About
Hi! Welcome to Test Kitchen Tuesday.
I’m Angela, and I am not a professional chef. Not by a long shot. In fact, I used to do whatever it took to avoid cooking. My husband (also known as 2ChiliBreadBowl) used to think a good meal was prepared out of a Lean Cuisine bag and sizzled up in a skillet in about 10 minutes. But, thankfully, people change!
In early 2010, I started really looking at what we were eating, and it was scary. Have you ever read the ingredients list on your favorite convenience foods? Yowza. Once I made the connection that “you are what you eat,” I started changing things around our house.
Change is not easy, and change shouldn’t be overnight, so slowly took back control of our nutrition. A surprise houseguest for dinner one Tuesday when I was trying something new gave me the idea of having a defined trial food day, and, Test Kitchen Tuesday was born.
As it turns out, I have lots ot say with regards to healthy eating and living, so I often discuss healthy living topics, provide the occasional product review, and generally share what’s on my mind. Oh, and I am big into blending – as proven by my Ninja Blender Recipe page. I accidentally became a bit of a Ninja Blender expert, and recently wrote an ebook called The Ninja Blender Handbook, which is a compilation of my recipes, key learnings, tips, tricks, and troubleshooting for Ninja Blenders.
The blog has evolved with our lives, and right now we are currently renovating a mid-century modern home in the Seattle suburbs and do not have a kitchen (really! no kitchen). So, the trial meals have been on the backburner for a while, but I look forward to the day in the fairly near future when I have more than just my trusty Ninja Blender at my side to create our daily nourishment.
Thanks for dropping by, and, I hope you stay awhile!
Just stumbled across your blog…can’t wait to keep reading and try your blueberry pie energy bars!
Hi Karen, yay! And, Welcome!
Hello Angela! I just wanted to say thank you…thank you….thank you for the Ninja Recipes…I just purchased one and luv it! I found your recipes today and am delighted….I am eating healthier these days and cannot wait to try some of your goodies! Can we share things we have tried that work too? I love the nutritional info u provide…we r keeping an eye on fat, too. Thank you again! Tammy
Hi Tammy,
Thanks for dropping by!
If you make up some Ninja recipes and want to share them, shoot me an email at testkitchentuesday at hotmail dotcom and we can talk about it. I am all about sharing what works, so yes, definitely!
Angela
Hi, Angela,
I note that you never mention using the 40 ounce bowl. I guess your Professional model only includes the 72 ounce pitcher? I also note you only mention cooking for 2chili and yourself.
We have had our Ninja 1100 System for about six months. Cooking for two persons most of the time, we have never used the 72 ounce pitcher. The smaller bowl is perfect for bread, pizza dough, salsa, many (if not most) of your recipes for two persons, drinks, low-fat, no-sugar ices and smoothies.
Your comparison of the Ninja Pulse might should have been to the Ninja 40 ounce bowl rather than the 72 ounce pitcher. Or am I missing something here?
We very much appreciate your recipes, other hints and product reviews. Take care.
Hi Hal,
You are correct – I do not have the Ninja Professional System – only the Ninja Professional Blender, which doesn’t have the 40 ounce pitcher or all the neat accessories. I bought the NPB at Target before ever seeing the infomercials, so I didn’t know about the full KS with all the accessories. If I had it to do again, I’d get the full KS. But, the Pulse is a nice little compromise because it has some of the functionality of the Ninja Kitchen System in a tidy little form factor.
Thanks for dropping by!
Angela
How does the 1200 compare to the 1100?
Just received the Ninja Blender for Mother’s Day from TV Commercial, but it didn’t receive the single serve container? Should I have gotten it with my set or do you know how I can get one? I really think we would use the single server for individual drinks, etc. and like the idea for single use, too!
Thanks,
Susan
Hi Susan,
My Ninja Pulse came with 3 single serve cups. I don’t know if you somehow got a defective one or why you wouldn’t have them. I would recommend you contact the Ninja folks directly: http://www.ninjakitchen.com/cgi-bin/livew/site.w?location=mcopy.w&mcopy=customerSupport&target=main&frames=no&sponsor=000007 or go to their site and hit the “live chat” button to see if they can help you sort it out: http://www.ninjapulse.com/index.php. There is a button in the top header that says “Live Chat” — that is probably your best bet.
Angela
Hi Angela,
Just wanted to say thank you so much for your site!! I just made the almond quinoa bites and they turned out great! I am newly Paleo and I eat grains (mainly quinoa) every once in awhile. This little treat will curb any sweet craving I have while I am detoxing from white sugar. I also just bought a ninja on Thursday and am IN love with it! I can’t wait to try more recipes.
As I was looking through your site, I had clicked on the “2chili” link and saw that your husband has Bend, OR and Seattle, WA listed – I just moved to the Seattle area from Bend in January. Thought it was a funny coincidence!
Take care!
Pamela
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for the note! And, that is so funny. We bought a vacation place in Bend last summer (NWX) but also just sold our house in Bellevue, so we are between places there while we shop for a downsized home. Our work is there, though! What a coincidence!
Have fun with your new Ninja. It really is a fun appliance!
Angela
wow small world! after living in NoCal for 55yrs., we moved to bend OR (sunriver) in Aug. ’12, bought a home and absolutely love it!!! my husband grew up in bend and longed to go back. we’ve visited family here once and sometimes twice a year for the last 13yrs. and I never had a desire to move there, hmm, the cold winter weather & snow was a concern coming from sunny CA! but it wasn’t until God changed my heart and gave me s desire to make the move. it is one of the best choices ive ever made! it’s a spectacular place to live. central oregon (east of the cascades) is not rainy like the OR valley (west of the cascades).. it snows (not much rain) and the air is dry… not bone chilling like CA can be when it’s just 45 degrees. one morning in January it was negative 12 degrees. they say the sun shines 300 days out of the year, hence the name ‘sunriver’, and i would support that assessment. plus, if you are beer lovers like me and my hubby, you will so enjoy some of the most acclaimed breweries on the west coast. all that said, (thanks for letting me share) my main reason for visiting your blog was to comment about the ninja, until I saw comments about Bend. I saw a ninja infomercial a couple days ago and started researching… and now, I think, am ready to make the move to buy the mega kitchen system. my husband and I love smoothies and I love to cook healthy. I think it would be very handy in the kitchen. and ‘oh my’, your recipes look incredible… homemade almond milk, mint chocolate chip smoothie… yummo, hold me back!! can’t wait to dive in and try them. I hope there are recipes using greek yogurt… love it! thank you for sharing your passion for wholesome foods! blessings!
Hello Angela,
My cousin’s wife, Debby Brock, informed me about your site. I’ve been an “on-again-off-again” juicer (Champion Juicer) for about 15 years, and your site has inspired me to be “on-again.” The green smoothies you posted inspired me to try one and my husband and I both love them now. I downloaded your ebook of recipes last week and really enjoy it, as well as your posts (to which I subscribe).
I’m just wondering: what is the purpose of adding protein powder to smoothies? Is that only if you’re vegan? Is Slim Fast a protein powder? Do protein powders add a taste or texture to the finished smoothie? We still occasionally eat lean meat and some dairy. We still eat cooked food several times a week. I would enjoy knowing your thoughts about the necessity for protein powder.
For the last week we’ve been using both the juicer and my new Ninja Kitchen System (a birthday gift). We’re feeling great and are enjoying your delicious smoothie recipes.
Thank you so much for your interest in health and your beautiful way of writing about it and inspiring others!
A distant relative (maybe kinda sort of. . .),
Doris
Hi Doris,
Welcome, and thank you for your kind words! Congratulations on getting back “on track” with juicing and smoothies!
Protein powders are definitely optional ingredients in smoothies, but, I always like to add protein when I’m eating carbohydrates. If you eat carbohydrates alone (fruit and veggies are carbs), they tend to burn quickly in your body and you’re hungry soon. However, if you eat carbs and protein together, the satiating effect lasts much longer.
I recommend steering very clear of Slim Fast, as it is a lot of processed ingredients and not really great for you. When selecting a protein powder, you want one that is low in sugar and has a fairly small list of “weird” ingredients that you can’t pronounce. My recommended powder for folks just starting out would be either Vega One or Amazing Grass Amazing Meal. They have lots of additional vitamins and minerals, and are fairly pleasant tasting. There are LOTS and lots of protein powders out there, but try to steer clear of the cheap kinds you can buy at big box stores, as it would be better to just not use those at all. Most powders have a “flavor,” but I don’t believe they dramatically alter the texture of smoothies. Flavors can range from vanilla to chocolate and berry flavors.
Cheers to your health!
Angela