It’s no secret that traveling is my biggest passion and pastime, but spending extra time at home this year has actually unveiled another hobby that I’m beginning to enjoy just as much: cooking! I love experimenting with family recipes and dishes I have found online, and as things are beginning to go back to semi-normal and friends can gather again, I’ve been having a blast showing off my chef skills to loved ones.
The one aspect of cooking that I haven’t quite yet fallen in love with—and probably never will—is the cleanup. Some recipes require so many pots, pans, cutting boards and plates, that by the time all is said and done, I feel like taking a nap rather than hosting. Because of this, I have recently been on a mission to build a collection of delicious one-pot meals and products that can help de-clutter my time in the kitchen.
One of my absolute favorite new kitchen finds is the NinjaⓇ Foodi™ Cold & Hot Blender. If you’re familiar with the Ninja brand, you already know this is an incredible line of powerful and multifunctional blenders, but this new Cold & Hot model truly stands out above the rest. Unlike any other blender I’ve seen before, the Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender has a precision heating element that can be used to control the temperature and make hot dishes like soups, sauces, and dips—meaning, rather than blending ingredients and then transferring to the stove, you can actually cook many recipes right from your blender! I’ve found this to be particularly convenient when making soup—I love being able to pour it right into my bowl without worrying about any extra cleanup! You can even use the heating element for cocktails! Sounds strange at first, but this feature can actually be used to infuse flavors for water, craft cocktails, sodas, and more.
Of course, this blender is perfect for cold recipes too. And I don’t just mean the typical smoothie or frozen margarita recipe that we’ve been using our blenders for all along—I’m talking ice cream! This is one of the many awesome features on the blender’s Auto-iQ® program, and if you read the website’s reviews it’s definitely most people’s favorite function.
I was ecstatic to try making kulfi, an Indian spin on ice cream that is a bit denser and creamier. This is a cultural dish that brings back many fond memories of family gatherings, but it’s typically not something I’m able to enjoy all the time since it’s not as common to find as regular ice cream. It came out just as I remembered it tasting, and was a much easier process to follow than I could have imagined. I’m looking forward to having family over so I can show off my new blending skills!
What would you make first with a blender that can do it all? Check out my Instagram stories to see more Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender action!
