Hi Gloria, welcome to the forum. Pity you didn't find us 12 months ago but it is never too late to get re-enthused (if there is such a word) about your machine. Is it sitting on the bench or put away in a cupboard? If it is the latter, there is mistake No. 1. Anyone on the forum will tell you it is best on the bench and is bound to motivate you into using it more often. Do you use the varoma part for steaming vegies, making mashed potatoes, cooking rice and pasta? These are just basic daily functions which we all use our machine for then everything else is the icing on the cake. Speaking of cakes - there are some wonderful recipes on here for cakes, biscuits, bread. Have a read through of the recipes and reviews and you are bound to want to try some of them. It is such a waste to have such a wonderful machine and not put it to good use so here's hoping our forum can inspire you to get going again. What have you been cooking in yours Gloria and what type of meals do you and your family like to eat, give us a feel for preferences and we might be able to point you in the direction of some lovely recipes to suit your taste.