Welcome to the forum- sounds like your consultant is a bit of a slacker to let you flounder with such a basic problem!!! Shame on them! So glad you sorted it out. I remember when I first received my TM my consultant dropped it off and stayed to help me make the tomato and red lentil soup from the EDC. At first I thought I needed to have a wrestling match with the lid- I just couldn't do it and don't even mention how I couldn't take the blades out and out the bowl together again!
Anyway, glad you've sorted everything out and enjoy all of your wonderful culinary creations from now on ( and don't worry, we have all had stupendous disasters as well).