Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: GoneCrazY on April 01, 2011, 12:56:48 am
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ok so i have had Thermo for just over a week and so far haven't used the varoma , this weekend i have my mum , aunt and grandma coming to stay si i will be cooking for 6 people so i guess it would be a good time to try out the varoma !
some ideas of what to have a go at first would be great thanx :) x
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Just go to the new All-in-one Meals thread on the Home page GoneCrazY and select something from there. Baf's all in one chicken meal is a good one to start with.
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Asian style fish fillets, p 104, from the edc. Rice, fish and vegetables all ready at the same time.
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I can't go past Quirky Jo's chicken with cashews and coconut satay (except I do a vegetarian version with tofu). I think I've raved about this one several times already so I'll say no more!
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My first attempt was Baf's chicken. But there is nothing like Jo's chicken and cashews. The taste is lovely and it is impressive.
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ahh yes !! how could i have not thought of jo's chicken !! she said at my demo that i need to try it !!!!! :)
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My 1st one was this Spiced chicken and sweet potato:
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=928.0
Was very easy, and so yummy. I make it every couple of weeks now!
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You are very brave - I havent touched mine - a little scared of it to be honest.
Let me know how you go and how the meal goes - then maybe I will try the recipe. :)
Thanks
Hally
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Hally, I can understand your fear but there's really nothing to be scared of with the Varoma - I don't think it will bite ;D ;D
The only thing is to be careful when lifting the lid as a lot of steam comes up and can scald you. Use an oven mitt or something like that to protect your hands and don't put your face too close to sniff the aromas as you lift the lid ;) ;)
The spicey chicken and sweet potatoes is a really easy dish to use as a starter. Or, as an introduction to the Varoma, you could just steam some fish or vegetables when cooking rice or potatoes.....
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I love the 'non' Fried Rice!! (Another of Jo's I think????) :)
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OK goal next week is to use the Varoma - wehre do I find Jo's recipes?
Also any idea - I made some ice-cream and its been in the freezer in the thermo server for 4 horus and its not frozen!
Thanks
Hally
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OK goal next week is to use the Varoma - wehre do I find Jo's recipes?
Also any idea - I made some ice-cream and its been in the freezer in the thermo server for 4 horus and its not frozen!
Thanks
Hally
This is Jo's delicious recipe Hally.Jo's blog is superb,I read it regularly. ;D
http://quirkycooking.blogspot.com/2011/01/chicken-and-cashews-with-coconut-satay.html
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Thank you so much.
:D
Hally
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Also any idea - I made some ice-cream and its been in the freezer in the thermo server for 4 horus and its not frozen!
Thanks
Hally
I think it may take longer in the thermoserver. I always put mine in a slice or loaf tin. It can take a while depending on your freezer temp and how full it is.
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Thanks Meagan, I have transferrred it to another dish - so heres hoping.
The liquid tasted very very yummy. DH and son are not happy that they might not get to eat it tonight
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Thanks CC and Cuilidh and Salval! :-* :-* :-*
Have you decided on anything GC? I'd suggest the Chicken & Cashews too - easy peasy, makes heaps, and hopefully they'll like it too!! ;D
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Thanks CC and Cuilidh and Salval! :-* :-* :-*
Have you decided on anything GC? I'd suggest the Chicken & Cashews too - easy peasy, makes heaps, and hopefully they'll like it too!! ;D
yep think i'll do that :)
do u think the recipe on your blog will serve 5 (plus lockie )
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GC it served all 7 of mine (3 of them are teen boys) so I think you should be ok ;) Just make sure you fill up the varoma with the veg.
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GC it served all 7 of mine (3 of them are teen boys) so I think you should be ok ;) Just make sure you fill up the varoma with the veg.
kool thanx ..
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I have only made one or two all in one dishes...the most recent was Quirky Jo's non fried rice with marinated chicken through it. It was yummo! It was the first time that I'd ever done an omelette in the varoma on wet baking paper....that was awesome ;)
Looking forward to trying loads more...next one will most likely be the chicken and cashews that everyone raves about!
Cheers,
Renae :)
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Oh....back to the varoma bit (got too excited about the non fried rice lol)....I use mine CONSTANTLY as a good old vegie steamer, I normally load up the basket with potatoes for mash and then fill the varoma with whatever vegies I want. Another varoma success was the varoma bread recipe in the My Way of Cooking cookbook. Looks weird being white when it's finished cooking, but is YUMMY...especially as toasted bruschetta :)
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It's surprising how many are scared of using the varoma. I have quite a few friends (most had a TMX before me) who are using the TMX daily and cooking all sorts of wonderful things but not using the varoma because they are too scared.
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Yes, I don't understand that! I use mine every day, sometimes a few times, because I warm up leftovers in it as well as cook in it. We don't have a microwave - that's another appliance the Tmx replaces!! :)
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Me too Jo - probably don't do quite as much as you Jo as there is only DH & I at home.
Here's some tips for Varoma use:
Poach your eggs – use silicon cups/moulds, 11 min, Sp3
Defrost your food – 25 min, Sp4
Warm/heat your food – 10-15 min Sp4
Steam Veggies – consult Everyday Cookbook or Full Steam Ahead cookbook.
Steam Fish – 15-20 min, Sp3 (depends on type and thickness of fish) – one of my favourite dishes is Asian Style Fish Fillets (in your Everyday Cookbook)
Steam mussels and cook a sauce at the same time – your family/friends will be impressed – Chilli mussels with Thyme & Tomatoes (in your Everyday Cookbook)
Any cake or pudding can be steamed ... the smaller the receptacle, the quicker it will steam (invest in some silicon moulds) – the sticky date puddings are brilliant. They can be steamed, frozen individually & packed for lunches.
Meat, chicken, turkey – can all be cooked in the Varoma – just follow the recipes in Full Steam Ahead
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Thank you for those ideas Janeezee, they are great.
I do use my varoma on occasions, but I don't use it nearly enough (you can tell I haven't had the varoma demonstration yet). Useful and practical suggestions can be a super inspiration to all of us - with luck, this could be the start of a great "brain-storming" (or "forum storming") session of ideas on varoma use (... or maybe there is already something along these lines already on the forum?).
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I will admit I'm a bit scared of the varoma as well.. Have some fish in the fridge might try that and the sticky date puds tonight..
I have done Jo's cashew chicken and it was beautiful..
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Oh and thanks janeezee the tips are great ... Will welcome more if anyone has some to share :)
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Thanks JZ, that list will give some the incentive to try something different.
Ellie j - lots of meal ideas using the varoma in the new All-in-one section here (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?board=54.0).
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Renlor I love the varoma bread too, especially when we are in the caravan. (I don't have an oven). If you add a few sultanas to it and increase the sugar it makes a lovely sweet loaf.
You can find the post about it here. Varoma bread (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=98.0)
Yippee I did it. Thanks CP63. :-*
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:D :D :D :D Easy when you know how isn't it Cookie. Got to love those who help us out with our computer lessons on here.
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I still haven't used my Varoma but I am having a demo in April due to the great incentive and then I hope to use it all the time
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I have only used my varoma once :-[ since I have had thermy (almost 5 months!)
I did the asian fish in EDC but I obviously need more practice because everything cooked at different times!
Must try Jo's cashew chicken ASAP!
A bit worried about silicon bakeware after using 'poach pods' for a while - the eggs started tasting plasticy !! :(
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Could you try the eggs in little ramekins then Sonan. Once you start using your varoma you will wonder how you have managed without it.
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Thank you all for your advice.
I will be cooking the chicken with cashews this week. Its my goal to use the varoma.
I had some friends over for a BBQ yesterday and did nearly the whole meal with my TM.
We have some left overs to get through. I did Chermoula chicken (Matt Moran recipe) it took 2 secs to chop all the herbs, it was great, normally takes a long time by hand.
Love cooking
Hally
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I love my Varoma. It's so efficient for adding the extras to a meal and for cooking all the yummy dishes many have already suggested. I have wondered how to reheat food though. Do you just put it on wet baking paper or how to you reheat say the non-fried rice or Baf's chicken and vegetables?
Warm/heat your food – 10-15 min Sp4
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I've had a bit of inspiration since reading this thread and the one that struck me just in the last 10 minutes was to make Cookie1's dumplings in the varoma whilst I've got rice (or even more special, coconut rice), cooking in the basket in the jug. I'm always running out of cooked and frozen rice, so this will "kill two birds with one stone". The only hitch to this plan is if I decide to cook up a stew / casserole in the jug whilst making the dumplings ... I'm sure I'll think of something.
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Ok I have fried rice in the varoma - just added the eggs to make the omelette. It is smelling very very good. My son loves rice and I thought I would be very brave and have a go.
The test will be in the eating - but hopefully I followed the recipe well. If it works - well I must say this will be the easiest fried rice I have ever made :)
I am very proud of myself.
Hally
Just finished a small bowl - and it was lovely, I am sure my son will like it too - thanks again for all your help
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Good for you, Hally, let us know how you go!
Yes, Sue, just put the leftovers on baking paper if they're wet, or for rice, etc. You can have soup or sauce or rice or just water cooking in the bowl while you heat them on top. :)
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I just found this thread that also has some good ideas http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=3029.0
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Thanks for that thread Cuilidh....it has some great ideas in it ... Might just give those steamed puddings a go tonight and a heap of steamed veg too :)