S.M.
I've had both Cuisinart and a Kitchen Aid in the past. Like you said they just don't cut it. Last summer I bought a Ninja kitchen complete. It works very well for making smoothies and squash soup too. The only complaint I have is it's very loud compared to the other two. I am going to try to sell this one even though it's only six months old for whatever I can get out of it and get a VitaMix. Expensive but I think it will be worth it.