Spring is around the corner, and I for one could not be more excited! Granted it isn’t my favorite season- but I don’t mind it either-longer days, warmer weather and all of that good thing- I think if it weren’t for the pollen it would be tied with fall for my favorite season!
Another one of my favorite things about spring is when you start getting all those fresh fruits and veggies, and I personally like to eat a little more “light” come this time of year, even though for some reason I tend to be a bit more hungry when the season first starts! I like sandwiches and different sorts of salads (seriously I could make a whole week menu of salads including chicken, regular, egg, potato and pasta!) I also tend to drink a lot more fluids including sweet tea and anything fruity!
Keeping all this in mind, I was really excited when I got the chance to review another item from the awesome folks at Ninja- the Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ pro compact system! I had always wanted one, even though I did downsize a lot of appliances last time I had a yardsale… I tried to get rid of things that we never really used, and I love all in one options! I do tend to have this mad love for kitchen goodies for some strange reason 🙂 Also- this one just ties in amazingly with things being fresh and healthy as well!
What is in the box:
In short, EVERYTHING you could possibly need except for the grocery items to make pretty much anything you can think of! There is the base which is 1200 watts- which is pretty powerful! Then you have a 40 oz blend & prep bowl, a 24 oz stainless steel double walled cup, 2 24oz nutri ninja cups, 3 sip and seal lids, the pro extractor blades and the total crushing dough blades as well! There is also a booklet of recipes as well!
I like how it comes with multiple cups and lids, that way everyone can have their own ,and I like how the big bowl can be used to make a big batch of your drink if you want to have that option as well!
Getting A Little Technical
Basically you are getting not only a blender but also a food processor all in one, which like I have mentioned before I am all for all in one options! You have several options for what you can do with your ingredients including:
Smooth Boost Extract- this is where you can totally break down the fruits and veggies for drinkable juices
Smooth Boost Blend– This makes your smoothies be -well- the smoothiest! It helps with making your frozen goodies creamy!
Auto iQ- this is what takes all the guess work out of making whatever it is you have decided to make!
I also talk about these modes a little bit below!
The blades are crazy powerful and they break down whole fruits, veggies, and even frozen ingredients and of course ice!
How To use It!
This would be a great place for me to tell you that it actually has suction cups that hold it in place on the counter when you are using it- or well in my case it is kind of on the counter permanently and used pretty much daily, so it is permanently stuck to the counter! That is how powerful this little gadget is!
Really the use of the system is SO SIMPLE- you would think that it would be complex with all the terminology and everything, but really you just put the ingredients in your cup, put on the lid and screw it onto the base- when it is on correctly the unit will turn on and from there you just have to select which method you want to use!
Here is a quick way to know which of the modes to use:
Auto IQ Extract– this one you would use for leafy greens, fibrous fruits and veggies, seeds and ice
Auto IQ Blend– this is for when you want to make a frozen drink, a smoothie or milk shake. this will work with the blender pitcher for making bigger batches as well!
You also have the option of picking if you want the smooth boost- if you want more of a texture and fullness you can just hit smooth boost no
Something Really Handy to me that was in the box is a little guide that shows you how to load your ingredients- just keep in mind not to put the frozen ingredients first when you are using the stainless steel cup- I keep ours on the refrigerator for handy reference
Different Uses:
There are SO many ways to use the Nutri Ninja Compact System that I don’t think that I could possibly name them all to you! So far we have really been into making smoothies , but I know that I am also looking forward to using it for making iced coffees (I don’t really like your conventional iced coffee but I think I could take some of my coffee mix, some ice and some milk and come up with something I would like) I also look forward to blending up some mixed drinks and even making slushies later on this summer.
I also think it would be handy with shredding my chicken for chicken salads and even the eggs and whatnot for other dishes and types of salads! The one thing that I had missed was when I got rid of my slushie maker when I did that big clean out- but now I don’t have to miss it anymore- plus this one is a whole lot less messy!
Nichole’s Famous Blueberry Muffin Smoothie Recipe:
It is a VERY Simple recipe. It is also something I just quickly threw together to try out when we first got the ninja- and it is actually so far been one of my absolute favorites!
1 1.2 cup of frozen blueberries- now you can use fresh if you have them and put in some ice- however my blueberries are last years blue berries from my mom and dads garden 🙂
1 Cup of whatever kind of milk that you like
1/2 cup of granola (or dry oatmeal) We just happened to have a random bag of granola that we had got from my grandma when she got some random stuff from this really awesome giveaway program where she lives, but oatmeal works just as well!
put the ingredients in your cup, seal the cup, place on the base and use the auto iq blend button…I like mind with smooth boost on!
Summing it up:
I am loving all of the different things that I have been able to do with my ninja, and all of the different things that I have tried so far! I know that it will def. be getting a good use around my house, because it already has been. This is the perfect time of the year for it and I can’t wait to have nice fruity, good for me beverages ,smoothies, coffee,etc all spring and summer long! I think that my Nutri Ninja Auto Iq Compact System is a kitchen gadget that anyone who would enjoy making their own frozen drinks and more at home would be happy to have!
