Hi from Melbourne

[Pepper]

Hi Everyone,

Thought I should introduce myself as I have been skulking about for quite a while now.

I first went to a TM demo about 12 months ago as a favour for a friend with absolutely no intention of buying another kitchen appliance.  I left interested but still not convinced as I enjoy cooking and it seemed a little like "cheating" using the TM as it did everything!  I researched, thought about it and finally after reading this forum decided to take the plunge. (After 12 months, hardly a rush decision!)

TM arrived 2 weeks ago, but then we went away for a week and with Christmas madness I have really only had a few days to get to know my new kitchen helper. 

So far I have made Bolognaise Sauce on nights that otherwise would have been take away, made the gravy on Christmas Day, fantastic, freed me up to do other things & it was perfect, and yesterday made Maddy's Cheese and Bacon Rolls for lunch, which the kids loved (better than the bakery they said; thanks Maddy),  and Raspberry Sorbet for dessert last night, (very happy the kids were eating fresh berries without knowing it).

So I just wanted to say a big thank you as I don't know that I would have made the purchase without the enthusiasm for TM from all of you and I'm looking forward to trying lots of the recipes on the forum.   

[judydawn]

Hi Pepper, welcome to the forum at last.  It is so lovely to hear you are getting along famously with your machine.  I've just answered another newbie's post where she was very disappointed so far so I hope she reads your post to learn there is light at the end of the tunnel once she gets the feel for her machine.  Love what you have made so far (my kind of food) and have to agree with the kids re maddy's rolls - they are far better than the shop bought ones. Sounds like they know what they like and appreciate good food when it is served up to them.  Happy cooking, come back and let us know what else you do - we all love to know what people make.

[cookie1]

Welcome Pepper. You seem to have put a lot of thought into the purchase of your TMX. So glad you have now bought one, it will be exciting and fun.

[Pepper]

Yes, I was a little wary as a friend of mine had bought one and only used it about 4 times in 12 months, but I'm loving mine.

I'm planning on making the Vegetable Stock Concentrate tomorrow. I would like to reduce the salt content, & I know the recipe says that the shelf life will be reduced, but does anyone have any advice about how much I can reduce it by and how long it will then last?

Any help, greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[judydawn]

The original quantity of salt in my EDC was 200g Pepper but it has now been changed to 150g I believe.  Last batch I made I did the one from the My Way of Cooking book which used 120g of salt. I kept a small jar in the fridge and froze the rest in a zip-lock bag - it doesn't freeze solid and any quantity you need for a recipe can be quite easily removed with a spoon. I am now working on the freezer batch and in future will freeze the whole lot right from the beginning. It is, of course, the salt content which prevents it from freezing solid but just how much further you can reduce the quantity of salt and still be able to freeze it so that it is pliable enough to remove some, I don't know. I just find it easier to freeze as I then don't have to even think about a use-by date and during summer I tend to use less of it anyway.

[Cornish Cream]

Hi and welcome Pepper.

[Thermomixer]

Belated welcome Pepper from another Melburnian