Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: Russell on April 17, 2010, 02:30:34 am
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Hi All,
Well the first draft of the cookbook website and a sample cookbook is up.
Please go to http://recipes.manyhobbies.com (http://recipes.manyhobbies.com), have a look at the sample cookbook and the comments I've made about it, then come back here and give me your opinions on the whole setup.
I've grabbed random recipe pictures from the forum and Cathy79 provided the text. If anyone has an issue with their information being posted, let me know.
Note my web host is currently "fiddling" with the domain, so performance may be up & down and is supposed to be fixed within a few days.
Thanks.
Russell.
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Russell, I have just had a quick look.
The site looks great and the recipe book is excellent - well done!!
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Hey looks good - when does it get released into the bookshops ;) ;) ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Yes please. Very clever.
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very pretty!
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Looks good Russell. Did you use LC to create the cookbook?
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Great job Russell!!
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I think it looks great!
Thank you!
And thanks to Cathy79.
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Thank you Russell and Cathy. What a fabulous idea. Love it. Love it. Love it.
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Looks good Russell. Did you use LC to create the cookbook?
Yes I did, but then I did some post editing to pretty up the title and chapter pages and add the images in MSWord, then converted it to PDF.
It looks like no one has any obvious complaints, so I'll keep working on the Favourites book. I think I managed to get 3 recipes transferred in today :-\ It's taking a while as I'm trying to correct the ingredient to be as close to nutritionally correct as possible, as reviewing the whole thread to add everyones adjustments as "tips". At his rate, it might be ready by Christmas :)
Russell.
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I don't know how people feel about it but can the authors of recipes selected for inclusion in the cookbook provide you the recipes with the tips etc. It will certainly lessen your workload and some of these authors/cooks might prefer to provide the final version themselves.
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I don't know how people feel about it but can the authors of recipes selected for inclusion in the cookbook provide you the recipes with the tips etc. It will certainly lessen your workload and some of these authors/cooks might prefer to provide the final version themselves.
I won't refuse any help, but aren't expecting people to put time into it if they don't want. There was another thread about summarising all recipe tips together. If people did that and it was all in one post, that would be the biggest help, as it saves me trawling through every post in a thread trying to find what's a tip as opposed to just some general chitchat.
Russell.
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Russell I think it looks great and appreciate your effort and Cathy's. Thank you
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Glad you're liking it. I think it's a great idea for those who can't access the forum on a regular basis, or just aren't into computers.
We need to get more votes for what people would like to see first in the book. And if any other LC users would like to share their files, that would be a big help.
Good work Russell !
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I just started putting al of the favourites in, since there's not been that many nominations done. I've put in 11 so far, but am in the midst of a cooking frenzy atm, so may not get much more done today. Due to my cruddy interent connection while I'm in Brisbane, it's a bit hard doing recipe entry other than on the weekend unfortunately.
Russell.
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Fantastic job Russell & Cathy.
Love the layout, looks great for printing off.......much more professional than my copy/paste recipe on to a word document ;)
Your enthusiasm is to be commended! ;D
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Fantastic job Russell & Cathy.
Love the layout, looks great for printing off.......much more professional than my copy/paste recipe on to a word document ;)
Your enthusiasm is to be commended! ;D
Thanks Maddy,
Hope you don't mind, but your photo's in the recipe posts a great, so I've pinched some for the Favourites recipes. I'd like photos of all of them, and luckily I've found most so far, but still a few missing.
Russell.
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Don't mind at all Russell......I'm flattered :D
JulieO's are always beautiful.....so make sure hers get in there too ;)
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Just a query Russell......I printed off a recipe (very neat and professional), but the background printed as a creamy colour. Just wondering can I select a white background some how for printing?......as my printer chews through the ink, and I'm thinking a background colour on the page is going to drink the ink up.
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Just a query Russell......I printed off a recipe (very neat and professional), but the background printed as a creamy colour. Just wondering can I select a white background some how for printing?......as my printer chews through the ink, and I'm thinking a background colour on the page is going to drink the ink up.
Actually that's a good point I didn't think of. You can't change it yourself. I'll either change it back to an ink-friendly version, or maybe make 2 versions, one colourful for online reading, and another with a plain background & text.
Russell.
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I like the black and red (gives definition), it was just the background colour I was concerned with.
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Maddy, On most printers you can go to an options setup and print "just text" for a document. This will get rid of the background. I hope that help until Russell gets a printer friendly option going.
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Maddy, On most printers you can go to an options setup and print "just text" for a document. This will get rid of the background. I hope that help until Russell gets a printer friendly option going.
Would that then eliminate the photo, if there is one with the recipe?
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shame there's not a way to do this as a wiki type document, so everyone could contribute / help (or is there?)
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OK< i've just found that's possible to set up a free wiki that you can upload documents to, but dh says that your site is capable of carrying a wiki anyway, you just need a free wiki software such as mediawiki (the one that powers wikipedia). he says you can limit who can edit it so it's not jsut everyone and anyone.
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Yeah I can do a Wiki, but I think that duplicates what the forum is doing here or in other places. I think we need to just keep going the way we are for a little while, as there may be other options available soon ;)
Russell.
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ok, i have to admit i kind of (really) don't get the point of any of this but as long as i don't have to do anything ... :D :D :P
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Looking good Russell, well done!!!:)
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Yep.. pretty awesome Russell! ;D
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Thanks Russell and Cathy79 for your hard work! Looks great
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Hey, you guys are doing a great job! Can't wait to see the finished product!! ;D
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Maddy, Sorry for the bum steer. I thought I would test before sending a reply. I see the sample recipe book is a pdf so the option to only print the text is not available. :(
dj
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Don't worry though, I'm sure Russell will sort it out and reload it at some stage.
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OK well I've uploaded a new version of the sample cookbook. This version is a bit cleaner for printing - no coloured background. It also reflects the contents of the "Favourites" entries to date.
You can see I've included "tips" which is what I thought are the relevant variations etc in the recipe threads. The Festive Season section needs a proper chapter page. I've also tried to match the ingredients as close as possible to their correct equivalents, so the nutrition info should be pretty close. I also just noticed that the yields are showing in ounces. I moved the software to a different PC today and obviously forgot to change the units to metric, so that's a little oopsie.
Russell.
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Russell and Cathy the book looks great. I'm most impressed. May end up saving me lots of copying and pasting - plus I'll get pictures.
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well done guys. Great job.
Will be a great source of inspiration for dinners for the family!
thanks! ;D ;D
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You've done a great job.
Not sure that I'd use it, though, as I already print off the recipes I want with notes and put them in display folders. But good for people who want to access them online.
One suggestion I have for easier reading is to make the notes 'dot points'.
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Is there some trick to signing in to the site. I have tried several times and it doesn't recognize my username from this forum, my email address or my password.
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Wow....this looks amazing Cathy and Russel !!!
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Is there some trick to signing in to the site. I have tried several times and it doesn't recognize my username from this forum, my email address or my password.
I would say that Russell hasn't set registrations up yet. This is kind of a 'draft' website right now.
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Is there some trick to signing in to the site. I have tried several times and it doesn't recognize my username from this forum, my email address or my password.
I would say that Russell hasn't set registrations up yet. This is kind of a 'draft' website right now.
Yes, the registration is really just for me to administer the site. Everything else is "public", no need to log in. I'll see if I can turn that off sometime, just not a priority at the moment.
Russell.
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One suggestion I have for easier reading is to make the notes 'dot points'.
Yeah it's a bit messy when each tip isn't separated by a blank line at least. That's how they came out straight from LC2008. Each persons comments are entered in a separate box, so I don't know why they're so squished up. A suggestion for the developer I reckon. In the meantime, I'd have to manually edit that part.
Russell.
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Russell do you have any spare time? Good job by the way.
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Russell do you have any spare time? Good job by the way.
Err, no. And I'm home sick today. Not sur eif it's a bug got me, or the body's reaction to the chemical elimination.
Russell.
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I am dying to have a look at the sample cookbook, but when I click on it comes up 'Page not Found' :'(
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Either way, get well soon Russell.
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I am dying to have a look at the sample cookbook, but when I click on it comes up 'Page not Found' :'(
Me too! Just found these threads after being away for a week - things move pretty quickly around here!! Good on ya guys! Thanks. ;)
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I am dying to have a look at the sample cookbook, but when I click on it comes up 'Page not Found' :'(
*BLINK*
Hmm, wierd. It worked fine yesterday. Sorry I'll have to check in the morning - off to bed to rest my head
Russell.
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Russell, congratulations. You have done an amazing job and I now know what you intended. I take back the doubts that I had that you would wreck the Forum.
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Russell, I'd like to nominate Isi's Light Coffee Cream "Quick Dessert". for the dessert section.
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I am dying to have a look at the sample cookbook, but when I click on it comes up 'Page not Found' :'(
*BLINK*
Hmm, wierd. It worked fine yesterday. Sorry I'll have to check in the morning - off to bed to rest my head
Russell.
OK my bad, I figured it out. I had spaces in my file name, which web sites don't like. It worked for me because I looked for I'd saved the final page. That'll teach me not to double check.
A corrected version is now available *fingers crossed*
Russell.
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Oh - It is wonderful!! Thanks heaps! How did you work all that extra info out?? So much better than my recipe cards I was about to start printing of - (my idea was something like the recipes we take on demo's - all on a keyring) Most of my faves are on but here are a couple more that I use all the time.
Chocolate and coffee topping
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=2694.0
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=2084.0
Worcestershire Sauce
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=2314.0
Chicken Nuggets
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1365.0
Strawberry Foam
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1086.0
Basic Cracker
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=321.0
Meat Balls
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=813.0
Garlic Rice
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=655.0
Spelt Tortillas
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1756.0
Pea and Ham Soup
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1385.0 :)
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Living Cookbook will export in several layout as well - duplexing, index card, perfect bound etc, although I haven't played with those formats yet.
I'll copy your favourites and chookies over to the favourites thread.
Russell
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Oh and Buckwheat Pancakes
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1032.0 ;)
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I am as impressed as much as I am grateful - and thats A L O T !
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Russell
I am sure you may already know,there is software called Recipefox, that I think is part of Firefox Browzer, that will import recipes from web pages etc, ( I don't use it as I use Mastercook software that has a simular feature ) but I have seen it talked about
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Russell
I am sure you may already know,there is software called Recipefox, that I think is part of Firefox Browzer, that will import recipes from web pages etc, ( I don't use it as I use Mastercook software that has a simular feature ) but I have seen it talked about
No I wasn't aware of that one, thanks for the heads up. I'll check it out.
Russell.
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Well I just uploaded a new version of the sample cookbook, supposedly with the tips formatted better. What I ended up realising is, Living Cookbook is stripping out all the formatting in the tips sections and just mashing it all together in one big paragraph. I guess it is designed for one liners. I'll look into a bit more, but that could be a showstopper for doing it that way :(
Russell.
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russell, its looking good so far. how are the nutritional facts compiled? Just looking on the sweetcorn soup and % look really high (or should we just ignore this info?) :)
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russell, its looking good so far. how are the nutritional facts compiled? Just looking on the sweetcorn soup and % look really high (or should we just ignore this info?) :)
Not sure, I'll look into it when I have a bit more time. Did I mention previously that one of the yields came out at 73Kg!! I sent a bug report to the developers, but have had no reply. I suggest best to ignore it for now.
Russell.
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Oh just checked, yeah that was the one :)
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AH HA! I just figured it out.
The import associated the can of creamed form with a unit of "1 jar" and then put the 420 in the quantity, so it had 420 jars of creamed corn :)
Comes out as 2050 grams when I fixed that one :P
Russell.
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73kg....whew! :D poor little TM would have a part attack!
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Heh yeah.
Well I just did a quick run through the recipes and there were quite a few with that gotcha. I've updated them all in LC, but won't refresh the cookbook till I get a few extras in, as it's a bit fiddly redoing the formatting every time. Now that I'm almost back in the land of the living again, i can hopefully start doing some more conversions.
Russell.
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Not sure, I'll look into it when I have a bit more time. Did I mention previously that one of the yields came out at 73Kg!! I sent a bug report to the developers, but have had no reply. I suggest best to ignore it for now.
That is for a BIG party - lots of friends. Bit like the loaves and fishes deal ? would be in big demand to put in 2kg and get 73kg yield
;D ;D ;D ;D
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Hey Folks,
Been a crazy couple of weeks, being sick, then on holidays, then back to work and my project ramping up, I've had no time for playing. Haven't even been reading the forum, so I'm miles behind. Mothers day this weekend, so stuff to do there still (yikes, wheer did the week go??). So the cookbook stuff is a little slow at the moment. Will get back to it when I can.
Russell.
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yes, your absence was noted ;D pleased that you are now on deck and fighting fit
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Wow, great job!
I use chicken fricasse, Dan's Shepherds Pie, chicken and bacon pasta bake a lot when cooking for my children...might be worth adding :)
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Hope things settle soon - I know how it is. I feel guilty if I don't get something on here - especially recipes are a bit behind!
Hope your health is improving.
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Yes I noticed too and thought it would be something like that so didn't want to push you - This is suppose to make your life easier and better off so don't go worrying yourself about how long it takes you - I 'll be happy to get it whenever it comes - such a BIG job - thanks heaps for doing it. And yes, wife comes first - Happy wife - happy life! ;)
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whaaaaat?
Russell isn't Superman??? :D
Here's to better weeks/months ahead! 8)
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Err, I lied, I'm not dedicating time back here again yet. Since we're still restricted to the FAILSAFE cookbook, we've been spending almost every weekend just cooking for the week coming, so I have stuff to take with me to Brisbane for the week. Been a bit stressful trying to adjust the family life to match as well. So it's basically the same recipes over & over & over. the TMX has been a godsend though, makes cooking so quick. Just wish washing the blades was easier :(
Sorry folks, going to be AWOL a little longer.
Russell.
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Good to hear from you Russell :)
Hope life gets a little simpler for you soon.
We appreciate what you have done so far, so let the family come first ;)
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Russell, as soon as you have finished cooking something, tip it out and fill the TMX bowl with water. Use a baby's bottle brush ($5) at Safeway , it has a blue handle. and swish it around the bowl going up and down on the blades. If stuff like bread dough or mashed potato is stuck under the blades, just keep poking the bottle brush at it. I haven't taken the blades out for about 3 months. Good luck and hope you settle into your busy life soon.
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Russell, as soon as you have finished cooking something, tip it out and fill the TMX bowl with water. Use a baby's bottle brush ($5) at Safeway , it has a blue handle. and swish it around the bowl going up and down on the blades. If stuff like bread dough or mashed potato is stuck under the blades, just keep poking the bottle brush at it. I haven't taken the blades out for about 3 months. Good luck and hope you settle into your busy life soon.
Hmm well,
I usually chuck in some detergent and warm water and do the reverse for 20 seconds, which works quite well, but there's always stuff under the blades between the spindle & base that never comes out, and I have to end up micro-cleaning with a toothbrush (which isn't long enough in the bristles). Also bought another brush with longer bristles, but it's too soft wand doesn't move the stuck bits. Then there's the mashed potato etc that cooks to the base and needs disassembly to scrub clean as well. At least that's usually easy.
We wanted the TMX brush when we got our machine, but the consultant forgot to bring it with, and it's too much bother to get to her again just for that.
3 months hey? I wish. Have you looked at yours to see what's growing there? :)
Russell.
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I find the TMX brush too stiff to get to the bottom, and last time we had his discussion on the forum, I took fright and took it to pieces. Clean as clean. No one has been poisoned yet. This is possibly because I cook in it every day , usually hot stuff.
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I find a quick spin of the blades at high speed will flick most stuff out then water over the blades with detergent at a good high speed then reverse. I only take apart once a day. If you are finding potatoes are sticking everytime, try reducing time by 1 min or so. Or try a different method like steam potatoes in rice basket then mashing by emptying water and putting on speed 6-7 for 10-20 sec. ;)
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I have no trouble cleaning my blades at all. I remove them after each cooking session. Bought a thin bottle brush and it does the trick whilst I hold it under running water.
Potatoes are best cooked in the basket and only mashed in the bowl, no cooked-on mess to clean up and if you soak the bowl whilst you are eating your meal, that helps too. I never leave it just sitting there, I either clean it immediately or at least soak it for later.
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I find the TMX brush too stiff to clean properly under the blades too. I buy cheap flexible ones from my local $2 shop and they work a treat. I do have a little bottle brush, but just use that occasionally now as my bigger ones do the job nicely. :)
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I've found that cotton buds work really well to get under the blades, and the cheaper brands that aren't very flexible are best.
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Do you guys have the old TMX brush or the new one? The new one is softer, and works really well.
I never have a problem with my mashed potato sticking, but it could be because I use rice-almond milk not cow's milk. (It doesn't bubble up and overflow with rice-almond milk either.)
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I have also found to get stubborn dough that is caught under blades out - throw some flour in and give it a whizz it usually get all comes away easy. ;)
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It's funny how we all do it differently. I don't think twice about disassembling the jug after each use, and washing it all separately. Just habit now :)
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Wonder if I should move the blade cleaning part to another area? It is amazing how many different methods people have for cleaning.
I like Gerty's bazooka brushes !