoy making fresh homemade food including soups and sauces.

It is an excellent buy. Not too expensive or gimicky, but provides a good range of attachments for processing food. I had a very old Kenwood food processor as a student inherited from my Mum and so trusted the brand and it has so far lived up to expectations.

As far as aesthetics go, I like the one I chose which has a shiny metallic appearance and looks better than white plastic. The best things about this processor, though, are it's attachments. There's a basic blade for general blending duties (with completely pointless flimsy blade guards for storage that neither feel like they protect you adequately from the blade nor stay on well), as well as a funky cirtus juicer, a thingy for grating or slicing cheese or veg. There is also a mixer blade and a thing for whisking, which I can't claim to have tried cos it only says it can cope with a limited range of things (like egg white).

As you would expect, it makes a satisfying, but not deafening whirring sound when blending -and you can turn it on continuously or pulse as and when you please.

It is the standard 0.8litre capacity, which I have to confess I find a little dainty for days when I have too many carrots left over and am batching up soup. But, the blades cope well even with frozen foods like ice cubes or bananas (top tip: for instant banana ice-cream simply slice 2 bananas lengthways, freeze for 6 hrs, blend and serve. Amazingly yummy and no added sugar or rubbish!).

Best of all, when you've finished simply shove it all in the dishwasher!