Ninja Kitchen System 1100- first try!

When the blending attempt via the Cuisinart Mini-Prep failed, I started looking into blenders. While I do have a stick immersion blender, I've found in the last few years it just doesn't do the job I want it to for smoothies. Coincidentally, when I went home for spring break the new Costco coupon book showed that Euro-Pro had put out a $25 manufacturer's instant rebate on their Ninja Kitchen System. One of my friends has the Euro-Pro Ninja Master Prep system that was selling from Costco last year or the year before. Sometime in 2011, Costco pulled that item from its shelves and replaced it with the Kitchen System, the lastest Ninja innovation. I had badly wanted the Master Prep system, but my mother wouldn't let me have it. As of this date, the Master Prep system retails from Macy's and Amazon for about $60-70.

Since I was home for the week, I asked my mother to get me the Kitchen System. I was decided that if I was willing to shell out my own money for it anyway, I might as well ask my mother for it. She was skeptical, of course. The Kitchen System actually retails for $180 and sells on Amazon and Macy's for about $150. At Costco, with the instant rebate the cost would be about $95+tax. I already have the Cuisinart Mini-Prep, which has enough functionality as a food processor for cooking for one or two people. That having cost me ~$20 and an Oscar blender being around $30... just buying me the blender would be cheaper than getting me the Kitchen System and then returning the Cuisinart. Also since I'm in college and have VERY limited kitchen counter and Closet space, it might be more practical.

The Ninja Kitchen system's innovative call is its 1100 watt motor. That's a lot of power! It also features the new blade system that was featured in the Ninja Master Prep. I actually didn't know until I started researching the product that it was an "As Seen on TV" infomercial product. LOL. Of course the infomercials for the Master Prep and Kitchen System didn't show me anything I hadn't seen first hand in my friend's kitchen. The reviews on Amazon were more convincing for me than the infomercial, which I didn't have the patience to sit through. The Kitchen System, if you haven't figured it out by now, has functionality as a food processor and a blender, just like its predecessor, the Master Prep. It would replace my 4-cup Cuisinart Mini-Prep in its functionality with a larger bowl (5cups vs 4 cups). It also comes with a 72oz Blender cup (which is absolutely huge). Apparently it also has dough and whipping functionality(, which I also didn't know about really because I didn't watch the whole infomercial, but are nice bonuses. I don't know if I'll use those). It has a limited 1yr warranty (Cuisinart Mini-Prep featured 18-month limited warranty), and the bowls are made from BPA free plastic (same as the Cuisinart, but the Oster blender features a glass blending cup). I also like how even the smaller 'processing bowl' is capable of blending liquids with the sealed cap, unlike the Mini-Prep. That way I can make enough for only me and my apartment mate (5cups is still alot even then), and not have to use the really big blender cup. (The two cups also have different blades, the small 5-cup has four blades, and the big 72oz has a stunning 6 blades. The package also came with dough hooks, a dough base (for extra stability), a whipping blade, and a cookbook.) The one odd thing is that the design of the cups is square versus the traditional round bowl (Master Prep system featured round cups). I don't know if this will be a problem yet, but I've seen complaints about it on Amazon. This might become a problem if/when I use the processor for prep work. My mom uses her processor mostly for eggroll stuffing or other meaty stuffings. Mmmm Eggrolls. =D

So, after my nagging Mom for a bit and being an extra good girl while I was at home for the break, she gave in and let me have it. Yay! It's still in 'trial period' though, so if I don't like it in any way, she'll return it. She was also concerned that it might be too heavy if I use it seldomly. (Hopefully I'll want to use it alot though!) She also has a bigger food processor than the one she normally uses, that she tells me she doesn't like to use because it's so heavy and hard to drag out. We don't use the food processor enough at home to warrant it having it's own place on the countertop. So having got it yesterday (Sunday), I decided to try it out tonight in terms of its blending and ice crushing capabilities. The Cuisinart I had originally bought to make pumpkin pie with had sat in the closet for two months before I opened it to try out. That certainly speaks for how excited I am about this product. I currently don't actually have the counter space for it, so it's sitting on the kitchen table we never use because it's covered in fruit and magasines. But that's a good place for it I think, I'm going to leave it out for now. =D

Without further ado: Adventures in Blending #2

The first step I did, although it wasn't necessary but I wanted to do it, was make snow. This part I wanted to do because of the five minutes of the infomercial I did end up sitting through. Haha, it was fun actually.

About 10 cubes of ice. I don't know how the Jamba Juice smoothies always end up soo icy.

It works! Snow! Awesomeeee.

 Apparently I forgot to take a photo of the 'before'. This smoothie featured the above pictured snow, 1 large California Orange (I prefer the taste of CA orange over Florida oranges, so that's what I had in the kitchen), 20 baby carrots, 7 medium strawberries (a little sour because they've been in the fridge) and ~1cup Simply's lemonade.

Blended. ~20-30 seconds. Made 5 cups!

VERY well blended. The carrots in itty bitty pieces. Smoother than Jamba Juice.

The end result is a little tart, but I like it that way. Overall for a first try, I'm very happy. Next time I'll try yogurt or apples too, if I remember. I might even get around to finally making that pumpkin pie! The pumpkin took a freaky long time to ripen, but I think it's about ready.

This is my own opinion and I did all the research myself. We paid for this with our own money. I have no connection with the company Euro-pro. I think Costco is awesome though. =D