kitchen Archives | Mama Harris' Kitchen

12 Tips to Switch Up Your Kitchen Routine

October 1, 2015 by MamaHarris Leave a Comment

Last week I attended a delightful and informational brunch with a handful of other bloggers local to the Sacramento area. We sipped on mock cocktails from an Italian soda bar and munched on fresh fruit, bacon on a stick and pumpkin waffles with all the fixings while we learned about switching up our normal routines with Viva® Vantage® paper towels. Today I’m sharing what I learned with you during that brunch as a part of a sponsored post by Viva® Vantage®, and I’ll be giving you some really great everyday tips on how you can switch up your own routine! Are you up for the challenge?

12 Tips to Switch Up Your Kitchen Routine with Viva Vantage Paper Towels #7DaySwitchUp AD | Mama Harris' Kitchen

Image courtesy of Green Vintage Photography

The first thing I noticed upon arriving at the brunch was the adorable Italian Soda Bar. This is a great way to switch up an ordinary brunch to something extraordinary! Complete with wine glasses that we could wash (and dry streak free, thanks to Viva® Vantage® paper towels), then later paint and decorate, I knew this was going to be a memorable experience.

12 Tips to Switch Up Your Kitchen Routine with Viva Vantage Paper Towels #7DaySwitchUp AD | Mama Harris' Kitchen

Image courtesy of Green Vintage Photography

After grabbing my mock cocktail (I combined vanilla and raspberry syrups for a refreshing flavor), I ventured inside to see what was in store. There were plenty of ways to switch up normal routines, in addition to the Italian soda bar, we also had a fun waffle bar that included a variety of toppings and pumpkin waffles instead of plain ones for a real switch up!

12 Tips to Switch Up Your Kitchen Routine with Viva Vantage Paper Towels #7DaySwitchUp AD | Mama Harris' Kitchen

Image courtesy of Green Vintage Photography

In addition to pumpkin waffles and freshly washed fruit, we also had quiche, croissants and bacon that was seasoned with a kick of cayenne pepper and baked on a skewer for a delicious switch to the average breakfast.

We had a presentation that shows some great ways to switch up your routine using Viva® Vantage® and plenty of live demonstrations. This could be something as simple as replacing your old brand to using Viva® Vantage® paper towels to squeeze excess water out of your hair before it’s dry! I’ll have more tips below, but I can see why Viva® Vantage® paper towels was recently named the 2015 Product of the Year. With the stretchy-strength and great scrubbing power, I can see how this is a product that would be utilized in numerous way in households like my own. The revolutionary V-Flex™ Weave stretches to scrub even the most stubborn spills, and leaves no residue or scratches when drying glasses.

12 Tips to Switch Up Your Kitchen Routine with Viva Vantage Paper Towels #7DaySwitchUp AD | Mama Harris' Kitchen

Image courtesy of Green Vintage Photography

Now I’ve always used paper towels for everything. I’m not one that likes to clean with rags, I’ve always preferred to use paper towels when wiping down windows, mirrors and even counter-tops. Messy spills on the floor? I use paper towels for those too. Needless to say, many paper towels aren’t able to stand up to my use, and I go through quite a few at a time. This is why I was so excited to learn more about Viva® Vantage® paper towels, and try them out for myself.

I’ve got some great switch ups using Viva® Vantage® for your kitchen routine!

12 Tips to Switch Up Your Kitchen Routine with Viva Vantage Paper Towels #7DaySwitchUp AD | Mama Harris' Kitchen

Image courtesy of Green Vintage Photography

1. Rinse fruit and vegetables on a sheet of Viva® Vantage® paper towels and rinse, no colander necessary! The stretchy strength will keep the towel intact, even when wet.
2. No need for a vegetable scrubber for mushrooms and potatoes when you have the great scrubbing power of Viva® Vantage®!
3. Wipe down counters and stoves in a snap and take scrubbing to a whole new level by cleaning even the toughest messes.
4. Make bacon in the microwave! Simple place one sheet of Viva® Vantage® paper towels on a microwave safe plate, lay the bacon strips on top of the towel, then place a second towel on top. Add one minute per slice of bacon and your bacon will come out perfect every time. The Viva® Vantage® paper towels will absorb all the grease for easy cleanup!

12 Tips to Switch Up Your Kitchen Routine with Viva Vantage Paper Towels #7DaySwitchUp AD | Mama Harris' Kitchen

Image courtesy of Green Vintage Photography

5. Preparing oily foods like fried chicken or bacon? Once you remove your food from the heat, place on top of a sheet of Viva® Vantage® and let it absorb the oil before you serve. Works like a charm!
6. Speaking of oil, you can fold up a sheet of Viva® Vantage® and wrap it around your favorite bottles of oil, securing with a rubber band. Any drips will stop at the towel, leaving counters and shelves dry!
7. Kids and pets can be so messy, you can also wipe sticky fingers or dirty paws in a snap. Simply dampen a Viva® Vantage® paper towel and wipe! No messy wet paper towels that fall apart here.

8. Crafty? Use the Viva® Vantage® paper towels while you paint, you won’t even have to worry that the paint will go through the towels.
9. Wrap a towel around a head of lettuce before you place it in the refrigerator to soak up excess moisture.

12 Tips to Switch Up Your Kitchen Routine with Viva Vantage Paper Towels #7DaySwitchUp AD | Mama Harris' Kitchen

Image courtesy of Green Vintage Photography

10. Dry stemware easily and streak free!
11. Place a damp Viva® Vantage® paper towel under your cutting board to prevent it from shifting while you slice and dice.
12. Clean counters, windows and mirrors streak free!

I’m sure there’s even more ways to use Viva® Vantage® paper towels, but these are enough to get me really excited about this product. Once I started my 7-Day Switch Up, I realized this is a product that will always be in my house. The other day I accidentally spilled some juice on my camera and lens, and without a thought I grabbed a Viva® Vantage® paper towel and it soaked up all the moisture, saving my precious camera! See for yourself! Try the 7-Day Switch Up, then return to the website to dish on your switch and you can be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift card instantly!

Will you be making the switch to your kitchen routine?

12 Tips to Switch Up Your Kitchen Routine with Viva Vantage Paper Towels #7DaySwitchUp AD | Mama Harris' Kitchen

Image courtesy of Green Vintage Photography

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Viva® Vantage®.

The Ninja Ultima™ Blender Review {GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

July 23, 2014 by MamaHarris 41 Comments

Disclosure: I was provided a free The Ninja Ultima™ blender to facilitate this review and was not compensated for this post. As always, all opinion are my own.

You may remember last year I did a review on the Ninja Kitchen System. I described it as my new favorite small kitchen appliance. It was for a very long time, in fact I would use it multiple times a day. I made smoothies, I used it as a food processor, we loved the single cups for our personal shakes and the large pitcher to make smoothies and drinks for everyone. When I say we used it often, that’s an understatement.

So what changed? Well recently Ninja Kitchen sent me their newest Ninja full size blender, the Ninja Ultima™ blender. It has many of the features I loved in my first machine, the cyclonic blades that go all the way up the main pitcher, super high horsepower (1500 watts), and the single serve cups. In addition to keeping the features I love, they’ve made it better by simplifying. My old machine had a few different cup sizes and different blades and it was a lot of storage space. This machine is simple, does it all and it’s just one machine. You can chop, blend, and everything in between. In addition, the tops for the single serve cups now have a flip lock lid so they close. It’s a little bit more sleek while keeping everything that I loved.

I want to be honest, my old system was such a part of our daily routine that I wasn’t sure how I’d feel opening up this new system and replacing it. I had my reservations, because I really did like the old system. But the second I turned on the blender, I could see the difference. Somehow it blends a little quieter, and easier. Within seconds my huge ice cubes were crushed with no issues whatsoever.

What I also love about Ninja is all of the delicious recipes they provide. From soups to drinks, cakes and everything else you could think of you’re sure to be inspired.

The switches are easy to use, the pulse works fast and as well as you would hope it would. It’s easy to power up from a 1 to a 10 while the blender is in motion.

The pitcher holds 9 cups! Perfect for parties! It’s also perfect for making large batches of soup!

Even with the new design, the things I love are still in place, like the locking feature.

Also the push release for the top.

I tested it out with a little smoothie recipe, just to see how it would do.

Within seconds those ice cubes were broken up and everything was blended.

I also like that it came with three tumblers. The blade design for the single cup doesn’t look like much has changed. It looks like the only redesign was with the tumbler tops.

The locking mechanism has changed a bit, which is a good thing. After a while my single cups began sticking a bit more with my old machine and I have a feeling that’s why it was changed.

Absolutely loving that flip top.

If you love what you see, I have awesome news for you. I’m hosting a giveaway and one lucky reader will win their own Ninja Ultima™ Blender of their very own!

Here’s how to enter:

Prize: One (1) The Ninja Ultima™ blender

Giveaway runs through the evening of August 1st.

Eligibility: U.S. Residents only, must be 18 years old or older to enter. See full contest rules in the rafflecopter form. You will be notified via the email you used in the rafflecopter form if you win, and you will have 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be chosen.

Enter using the rafflecopter form below. You can sign into the form with Facebook, or you can use your name and email address. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

KitchenAid Savor the Savings Event

October 30, 2013 by MamaHarris Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This is sponsored content in partnership with KitchenAid and The Niche Parent Network & Conference. All thoughts are my own.

Currently there’s an amazing sale going on, just in time for the holidays. This couldn’t come at a better time, when many of us are heating up our kitchens in preparation for all that Holiday goodness! The Savor the Savings event is happening right now with select KitchenAid products at Sears!

Imagine being able to purchase big ticket items, and the more you purchase the more money you get back. That’s precisely what’s happening! You can purchase a brand new refrigerator that can hold all of those holiday leftovers, and a new oven to cook it all in. Or how about an under the counter refrigerator for all the wine your guests will be gifting you? Maybe you need a new dishwasher for all of those dishes or a trash compactor. Select models of each of these products are included in this event!

You can get up to $1,000 back (via prepaid MasterCard by mail) by purchasing select appliances! You can buy groceries and even smaller KitchenAid appliances like that stand mixer or that food processor you’ve been eyeballing. It’s a win/win and you get so much bang for your buck! KitchenAid is one of the industry leaders in Kitchen appliances, so if you’re in the market for some new kitchen appliances, I’d suggest you head over to the KitchenAid section at Sears before the sale is over!

If I could, I’d buy all new stainless steel appliances. My stove runs a bit too warm, so I’m interested in a freestanding range with KitchenAid’s Even-Heat feature that includes five burners. A beautiful and quiet dishwasher that doesn’t burn my plastic kids plates if I put the heat on would be wonderful. I’d definitely feel like a pro in a kitchen that includes all stainless steel KitchenAid appliances, and KitchenAid is a name known for long lasting products that are just as dependable as they are beautiful! With that rebate money I’d be able to buy plenty of food to keep my new refrigerator stocked and I’d definitely purchase the KitchenAid stand mixer I’ve been dying to have. That would make my very own KitchenAid kitchen complete!

Every year I host Thanksgiving and Christmas in my own kitchen, and I can just imagine the amazing ways new appliances would help make my life easier and cooking even more enjoyable!

What KitchenAid appliances would you want to purchase to get your very own dream kitchen?

In the Kitchen with Speck Products – a GIVEAWAY!

August 21, 2013 by MamaHarris 17 Comments

Disclosure: I was provided free product from Speck Products to try and review. I was not compensated for this post. All thoughts are my own.

There’s one thing that I love and that is gadgets that help make my life easier in a variety of ways. What I love even more than those wonderful gadgets, are products that are created to keep them safe and even prettier. This is important to me for a few reasons. Most importantly, I have small kids. With a two year old and a four year old in the house, I need to make sure any important items I have are safe from little hands – this includes all that they love to do to items of value (you know what I’m talking about here if you have any experience with kids of those ages!). Another reason is that I’m in the kitchen quite often. I often use my electronic gadgets in the kitchen, and they need to be safe from bacon grease and flying flour, among other things. Oh, let’s not forget hard floors and sharp corners! Lastly, but not least, I’m a girly girl and love all things bright, colorful and pretty.

My Gorgeous SmartFlex View for iPhone in Grape/Lavendar/Peacock
that I received from Speck Products.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m an iPhone user and for my last birthday my wonderful husband got me the iPhone 5. When he purchased it for me, he also got a screen protector and a really nice case for my phone. The case he had purchased was the CandyShell Flip Case for iPhone 5 in White/Graphite/Pebble made by a company named Speck Products. I was already familiar with Speck Products, since they are a Northern California company and I’m a bay area native. Speck makes a variety of products for many different smartphones and tablets, and in fun colors and patterns. Their cases come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to assist in the different needs of the phone or tablet user. One of the things I liked about my CandyShell Flip Case is how snugly it fit my phone, the classy and polished look of the color combination, and the special feature where the bottom flips open if I want to place it on a docking station.

Showing how the retractable stand comes out of the SmartFlex View for iPhone 5 from Speck Products.

Showing how the retractable stand locks in place.

When it comes to my cases on my phone, I do like a little variety and it’s fun to switch up your cases for a new look. A few weeks back I received a beautiful iPhone 5 case from Speck Products. The case I received is called the SmartFlex View for iPhone 5 and this particular one is came in the Grape/Lavendar/Peacock color combination. What I love about this case (aside from the gorgeous color combination) is the retractable stand that allows this phone to sit upright. It’s ideal for watching videos and FaceTiming, but I also found it useful if I’m in the kitchen following a recipe or searching for quick and useful tips and tricks while cooking. Often my hands are dirty while I’m in the kitchen so if I just have to use one finger rather than a whole hand to search for something quickly on my phone that’s a huge help. D-Man also likes to borrow my phone while I’m cooking and watch videos or play games, and he’s loving the stand feature. Especially when it comes to making his own videos, which he does do quite often!

D-Man watching videos on my phone while I cook using the SmartFlex View for iPhone 5 from Speck Products.

Designed in California, made in China.

Unfortunately, I have dropped my phone a few times by accident. Thankfully this case is sturdy enough to take the force of a fall without any damage to my phone. Although the little kickstand on the back of the phone does look a bit flimsy, or as though it may break if you don’t open and close it properly, it’s surprisingly sturdy! D-Man plays with it often and in the beginning he wasn’t very careful about it. I would get so worried he’d broken it, and it was always perfectly fine! You can even apply a good amount of pressure to the phone while it’s standing vertically, and it still stands sturdy. I like that you can stand the phone either vertically or horizontally and it works either way.

I’m very happy with my SmartFlex View for my iPhone 5, and would definitely purchase another. This particular model comes in four different colors. It’s a bit less slippery in my hand than the CandyShell Flip Case, although that one is sleek and shiny and comes in eleven different color combinations. The next gadget I’ll be purchasing is the iPad 4, and I already have the case I want picked out for it. I’ll be getting the HandyShell for iPad which, like the SmartFlex View, has a stand on the back where you can view your iPad either vertically or horizontally. Since the stand is also in a handle shape, I’ll also be able to hang it from one of my higher cabinets so I can view the screen as I’m cooking or baking in the kitchen. I’m definitely looking forward to that!

Love that I can look up recipes while my phone stands vertically using the SmartFlex View for Iphone 5.

Speck Products has such a wide variety of cases and products for iPhone and iPad users, as well as other smartphones and tablets. Speck is so amazing that they are offering to send two of my lucky readers a protective case of their choice for whichever device they please! Isn’t that awesome?! You can view their wide selection here, then let me know below which Speck item you’d love to have.
This giveaway is open until August 27th, you must be 18 and over to win, and a U.S. resident. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mama Harris' Kitchen