Suppose that you're planning to host a party; as the good host or hostess that you are, you'll want to serve refreshments. However, what if you happen to run out due to a larger than anticipated crowd? You needn't panic - at least if you happen to have a blender handy.

If you haven't used a blender in a while or if you've actually never used that blender sitting in your kitchen cabinet, don't worry. It's pretty easy and everything you'll need to know is right here in this article!

The first step, obviously, is to get it out and put the parts together. Generally, you'll just need to wash out the carafe and dry it before use.

If this is the first time you've used your blender, then you may need to set the blade into the retaining ring and then put the gasket over the blade inside of the ring. Then make sure to screw in the retaining ring so that it is secure and seated properly in order to prevent leaks.

With your blender assembled, set it on a dry surface. Place the carafe on the base and plug it in; you're almost ready to go.

Add your ingredients, put the lid on the carafe (don't forget to do this!) and set your blender to the appropriate setting for the task at hand. If you're making frozen drinks, then you'll want to set it to "ice" or "chop" (the name of the setting may vary depending on the brand of blender you have).

The pulse setting works best for things like grating chocolate and other ingredients which don't need as powerful of a setting as for frozen ingredients. Speaking of frozen ingredients, try using frozen fruit instead of ice in your blended drinks; this will give your drinks a better flavor.

Once your beverages are blended, all you need to do is pour and serve. If you need to make more, just wash and dry the carafe and repeat the steps above. If you find yourself having to make several batches, you may need to upgrade to a larger blender (or invite less guests next time around). Simply increase the amount of ingredients in your recipe proportional to the size of your new blender's larger carafe.

Clean-up is also pretty easy. Just rinse the blender and wash and dry the carafe. Before you put it away again, take your blender apart so the parts can all dry thoroughly on their own. This may take an extra minute or two, but proper care ensures a longer life for your appliance.

A blender is one of the most useful yet easiest to use of all kitchen appliances. You can make drinks and if you have a baby, you can even make baby food using your blender! Simply add a little water to fruit or vegetables and blend them briefly until they're smooth.

A blender has any number of uses in the kitchen - and since it's so easy to use, the biggest challenge is deciding what to make and getting the ingredients together. There are plenty of recipes online and if you've just bought a new blender, it may even have come with a book or a video on how to use the appliance and even some recipes.

Shop for discount brand name blenders at Amazon.Com below:

	Hamilton Beach 51101B Personal Blender with Travel Lid, Black List Price: $21.99 Sale Price: $14.60 Used From: $14.20
	* Take your drink to go * Use the travel lid to drink from * Great for fruit smoothies, icy drinks, shakes, and more * Stainless steel blades * One touch blending * Easy storage * Less cleaning * Single serving size

	Hamilton Beach 54615 Wavestation Express Dispensing Blender with 48-Ounce Jar, Black List Price: $32.99 Sale Price: Too low to display
	Equipped with 500 watts of power, this countertop blender works great for liquefying frozen fruit, whipping up creamy smoothies, making pureed soups, and more. Its revolutionary WaveAction blending system continuously forces the mixture down into stainless-steel ice-crushing blades for thorough blending from top to bottom--every time...

	Oster BCBG08-C 6-Cup Glass Jar 8-Speed Blender, Brushed Nickel List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $33.49 Used From: $34.36
	Brought to you by the #1 Blender brand. A blender that's anything but basic.Your life isn't basic. Your blender shouldn't be either. With this Oster blender you don't have to sacrifice quality for simplicity...

	Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Blender with 2 Jars and 2 Lids List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $17.45 Used From: $18.21
	Hamilton Single-Serve Blender with 2 Jars and 2 Lids. Why take out your big blender when all you need is one or two drinks? The Single-Serve Blender is perfect when you want a smaller quantity of smooth refreshment and don't want to clean a whole blender jar.

	Black & Decker BL10450HB Crush Master 10-Speed Blender with 42-Ounce Glass Jar, Black List Price: $29.99 Sale Price: Too low to display Used From: $26.09
	Powerful and durable, the Crush Master blender is equipped with a stainless steel all-metal blade shaft to deliver superior performance for everything you blend, chop and puree.