This ice cream/sorbet/gelato/smoothie maker is not a blender, as the instructions remind you often. It's a completely different process by which you freeze your ingredients first and then insert them in the device. From there, a set of thin blending blades descend into the bowl and mix for the pre-determined time.  When it's done, you can mix in other items like M&Ms, nuts, chocolate chips, etc, or simply eat the fresh ice cream.  My kids made the first batch, and it came out amazing!