Hello everyone from a soon to receive her TMX

[estiny]

Hello everyone! I just want to say what a privilege it is to be part of this wonderful group! I have just placed an order for my first Thermomix, having held a demonstration 2 weeks ago. The first time I came to know the TMX was 6 years ago when I attended a friend's demo party. Since I was pregnant with my first child back then, spending money is the last thing I want to do since all the expenditure goes towards preparing the nursery for your first child. I finally signed up for one when I attended a cooking class a few days ago. I like to cook but I hate the prep work so by the time I come home from work, putting frozen Birds Eye fish into the oven while I give the boys a bath is the fastest way of my version of dinner. On the occasion when I am not working, I get put off by the time I have to put in preparing meals. I am not like my friends, who chop up a carrot like a professional chef. I take my time, and next thing you know, it took me 30mins just to grate half a pumpkin to make a pumpkin slice. When the TMX demonstrator showed me the same amount of pumpkin pieces were shredded in less than 20 seconds, my jaw was on the floor. I hope the TMX would inspire me to cook again since technically, it will help me in saving time fussing over prep work.

Before I decided to buy one, I chanced upon this forum and read as much blogs as I could. I didn't want to have a TMX to cook "chefy" food items. I want a machine that can help me prep and cook for 2 young boys aged 3 and 6 without being put off by time consuming dishes. Your experience, recipes and blogs have given me the confidence that I would be able to look up everyday recipes and cook for the family. My husband thinks I would be enthusiastic for one week and then stop using the TMX. I am determined to prove him wrong!

If you are reading this, I would also appreciate a decision I am about to make concerning the Thermomat. I know my friend has the Bosco baking mat and she swears by it but I think that's because the Thermomat wasn't available 6 years ago when she first bought her TMX. Which is the better buy? I saw eBay selling the Bosco mat for $40 including shipping. The Thermomat retails for $60 but my consultant is willing to sell it to me for $50. Your advice would be appreciated on which is a better choice.

I have also placed an order for 3 cookbooks, the Indian cookbook, Meat on the Menu and Taste of Asia. During the recent cooking class, one of the consultants cooked Sweet Potato and Lentil soup, which I found out through this forum, was from the Gluten Free cookbook. Thankfully, my family can take gluten items but I don't really want to buy another cookbook just because I love the taste of the soup. Would anyone be kind enough to share this recipe please if you can or are we not allowed to publish recipes from the TMX cookbooks due to copyright issues? Please forgive me if it is since I am new to this forum.

Well, that's about it from me. I hope to be able to swap recipes one day when I get more and more confident in using this wonderful machine. 

[droverjess]

Hello and welcome.
I am in UK so don't know about mats but am sure someone will be along soon to answer your questions.

You will find so many good recipes on here and so much help.
I hardly use the UK cookbook that came with mine, but I use the forum recipes almost daily.

Enjoy and Happy Cooking..

[cookie1]

Hi Estiny. I don't think you will regret your purchase. My consultant told me to persever with using it for 2 weeks before giving up. I found this forum to be extremely helpful. To be honest I get much more from my machine reading about what others are doing and using their recipes than many of my friends do who don't use the forum.
Feel free to ask anything on here. With members from all over the world there seems to be someone on here 24/7.
Re the mat, I only know about the thermomat. I didn't buy one for sometime and wished I had bought one sooner. I love it. But you must remember you cannot cut on it or you will cut the mat.

[judydawn]

Hello estiny, welcome to the forum.  So pleased to hear you are finally going to have your very own Thermomix and yes, it will be a great help in the kitchen with prep work and cooking fast meals.  The soup recipe you were looking for is on this person's blog - you can often find particular recipes by googling eg "gluten free sweet potato & lentil soup thermomix' and if the recipe is on a forum or someone's blog you will soon find it.  Of course that doesn't always happen but in this instance you are lucky   Have fun and enjoy our forum.

[Aussie Brenda]

Hi Estiny, you will love your Thermomix, stay turned in to the forum for recipes and inspiration, I hardly use a cook book there are so many great recipes and ideas on here I'm finding it hard to decide what to make.

[Kimmyh]

Hello estiny and welcome. It's very exciting waiting for your Thermomix. I am not sure about the mat thingys as I don't have one. I use a cheaper silicone mat and it works fine fir rolling and cutting, etc. I also rise my bread dough in the tmx bowl.  And don't worry about your husband, we will all keep you enthusiastic

[Jamberie]

Hi estiny & welcome:)
You are certainly off to a great start with your selection of cookbooks!
I don't have a proper thermomix thermomat, I use a big (60cm x 40cm)  blue silicone mat I found on Peters of Kensington. I haven't missed having the thermomix one at all.
My one piece of advice to any new person is that once you've selected a recipe from your cookbooks to make, consult the recipe/cookbook review section here on the forum. Most of the time someone has made the recipe before and might offer crucial tips and tweaks to help make it a success for others.
Happy cooking

[estiny]

First of all, thank you to all for your suggestions and feedback. I shall make sure to check in here regularly going forward (why not?! I should technically have more time won't I?).

Secondly, thank you to Judydawn for pointing me to the blog. That is exactly the recipe I was after. I attended the cooking class thinking they will at least hand out a one-pager of the recipes introduced on that night but they didn't and this soup dish was featured in the Gluten Free cookbook, which I have no intention on getting at present. It was such a yummy soup but that could just be me being biased since I love sweet potato!

I will see if anyone else has more feedback concerning the use of the Thermomat and Bosco Baking Mat as in which is better etc. Personally, I am now wondering if I am going overboard with buying additional stuff due to my enthusiasm in getting the TMX. I had to order pizza in today and was already telling my husband I resolve to make a pizza dough once the machine is here. He just rolled his eyes... 

[CreamPuff63]

Hi Estiny, and welcome. I have a TM mat and an Ikea and they are both good. I like the TM one cos I can measure lengths/diametres  and its one that people say "wrap up in the mat blah blah" and we're all on the same page. The Ikea mat is really good too cos its cheap and it sticks to the bench which is a feature that I really love. What you can do with the TM mat you can do with the Ikea one with much of the same result - except for cook in the oven. I have never used mine in the oven, and I nearly forgot this just then.

There are so many recipes on this forum that if you really don't want to buy another cookbook you will be fine. Just try and resist the other influences IYKWIM 

BTW, when you get your TM legs we love to try the recipes you convert 

[Cornish Cream]

Hi and welcome to the forum Estiny Enjoy your cooking in your TM when it arrives

[fundj&e]

Hello estiny and welcome to the forum

[mcmich]

Welcome to the forum Estiny.
You don't need to rush into buying a lot of cookbooks as there are so many recipes and book reviews on the forum. Also you after a couple of weeks and you get confident with the machine you will be converting your own favourite recipes.

[trudy]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

[obbie]

Hi and welcome to the forum

[Deniser]

Hi Estiny and welcome to the Forum.  Cant help you with the mat either - I still use my Tupperware one but obviously don't roll bread dough in it.  However I just put my dough in an oiled bowl and wait for it to happen.  Of course you can leave it in the bowl but then I can't get on with other things - like all the wonderful recipes on the Forum.  I agree about the cookbooks - just have a look on the Forum or Google and I am sure you will come up with what you want.  When you feel comfortable with your TMX you will soon be able to convert your favourite recipes.  Must admit I don't refer to my old cookbooks much any more as I find everything I want on the Forum.
Good luck.