Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: chocymoose on October 01, 2011, 12:33:29 pm
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Hi,
I've had the thermomix for about 3 months now and have only used it occasionally for basic things like mash potato, steaming veges, cakes, making rice and soup.
I don't have the most experience or confidence when it comes to cooking and I was hoping that owning a thermomix would help but I get indecisive, intimidated and overwhelmed by the sheer number of recipes and long lists of ingredients and then finding ways to use up the remaining before they go off in the fridge. I know my main problem with cooking is not being very organised, or trying to do too many things at once and getting stressed out but I am trying. When I make something and it doesn't work out and my husband or kids won't eat it, it kind of affirms that I'm not a very good cook.
Can anyone suggest fast, easy, almost idiot proof dinner recipes to get me started? I will be trying the
How has the thermomix made life easier for you in the kitchen? I'm sure i'm just not using it to its full potential! My consultant has been in email contact and suggested going to cooking classes but they are all on in the evenings and its not possible at the moment with the kids being so young and bed time such chaos.
Thanks very much :)
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Sorry to hear you are not getting the most out of your tm. A cooking class is a great thing to go to but I understand about the bedtime thing. Which state are you in? How old are your kids? What sort of food do they like? I am sure we will be able to help. Just need a bit more info from you.
Can I suggest menu planning too so you can plan your shopping around the meals you make or what you have in the freezer. This will help and maybe try introducing one Tm/new recipe a week.
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The one recipe that we use lot is cheese sauce - quick macaroni cheese, cauliflower cheese, pastitsio and...
Another great meal to do is rice or potatoes in the basket, fish (with pesto, chilli sauce etc) in foil in the bottom part of the varoma and veggies (e.g. green beans) in the top part. Quick, easy and delicious.
Then there's custard - plain, chocolate, banana etc or with other flavours e.g ginger and maple then into the freezer for later turning into ice cream - kids' favourite.
Just keep experimenting and you'll find the recipes that you enjoy making and the family enjoy eating ;D
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Hi chocymouse,
If you live in oerth, you are quite welcome to ome over and play. I have had my tm 5 months and us t continally. I have had 2 good friends over who cant cook, intimidated etc, who nw absolutly love their tm.
Happy to help
:)Hally
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That must be frustrating for you, start using the TMX like you would eat an elephant in small bits. Instead of being overwhelmed by the sheer number of recipes available pick 6 dishes for the week perhaps using CP's list of favourites (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=6470.0) or something you think you would enjoy, read through the reviews and comments from that recipe and don't be tempted to keep searching as the discovery never ends!!! Hope this helps in some way instead of causing further confusion. :) :)
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Hello,
Thanks for the replies :) I'm in Sydney and have 2 boys, a 3yr old and 8 month old. My 3 yr old will eat chicken, spaghetti, egg, rice and a few select veges. Hes not big on trying new things so will often clamp his mouth shut and refuse to try food so doesn't really know he doesn't like it.
At the moment I'm sometimes struggling to cope on a few domestic fronts, getting the baby to sleep, cooking, keeping up with the housework and finding time for my husband and myself. Its been a rough month with lots of colds, a bout of gastro and yet more colds leaving us down and depleted. Thankfully we're better now with more good days than bad. On good days everything seems to click and tasks are easy, on bad its amazing how stressed and exhausted i can be while accomplishing very little.
This week I will make up a big batch of bolognaise and have steak, chicken and steamed veges and a new dinner dish in the thermo. That way there is a back up if the little man won't eat it. In the past I have tried to bite off more than I can chew, best to take baby steps. Doesn't help that my son hates the noise the thermomix makes when it goes past speed 5 and the bub is going through a clingy phase.
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Your consultant doesn't sound very helpful - a class won't necessarily get you cooking - the classes tend to show pretty much what is shown in the demos given at home, and you probably want more individual attention. Try to find yourself a consultant who knows how to cook and knows about food, then have a few demos. I'm sure you will find that very helpful. I've had quite a number of demos and have learnt so much at each one because my consultant explains everything very well, is very patient and is always sharing new and better ways of doing things.
Good luck with it all.
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chocymoose I would suggest when your children don't want to eat the food you place in front of them, after everyone has finished eating, just take the plate away. Anyone who has not eaten does not get dessert or anything else afterwards (because they are obviously not hungry). There are no unhealthy snacks in between. Fruit and yoghurt etc are ok. Repeat for each meal until they are really hungry and will eat what is placed in front of them. Do not give them biscuits or crap in between if they complain of being hungry, and if you have on hand maybe reheat the last meal.
Another thing I used to do
One of the biggest hurdles for mothers is they feel they have to be the "perfect housewife". Believe me, there is no such thing so stop listening to everyone crapping on what domestic goddesses they are and how great their kids are doing and the milestones they are at. Do not try and be a SUPERWOMAN. Having an immaculate house is not the be all to end all, and it is much better to let a couple of cleaning jobs slide in favour of making things a little less stressful on yourself. Sometimes the happiest families do not live in the cleanest houses.
Your kids will need to get used to the noise, possibly pull some funny faces and do some strange dramatic antics to make them laugh while the loud noise is going, but kids are very resiliant and soon they know this is all part and parcel of yummy food.
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Have you tried the chicken or tuna-a-la king (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=5544.0) chocymoose?
Can you get the 3 yr old to eat risotto? Try Cacciatore chicken risotto (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1858.0)
Chicken croquettes (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1365.0) are lovely - just like chicken nuggets only better.
What about Easy Carbonara (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1858.0) - this recipe is just like those packet pastas you cook in the microwave, you can add some leftover cooked chicken to this.
What about sausages, all kids like sausages surely? Here's the great Bangers & Mash (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=3821.0) recipe.
It is hard with a young family to get everything done so don't beat yourself up if things don't work out the way you want them. You have very little time to experiment or look for new recipes but it will get easier and if you can just put 1 new recipe a week to the test, you will gradually build up a batch of meals you know the family will eat. You can always fall back on eggs and baked beans if things get tough. If I was your Mum, I would be there in a flash to help you out - I know how busy young people's lives are these days. Is there any chance DH could help out with a couple of meals a week to give you a break and some time out for either yourself or just play with the kids whilst he cooks the evening or weekend meal.
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ooh, and another thing I used to do was name dishes with crazy names - doens't sound quite so healthy!
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i agree with CP...my kids are still young and i do that ie when they be extemely fussy I just say thats fine and take away their plates and they get nothing else and no dessert and no snacks...eventually they will eat...My DS especially drives me crazy he is 6 and soem days he loves a dish and another day he xwill turn his nose up at the exact same dish...i have to watch him because at one stage he was eating breakfast (sweet generally), no lunch, then afternoon tea yes (sweet) and no dinner so i stopped afternoon tea being bikkies etc and just yoghurt and fruit...oh and its not possible to be perfect....you need to take care of yourself or else everything just falls apart!
as for recipes I would suggest Baf65 award winning creamy chicken and veg (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1063.0) ...everybody loves it and its very easy and tasty :)
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Hang in there Choccymoose, it isn't easy. But CreamPuff and Frozzie have given you some really sound suggestions--just what I was going to say in fact!! If your children are hungry, they will eat eventually! I know it's hard because we have all these images of perfect mothers dishing up gorgeous healthy food to children who gratefull gobble everything down and say Thanks Mum! But many of us didn't experience that at all! The thing is, you don't want to set up a power struggle over food . . . because trust me, they will win!! One of my younger friends was frustrated by the fact that her daughter would only eat vegemite sandwiches. She would cook beautiful food, which her daughter would refuse to eat, so then she was given a vegemite sandwich so at least she was having some nutrition. We suggested that she just give her vegemite sandwiches . . . so what happened was the whole family would sit down to their dinner, Jessica would be given a vegemite sandwich and comments would be made to the effect of "well, we know you won't eat pumpkin soup, so here's your vegemite sandwich". It was about 5 days before she asked if she could try a little of what the family was eating!! I know it's hard, but seriously, they won't starve!! I know it's easy for those of us with an older family to say in retrospect, but seriously I look at my adult daughter and my two enormous teenage sons who eat everything that isn't bolted down, and think, how did I ever worry that they weren't eating enough!!
Also, I found that fun names worked like Cream Puff said, we used to call ravioli "pillows" and meatballs "beachballs" and say that mushrooms were umbrellas for fairies and stuff like that!
I was always a terrible housewife, so having kids just meant that I had a good excuse for having a messy house. Years ago I used to counsel for the Nursing Mother's Association, or Australian Breastfeeding association as it's now known. They had some very helpful little booklets back then called "survival guide" and "looking after yourself" with lots of good suggestions to help in tough times. If you were interested I could see if they are still available, ABA is for every mother, not just breastfeeding mothers, or I might even be able to post an old copy to you if you think it would hellp. One suggestion many mothers who do care about whether their house was tidy (unlike me!) and found it very hard to lower standards found helpful was to concentrate on having one room that was really in order and use that as a "sanctuary" to have a cup of tea in or to usher unexpected guests to!!
Anyway, hang in there. There are many here that are keen to help you love your thermomix!! And so many of us can relate to where you are now. :)
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Choccymoose hang in there. You are doing the hardest job in the world. BEING A MOTHER!!!
I found funny things to help me get through, little signs like "my house was tidy yesterday, it's a shame you missed it" or "I am so proud of my washing, I leave it on the couch for all to see" or where ever you dumped your clean washing lol
I would try and take the pressure off yourself a little and remember as long as you are all happy that is all that matters so give up on the domestics that aren't urgent and spend some time with your DH too.
As for the food, I think trying one meal a week to start with is a great idea. At least you and DH will get to eat something different for a change as well. (I know what it is like feeding a fussy kid - thank goodness only 1/5 are!!)
Hang in there, ask questions and let us help you any way we can. Wish you were in Perth so I could help you out :-* :-*
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Everyone has some great advice, and Lellyj sounds just like me. Sometimes my house is clean, the washing's done, the bed's made there's home made cakes and bickies ready to eat. Other times, well...fight your way through the door and scramble through the fridge to see if anything's still edible.
Don't beat yourself up. I don't use my Thermomix for days, then I'll use it to make five things in one day. It's just the way it is!
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Ah chocymoose how I wish I had a thermie when my kids were young. Take some time to get to know your thermie and it will be your best friend in the kitchen. I was lucky my kids ate most things. As for fast easy dinners:
-There are some real gems in the All in one section of this forum (Baf's chicken is easy, fast and fabulous)
-For something different try some of the dips with crudites, salad, and/or bread rolls as meals (the tuna dip from the EDC is great)
-Pasta with tuna from the EDC is also fast and easy
-Pizza base from the EDC with your favourite toppings is another quick and easy (there's a thread somewhere about fave pizza toppings)
-Just about any leftovers (but especially spag bol sauce) taste good when baked in puff pastry spirals with extra cheese. Butter puff pastry from the freezer of course.
-Make some vege stock paste. It really does make a difference to your cooking. (I always use a teaspoon instead of a tablespoon)
And last but not least, CP63 and JD are bang on. Give yourself a break. When things are tough just do the basics.
Where abouts in Sydney are you?
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Kathryn, we replied at the same time!! Your advice is also great.
We all have to take stock and realise what's important. The kids will never remember the house being messy or anything like that.
In fact, today my daughter said she remembers being able to do stuff she wanted to in the house, like paint her bedroom any colour she wanted. (she painted one wall with a sunset, 2 others blue and green, another with a different coloured sunset and the back of the door had the Aussie Flag!!)
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choccymoose do you know anyone else who has a thermomix not far from you other than your consultant??
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i will comment on this in about 10 hours 2 many sumbucas.
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lol fundj
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What great advice and warm support you have received chocymoose . I would absolutely echo all that's been said already. I would also add that for every reply you've received there's been AT LEAST one person who has read your question and felt too overwhelmed to take the time to respond. So many of us here are moms who are trying to cope, but the difference is that most of us have already 'fit' Thermomix into our crazy lives, where you are still trying to do so. Bravo for you for asking for help. Believe it or not, this shows that you ARE coping! (insert the "thumbs up" emoticon here...) :)
I especially loved the advice from Johnro who said something to the effect of "stop yourself from reading too much because the discovery never ends". (So well said :-*) I would also suggest that you might make a little 'dance' out of the noisy Thermomix times. :o ;D It is no doubt stressing you out when your son becomes distressed at the sound. This is likely a big hurdle in you being comfortable with the machine. I would suggest you do an countdown out loud to prepare him that the sound is coming... something like FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE, BLAST-OFF and then... do the THERMOMIX DANCE!! I'd try holding the boy while dancing around as the TMX does its thing. The hope here is that he will not only become accustomed to the sound, but may even enjoy those times when it becomes noisy. If you give him plenty of attention and scoop him up after shouting BLAST-OFF (or something similar for effect), he may eventually want to turn the dial himself to make the fun time happen.
I feel your frustration verging on despair and hope that something in this warm "group hug" of advice from caring Thermomix fans will resonate for you. How about making hot chocolate for your older son? Or one of the many sorbets... might he like that if the two of you take a "Thermomix break" and sit down for a treat together. (Is it possible he resents the machine because it appeared, soon after his life was changed by the addition of a sibling.. and like the baby, this machine is asking for your attention?) I hate to suggest or ask these questions, but just saying... in case it might help. Take a deep breath and know that you are doing great because you obviously care very much about making the right choices for your family. I applaud you for posting your questions and concerns here.
Best warm wishes,
Helene
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oh you just reminded me Helene .. mine hated it 3 years ago when I first got it too. They used to run screaming from the room :o :o now they come running as they know that food of some kind is going to be appearing. Not always to a certain fussy ones liking but they come anyway. Hang in there ;)
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Everyone has given you such wonderful advice. Good luck with it. Perhaps get your oldeer child/children helping with the thermomix. eg turn the dial or push a button. Let them make themselves something with lots of help from you. Maybe they could select a recipe. Maybe just to grate up an apple or blitz a carrot. Let us know how you go.
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love helenes advice for making it fun and involving your eldest...my kids block their ears but luckily they are never scared etc.....and I think she may be right re thermie and baby arriving at roughly the same time so he may have the feeling that these newbies are taking his place....id go with that and see how it goes ...when I had problems with my eldest when DD came along...I made him the big boy that only he could do certain things and say its because he is the eldest etc...he liked that and explained he neededto take careof his sister...he took the 'role' on very well :)
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Hi everyone,
Thank you for the responses and advice, I'm overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers. You have brilliant ideas, I'll try to involve Liam (my older one) in cooking with the thermomix and make food more fun. He enjoys cooking, but mainly cakes ;)
Bub had a bad night teething and felt like death warmed up today. I really look forward to being about to have a full nights sleep. One day! I did a small grocery shop this morning and have all the ingredients for chicken croquettes for an attempt tomorrow :) Will let you know how I go!
Thanks Rogizoja - I haven't used the steamer to cook any meat yet, its on the list of things to do ;D
Hally, thank you for the lovely offer but unfortunately I'm in sydney
creampuff - Thanks for the words of wisdom, we always used to be worried about our son not weighing enough so tried what we could to get food into him. Perhaps a consistent tough love approach would have been better. He grazes through the day, he eats fruit so its not all junk but life would be easier if he would eat his dinner!
Judydawn - Thank you for the meal suggestions, I am trying the chicken croquettes this week :) Hoping my son will eat it, he doesn't like potato. Don't know why, i love it. Its the ultimate comfort food. DH isn't much of a cook either, he will make steak and veges and has been helping out more in recent weeks with things being harder than usual
Frozzie - looks delicious, i will try this one next week! I don't know anyone other than the consultant nearby who has a thermomix, a few friends on facebook have one and its where i found out about it but they are interstate.
LellyJ - Thanks for the offer, its very kind. If you have any spare booklets that would be wonderful, or I can have a look at the ABA website and get some through there. Before kids we weren't the neatest people but now I want to be and find it frustrating that as soon as I clean or tidy an area it stays that way for about 5 minutes.
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chocymoose you sill love the creamy chicken and veg and kids love it too... and as for being frustrated about keeping things clean dont worry and forget abut it...like so many others i have clean house one day and other days its chaos...dont know many mums with young kdis that dont have houses like that...just life....i used to get so annoyed at everyone for messing everything up in what seemed liked 5 sec flat..it helps as they get older if you teacfh them to pick up after themselves...i am still repeating myself but they do pick up their things when asked...and it helps once they start school...at least the house is clean during the day...bottom line...dont worry so much about it...if something bothers you that much just turn it into a game..usually works! :)
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Chocymoose, you sound better already - it really does help to have a good chat with people on this forum. Good luck with everything you try in the coming weeks.
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chocymoose. I have 3 young children (at one stage I had a newborn, 21 month old and a 5 yo) and know how full on it can be. Now they are 7, 4 1/2 and almost 3 and it is slowly getting easier. Just a couple of tips, I have found that the eldest was the fussiest and at one stage I was so frustrated with the fact he wouldn't eat his dinner, this is what I did. That afternoon, I prevented him from eating any snacks etc, so he was hungry at dinner time. I served up dinner for myself and my husband and we sat down at the table and ate dinner (didn't call him for dinner as I usually did and didn't say anything either). While we were sitting eating our dinner he came over and asked where his dinner was. I told him, I didn't make him any because he never eats it anyway and I didn't want to waste my time or the food. I didn't give him anything else. The dinner was lots of veges and I just let him go. At bed time he said I can't go to bed I haven't had my dinner. I gave him lots of veges and he ate the lot (I think he was starving by then), and I've never had a problem since. Sometimes, you just have to be smarter than them lol but it does of course also depend on their age and undertanding. I have never had a problem with the younger two with food, they copy their big brother so never an issue, hence best to solve the problem with the eldest so it doesn't carry forward. Also, my big tip when you have young children is, plan the meal early in the day and cook once they're having a nap. Once dinner is cooked it eases so much pressure (even if that is self imposed) off you for the rest of the day ! Oh and also, the ABA as mentioned above also have a forum, which is a great place to vent too (not that here isn't great).
Hope this helps !
Debbie
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Hi again Choccymoose
Hope you are feeling more positive in spite of a sleepless night. I checked on the ABA website and those booklets are still available but I will have a look for my copies for you--the ones I have will be out of date-but still good advice though! Maybe I can send them to you or scan them or something.
He grazes through the day, he eats fruit so its not all junk but life would be easier if he would eat his dinner!
Preschoolers probably cope better with 5 small meals through the day, so remember this when you are stressing about how much dinner he is or isn't eating, especially if he's having healthy snacks through the day. Some kids are just so tired that they don't really feel like eating dinner either.
Great to get him cooking with you. Another thing you might like to try is "wrappy" type food. Our favourite family dinners for many years involved me cutting up a selection of salad vegies, cheese etc and some mexican type mince or meat strips souvlaki style that everyone could choose what they wanted and then wrap up in a tortilla or pita bread. And another favourite meal, particularly for lunch was just called "platter" where I chopped up cheese, ham, vegies, fruit whatever and often had dips and the kids could just pick what they want.
Try not to worry!!! My son was 4 before a green vegetable crossed his lips and now his a vegetarian!
Hope you have a good sleep tonight!
PS Just read Debbiebillg's post and it sounds like what my friend tried with the vegiemite sandwiches! It's true, if they are hungry, they will eat!!
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Another point if I may - I think it is important to feed little ones earlier for tea and not wait for Dad to get home late from work. Whilst they are waiting for their proper tea they are wanting to eat snack foods.
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Yehh I agree JD, we eat dinner between 4.30 and 5.30. My DH is a shiftworker so we only work around his shifts if he's on night shift, that's when we eat at 4.30. I would rather give them dinner early and give them a snack a bit later on if need be.
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How about getting Liam involved (and less scared of Thermie) by making some playdough? The recipe is in the EDC.
While it's not cooking a meal, it may help him get used to Thermie and keep him occupied while you are trying out all these fab new recipes!
Hang in there, it will be worth it x
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oh wow that wouldnt work in europe...they finsih school at 4.30 and that is time for their afternoon tea and we eat at 7.30 but europe eats alot later than places like oz etc...i remember when my parents come over they have alot of trouble with our meal times....breakfast, lunch, gouter or afternoon tea and dinner...and in summer we can eat very late as the sun often doesnt go down until very late and its often quite bright outside until 11pm
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I'm not a mum so can't hope to improve on the comments already posted on here, but the one thing I did catch on to and which I don't think has had any follow up is that you said that you weren't very organised. With a TMX you really need to have everything under control (it's the one aspect that I am still not very good at).
If you can, at some stage before you start cooking, start preparing - pre-measure and prepare everything (or as much as you can) before you start cooking, then it's just a matter of adding everything in the correct order, knowing that it is all the correct weight, volume, etc. and the cooking will go much more smoothly.
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I hope your DH doesn’t say things like, i don’t like this or that, this is too hot it’s too cold in front of the kids , oh yes my dear frank did say that ONCE!!!!!!!!!!!
all you need to do is to cook 1 main meal a day right?
is DH a fussy eater?
what veggies does DS eat?
how about raw veg and salad ?
what type of fast foods does he like pizza,pies,bugers,mcdonalds ?.
keep it plain and simple for now
i know he will eat chicken, spaghetti, egg, rice, which is a good start
i see a chicken spaghetti carbonara as i type.
the noise is a little problem with me to My kitchen window is like a foot away from my neighbours (attached buildings on both sides), i get up very early so i don’t like to make any noise.
I do the nosier stuff later on in the day. you could ask DH to have a play with the kids outside or in a other room while, you
make some noise
i have
a container full of chopped and cooked onion and garlic in the fridge and in the freezer , i start most of my dishes with onion or garlic and or with both
when you are slicing, let’s just say tomatoes don’t cut just 1 try 3 or 4
have salad dressing all ready to go in a bottle
cook heaps of rice
1/2 cook your pasta thats how the restaurants do it
i could go on and on and on
i am in syd too any time you need any advice on any type cooking (but no baked dinners) TM or not
just give me a call
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Pizza is great for little ones. My 6yo and 2yo are very keen to help and enjoy our home made pizza. We love sorbet and particularly my toddler will come to me eagerly with empty cup when he hear the noises making smoothie in the morning. I'm in Sydney too.
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Gorgeous photo denzelmum. Your kids will be expert cooks when they grow up and leave home!
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I haven't read all of the replies but have you considered getting Liam some ear muffs? I always warn my boys that the Tm will be noisy with something like a little bit of noise or block your ears for a minute so they know to expect it. Also check out the flylady link in the bottom of my signature for trying to set up routines and organization in your life. And the last thing be kind to yourself! You are more than likely doing a much better job than you think you are!!
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Ear muffs are good for everyone, I think. After months of nagging from my DH, I finally bought a pair this week and they really do make a difference - they don't cut out all the noise by any means, but they do bring it down to a comfortable level. There are sure to be different levels of nosie reduction ear muffs available as well, I just bought a pair from Kathmandu as they had them on sale.
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Hi,
Earmuffs are a fabulous idea! Thanks :) I finally had a chance to turn on the computer and the baby woke up just on cue, managed to resettle him so fingers crossed.
I made the chicken croquettes yesterday, still felt the way i usually do in the kitchen, a bit haphazard but they turned out well. I've frozen some to see if i can bake them in the oven from frozen to make easy dinners at the end of a long day. Took longer than i thought it would with having to let the mash and chicken cool and the crumbing step so i don't think i would make this unless i had DH around to help with the kids. I hadn't steamed any meat before, so that was new and worked out well. I like Judydawn's suggestion of making the mash the day before and letting it set in the fridge. Liam at them despite them being potato based, though he was quite hungry ;) and I put some aside and pureed for the baby, which he ate a bit of then refused but did eat a bit as finger food so works well on both fronts.
Thanks Cuilidh, i think organisation is a big part of it. It would help if i started organising or at least thinking about dinner in the morning or the day before, not at 3pm when time becomes more of an issue. I've also started a recipe folder so bits of paper don't get buried under clutter and i can't find them when I'm stuck for ideas.
I guess its a matter of practice and learning things along the way, meal planning and cooking meals to use up the ingredients you buy before they go off is so common sense but I didn't really do it before. I always have left over celery that wilts even if i buy half a bunch and then get stuck with how to use it up. And with more experience i'll better know how to organise myself to do the noisy chopping or grinding etc when the kids are still awake instead of getting stuck half way through a recipe because i don't want to wake them during a nap.
fundj - DH isn't fussy but sometimes gets reflux and skips meals altogether, hes happy to eat cheese and crackers or toast if nothing is available. Sometimes hes had those in preference to what I've made :D DS will eat broccoli, corn, diced carrot, diced celery, spinach and sometimes chinese greens. He doesn't like raw veg or salad, i probably didn't introduce it to him early enough. Fast food he has is pizza occasionally, isn't a huge fan or red rooster, he likes bbq chicken.
How do you half cook pasta? Do you do it earlier in the day and then store it in the fridge and then recook it just before serving?
Great way to get the kids to eat their dinner debbiebillg :) From now on when i introduce anything new I'll make sure DS is very hungry before dinnertime.
Off to find the recipe for creamy chicken and veg. Thank you everyone, you're so wonderfully supportive!!
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CONGRATULATIONS Chocymoose!! Remember be kind to yourself and take one step at a time, when you master one at a time it stops you feeling so overwhelmed and it gets that bit easier every time :-* :-*
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Try to start menu planning as well, that way you will have everything you need on hand so no last minute panics - even if you plan A for Monday night and B for Tuesday night, but don't quite manage to make them in that order, you'll still have all the ingredients for A and B for Wednesday and Thursday (or whenever you feel in the mood to make them)!! You'll soon pick up on all the tricks and things will start going more smoothly for you.
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Hi Chocymoose - it's so hard to function when you don't get enough sleep. I don't think I had a full nights sleep for 3 years when mine were babies. I hated those mothers that said "my baby slept from 6 weeks old" seriously I wanted to punch them. Sounds so terrible when I say it now but I was so angry about the whole mothering thing, lack of sleep, I probably had depression. Anyway later I found there were experts around that can help with getting babies to sleep, and although I was not really in that frame of mind to admit 'defeat' at the time, if I had my time again I'd definitely pay for some expert help in this area. Those early years were so so hard, and everyone else seemed to be so good at it! If you can get help from anyone/anywhere don't just take it; ask for it, seek it, pay for it. Your sanity is the most important thing, everything else falls into place when Mum's happy. And eventually it does get better :)
My DS was into anything from Bunnings when he was a little boy, we used to buy him tool belts, reflective vests and safety ear muffs. Your DS will probably even press Turbo if you get him kitted out with ear muffs and safety goggles (for the onions!).
Wish you the best of luck. If it's any consolation I haven't yet been happy with many of my main meal attempts either, only had mine for 3 months too, but I'm making good use of Thermie for smoothies, custards, sauces and grinding things. It's just practise and trying not to read too many recipes at once (my problem).
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Hi Chocymoose -I have 3 kids under 4 1/2 and the youngest 2 have been terrible sleepers, so I know how you feel. Menu planning is my saviour. I started by writing a list of all the meals that the kids ate, then I could make a plan for the week ahead (I use a magnetic planner and write it on the bottom, but a calendar would work fine too). I really only have a list of about 10 meals that rotate through the week, then I make one new meal a week.....sometimes......
My list is so simple that I usually have all the ingredients in the house as they are so basic so I don't even need to shop specifically for those meals.
Our stock standard meals are:
basic risotto (380g arborio rice:1100g liquid - this can be stock, tinned tomato or just plain water; then add seasoning, vegies and/or meat - chicken or mince to taste. Follow the directions in the EDC, but I find it takes about 20-25 minutes to cook)
pasta with cheese sauce
basic fried rice
chicken wingettes/drumettes
scrambled eggs or baked beans
home made pizza
sausages and chops
chicken nuggets
chicken and cashews
Once you have a list, you are halfway there. I find that when I have had more sleep, I am better equipped to try new things, think about cooking new foods too.
In desperate times, I have also used my magnetic planner/calendar to plan the cleaning and jobs that need to be done. I write one job per day that HAS to be done eg wash the nappies or sweep the floor. This list also helps DH - if wants to do a job, then the one I need done is staring him in the face.
It does get easier, but the sleeplessness is the worst part. Hang in there
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I always have left over celery that wilts even if i buy half a bunch and then get stuck with how to use it up.
Chocymoose, celery wilts so quickly because of its high water content and I have found if you separate the stalks, wash and dry them then cut into slices and place into a ziplock bag, it will last in the crisper. Mine has been in there for 2 weeks and the last few pieces are still very crisp.
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If you cut a small amount off the end of the stalk or even a bunch of celery and stand them in a jug of water they will refresh in a couple of hours :)
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If you cut a small amount off the end of the stalk or even a bunch of celery and stand them in a jug of water they will refresh in a couple of hours :)
Well!!! I didn't know that.Thanks Kathryn. I give wilting roses a hot water treatment to get them to stand upright ;D I never thought of doing the same with celery in cold water. :P
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:) I think planning when the kids are young..as my DH does night shift and walks out right on that 3pm mark I cook dinner just before lunch...but many a time he has left me crying cause it has been a bad day!!
1.Make some playdoh. EDC
2. Make some yummy muffins nothing fancy.
3. Ice cream from the EDC
4. Try yogurt making...no promises here...my kids sometimes eat it somtimes not....but a fruit smoothie for you will give you the energy you need for the day.
5. Chicken and sweetcorn soup..my kids eat this all the time, my failsafe meal.
6. A grown up beef stroganof from the EDC...for you and your hubby
7. followed by an adult cocktail.
8. Not in 1 day...and in any order!!
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If you cut a small amount off the end of the stalk or even a bunch of celery and stand them in a jug of water they will refresh in a couple of hours :)
well I never! I have a very sad piece in the fridge, and will try this experiment...tomorrow!
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yes havent heard of that one either...thanks for the tip :)
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Hello,
Popping back in with an update. Last week I made Chicken Kiev http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=3879.0 (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=3879.0) Not sure if the link will work but will soon find out! It was quick and easy to prepare and i made a point to make the noisy breadcrumbs in advance while the littlies were still awake and crumbed them when they were asleep. They froze really well too so I will definitely be making these again, perhaps with a little less butter and may try to sneak in some grated veg ;)
The one new recipe a week is very managable, this week I'm still deciding between Fried rice and honey mustard chicken. Both sound delicious!
I also tried Garlic prawns and have made Rara's pancakes twice, and probably again later this week.
I made pizza last week, any ideas on how to make it healthier? Once I tried putting more mushroom and sliced tomato on but it made the base soggy. Will have to find some topping ideas, it tasted good but didn't seem very healthy being mostly processed meat and cheese with a token scattering of olives, mushroom and pineapple.
Thanks everyone for all the tips, it is much appreciated!
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You're going great guns Chocymoose, you might be able to increase that to 2 new recipes a week soon ;)
Here's (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=2026.0) a thread regarding pizza toppings.
I've never had a soggy bottom but I believe you can bake the base for 8 minutes, cool it slightly then add your toppings, might be worth a try.
Have you tried the Jamie Oliver pizza dough? I haven't myself but those on here who have, love it. You will find the link to the recipe in this (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=7202.0) thread.
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Mushroom do hold a lot of moisture, mushroom should always be the last topping with very little chesse of top of them
Make a fresh tomato sauce with the tomatoes and reduce until thick
if the kids like garlic prawns add them to a pizza
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I've never had a soggy bottom
(http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=2026.0)
I am so please about that ;D ;D
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:D :D Floppy maybe, but not soggy.
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hahhaha uyou girls are on a roll today...the humour is out and about :)
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Get the kids involved in the cooking (Dezelmum's photo is great) no matter what age - have a look at Liam's First Custard video http://www.superkitchenmachine.com/2009/2940/chocolate-custard.html (http://www.superkitchenmachine.com/2009/2940/chocolate-custard.html) and you'll get the idea. Make up a batch of bread dough then get the kids to make shapes/animals etc before popping into the oven to bake (the bread that is, not the kids) - if they "made" it they're more likely to eat it.
I've also found changing taste slightly and using crazy names helps in getting kids to eat/drink. Our two wouldn't drink fruit juice. That changed when I added a few drops of Angostura bitters to apple juice and called it "Fairy Wee", bitters in orange juice was transformed into "Dragon's Blood" and soon their friends were also asking for the "naughty" juice (what their parents thought I shudder to think ;D)
A final tip - get DH involved in the cooking too. I'm a DH (though sometimes just a H :-\) and now probably use Bimbo more than DW!! HAVE FUN.