I'm just under two weeks until my surgery, and my old blender is such an ancient artifact that I knew I'd need an updated one. So, yesterday I went ahead and invested in the Ninja Max Kitchen System. I got mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond, and with a 20%-off coupon it was only about $75 more than a NutriBullet. The system I purchased came with food processor attachments, a 9-cup blender jar, as well as 2 individual-serving travel cups.

Last night, I decided to jump into smoothie making. Here's what I put together to make a pretty durn yummy green one. Since it was an experiment, I was a little too gung-ho to make a small sample, and ended up making a full 9 cups (!!!) of smoothie. Luckily, it was a hit with the kids, who helped me drink some of it!

* baby spinach (about three good handfuls--I didn't measure)

* frozen pineapple (about a cup, give or take)

* 3 sliced "gourmet cucumbers"--much smaller than a standard cuke, probably about the same food amount as a half cucumber

* 2 kiwi fruits, quartered

* honeydew melon (about 1/2 c.)

* 1 1/2 cups of ice cubes

* a couple of splashes of white grape juice (didn't measure, but probably not more than 3/4 of a cup)

* 1 cup Chobani nonfat vanilla yogurt

* vanilla Protein powder--2 scoops (I use Syntrax Nectar), use more or less to your taste/protein needs

* 3 tablespoons of raw organic hemp seeds for extra protein

Fired up the Ninja, and within about 20 seconds, it was finished. No chunks, bits or lumps. It came out a vibrant green--I was thinking of adding cantaloupe, but I was afraid the orange melon would have made it a little too brown for my kids to buy into, so I skipped it this time around.

The blender jar went into the fridge and it was my before-bed beverage, as well as my Breakfast this morning. Really good stuff!

Awesome!!!