Does anyone know if the book is still available - I can't seem to find it on the TM website.
Thanks

Hello and welcome
It can be quite overwhelming when you start using your TM - there is so much you can do with it and there are so many wonderful ideas out there.
I agree with the poster who mentioned keeping it accessible - that's a great first step.
Then think about what you are already cooking on a regular basis and see whether there is a TM version of that dish to try. Something like spaghetti bolognaise may be a good place to start (that is a staple in our family).
Another good place to start may be with the veg or chicken stock paste - it's easy to make and incredibly useful.
When I bought my TM, I had my DH's voice ringing in my ears - his comment was: 'if you are going to spend all that money, you best make sure that you use it!' He is the first to admit that it was a brilliant buy and that I use it almost daily. Many times I won't cook a meal in it, but I may make the mashed potato (another staple), cook the rice, grate the parmesan, make the salad dressing etc etc.
Lots of luck and please let us all know how you go.
Buzzbee

wow - so many awesome ideas.
My kids don't like muffins, slices, quiches. I have tried a variety of muesli bar-type recipes, but they don't really like any of those. I have resorted to shop-bought nut bars for my son, because he is allowed to take nuts to school.
The thermos is a good idea - I need to get organised with some of those. Where is a good place to buy them?
Definitely going to try make some sausage rolls - they will like that.
Thanks all!
Buzzbee

This is a very popular and oft-requested dinner option in our house. It makes a lot - enough for lunch the next day, which is handy.
Buzzbee

Hi all
I know there is an old thread about this topic in the forum, but I thought maybe I would start a new one for 2014.
One of my resolutions for this year is to try to make more interesting lunchboxes for my kids - they get bored and I get bored! I thought perhaps the lunchboxes would be less of a chore if I tried to make them more varied. And then there is more likelihood that the lunch would get eaten.
So far I have tried:
* Steaming and then shredding chicken in the TM - freezing this in portions and then using it to make chicken mayo wraps/pitas
* Making and freezing the bolognaise rolls from the 'more munch in your lunch' recipe booklet - these are a big hit, and my kids don't seem to mind eating them cold (I wouldn't want to, but it doesn't seem to bother them!)
* cooking chicken shnitzels (not in TM  ) and then freezing these and popping a shnitzel in the lunchbox
* making TM hoummous and packing a small container of hoummous with some crackers/cucumber sticks
All these ideas are working well, but I am looking for more good ideas, esp for things that can be made in the TM and then frozen in portion sizes.
Neither of the children have facilities for reheating, so it needs to be things that can be eaten cold.
Thanks! 

Hi everyone
I am not technically new to the TM forum, but I am taking a new approach to the forum ... all will be revealed below ...
I have been on the forum for a while, but haven't taken an active role. I have used a number of the recipes and have been amazed at the incredible generosity of spirit evident on the forum, and the willingness to share. I have been more of an observer than anything else.
However, that is about to change ... I have gone back to uni this year (eek - haven't done any studying for nearly 20 years, but that's another story), and one of the courses that I am doing as part of my degree is called 'e-learning'. As part of our learning for the course, we need to join an e-community, or what is referred to as a 'learning community'. We are supposed to participate in the community, learn from our participation, and then reflect on our experience. So I have chosen the TM forum as my learning community.
I may even pose some questions at some point to get a sense of how people experience this forum as a 'learning community'.
'Re-joining' the forum has renewed my energy around consulting the forum daily and also participating in the forum.
So to start, I have planned my week of meals, using my TM primarily, and hope to post some feedback about what I made and how it turned out.
Btw, I live in Sydney and I LOVE my thermomix. It has revolutionised my cooking and my life, and I know I sometimes get a bit annoying because I can't stop telling people how wonderful it is!
Bye for now, and thanks in anticipation for all the LEARNING,
Buzzbee

Hi there. I tried the corned beef in the varoma tonight for the first time, using JudyDawn's recipe. The piece of meat was 1.8kg and I cooked it for two hours. It was delicious - my husband claimed it was the most tender corned beef that I have cooked (usually I cook it on the stove top). Once it was cooked I made a basting sauce with balsamic glaze and honey, and the liquid that was left in the TM bowl (of which there was very little), and basted the meat with this, and then put it in the oven for half an hour. I basted and turned it once or twice while it was in the oven. yummy! 
Then I fried some mushrooms, added the carrots that I had cooked in the varoma with the meat, and added some gravy powder and water to make a gravy. 
Strangely though, the meat was a lot saltier than usual, although the recipe calls for very little salt, so that might just have been the particular piece of meat that I bought.