Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: mairim on October 03, 2011, 03:36:49 pm
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I'm a retired anthropologist, who loves to cook. I ordered my Thermomix from Canada, it's not yet arrived, but I must confess that I'm wondering if I'm not a bit demented. It's a lot of money, and I do have equipment that weighs, blends, kneads, etc. But it just sounded like so much fun to discover a new kitchen machine, and challenge myself to master it. I'm going to need a lot of help and support from Thermomix experts as I try to learn how to use the new machine and, eventually, how to translate my favorite recipes for it.
I do remember seeing something on the forum starting with (1) unpack your Thermomix, and going on to give basic directions for rank beginners. Of course, now I can't find it. Does anyone know where I can locate it? It looked as though it would be rather like someone holding my hand as the new machine arrived. I surely will need some handholding!
I have two grown children who, alas, live in distant cities, and I share a house with a large, loving German Shepherd.
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Joan,
This forum is your hand to hold. You sound like the rest of us, we are all gadget lovers who believed TMX would be our last gadget. ( unfortunately this forum is a temptree for other groovy toys).
You will love your machine I have no doubt. I love the way it helps get most preservatives out of your diet without having to spend all day at it.
Welcome,relax and enjoy.
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Welcome :) we are all here to help!
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Hi Joan and welcome to the forum.I found this Hints and Tips for new owners
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=1549.0
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Hi Joan,
Welcome to another adventurer in the U.S.
I'm 1800 miles west-southwest from you in the Mojave desert. I also got my TMX from Canada in November 2009 and while I don't use it as much as most of the members on this forum, I use it enough to make it worth my while.
It has made preparing a few things much, much easier for me, especially risotto and almond paste/marzipan.
I love risotto and because of all the stirring it was really a chore - I have arthritis in my hands - but since I got this "wonder machine" I have it at least once a week and there are so many variations, it never gets old.
You have only to ask and will get all the answers and help you could possibly need. I have so enjoyed "meeting" the various members on the forum and exchanging hints and tips with them.
We have some incredibly talented folks who make wonderful contributions to the forum almost every day.
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Andie, I read your posts on egullet and your blog. Actually, I think I first heard of the Thermomix on your blog. I know you're a kitchen technology enthusiast, as am I. Are you sorry you splurged for the Thermomix? Do you use it enough to justify its steep price? I suspect you have some of the same "bells and whistles" as I -- e.g. the Neutrimill and VitaMix. There's no way I could rationalize ordering this machine -- I just wanted it!
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Cornish Cream, Thanks for directing me toward the hints, which I'll type out, and keep near the machine (when it arrives). I'm starting a loose-leaf folder for recipes and information.
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Joan, don't feel guilty at all. I also had all the kitchen gadgets I wanted but still went ahead and bought the TMX (at DH's insistence) nearly 3 years ago. I love it. It is a challenge at the beginning. Just sit down and read the book. It seems confusing but will become so easy. Just ask anything at all here and people will help you. I still learn new things from here.
Good luck. You will love the machine.
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Andie, I read your posts on egullet and your blog. Actually, I think I first heard of the Thermomix on your blog. I know you're a kitchen technology enthusiast, as am I. Are you sorry you splurged for the Thermomix? Do you use it enough to justify its steep price? I suspect you have some of the same "bells and whistles" as I -- e.g. the Neutrimill and VitaMix. There's no way I could rationalize ordering this machine -- I just wanted it!
Yes, I am a kind of "I want it" so I can usually justify why I "need" it person and as I have no one to answer to (and when I did, I largely ignored it) I buy what I want.
Several years ago I became impatient with a mid-range espresso machine and bought one of the superautomatic ones that does everything but drink it for one. Saeco Royal Digital Plus (http://www.125west.com/p-7467-saeco-royal-coffee-bar.aspx) Had it plumbed in to a water line - total cost a bit over 2K.
Used it for awhile, lost interest and there it sat mostly unused, except when I had a party or visitors who are coffee fanatics. I gave it away this past July.
Same with a commercial panini press purchased on a whim - it's big and clunky (had to have an additional 220 plug installed) and I found it not as easy to use as my Cuisinart Griddler so it is currently on loan to a friend who owns a bakery/café here in town and I see no reason to have it returned.
I didn't just get the TMX on a whim. I spent a few months following some of the blogs and topics on other forums and I talked to a couple of chefs who have them and use them constantly, before I decided to buy. I'm not at all sorry I did.
I used to work with a lot of wild game - prepping it for hunters whose wives were not interested. I have a butcher's band saw for cutting big hunks of meat (and big chunks of frozen meat). Nicely wrapped up in the garage, hasn't been used for years. However I did use it a lot when I was catering and prepping venison, elk, wild boar and etc. Since I no longer do that I should sell it but haven't gotten around to it.
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Hi Joan, welcome to our forum. As you will have gathered already, there is plenty of support on this forum and you only need to ask and someone will answer your questions.
Helene from Canada has a wonderful blog - you will find lots of interesting things to read here (http://www.superkitchenmachine.com/2009/373/helene-meurer-canada-food-blog.html) as you work your way around her blog.
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hi mairim and a belated welcome...nice that you have joined us :)
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Welcome to TMX world Joan (aka mairim) - you have plenty of helpers here whenever you need. Drop by the Poll -Where are you from (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=395.0)? There are 8 people on here voting for USA - I didn't realise it had got up to that many. :)
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Hi and Welcome Joan, Really I think the TM is really easy to use and if you have any questions please ask and you should have an answer in no time. We all certainly questioned our self's when purchasing such an expensive machine but I think its worth every dollar. I would cry if something happened to mine now as its my no.1 kitchen helper, My 11 year old daughter uses it often as well with no problems at all. Good luck and we would love to see some of your conversions when you have the confidants to try your own recipes.
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Hi Joan and welcome to the forum ;D
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Hi Joan and a warm welcome to the forum.
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Hello Joan, and welcome. I know you will love the new toy!
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Hi Joan, how are you going with your Thermomix? Your post caught my eye as my parents are from the US and used to live in Missouri, and I've been to St Louis and the Arch and all :) (We're in Australia now though) Hope you've found some others in the US using the Thermomix - wish they'd sell it there! I'd love my family to be able to get them easily. It's such an amazing appliance - I use mine constantly, every day - wouldn't be without it!! Have fun :)
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Welcome to the forum, Joan. I will be interested to hear of your experiences dealing with the folks in Canada and how you like your machine when you get it and what you use it for. I'm also in the US but have just been watching from the sidelines due to the expense and lack of support (other than this forum) in the US.
Keep us posted!
Dave in AZ
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I'm in Frankfurt, Germany so it is nice to see another person on "this" side of the world. Welcome!
Xxx
;D
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Everyone has been so wonderfully warm and welcoming. It's great to have this kind of community to help, when there's no consultant to contact. Dave, I'll let you know how I'm doing as soon as I've mastered my new "toy." Had an operation on the sole of my foot and I've been grounded for at least two weeks (until the stitches come out). Nothing serious, but it does mean that until I can move about, I won't be using my Thermomix. So far, I've made chicken stock concentrate, vegetable stock concentrate (since I'm unfamiliar with gram measurements, I made far too much of this, so gave one jar to a friend for the veggie risottos he makes), and a lemon salad dressing (ditto, made far too much, which meant gifts for friends and neighbors). I also made a mushroom risotto, where I was too smart for my own good: I halved the recipe, and added time to it, since I used Carnaroli rather than Arborio rice, and in my experience it takes a bit more cooking. The result (which will teach me not to monkey with recipes until I try them correctly the first time) was gummy risotto, but it did taste delicious, as well it should have with porcini powder and dried porcinis added to the fresh mushrooms. Received the Easy Cooking and Asian Cooking cookbooks that I ordered from England, so when I'm on my feet again, I think I'll start with some simple recipes.
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I hope you recover soon Joan. :)
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I also prefer Carnaroli or Vialone Nano to Arborio. I follow the direction in the TMX cookbook exactly for the Carnaroli and it turns out perfect every time.
The Vialone Nano rice has a smaller grain and cooks more rapidly so I cut off 4 minutes on the time.
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Thanks Andie. Just received Vialoni Nano from Amazon.com, and I'll cut 4 minutes from the cooking time as you recommended. Can't wait until I'm on my feet and playing with Bimby.
To all you Aussies, spent six weeks in Australia in the '80s. Loved it. Australians and Americans seem to have a great deal in common, I found everyone wonderfully warm and welcoming.
Spent time in New Zealand some years later, studying end of life issues in intensive care. Loved that as well. You seem to have the most amazing sunsets in that part of the world, far more spectacular than we have here. And in both countries, people seem to be more informal and welcoming than Americans (if one can make blanket statements with any sort of truth to them).
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Well, I just made lemon curd and there's only one problem with it: I can't stop eating it! Perhaps two problems: I should have made more.
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Isn't it delicious??!!
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I'm trying to stay off my feet as much as possible until the stitches are removed, but I couldn't resist trying a recipe for brioche in the Thermomix. I was a bit worried, because when I make bread I generally keep an eye on the dough to make sure whether it needs more flour or water. But to my surprise and utter delight it was perfect! I made a large oval loaf, couldn't have been easier, and the result is delicious. I'm looking forward to knowing enough about the Thermomix so that I can adapt recipes for it. There's a Swedish rye recipe from an old bread book by James Beard that would be much easier in the Thermomix, once I get on my feet, learn more about Bimby, and start baking -- and cooking. (There's a Spanish fish stew recipe that calls for slowly sauteing onions, sweet red peppers, and tomatoes for 45 minutes to an hour, served with a garlic mayonnaise.... But I've got to learn to walk before I try to run.)
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I hope the foot is going well.
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Thanks! The stitches come out tomorrow. Hope I can drive then, I'm running short on fresh groceries. And I want to get back to my Thermomix. There's a cheese and basil rolls recipe I want to try.. I live alone, but the neighbors are always delighted to get food when I make too much. (And when it isn't entirely successful--like my last risotto where I followed the recipe and strained the dried mushrooms but didn't strain them through paper, ending up with a delicious but sandy risotto -- my German Shepherd thinks it's delicious!)
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I think you are becoming as much of an TMX addict as the rest of us Joan - there's always another recipe we want to try and, yes, our neighbours often benefit from our efforts.
Take care of your foot.