Forum Thermomix
Questions Doubts and Requests => Questions? Technical Issues? The Survival Guide => Topic started by: Ayla on April 20, 2009, 05:19:48 pm
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Hey all,
We got our TMX about a month ago and I feel we're not making the most of it. We just don't think to use it, or don't feel experienced enough to use it or to convert a recipe for it. Catch 22 is we won't get experienced if we don't use it right?? Lol ;)
Anyway, do you have any tips or advice for easy ways to integrate this appliance into our cooking? Just so we get familiar with it and normalise its use in the kitchen.
Did anyone else go through a phase where they felt they spent $2k on a bench decoration? :D
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Hey Ayla, I find that soooo hard to believe! I got mine for xmas, and I use it every single day, ok maybe we are a family of 5, but I do everything in it, from breakfast, lunch to dinner. And then at the weekend I really bake and cook big time. Cakes and bread, biscuits. Soups. Mashed potato, rice. Sauces, Ice-creams I only wish that I had 2 jugs, as I hate washing it up!!!
Tell me what is an example of your daily menu. Breakfast lunch and dinner. And maybe I can tell you what you could do to help you speed up your time. I know it can make a whole meal, but generally I find that I use it to assist and make the side dishes,the finishing touches, the sauces, drinks, cocktails etc
Give us an example of lets say your menu for 3 days, all of your meals and maybe we can help suggest what you could use your THX for.
Mine is certainly not looking pretty on the side, its always draining upside down on the draining board! And I am quite new to it, 4 months isn't long really. My DH thinks that I will have worn it out before the guarantee is up!!! ;D ;D ;D
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i would try some of the recipes in the book on here on the forum. the more recipes you try the more familiar with it you'll be, and the more you'll 'get' how to use it. good luck!
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What works for me is to think of what you couldn't make if you didn't have it. Or things that are just so boring to make because you need to stir them constantly for half an hour.
Then, take advantage of the fact that you DO have it. :)
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Hi Ayla
It took me a while to really get into using it. Then I started to just pick a recipe from the book and try it. I was amazed how quickly I changed to using it as the first option.
It did take some time, but then suddenly I can't stop experimenting.
Let us know what sorts of food you normally cook/eat and that might help us direct you more.
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Ayla, at the Nico Moretti class I went to on the weekend he said that he found the TMX most useful as a second pair of hands in the kitchen. When I first got mine I felt I had to use it to prepare entire meals as it had cost so much. Now I use it for heaps of things, but not necessarily cooking the entire meal.
eg The other day a friend called round and bought a swiss roll, he wouldn't take the leftovers home so I decided with the help of the thermomix I would make a trifle. Quick custard on the TMX, cook some plums on it to put in and later we had trifle for dinner.
I now find I am making sauces much more as I don't have to stir them. Risottos are a regular too.
Hang in there, you will use it and feel it's worth it.
A quick fruit (no sugar) sorbet is often made on our warmer days.
Orange juice for breakfast.
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Hi Ayla, I've been away and had noticed no comments from you when I returned. You were so keen before you got your TMX I was so surprised to read this latest posting of yours. You did the reverse to me, you read everything before you got the TMX and when I got mine, I tried a few things, didn't like them so turned to the forum which then re-inspired me to keep at it. I have printed out so many recipes from the forum (probably won't get to try them all but at least now I have a great choice) and I am using the varoma so much more now too. Once I settle back in from this holiday I will get back into doing most of my meals in it but am going to plan a week's meals ahead and make sure I have everything in the pantry and fridge to do them. It was too expensive to just sit on the bench and look pretty. If it isn't on the bench, I suggest you put it there as it never needs to go away. Miss your comments, please start cooking and doing reviews. Don't worry about converting things, let others do that if you don't feel confident enough. It will all fall into place if you keep at it.
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You'll get the hang of it! I don't convert my favourite recipes in a way that I can write down to share, but by looking in the recipe book and seeing how they suggest you do things (like cream butter/sugar, what temp to cook meat etc), I then apply them to whatever I'm aiming to do. I find some of the recipes in the cookbook don't need to be whizzed the length of time it says. Try it less, check it, whizz it again.
I have really enjoyed trying out recipes from this forum. There's such a huge variety of recipes to try out and the more you try, the more you learn. Less is always best.
When I first started using my TMX, I went thru the recipe book and wrote a list of what I wanted to cook and made a shopping list of what I didn't have. It really helped to have the stuff on hand.
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Thanks everyone :) I have had a pretty s**thouse time the past 4 weeks actually (3 deaths and my own miscarriage) so I haven't felt like doing much at all tbh. After having 2wks off to be with me my husband went back to work yesterday and I'm feeling the need to return to normality. I pulled out the cookbook and made the Moroccan Red Lentils today for lunch which was fun to do and delicious! And I made notes to improve it next time ;) Thankyou for your words of encouragement, I'll get there!
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So sorry to hear of your problems Ayla, no wonder you haven't been wanting to cook or 'chat' on the forum. Nice to hear you did do something in the TMX today though and are trying to return to normality. So glad your dh was able to be there for you these past 2 weeks but sometimes we need them to go back to work so that we can move on with our lives. All the best love.
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Hi Ayla,
Sorry to hear of your rough time.
When I first got my Thermomix I often found it easier to return to the old ways of cooking - as they say old habits die hard. And I just didn't have the confidence or a local consultant for support. However when I moved I left XH all the pots and pans and appliances. I took a frypan, a slow cooker and the TM - and i haven't looked back! ;D It was probably the little push I needed. So I would suggest that up pack up all those obsolete items and perhaps store them in the shed/garage if you're not comfortable parting with them.
Once you get up and going there will be no looking back.
Perhaps you could remind yourself of the reason why you purchased a TM and put your effort towards that. For me it was health, and if I feel slack I remind myself that those old ways weren't as healthy for me.
I have just posted a Honey Soy Stir Fry Chicken Winglets/Mini Drumsticks recipe under Main Dishes - I only discovered it this week and couldn't believe how easy it was and it provides a really yummy meal. Miss 3 was very impressed which is a hard status to achieve LOL ;) ;D
Perhaps get in contact with your consultant and see if you can book into a Cooking Class. Did you have a Delivery Demo or Varoma Demo? If not perhaps it's time that you booked those to refresh your enthusiasm.
Best of luck!!!
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Sorry to hear your news Ayla, but as you say hopefully you will start to get back to normal soon.
Whats the weather like there at the moment, and how many are you for lunch or dinner, maybe we can plan or suggest a few easy things for you to make, that will go down well with the family, and make you really wonder what a fantastic pair of extra hands that you have sitting on the bench, that doesn't answer back ;D ;D ;D or get jealous ::) ::) ::) and is not just a pretty face :D :D :D but a super duper fan dabby dosie Thermomix. I honestly feel that I couldn't live without it! Better not say that out loud, DH might hear :-X :-X :-X
Let us know anyway and maybe we can all help a little.....
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Thinking of you Ayla.
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oh ayla, that is an awful few weeks :( take it easy on yourself, use your thermomix to cook some simple meals for you to save you the work :)
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Thanks everyone :) I have had a pretty shithouse time
That's a bit of an understatement. Hope that you can get back to your bubbly vivacious self, but understand that may take some time. :( :(
You're in our thoughts and prayers.
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Thanks everyone, you're all so lovely! xx
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what a fantastic pair of extra hands that you have sitting on the bench, that doesn't answer back ;D ;D ;D or get jealous ::) ::) ::) and is not just a pretty face :D :D :D but a super duper fan dabby dosie Thermomix. I honestly feel that I couldn't live without it!
I love that Bron! Can I quote you? ;D ;D ;)
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Well I've been using it a lot more now with some successes, some failures, but it's all a learning curve. I made the moroccan lentils which was deeeelicious! I tried doing scrambled eggs this morning and while I got there in the end my method will need some tweaking (can we get a breakfast section? :D). I tried my hand at juicing oranges this afternoon. At the demo my consultant managed to juice lemons without having to peel them but I couldn't work out how she did it, so after turning a couple of my oranges into pulverised mush I just peeled the rest and whizzed them up. Then tonight I made the basil pesto and stirred it through some pasta. With salt & black pepper it was poifect! :)
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I think a breakfast section is a good idea! To put on coffee, fruit infusions, juices, porridge, soft boiled eggs, breakfast rolls, I have a great recipe for chocolate bread, its amazing, made with spelt flour. Will make it again soon and take photos. You will all love it, its easy peasy too, takes one minute and 20 mins to rise ;D ;D ;D
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I'd love to see a breakfast section too. Everything in the one place and so easy to find on here. Your chocolate bread sounds intriguing Bron.
Nice to see our 'old' Ayla is back too, I for one really missed your comments. Sounds like you are going through what we have all been through, winning some and losing some! Having read the forum extensively before you got your TMX, you were probably expecting this though. Keep it up.
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What a great idea. Thanks so much for suggesting a Breakfast board. It has been created.
Thank you
Admin
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i will go and christen it :D
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Oh lovely, thankyou! I'll go check it out in a tick. As fortune would have it my consultant is hosting a cooking class in a couple of weeks, hurrah!
Oh and my OJ tastes awful rofl, I think it's the seeds :P
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Try the carrot & Orange juice page 22 everyday cookbook Ayla - I used 2 carrots & 3 oranges and added 1t sugar. I always remove my pips - don't know why but maybe that is where the bitterness comes from. Make sure you get to that cooking class coming up and have a list of questions ready for the host! Don't forget to pass on anything you learn from her to the rest of us.
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Ayla, I peel my oranges the night before (to save time) and then next morning segment them as I put them in the *:, removing pips as I hate the taste they leave in the juice, add 10 iceblocks and blend at 9 for about 25 secs, add 1 1/2 MC of water and blend for another 25 secs, speed 9. (This is from Joy's site). We like this.
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I'm so sorry to hear of your rough time, Ayla. I went through a very similar scenario a year and a half ago, and I don't even really remember the first month or so after the 2 deaths and my miscarriage. And 2nd miscarriage 2 months later due to dodgy use of contraception (I knew we were supposed to wait at least 3 months before trying again). I thought I'd pretty much got over it 3 months later, but then it was my DD's birthday, and I just couldn't bring myself to have a party for her - I just couldn't face it. I didn't wrap her present, and didn't get her a card. They were things that I just couldn't do, and it took a while before I realised it was because the other babies would never have a birthday. Even a year later, when it was time for her birthday again, I couldn't face doing a party at home, but had one at a local soft play where they do everything for you. And I had my husband wrap the presents. So don't be shocked if your grief suddenly and unexpectedly raises its head when you thought you were OK, and go easy on yourself.
It's just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other, just as you are doing, and getting life as normal as possible - and then asking those around you to help out if you hit a stumbling block, like I should have done when I was finding my daughter's birthday so difficult. I kept thinking I'd overcome it, but couldn't, and then it was too late. If you find yourself doing the same thing, please go easy on yourself and just ask for help.
Regarding using the TMX, I Love Bimbys advice is very good - I did/do the same:
So I would suggest that up pack up all those obsolete items and perhaps store them in the shed/garage
Perhaps you could remind yourself of the reason why you purchased a TM and put your effort towards that. For me it was health, and if I feel slack I remind myself that those old ways weren't as healthy for me.!
A comment which I found helpful, and use a lot, was hearing someone say that they cook their rice or potatoes in the steamer basket, and their veg and fish/meat in the varoma above at the same time. I often have some of Cyndi o'meara's dressings ready in the fridge, and it isn't unusual for me to use it as a dressing for the fish/chicken - not just the salad when I've cooked a meal this way.
Lastly, as others have said, make things from the book/ this site. I did that for 2 weeks, rigidly not allowing myself to just try and cook my 'usuals'. After doing that every day for 14 days, I'd begun to have a feel of how it all worked, and then began to do what Wombleydoo does - look for similar things in the book and use that to help me convert. Also, don't forget that we have a conversion thread here - just post your recipe and let someone else convert it for you. But I'd really recommend that you just stick with recipes which are already done for the TMX before you branch out.
And roll on the breakfast thread - I was thinking of requesting one too, so great minds think alike! ;-)
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OMG Caroline - how many people there must be that us men don't hear about with such problems? Have a friend who has been trying to conceive for years and been thru IVF and constantly miscarries. The pain and agony must be terrible, but she just continues with work and life and no obvious outwards signs. Support is something that may not be as readily available.
Back to the Thermomix - support here is probably a big part too. Not sure what happens with consultants and how often they call you to check how it's going? Probably varies greatly, but with the metod of selling you would think that it is imperative that all clients are supported to become referral points. How is it with your consultant Ayla?