Forum Thermomix

Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: CDGThatIsMe on March 18, 2014, 03:52:25 pm

Title: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: CDGThatIsMe on March 18, 2014, 03:52:25 pm
I am very excited to have found this forum. 

Today I am expecting my brand new TM31 today!  I am from the US so I have no representative to help me get started and show me how it's done.  I ordered a few cookbooks to help me get started.  It seems this is the right place to get help if I am stumped!

Anticipation!
Cathy

Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Cornish Cream on March 18, 2014, 04:10:41 pm
Welcome to the forum Cathy.This forum is certainly an amazing place and I'm sure you will find lots of help here.
Checkout CP's Favourite List. (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=6470.0) It contains tried and tested recipes ;)
If you have any questions just ask,someone will come to your rescue ;D
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: CDGThatIsMe on March 18, 2014, 07:17:40 pm
Thank you Cornish Cream and I will appreciate all the help I can get!

Just received my TM31 so now I am going to do a something simple recipe.

Here it goes!!!! 
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Cornish Cream on March 18, 2014, 07:20:51 pm
Good luck and tell us what you cooked ;D
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: achookwoman on March 18, 2014, 08:01:26 pm
Welcome Cathy.  Starting simple is the way to go.  Just remember that the spoon measurements from Aussie recipes are different to the American ones. 
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: judydawn on March 18, 2014, 10:51:27 pm
Hi Cathy, it's nice to have you on board.  Good luck with your first efforts, I guess you haven't even been to a demo which would have been useful.  Take it slow and easy and remember we are here for all your questions and advice.  There are some good uTube videos around, perhaps spend a little time having a look at some of them. Janie Turner from the UK has a good one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W9Wacn79vk
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: mab19 on March 18, 2014, 11:38:45 pm
Hi Cathy and welcome to the forum :)
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: LauraTO on March 19, 2014, 12:12:14 am
Welcome Cathy!  This forum has been a godsend and so much fun for me as a fellow newbie.  Honestly, when people on here say no question is too basic or dumb THEY MEAN IT.  I'm up in Canada and in an area that doesn't have as much of a local TM community (like those lucky Aussies) and my local friends just don't get it...yet!

What are you going to make for your first dish?  And which cookbooks did you get?

My favourites so far have been fruit sorbet with frozen mangos and QuirkyJo's cashew chicken recipe (honestly, the raves are not an overstatement).  And I have to say I LOVE when a friend is over for a meal and I can casually say "Oh, don't mind me, I'm just going to quickly make up a batch of mayonnaise from scratch while we're chatting." Enjoy!
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: LauraTO on March 19, 2014, 12:12:39 am
Just remember that the spoon measurements from Aussie recipes are different to the American ones. 


Wait....WHAT??!?!?!
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: judydawn on March 19, 2014, 12:33:27 am
Laura an Aussie tablespoon is 4 teaspoons, in America and the UK it is 3 teaspoons.
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Bedlam on March 19, 2014, 12:40:31 am
Cathy, congratulations you are going to love it.
In the beginning it all feels a little scary.  It is a different way of cooking. Just follow the steps set out and before long it will be second nature.
I am very pleased you have found this forum all the recipes are tried and true and have feedback, you really dont need any more cookbooks( says she who has them all).
Most of all enjoy.
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: LauraTO on March 19, 2014, 12:42:19 am
Laura an Aussie tablespoon is 4 teaspoons, in America and the UK it is 3 teaspoons.
Oh dear!  That is very good to know!!
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: trudy on March 19, 2014, 01:08:43 am
Hi Cathy, welcome to the forum - you will love it here!   Lots of great recipes and friendly helpful people.
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Nikkit on March 19, 2014, 01:22:49 am

Welcome Cathy, you'll learn heaps in here   :)

Laura an Aussie tablespoon is 4 teaspoons, in America and the UK it is 3 teaspoons.
Oh dear!  That is very good to know!!

Still gets me every time! Always a good idea to see which country the recipe has come from so you can adjust accordingly. (I will learn ... one day  ;D )
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: cookie1 on March 19, 2014, 04:10:36 am
Welcome Cathy. I'm sure you will enjoy l the forum. We are very friendly and as Laura has said we welcome all questions, no matter how large or small.
Your thermomix adventures will be wonderful. Please share them with us.

Re the tablespoon measurements I actually have two sets of spoons. Both bought here in Perth at a Kitchen shop. One set has the 15 ml for the tablespoon and the other the true Aussie measure of 20 ml. I just have to remember when to use the correct one.
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: BeezeeBee on March 19, 2014, 04:53:57 am
Welcome Cathy :)
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: astarra on March 19, 2014, 08:22:53 am
Hello and welcome Cathy.  :)

Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Aussie Brenda on March 19, 2014, 09:37:36 am
Welcome to the forum Cathy, now your adventure begins I have had my Thmx for over three years and it's still fun and exciting to use.
Title: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: CDGThatIsMe on March 19, 2014, 07:11:45 pm
Hello everyone!!!

Thank you for giving me such a fabulous welcome!  My refrigerator did not have all the fresh ingredients needed to make even the simplest recipes... totally embarrassed. 

I eat healthy enough but apparently well enough!   Also, I would never have thought about the measuring spoon differences!!! 

I was really surprised at how compact this dream machine is but I am definitely overwhelmed.   I read a lot last night and taking in all the recipes too to figure out which ones to try out first.  I think the Butter, TM Vegetable, Chicken, and Beef Broth recipes seem to be staples that should be kept in the refrigerator at all times!!!

Thank you for asking about which cookbooks I ordered along with the TM31:  The Gluten-free for my husband (who was told he was a celiac baby by his mother) because of his stomach problems, the Everyday cookbook, and the My Way Cookbook.

We take care of a 92 year old Aunt who is sweet as can be.  This change of cooking and preparing will be good for her too!

I like European cooking because in my childhood years, we lived in France at my Great Aunt and Uncle's very self sufficient farm.  Fond Memories for ever! 

Going out for supper and then tomorrow, I'm shopping for the ingredients!!!  By the way, I like sweets but need to make them sugar-free if possible in this TM.  Does anyone do that?

TTYS (Talk to you soon!)
Cathy
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: obbie on March 20, 2014, 03:19:05 am
Hi and welcome :)
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Kimmyh on March 20, 2014, 11:36:17 am
Hi Cathy and welcome xox
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Nikkit on March 22, 2014, 10:59:47 pm
Cathy, re your sweets question...
Any recipe I make I cut the sugar in half, regardless of what it is (ie cake, biscuit, dessert) and then if there is chocolate or dried fruit in it I then cut the sugar back to about 1/4 of the original recipe.

I know this isn't sugar free, but it might give you an idea.

There are probably sugar free recipes in here somewhere. And if you already have some recipes, then they'll be easily converted to the TM. Ask if you can't figure it out, we'll help!  :)
Title: Re:
Post by: MrsG on March 23, 2014, 03:47:45 am
Hi Cathy. I'm Cathy too. You'll love it, don't be afraid to experiment if you have time, my inventions are amazing!
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: CDGThatIsMe on March 23, 2014, 04:38:55 pm
Hi I'm back!  I'm happy to say I finally made great foods with my TM31:  Whipped Butter and Salmon & Brown Rice.   8)

More great tips!!!  Nikkit and MrsG thanks for your warm welcome as well!

Nikkit, I will definitely follow your suggestion about cutting the sugar and earlier in the thread,
judydawn mentioned the measurements of, Aussie tablespoon is 4 teaspoons, in America and the UK it is 3 teaspoons.

I followed the recipe for Butter (page 7 in the "Everyday Cookbook")  and after 3 minutes, it was thick cream.  I used "Heavy Cream" since I didn't see "Cream" anywhere in the stores near me.  I have to say I was worried that it didn't look like butter like the pictures and the directions.   By the time it finally separated, it was after 20-25 minutes.  (I checked every 5 minutes)  YAY!!!  What a proud moment!  It looked AND tasted like butter!  It is in the refrigerator for future usage.

The Salmon & Brown Rice was steamed with the Varoma!  (a youtube video was my inspiration)  Butter (my own preference) on top of the salmon, it was delicious!  I normally bake it but wanted to see how the steaming process works.  It is fabulous!  The Brown Rice was al dente and just as delicious.  My husband prefers soft rice. 

How does it work if I want to steam salmon and rice together but at different times for a meal?  Could I steam the rice first and after a time, add the salmon in the varoma?  The brown rice was inside the bowl strainer and the Salmon was in the varoma.

Today, I want to make a lemon tart!!!

Have a great day everyone!  I will start posting in the recipe and tip section since I'm in the cooking mode.  It seems I am thinking about what to make the very next day!  It is very exciting for me.

Cathy

 
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Cornish Cream on March 23, 2014, 07:27:32 pm
How does it work if I want to steam salmon and rice together but at different times for a meal?  Could I steam the rice first and after a time, add the salmon in the varoma?  The brown rice was inside the bowl strainer and the Salmon was in the varoma.

You are correct Cathy.Start the rice first then pop the Varoma on top to cook the salmon to your liking.
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: judydawn on March 24, 2014, 12:08:13 am
Here's (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=6649.0) a good recipe if you want to use vegies instead of rice Cathy.  Here's (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=3502.0) another - my salmon pieces were small so I only cooked them 8 minutes.
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Nikkit on March 24, 2014, 01:17:08 am
Go Cathy!!  ;D

As for your butter taking 25 minutes, that is odd! I have never known butter to take that long before, but it varies from brand to brand. I have found the Harvey Fresh cream here takes only a few seconds some days!
You need to have minimum 35% fat in the bream to make butter apparently. If you want it spreadable straight from the fridge you can add a flavourless oil to the butter. There'll be a recipe in here somewhere. (it also makes it go further too)

Enjoy cooking Cathy!!

Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: judydawn on March 24, 2014, 01:41:14 am
I thought that too Nikkit.  Cathy are you using cream near it's use by date or past it - this is the best cream to use for butter making.  Most of us pick up clearance cream dirt cheap for making butter and contrary to what some say, thickened cream works for me and others.

You might like to read Quirky Jo's butter making thread on her blog (http://quirkycooking.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/making-butter-in-thermomix.html).  I see she adds both oil and water to make a spreadable butter, never tried adding the water before.  Has anyone done it this way?

Here's (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=269.0) a thread discussing butter making that might help too.
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: cookie1 on March 24, 2014, 06:01:24 am
Cathy I often make things that have no added sugar. However they do have dried fruits in them to sweeten them. I'm not sure if that would be of any help to you.
Title: Re: So pleased to meet you! My name is Cathy
Post by: Deniser on March 24, 2014, 09:34:58 am
Hi Cathy and welcome to the Forum.  I am sure you will find lots of help and recipes here.  You have certainly found the right place to be.  Good luck with your new Thermie and all the conversions.