Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: fannyadams on January 02, 2009, 06:43:21 pm
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My husband and I got ourselves a TM31 for Christmas and I am thrilled with it. I have used it most days and have made delicious soups and puddings using recipes out of the booklet that came with the machine. I am considering buying some other Thermomix cookbooks in the future, but I would love to know how to adapt recipes from my hundreds of cookbooks sitting on my shelves. Any ideas would be most gratefully received. I have looked with interest at the recipes posted here, and will look forward to trying them out on friends and family. Everyone should have one.
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Hi Fanny,
As you know, I'm a new member too, but I started tagging some recipes made with the TM on my recipe site. Feel free to visit www.recipesonrails.com. If you want to go directly to a list of recipes using the TM, CLICK HERE (http://www.recipesonrails.com/tags/thermomix). Hopefully the list will grow with time :) Like you, I'm really enjoying my TM.
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Thanks very much, any help is much appreciated
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I check this forum daily, and no one seems to post anything. This is not a criticism, but surely if we are going to help each other we need feedback from the recipes posted already, and new ideas. I am a real newbie, but when I have anything that I think others may like I will post. I was talking to some Spanish girls this evening and the TM31 is huge in Spain, as I think we all know. It could be big here in the UK but we need to spread the word. My brother lives in Sydney, and he hadn't heard of the TM31, and as this forum started in Aus, we need to spread the word there too. Come on guys, lets get posting. I am planning to move to Aus in a few years, and my TMX is definately coming with me, whether I'll take the old man and the kids......................( ;D)
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I didn't cook yesterday, as we met some cousins for dinner over in New Jersey. I did work on a new recipe today and I hope to get the recipe down later.
I've suggested before that we start a sub-forum just for chatter... That might help.
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I check this forum daily, and no one seems to post anything. This is not a criticism, but surely if we are going to help each other we need feedback from the recipes posted already, and new ideas. I am a real newbie, but when I have anything that I think others may like I will post. I was talking to some Spanish girls this evening and the TM31 is huge in Spain, as I think we all know. It could be big here in the UK but we need to spread the word. My brother lives in Sydney, and he hadn't heard of the TM31, and as this forum started in Aus, we need to spread the word there too. Come on guys, lets get posting. I am planning to move to Aus in a few years, and my TMX is definately coming with me, whether I'll take the old man and the kids......................( ;D)
Hi fannyadams - I agree that we need to get more happening. I have been in holiday mode and have not done any cooking for 2 weeks with my TMX :(
Karen (aka brazen20au) can tell you how much we have tried to get things moving. Even giving away a book (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=223.0) (hope you found it useful Alina). ???
One of the big problems relates to the method of sales - by referral. I knew nothing about it until I went to Spain in 2003. Because it was not sold thru shops and nobody in Melbourne seemed to know anything I left it. When I returned to Spain in 2005 I saw it again and friends with me did some research when we got home. They purchased one after a lot of hassles because they didn't want to have a demo and invite friends. They just wanted it. They gave me the name of the local consultant and it wasn't until 15 months later that I finally got one. Again I had problems because I didn't want to have a demo and invite 3 friends.
As you say, TMX is BIG in Spain (and also Italy) with over 1 million sold (in each country) and magazines devoted to TMX and even TV programs demonstrating the machine. It is generally viewed by those in the media as elitist to own one. See the Dollarbird in http://www.theage.com.au/news/epicure/the-pecking-order/2008/08/25/1219516323875.html (http://www.theage.com.au/news/epicure/the-pecking-order/2008/08/25/1219516323875.html).
Tenina (http://cravepublishing.com/steamovencooking/) has moved things along since she started with Thermomix in Australia (http://thermorecipes.blogspot.com/). There is a monthly competition (http://thermorecipes.blogspot.com/2008/10/monthly-mouthful-recipe-entries.html) that more people need to be involved with, but how do you get them motivated?
Karen spreads the word over many forums oooh which one would that be? lol (taste?) i am a forum w***e :-[ :-*
Neither Karen nor I have anything to gain financially from the time we spend on the forum, just trying to increase discussion in English. We tried a Yahoo group (http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/Thermomix_Users/) and a blog (http://thermomixmagic.blogspot.com/2008/07/welcome-to-thermomix-magic.html) to get activity in Australia.
This forum actually was set up by an Englishman (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=132.0) based on a forum in Portugal. Karen & I just hi-jacked it in September. :D
I can assure you that I have tried to get things moving and you will see that I generally comment on most threads to encourage the posters. Look forward to getting some more ideas though.
With converting recipes -
At least while I've been collapsed on the sofa I've been reading TM cake recipes and comparing them to traditional to try and suss out how to convert recipes to TM. Finally got it sussed (how completely is yet to be seen), mainly thanks to the inserts at the back of the Demonstrators Delights book, where different people showed how to convert a recipe. Must admit I hadn't looked at them before, as they're just photocopies folded and inserted into the back of the book. The fruit cake was a converted recipe, and has turned out perfectly, so that was a good start. Something to cheer me up in all my misery, anyway ;D
The Demonstrators' Delights book may be useful. I intend to order a copy having read Caroline's review.
Hope you get some members inspired. :-*
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Hi fanyadams,
I try to post regularly too, although I haven't contributed much in the way of recipes. ::)
Here in Oz, most people shut down entirely for a couple of weeks over Xmas and everything goes very quiet. I suspect that is what is causing the current lull, but I'm sure that as people remember that they have to provide meals again - as opposed to the holiday bbq's, eating out and Xmas leftovers - that the forum will become a little more lively!
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I'll just add with regards to sales and demos, yes its all word of mouth and of course if you can do a demo and have 3 people there it means 3 extra possible sales or 3 other people to tell their friends and therefore get the word out ! However if I had someone who just wanted to buy a machine and didnt want to have a demo then of course I would sell the machine no problem.....you just dont get the Thermoserver bowl!! A sale is a sale is a sale! :)
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LOL - I finally managed to scrape up 3 people to come to the demo - a couple of months later - and was then asked to pay for the Thermoserver !!! part of the reason that I have little likelihood of becoming a consultant is my lack of connections. :( :'( :'(
Which is why I waste so much time here ;D ;D
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I must agree with Thermomixer about the need to invite friends along so it is a type of 'party' sale. This is what put me off initially as I am not into this sort of stuff at all. The person who I had been advised to consult re the thermomix wanted at least 3 households represented and I felt a bit awful inviting friends around for a sales pitch.
Baf 65, it is good to know that you are happy to sell without the "party". I think when more people realise this and see the machines operating they will be happy to purchase one.
I hink a lot depends on your consultant too. Baf65, so you have designated areas for sales or can you sell anywhere?
Thanks for reading my 2cents worth.
Thermomixer and Karen you are doing a great job.
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I was out with some Spanish friends last night and the ladies all knew about TMX. Only one of my UK friends had ever heard of the machine. I am having another demo, and have possibly 8 people coming, and I plan to have another with a different set of foodie friends. Mind you with 'the credit crunch', I am not sure how many people will actually want to get a machine right now as they don't come cheap. What is the TMX bowl, I haven't seen one.
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i wanted to do a follow up party with my initial consultant as i had a friend who wanted to buy one (hi irene!) and i wanted to learn some new recipes. but the consultant insisted there had to be at least 4 people she hadn't met before at the party (at my first party she eventually sold 4 or maybe 5 tmx's, even though it took nearly a year for the last people to buy).
luckily thermomix-er told me about a lovely local demonstrator who i had come and do it instead and guess what, i had 6 or maybe 7 new people there LOL
but as for the forum, it's hard to say. i have been a forum junkie for 10 years now and i can say that i have NOOOOO idea why some forums just have a life of their own, while others can try really really hard but just never get 'there'.
we certainly have no problem getting members here, but getting people to say anythign is a different story (for me it's a fine line between keepign the chat going and posting so much i scare people off 8))
the chat board is a great idea though, has anyone actually asked MM directly? i will do it now just in case the answer is no :)
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I think "What are you cooking ?" became the default chat spot. It certainly has taken off.
'Twould be good to get a separate chat thread. chiacchierata as the Italians call it.
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Good news, we have just opened a new chat area. http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?board=40.0 (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?board=40.0)
Enjoy.
Admin and MM
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thank you MM!!! ;D
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Hi fannyadams - you have to admit there is a bit more activity here than on other English-speaking Thermomix forums ???
The TMX is really BIG in Spain - there are lots more consultants - check out the conventions that are for the consultants at http://www.vorwerk.com/es/thermomix/html/rallies.html (http://www.vorwerk.com/es/thermomix/html/rallies.html).
Their head - Teresa Barrenechea (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thermomix-espana/3097944608/in/set-72157611019357958/) has even done 20 TV programs (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=73.0) (in Spanish - but you can get the gist).
In Spain and Italy it is seen as an essential piece of kitchen equipment, whereas here my friends think I have too much time and money because I bought one.
Now that Warren has one it should move in the US ;), at least it's a start. I just can't believe they haven't moved there.
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Hi Fanny Adams,
and welcome! Lovely to have another UKer here ;D I have to agree with what others have said - it's been very slow over the holiday period. Everyone very busy, and lots of people ill :P There is usually quite a lot of activity, I would say. But not compared to Italy or Spain or Germany, of course! It's all too nascent in the English speaking countries for that. We're getting there, though! And the more, the merrier.
I was thrilled to find this forum, and have found it really helpful - I hope that you do, too. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. I really loved my TM even before this this forum, but have been inspired to passion now. So, I've decided to take the plunge (with lots of encouragement both from members of this forum and friends) and will be attending the Demonstrators training on Thursday!
Hopefully life will return to normal a bit next week, and I'll start posting more regularly again. Looking forward to your conversions and recipes as you come up with them :) If you're anything like me, it's a good idea to stick with the TM recipes for a while (about 4 weeks, in my case) while you get a feel for how everything works. Then it begins to become clear how to convert some recipes. After converting those, you start to get a bit more adventuras (I'm sure I've spelled that wrongly!). I'm currently getting to grips with cake recipes, as they are less obvious than 'normal' cooking. Before that it was stir frys, which took about 5 minutes to get to grips with! I don't know why I thought it would be complicated ::).
Someone suggested having a 'conversions' thread, which is a really great idea. In fact, why don't you start one in the suggestions section of the forum (as I did with the 'what have you cooked today?' thread) until such a time as it's moved to a more appropriate place? Post a recipe you'd like to convert, and we'll see if we can help you out.
Have you spotted the 'show unread posts since your last visit' and 'show new replies to your posts' links next to your picture at the top of the page, yet? It took me a while to spot those, but I find them really helpful - a fantastic idea.
The other thing which I've found inspiring was hearing what other people have made in their day to day use of the TM - you'll find that here http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=320.0 (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=320.0)
I just want to say to the moderators, you're doing a great job, guys, and this is an amazingly active forum given how young it is! I had no idea when I joined, as no doubt Fanny Adams hasn't either, how short a time its been going. And the credit goes mainly to the moderators :)
Meant to write a couple of sentences before taking the dog for a walk - but it turned into an essay!!!! Sorry, Fanny! Have fun with your TM ;D
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i'm more than happy to help convert any recipes posted, but i have no idea how to explain how i do a conversion, i just do lol (sometimes it does fail dismally though ;))
and thanks caroline :) not that i do all that much here!
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So, I've decided to take the plunge (with lots of encouragement both from members of this forum and friends) and will be attending the Demonstrators training on Thursday!
Congratulations and good luck - remember to tell all prospects about the forum ;)
I just want to say to the moderators, you're doing a great job, guys, and this is an amazingly active forum given how young it is! I had no idea when I joined, as no doubt Fanny Adams hasn't either, how short a time its been going. And the credit goes mainly to the moderators :)
As karen has said - we don't really do a lot, and we certainly didn't start it. :D Need to thank all those like yourself who keep it rolling along.
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i'm more than happy to help convert any recipes posted, but i have no idea how to explain how i do a conversion, i just do lol (sometimes it does fail dismally though ;))
I was thinking about this in the back of my mind since posting. This morning I came up with the idea that perhaps the way to go about it is to make a list of traditional cooking and baking techniques (eg saute, mix, cream, whisk,etc, etc) and then say how to do each of them in the TM? Not that this would always make it plain how to convert a recipe, and some of it is in the basics section of the recipe book already, but to have it all in one place as a reference might be a good starting point. Then any questions it didn't answer could be asked, specific to the recipe. What do you think? I have a 'learn to cook' book from my childhood, which probably has most of the terms in, which we could then work on converting to TM. I'd be happy to post them if you like.
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sure, we can give it a try!
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Best way IMHO to find out how to convert is ask some people who do it frequently - Italians and maybe Spaniards and Germans.
Did the photocopied pages in the Demonstrators' Delights have anything about cakes ? Probably not.
I will investigate.
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I check this forum daily, and no one seems to post anything. This is not a criticism, but surely if we are going to help each other we need feedback from the recipes posted already, and new ideas. I am a real newbie, but when I have anything that I think others may like I will post. I was talking to some Spanish girls this evening and the TM31 is huge in Spain, as I think we all know. It could be big here in the UK but we need to spread the word. My brother lives in Sydney, and he hadn't heard of the TM31, and as this forum started in Aus, we need to spread the word there too. Come on guys, lets get posting. I am planning to move to Aus in a few years, and my TMX is definately coming with me, whether I'll take the old man and the kids......................( ;D)
Does anybody know what has happened to FA? Just looking through the people who were active, but have dropped off.
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Have just read this thread Thermomixer, and can't believe that it was so inactive before, I think I joined in Jan or Feb, and I think its a very very busy site! Pleased to see that even if it was inactive once upon a time, its now THE place to be! ;D ;D ;D
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....can't believe that it was so inactive before, I think I joined in Jan or Feb, and I think its a very very busy site! Pleased to see that even if it was inactive once upon a time, its now THE place to be! ;D ;D ;D
Might be something to do with a Spaniard (513 posts), the cookie1 monster (530 posts), ILB (joined January - 400 posts) and somebody from Adelaide (joined December 950 posts) ;D ;D ;D and of course, the verbose moderators with 3300 posts between them ??? I've got to get a life :-)) :-)) :-))
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There's nothing wrong with this one Thermomixer if you are enjoying yourself ;) ;) ;) One day I will wake up and find I am 90 years old and think maybe I shouldn't have spent so much time in front of the computer but in the meantime - why not :P :P
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most of my best friends - and my dh - were gained on the internet! so for me this is real life ;)
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Wooohoooo for internet and a big round of applause!
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Judy, at least when we are ninety we will be able to use the computer.
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most of my best friends - and my dh - were gained on the internet! so for me this is real life ;)
I hadn't really thought of the internet in that way. You are right though. Up until now I have thought of it as having a little play on the computer.
Chelsea :)
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Judy, at least when we are ninety we will be able to use the computer.
Aren't we supposed to forget things by the time we get to ninety ??? ??? ??? Do they have computers in nursing homes ;) ;)
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Sorry, who are you ??? ;D ;D ;D ;D
MrsT works in aged care - I think it is funny, but not really. Visited there a while ago (Mother's Day) and one of the residents, in her 90s, said that her children were at home with their granparents !!!! She was having a great time while the kids were with her parents ! She thought her husband was at work that day -he was a dentist!!
MrsT is worried about what will happen if she gets Alzheimers - but I think it would be great in many ways (for me - not those around me !!!!!!) They are having a fantastic time - none of them are stressed.
BTW - think we have to called them Aged Care Facilities, not Nursing Homes - politically incorrect (as I am always being told !!)
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At my age, being politically incorrect is easy to do. How about my Mum, she says 'put them away' - how politically incorrect is that from the generation before us ??? ???
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LOL - the stories - one very prim and proper lady in her 90s told MrsT that she was wondering if there were any men around who would like to "do it" with her - she'd already had three that morning. Her poor son was in the room visiting at the time. :o :o :-))
Sad really, but she obviously was having a great time. ;D
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As long as no one wants to take her up on the offer Thermomixer :o :o :o Oh dear, what some of us have to look forward to, either with our parents or ourselves :P :P :P
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Judy, the man in the room next to MIL in the "Aged Care Facility" has his own computer and he is a lovely man. I'll be happy if I can remember how to use one then. This gentleman decided after his wife died that with his health problems he should find a good facility and get himself in there. His room is full of bookcases loaded with books. He says he can do what he likes and doesn't have to worry about house work, cooking or washing. A wonderful attitude.
Thermomixer, Mrs T is wonderful to work there, it must be stressful. My MIL would drive an angel up the wall. The people there are mostly very caring.
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it must be stressful. My MIL would drive an angel up the wall.
It certainly has its moments - many of the residents, especially the respite ones for a few weeks can be a nightmare.
My mum went into an aged care facility (it's a village) while she was very fit and able so that she didn't have to worry about gardens, maintenance etc. Can't see why so many parents dig their feet in - she cooks her own food etc at 83 and is only starting to lose the plot.
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my MIL is the 2IC in a facility. she's been there forever though it is quite stressful now with new owners who are only out for a profit.
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Luckily for her Karen she must be near retirement age. With cost cutting in these places, it must be hard for someone like her who can see that their services are just not up to scratch.