I would probably go with food processor + immersion blender. Mark Bittman wrote a really good article on this topic that you might find helpful: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/dining/15mini.html?ref=theminimalist

My Kenwood Chef Titanium is a stand mixer for which you can buy all sorts of attachments, including food processor, blender, ice cream maker, meat grinder, pasta maker, citrus press, spice mill and others. The food processor doesn't have a huge capacity, but I find it does the job for me.

sounds like you'll be doing mostly liquids and pureeing (sp) large batches of soups and sauces can get time consuming since you can't fill the bowl. a full-siz blendet would have to added bonus of making smoothies as opposed to an immersion blender.

Why choose between the two? We have a Cuisinart model that has both a food processor and blender that attach to the same base, and it is fantastic. We have an older model (still works great after almost 4 years), but I believe it's this: http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-BFP-703CH-SmartPower-Blender-Processor/dp/B00004WKI7

I do generally agree with e53 & Mark Bittman. But for myself, I have a small food processor, and a regular blender, because sometimes you just need a food process to chop a mess of garlic.

I only have an immersion blender these days. I used to have a small food processor and a blender, but the small food processor was always teasing me and seldom pleasing me, and I basically never used the blender. I even use my immersion blender to make pesto; works like a charm!
That said, I really only use it to blend soups, etc. (and I would think I could make a smoothie with it, were I the smoothie-drinking type, having successfully made a milkshake with one once), and to make pesto. Works like a charm!

I would get a food processor and an immersion blender. I have a regular blender that NEVER sees the light of day, but I use the FP and immersion blender all the time. One huge advantage of the FP is chopping/slicing/shredding. You'll never get that done in the blender. And for the soups sauces, the immersion is the way to go IMHO. I hate the idea of pouring hot soup into a blender/processor to get it smooth. Just bring the immersion to the pot. Works like a charm. The immersion is also great for dressings, mayonnaise, hollandaise. Basically anything that need immulsyfying, I use the immersion. I got one that works well for $30. Love it, and I'm not sure how I lived without my FP either. I make pizza every couple weeks, and the FP is my go to method for dough. Very fast and easy.

I have lots of gadgets of this type. If I had to get rid of all but two - stick [immersion] blender and Cuisinart Little Pro, small processor.

Immersion blender all the way. Or a two-in-one blender/food processor if you insist. *winks*

I'd probably go with the immersion blender + food processor; you can blend soups with the immersion blender and use the food processor for a MILLION other things.

Agree with many that a food processor and immersion blender are collectively a smart way to go. Think about not only what you do today, but where you think you might go as your cooking talent evolves. The combination of these two provides the best flexibility and broad range of expansion to your cooking repertoire.

+1 for a food processor. I use the Bosch MCM4100G which comes with a blender jar. It is really convenient and gets used for almost everything. The only thing I can't use it for is to grind spices. If you do need to do that, you can get a spice grinder or one of the mini-chopper things.

If you're going to splurge on a stand mixer and you really do bake a lot, don't get a KitchenAid. I seriously regret the decision. I loved it until I tried out my pasta making attachment, which totally fried the motor - it hasn't worked the same since and I had only had it a year when that happened. Get a Viking. I'm wicked jealous of my friend's.

But yes, also get a food processor AND blender. They both have merits and I use both constantly. I also have an immersion blender that rarely gets used.

I have a mixer, a food processor, and a blender, and would definitely say that the food processor is used the least. In fact the only thing I use it for is to make bread crumbs and pie dough. It just seems like such a hassle to assemble, disassemble, and clean all of those parts for 30 seconds of use. Also, my food processor leaks like crazy with any liquid in it so I only use it for dry things.

If you would mainly be using said device for soups and sauces (and perhaps shakes or smoothies?) I would forgo both the blender and the food processor and just get an immersion blender.

We don't have a blender, and try to use our standard food processor for making smoothies. It works, but it totally makes a mess because it has the center hole where the blade attaches to the processor and stuff always gets in there! If you're going to get a food processor I suggest getting one that has an attachment where the blade is attached to the bowl, similar to a blender, otherwise your soups and sauces will be oozing out like crazy like our disasterous (but delicious :P) smoothies!

I guess it just depends on what function you need more when you cook -- everyone is different. For me, my blender never comes out from under the counter, but I use my food processor frequently (and my immersion blender, as several people have mentioned).

We recently got rid of our blender, partly because it was old and cheap and starting to make funny noises, and partly because it takes up a lot of space. I use my food processor a few times each each, and not just for chopping but also for slicing and grating. Then we got an immersion blender for smoothies, soups, anything you might have wanted to have a blender for. It was really inexpensive, and takes up less space and is easier to clean than a standard blender. I think it's a great combination!

I love our blender, but the only I make with it are smoothies, milkshakes, and lassi. I would love to have an immersion blender though, so when the blender kicks it or when I move away to college, that's the first thing I'm getting for my new kitchen.

I have an Oster blender with a small food processor attachment, and it works well for me - the belnder is big enough to puree soups, make milkshakes, etc., and the food processor will chop several cups of stuff for making pesto, chopping several onions, etc. It looks like Oster makes several models like this - I can't find mine online, but this is similar - http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=218344&CategoryID=7554#fn=BRAND%3DOster%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D8

Since you've specifically said you're not looking to buy BOTH at them moment, and what you're looking to do involves mostly liquids, I'd say go with the blender (immersion or otherwise).

I do love my food processor - when I use it - but for soups, smoothies, frozen beverages and sauces, I stick to the blender. Does a better job, with less mess and fewer parts to deal with.

Finally got a Vitamix this year after wanting one for 33 years. I was able to give away--blender, mini chopper, ninja, coffee grinder, food processor, hand mixer, ice cream maker, smoothie maker...and I'm sure I'm leaving something out. Kept the immersion blender and Kitchenaid stand mixer.

And 33 years? Yep. Worth the wait.

@ BKLYNbaker: I am totally with you regarding the KA. These are the most over-rated, over-hyped appliances in the world.

My vote for the stand mixer, though, would be for the Electrolux Assistent.

What about a Ninja? I got one instead of buying both a blender and a food processor, and it works great for everything I need!

@e53: LOVE the Bittman NYT article! That made me decide to invest in a good food processor. I blend soups in my food processor and use it a ton for baking. Would vote food processor + immersion blender!

I have a food processor and an immersion blender, and have found that to work really well. BUT I have alot of greens from my CSA, and would rather not turn on the stove or oven all that much during the summer (I make do without an AC or even a fan by generating as little heat as possible in my apartment). So I've just splurged and bought a Blendtec blender to make green smoothies! I'm really looking forward to it. My Kitchenaid immersion blender is nice, but it doesn't blend as smoothly as I'm hoping the Blendtec will.

I LOVE my kitchenaid, and if you do a lot of baking, give 'er! As far as liquids & blending go, I find that I don't use my blender or mini food processor often, but my MAGIC BULLET gets used ALL the time. And they're really not that pricey...

Definitely a food processor, so much more versatile and easy compared to a blender. Once I got my FP, I found that I rarely use my blender (and an immersion blender is next on my wishlist!). Or if you wanna splurge, you can get the VitaMix!!!

If I were starting a kitchen from scratch I'd get a Thermomix!

Anyone remember this article from the NYT:
The Way We Eat: Dream Machine
Blender, processor, scale, and stand mixer all in one. Plus it sautés, steams and simmers...perfect for soup making. I've been coveting one for years but it's too much of a splurge as I already have the appliances it would replace.

I would do a multi-function grinder like Weston's #5 Meat Grinder. It has a shredder/slicer attachment and then you can get a tomato and fruit strainer attachment for it too. This way you can grind meat, make sausage, shred veggies, make sauce, puree, whatever, and it's much more affordable than a KA, especially if you get attachments.

I use my mini food processor and immersion blender for 95% of things, the only thing I need my full size food processor for is doing homemade pasta dough.

I think my mini-prep runs about $30-40 and the Cuisinart basic immersion blender was scored at Bed Bath and Beyond for about $22 with one of their coupons, so this is an economical pair that leaves you extra $$ if you want to add appliances in the future.

I'm with Soozer. Vitamix all the way. Sure it's pricey but it replaces so many appliances, easy to clean, and has a 7 year warranty.

@Sausage_Maker -- of course you would! :)

I started off with the Cuisinart someone mentioned above - the one that came with both the blender and the (mini) food processor. I used the blender all the time, but the food processor attachment was too small to really do much of anything with. When I got married, I got a full size food processor (cuisinart, as well) and an immersion blender (again - cuisinart) and I haven't used my blender since (almost 2 years now!). You may not be making a lot of wild recipes in your kitchen right now, but as you get more comfortable in your cooking skills, you might. And when you do, a blender is not going to help you make pizza dough. I use my immersion blender daily - it came with a whisk (great for egg whites and whipped cream) and a mini food processor (which I use a lot more than the one that came with my blender. It's just more convenient.), so it does a lot more than just pureeing hot liquids (though it does that very well). I use the food processor probably once a week to make dough or salsa or some other random recipe that calls for it. But seriously, I haven't pulled out my blender in almost two years and I kind of think the motor is crapping out (it's about four years old, and I haven't used it a TON, I don't think). So if I were you, I'd get a cuisinart food processor and immersion blender. I've seen them both at costco for pretty cheap and they're my two favorite kitchen "gadgets," hands down.

I just replaced my regular blender with an immersion blender - I use it for pureeing soups and making smoothies and hummus. I'm considering also getting a small food processor. And someday in my dream kitchen I'll have a Kitchenaid stand mixer.

vitamix! (funds permitting) + immersion blender: great for blending hot foods like soups and sauces.

my vote would be this cuisinart mini food prep that converts to an immersion blender: http://www.cuisinart.com/products/hand_blenders/csb-77.html

i love mine!

To piggy back on this question--can anyone recommend a good size food processor for one?

I'm looking in to buying one (specifically this one: http://bit.ly/klC53R) and wondering if a 3-cup bowl is too small. I'll mainly be cooking for myself and plan on using it for a variety of things (I'm mostly excited to make falafel!).

Does anyone one have a 3-cup one and wish they went larger? Or vice versa?

I use my blender daily for smoothies. I have the Cuisinart model that has both a food processor and blender that attach to the same base, but I almost never use the food processor. I also use my immersion blender regularly, mostly for soups, or the grinder attachment for spices, coffee, nuts, etc.

I have an immersion blender with food processor, whisk and beaker attachments, which has allowed me to permanently retire the old blender. It doesn't blend too much at a time, but I'm only cooking for two of us so it's perfect.

Like me I need to replace my current blender (it's leaking from the bottom of the pitcher) and was thinking of the pros and cons of blenders vs. food processors.