It's October 3 and a national holiday for "Mean Girls" fans. Every year, the internet turns pink, "Mean Girls" memes take over our feeds and, somewhere, someone is definitely asking, "What day is it?"
If anyone knows the answer, it's Jonathan Bennett, aka Aaron Samuels himself. This year, Bennett is giving fans another reason to celebrate October 3 as he teams up with Ninja for the launch of the new Ninja PREPi.
Bennett, who has spent the last two decades being asked about one of the most iconic movies of all time, is bringing plenty of "Mean Girls" energy to his latest kitchen collab. And really, there's no better time to hear from Aaron Samuels than on October 3.
But Bennett isn't just putting his "Mean Girls" stamp on the launch, he's also been
using the Ninja PREPi himself.
"What I love so much about using the Ninja PREPi because I've been using it for awhile now is, you know, that's why I jumped at the chance to do this because it literally saves me so much time in the kitchen but also saves me dishes," Bennett said.And honestly, saving time and dishes? "That is so fetch."
The compact Ninja PREPi tackles all those time-consuming kitchen tasks: dicing, chopping, slicing, shredding, puréeing and even crinkling — all in a single bowl that can go from prep to table to fridge to out the door. So whether you're making snacks for a "Mean Girls" watch party, prepping dinner or just trying to spend less time cleaning up, it's designed to make kitchen prep a little less dramatic.Plus, "Mean Girls" fans, there's even a Ninja PREPi in Pink Peppercorn. Because "on Wednesdays we wear pink" and apparently, on October 3, we prep in pink, too.
Ready to celebrate "Mean Girls" Day properly? "Get in loser, we're going shopping."
- Shop Jonathan Bennett x Mean Girls Ninja PREPi launch
- How Jonathan Bennett uses his Ninja PREPi
- How to watch Mean Girls on Oct. 3
- Jonathan Bennett's favorite recipes from The Burn Cookbook
- What's next for Jonathan Bennett?
Shop Jonathan Bennett x Mean Girls Ninja PREPi launch
Ninja PREPi 5-in-1 Prep System in Pink Peppercorn
Ninja PREPi 5-in-1 makes everyday prep faster and easier with five precision functions: chop, slice, shred, purée and crinkle cut, plus a prep-to-store bowl that keeps everything in one place.
Get now at Shark Ninja
Ninja PREPi 6-in-1 Prep System in Copper + Teal
Ninja PREPi 6-in-1 takes the work out of fresh meal prep with six versatile functions, including dicing, chopping, slicing, shredding, puréeing and crinkle cutting, all in one convenient prep-and-store system.
Get now at Shark Ninja
How Jonathan Bennett uses his Ninja PREPi
Bennett has a pretty practical approach to meal prep: make it easy, make it ahead and, ideally, don't create a sink full of dishes in the process. Between filming and keeping up with his meal-prep routine, Bennett says the Ninja PREPi has become his go-to kitchen essential.
"I'm on 'General Hospital' and have to be shirtless all of the time, meal prep has become a huge part of my life, so with the Ninja PREPi, I can literally, the night before I go to work, take my salads throw it in the bottom of the bowl and then just chop all of my vegetables that I need in there to stay healthy and stay in shape for the show," Bennett said.
Once everything is prepped, Bennett doesn't have to transfer his meal to another container or deal with a pile of dishes the next morning.
"I just grab the bowl in the morning, take it to work. I have one dish that I wash for all of it and it's just the bowl from Ninja PREPi," Bennett added.
More features of the Ninja PREPi:
- 5-in-1 Versatility: One compact system can chop, purée, slice, shred and even crinkle, so you can tackle a whole lot of prep without pulling out a bunch of different gadgets.
- Chop & Purée Blade: The same blade handles both chopping and puréeing, which means less swapping and more time getting dinner on the table.
- Reversible Slice & Shred Disc: Need to slice? Use one side. Ready to shred? Just flip it over. It’s an easy way to get two jobs done with one disc.
- Perfect Crinkle Cuts in Seconds: Turn potatoes, veggies and more into fun, wavy, ridged cuts in seconds. Because apparently, even your vegetables deserve to have a little fun.
- Full Power, Compact Size: Don’t let the small footprint fool you. The 500-watt motor packs plenty of power into a space-saving design that won’t take over your countertop.
- 3-Part Feed Chute: The feed chute accommodates different ingredient sizes, giving you more control and helping you get cleaner, more consistent cuts.
- Dicing Kit Accessory: Add the dicing kit for quick, even cuts, whether you’re prepping ingredients for salads, salsas or everyday meals.
Get the Ninja PREPi in pink on Oct. 3
Jonathan Bennett's favorite recipes from The Burn Cookbook
The Ninja PREPi is great for entertaining, too. For an October 3 "Mean Girls" watch party, you can use it to make dips like Bennett’s cool guacamole with apples and pomegranate seeds or a Bennett's specialty: a batch of hummus. The crinkle-cut function also gives vegetables a fun, wavy shape, making even a basic veggie platter feel a little more party-ready. Check out some of Bennett's favorite recipes from "The Burn Cookbook" below:
- I'm Not Regular Guac, I'm Cool Guac
- Give Me A Beet Hummus
- Awesome (Jello) Shooters
- Mac and Cheese Balls, Because I'm a Mouse, Duh
- Fetch-uccini Alfredo
- Gretchen's Wieners
Original price: $25 | Sale price: $11.98 | Savings: 52%
The Burn Cookbook: An unofficial unauthorized cookbook for Mean Girls fans
The Burn Cookbook by Jonathan Bennett and Nikki Martin is a hilarious Mean Girls-inspired cookbook packed with clever recipes, behind-the-scenes stories and personal favorites from the authors.
Get now at Amazon
How to watch Mean Girls on Oct. 3
There's a reason "Mean Girls" keeps making its way back onto our screens every October 3. For Bennett, the movie's staying power comes down to one thing: everyone can see a little bit of their high school experience in it.
"Mean Girls is evergreen and timeless and the reason why this movie has stood the test of time is because no matter… you're a 70-year-old dad or a Generation Alpha in high school, high school is always the same no matter what generation you’re from. The jocks are the jocks, the band kids are the band kids, the theater nerds are the theater nerds," Bennett added.Bennett says he was a theater nerd himself, which might make his take on the movie's lasting appeal even more fitting."No matter what generation goes to high school, high school never changes," he said. "So I think that's why it resonates with so many people through the years. It’s all the same so everyone can relate to it and when everyone can relate to it, everyone wants to watch it."
Ready to revisit the halls of North Shore High? To stream Mean Girls on October 3, you'll need a subscription to Disney+ and Hulu. A standard plan with ads starts at $12.99 per month. From there, open the Disney+ app or website, search for Mean Girls, press play and you're ready for your annual October 3 tradition.
Stream Mean Girls on Disney+
It's been 22 years since Mean Girls premiered. Re-watch it with Disney+ on Oct. 3.
Stream with Disney+ and Hulu
What's next for Jonathan Bennett?
Bennett has stayed plenty busy since stepping into the role of Aaron Samuels, with recent projects spanning everything from "Halloween Food Wars" to "General Hospital" and his lineup of Hallmark movies. For fans who still associate him with "Mean Girls," it's a pretty fun reminder that Bennett's career has gone far beyond the North Shore High School hallways.
You can catch Bennett on "General Hospital." Like "Mean Girls," the long-running soap is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu with a subscription.
Stream General Hospital
Want to see Jonathan Bennett in a different role? The Mean Girls star plays police detective Joe Fitzpatrick on ABC's long-running soap opera General Hospital. Stream the series on Disney+ and Hulu with a subscription, with plans starting at $12.99 per month with ads.
Stream with Disney+ and Hulu
And while Bennett clearly has plenty keeping him busy, he already has his sights set on getting back to the stage. From Aaron Samuels to Broadway, Bennett doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon."I got to make my debut on Broadway in 2024 and I would love to go back and do a Broadway show or create a show somewhere else. I would love to do something live musical theater," Bennett added.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Jonathan Bennett celebrates Mean Girls Day with a pink Ninja PREPi
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