Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: cantonpixie on March 10, 2011, 08:20:33 am
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hi Everyone!!
I've been lurking around for a month or so now and am finally plucking the courage to say hallo to everyone. i can't decide if i need a thermomix or not. will it really pay for itself with the time i'm spending on food prep?
i get the impression that a thermomix only makes sense for from large families - i'm only cooking for DH, myself and DD. is that too small a family size to be buying something so expensive?!?!
i cook mainly asian stuff - stir-fries, soups, and rice, congee/ porridge, etc. and i'm wondering if the TM can help me cut down on food prep? many of the TM recipes & food blogs that i'm seeing center on american foods (breads / cakes / pastries). i've yet to find an asian / chinese blog devoted to TM cooking. i used to bake a fair amount of bread and cakes before my DD was diagnosed with wheat intolerance.
also, we are a family with food intolerances (not true allergy) - dairy is out and wheat/gluten is allowed a couple of times a week. does that limit the use that the TM would have for my family?
i'm really lost here...and would appreciate some advice!
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Hi CantonPixie and welcome to the forum. I too love to cook asian food and having just returned from a holiday (including cooking school) in Thailand am looking for recipes for the TMX. Although I don't have food allergies/intolerances to worry about in my family, I have seen many discussions and links to wheat/dairy free recipes on this forum. I will let those in the know direct you to relevant sites. Happy cooking!
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thank you Twitterpated! i love thailand and thai food! i forgot to mention that i'm from singapore so we eat everything - thai, vietnamese, indian, chinese.
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cantonpixie... the thermomix (or Theodore as my kids have named mine!!) is seriously worth it's weight in gold!! It chops everything so it saves time with meal preparation. Soups are easily made in here... I have had mine for about 6 months, and after not really using it much to start off with, I am now using it daily to make everything I can!
I too have been lurking around here for a few weeks, and I have tried a few of the recipes here and they are awesome!! It astounds me how easy cooking in the thermomix is... tonight my 7 year old and I are making beef stroganoff (with a few tweaks I read on the forum!). That is the other thing that is wonderful about using the thermomix; it is easy and safe for my kids to use! They love producing meals for the family. ;D
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Welcome cantonpixie. There are only 2 of us in this household and the Thermomix is a wonderful addition to our kitchen. It helps with both food preparation (chopping and mixing and so on) and also in producing delicious meals.
I haven't calculated whether it has paid for itself or not but one huge difference is that I don't buy any pre-prepared food at all now - I make my own bread, stock and so on, and cooking up a meal for 2 is almost as quick as putting a ready-meal into the microwave and is so much healthier. I now know there are no additives in anything we eat which is reassuring.
If you are used to doing a lot of stir-frying, I wouldn't think the Thermomix would help with that and you'd be better off sticking to the wok. But it is really good with steaming - it has a large amount of space to steam things and it also cooks rice really well.
There's an excellent Indian cookery book which is well worth getting
I know it's a huge decision to make but I don't think there will anyone on this forum that will tell you not to go ahead with getting one - we're probably all converts here anyway :D :D
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hi perth mum!
i hadn't ever thought about a kid being able to handle the tmx! now you're giving me ideas :)
hi katya!
thanks for replying!
you mean, with only 2 people in your household you are actually able to find value in having a tmx?
i don't do half as much steaming as i'd like because the wok is taking up the stove space! (not to mention i can't have a steamer spurting water droplets into my wok when it's full of hot oil!)
but if you're telling me that i cld steam something on top of the tmx while i'm cooking rice.......that's one more reason bringing me nearer to getting one! ;D
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I think it depends what you mean by "value". To me the value is in making it so much easier to cook wonderful dishes, certainly having the machine has rekindled my interest and enthusiasm in food and we eat a much more varied diet and I'm much more likely to try new recipes that I find on here. The machine was a present to celebrate a major birthday (and my OH got a very fancy coffee machine to celebrate his equivalent birthday!) so I guess I've never really thought about the cost.
And yes, it's really easy to steam stuff while your rice is cooking underneath. The varoma has 2 "layers" so it provides a lot of space.
The other thing is that, once you've put the rice and the water into the machine and set the temperature and the time, you can just leave it to cook so can concentrate on other things. You obviously have to time when you put the things in to steam as some will take longer, but you soon will get used to that.
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Hi cantonpixie, welcome to the forum. You have come to the wrong place if you are expecting people to have negative thoughts about this wonderful kitchen whizz kid. There are just 2 of us and DH doesn't eat that much so I really only need to cook 4 times a week or less at times. Even if I don't need to cook a main meal every day, my machine usually gets used for something - it might be making a batch of lemonade, some laundry powder, cakes, rice or mashed potato to go with leftovers etc. Soups are wonderful, bread is another thing most of us have mastered that we never made before, we do stir fries of sorts (probably not the same as wok cooking but tasty all the same), if you like Indian there is a great recipe book in that regard, there is a recipe book coming out in the near future called A Taste of Asia which would probably interest you. Just have a browse through the recipe section of this forum and you will see the versatility of the meals we cook. In the recipe review section you will see comments and tweaks of recipes from some of the books which are available. Any questions about anything - you only need to ask on here and someone will give you an answer. Food intolerances affect a lot of people's families and we have members on here who know so much about alternatives. All I can say is, buy one - you will not regret it. Enjoy your time on here and hopefully join in the fun with conversation, recipes etc when you get your machine.
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hey Katya,
that's the value i'm looking for! right now there are certainly lots of fanciful dishes on (and outside of) the TMX forums that i can't do on a regular basis , from scratch, and i wish for more dishes that are not stir fries. (read: that can be left unattended to cook)
like i'm doing a lot of stir fries right now for lack of better recipe ideas. i would have loved to make biscuits/ cakes/ dumplings / scones / muffins / bread etc were it not for all the different equipment i hv to haul in and out of the cabinets.
i have a breadmaker, a food processor, a blender, a BOSCH mixer (which i bot for making whole wheat bread but never opened buecause it took up so much counter space and was duplicating some of the functions of the food processor and i didn't know how to handle it!), a slow cooker, a rice cooker and....a stove top steamer..and ...*cringe* ....
over the years i end up doing 2 of these things: stash the bulky appliance into the cupboard and never do what it was meant to do, or leave it on the countertop taking up precious space and beat myself up for not using it frequently enough to justify its stay on the countertop.
and hi Judydawn! i read a lot of your posts and hadn't realised it was just DH and you! and did you just say laundry powder!?!?! i can't believe this. i DO make my own laundry detergent and it would be a boon if the tmx cld handle even that! i saw quirkycooking's GF breads and was really impressed. i'm fixing a date for the demo now!
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Hi cantonpixie, welcome to the forum. A demo is a must if you are considering it. Once you see first hand what it can do you'll be best able to judge if it's for you. I've just started giving away my many appliances that sat in my cupboard and only got used occasionally. I cook for a family of 4 and we use it for breakfast, school lunches, dinner and other items in between. My kids (9+7) come home and make themselves fresh fruit slushies or sorbet. My DS9 is making us breakfast in the mornings now before he gets ready. It's so easy. We also ate many stir-fries before the Thermomix because they were easy and had lots of fresh natural ingredients in them. We now find the same natural ingredients can do so much more. Keep looking around this forum and the recipe community and you'll be inspired to cook so much more. Enjoy your demo.
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Hi Cantonpixie
I've had my thermomix for over a year and have found it a great timesaver, plus I now cook foods that would otherwise have been too time consuming or fiddly to do.
I also love asian food - I have found cooking rice and steaming things a breeze in the thermomix. Chopping vegetables finely is also great - i often freeze ginger (quality not always the best in Perth) and can chop it frozen without bothering to peel it.
I know that you can make fresh rice noodles in the varoma as well http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=4110.0
I keep looking through my chinese cookbooks thining 'I could do that in the thermomix'. I'll have to post some recipes but as I love Hunanese and Schizuanese food, some might find it a bit too spicy! I'm sure you'd find the investment worthwhile if you do decide to purchase one
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Ooh Bonsai I LOVE Sechuan food so would love to see some recipes. I'm a great fan of Fuscia Dunlop but haven't tried to do anything in the Thermomix.... :-* :-*
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A friend of mine nearly didn't buy one because they ate meat and veg most nights. I asked her if she wanted to eat meat and veg most nights, and the answer was no. Having a TMX will offer a lot of new meals to try, and add to things to the repetoire you already eat :)
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I really don't like cooking with anything else :o
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welcome cantonpixie
like everyone else here I love the thermomix..we are four in our family and I use mine everyday but there are families of two to much larger, with and without food allergies....i think the Thermomix is always a plus in any househould and would be even more so in a house where there is food intolerance or allergies and there are some great people here to guide you re food allergies..as they have themselves families with different food allergies. As far as asian recipes for the thermomix, there are a couple here I think but you could with a bit of guideance also convert your favourite recipes in the thermomix..there are so many advantages..good luck with your decision :)
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Welcome Cantonpixie
Making such a purchase can be daunting. There are only two of us in our household as well and whilst I never really thought about value for money when I purchased my TMX I was looking purely at its benefits. I work approx. 9 - 10 hours a day 5 days a week with another 4-5 hours on Saturdays so am one of the typical 'time poor' people everyone hears about these days. I do a load of cooking most Sundays so that I can freeze everything and have ready meals during the week for both lunch and dinner. Because of this I am spending much less on purchasing lunch and dinner during the week so I am, inadvertently, saving money as well as having great food.
One of the best recipes I have recently started using is Quirky Jo's Cashew Chicken with satay sauce, etc. at http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=5335.0 it cooks your rice in the jug and steams veges on top in the varoma then you quickly whizz up a delicious sauce at the end - this recipe really opened my eyes to some of the advantages of the varoma (I am yet to have a varoma demo).
Anyway, most importantly, you must be comfortable with your decision but, like everyone else here, I hope you will go ahead then you too will be able to take advantage of all the benefits that the TMX can offer you.
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Welcome to the forum. I won't repeat all the things that have been written. If you buy a TMX I'm sure you would love it. I have only ever heard of 2 people who didn't like theirs, one refused to learn the technology of it (it's really easy) and the other had an awful consultant who didn't appear to help them.
The daily postings of all the folks on here are a testament to our love of the machines and the usefulness of it.
Happy thinking. :D
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Hi cantonpixie,whatever you decide,welcome to the forum. :)
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Welcome to the Forum CP. TMX is a new way of cooking and a great deal of fun.
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Hi cantonpixie, welcome to this forum in your time of indecision. All on this forum are unable to give you anything but what some would call a biased view - it is extremely difficult to to provide balance when descriptors such as miracle, kitchen whizz and indispensable are used. However you have to convince yourself so continue research - customer reviews on as many sites as possible. Good luck in your decision making!!!!! :)
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Hi Cantonpixie, can you tell how much we love our Thermies?? :D
We avoid wheat & dairy too, so you'd get some ideas of things you could make on my blog... a tmx makes life so much easier for people with allergies & intolerances! I make my own rice-almond milk, nut milks, nut creams & cheeses, gluten/wheat free breads, cakes etc... and they're made from wholesome ingredients, not pre-packaged junk. Reading the labels on bought gf & df foods is quite scary sometimes!
Also, in the front of the cookbook that comes with the tmx, it tells you how to reduce the quantities the recipes make. Or if you make full batches, you can heat up leftovers in the steamer, lined with a piece of baking paper if needed. I don't have a microwave, don't like them, and don't need one with the tmx!
I'm really looking forward to the new Asian cookbook - I get one next month, and they'll be available to buy in May!
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Hi! Welcome to the forum. Will be interesting to hear what you think once you ahev had your demo.
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hey guys!!
so sorry i wasn't able to reply earlier. my mom had surgery and and i started a new freelance project at work and basically things were a mess at home.
i was overwhelmed by all your responses (because i didnt think id get noticed, seeing i was not in the 'club' yet) and wow!!!
thanks for all your encouragement!! i feel welcomed!
hallo sue_h, /johnro/achookwoman/cornish cream/cookie1/creampuff63/frozzie/caroline/trudy thanks for sharing your experiences and encouragement! it was really helpful and started me thinking harder!
bonsai, cuidlidh, thanks for the links and i'm going to check them out later!!!
and hallo quirkycooking! i subscribe to your blog and they sure give me lots of ideas!
and.....GUESS WHAT!! (sorry for shouting!! i can't contain my excitement!!!). I ORDERED A THERMOMIX.
i had my demo, and my galfriend who went with me is pretty sold on it (but she can't cook/bake and is moving to australia in jun so she'd prob be getting more demos once she gets to aus - cuz she has no idea what she is going to do with a TM since she can't cook / bake) but i already knew what i cld do with the TM even before i saw the demo (thanks to this forum!!). ie the demo didn't change my mind so drastically since i'd already made up my mind before i went for hte demo that i really wanted the TM. what convinced me though, was the speed at which things cld be done. we had lemonade, kneaded dough for chinese steamed buns, pumpkin soup with chinese steamed buns on top in the varoma, stirfried chinese leafy greens, and sorbet.
so i went back, and wrote down a list of items that i thought id' be cooking in the TM (not withstadning i'm sure i'll be trying out totally new dishes in the cookbooks), and started saving up and thinking of how to convince my DH. and what do you know, my chance came when he said he wanted an iphone2 for his birthday and i said ok i'll buy that for u and i also said, hey can i buy a TM *with my own $$$ *?
(since at this point i'd gotten a couple of projects which wld nicely pay for the TM.) to my utter shock, after a few days he said he'd always buy me whatever i wanted (even though he was still rolling his eyes because he didnt go to the demo and he can't fathom why i'd pay $2000 ++ for 'just a blender.')
so anyway guys, my TM is arriving on sunday (barring any further mishaps - my consultant was sick last sunday so she cldn't deliver it last week! that really ruined my day cuz id been looking forward to it all week)... and till then, i hope someone can point me to some relevant threads that touch on
1. TM recipes for beginners
2. what to do when you first get your TM
3. anything else i need to know
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Cantonpixie what great news for you - as far as recipes for TMX beginners, all on here were in exactly the same position when our thermies arrived. It mattered not whether one was an experienced person who enjoyed cooking or in theI can't cook category, just follow the recipe either from the forum or TMX books (perhaps check the reviews on here to see if there was any issues with your choice of dish). Anyrate enough rambling - welcome to the world of TMX. Cheers :) :) :)
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hi cantonpixie
here is a link for tips for beginners here (http://www.superkitchenmachine.com/2010/9157/new-thermomix-help.html) that quirkyjo posted on another subject and quirkys blog for converting recipes when you get brave here (http://quirkycooking.blogspot.com/2010/10/converting-recipes-for-thermomix.html) ...some do straight away and others take their time before attempting to convert...all comes down to feeling comfortable and at first searching for similar recipes to base the conversion on.. very excited for you...hope it gets to you soon!
most people when they get their thermomix make basics like stock etc but its really up to you..make whatever you like or some tried and true recipes on this forum..
enjoy :)
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I can feel your excitement cantonpixie - let's hope you do take delivery of it on Sunday. What to do first is everyone's question but do a bit more browsing on here of all the different categories and then, depending on what type of food you like, pick a few things with good reviews, print them out and be ready to go as soon as you have had your delivery demo. Good luck with it and I'm glad you didn't have to wait too long to become a TMX owner.
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Hi canton pixie,
You won't be disappointed ... It's the best ..I spend all night looking on here and deciding what to do tomorrow!!!!
I have had mine for a couple of months and I have made so many new and exciting things ..
Happy thermomixing ;D
Ellie j
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What great news Cantonpixie, delighted to hear that your finally got your TMX.
Like almost everyone else on this forum, I have found that I am constantly cooking new recipes and experimenting all the time and, because everything is so straightforward, i.e. time / temperature / speed given clearly for each step, it makes cooking so simple. Until the TMX I had not made pastry nor had I made mayonnaise, now I make both without a second thought (and feel proud of myself at the end). Just follow the directions in the recipe and there you have it - another great meal at your fingertips before you know it. My strongest suggestion would be to have everything measured / peeled / prepared before you actually start cooking and the whole process is a breeze (I only wish I would follow my own suggestion here, I often still leave things until I am half way through the cooking and find that I haven't prepared everything for the next step .....).
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Yipppeeee!! So have you got your Thermomix now? That's so exciting! Can't wait to hear what you've been making! ;D Let us know how you go!!
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hey thanks frozzie!! i went to chk out those links and copied them all into my iphone in preparation for THE BIG DAY!!! my TM arrives only sunday!
johnro- i'll tell that to my gal fren who can't cook and thinks she has no use for TM ! :)
thanks judydawn! i am surfing the forum for recipes i wanna try now!!
ellie i think i'm gonna end up like you!
cuillidh, thanks for the tip! i know i mite have just jumped straight in without all the prep!
and no, quirkyjo, i havent got my TM yet, coming sunday!!! and i printed your "converting recipes" post!!! i'll be digging into your blog very often for gluten free dairy free ideas!!
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Good to hear you made the plunge. Do you speak/read CHinese ?
http://www.vorwerk.com/tw/thermomix/html/recipes_and_more.html (http://www.vorwerk.com/tw/thermomix/html/recipes_and_more.html) has recipes, but not sure what is on offer. There is a Taiwanese cookbook
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thanks thermomixer! the link's really useful!
yes, i read / speak chinese, and will explore the taiwanese recipes!
i was given an asian version of the cookbook in addition to EDC and the Indian cookbook, and I have to say the timings etc in the asian cookbook need LOTS of tweaking! :)