Cooking for Two?

[fujicat707]

Hello Everyone, 
I am new to the Forum and like some other newbies, I am still in process of making decision to purchase a TM. 
Having found this forum has helped me greatly, I have even tried some of the recipes WITHOUT having a TM!. There are lovely people on here, with a host of great recipes.

My biggest concern is I am not a big fan of the kitchen e.g. I like my cooking to be over and done with fast, I do not make fancy things like cakes biscuits sauces etc, just the basics of human existence (food-wise). I am hoping a TM may rekindle the joy of being in the kitchen, making it fun? Also being able to produce food without preservatives is very attractive, and I DO love shiney new technology with lots of buttons ... hmmm .... the dilemma!?

Other concern is being just a family of two (me & husband) so am not sure I would get value from the TM given the financial outlay.  However the technology is so appealing I cant put it out of my mind!   I must say the fact that there are very few available second hand speaks for itself, not many people are letting them go. 

Anyhows, I hope you dont mind me lurking around here whilst I make my decision, hopefully in future I can contribute some useful postings!

Anyone else out there cooking for just two on a TM?

warm regards,
fujicat707 Brisbane

[judydawn]

Hello fujicat707, welcome to the forum.  Enjoy your browse on here but be prepared for the fact that you will probably be convinced to buy a TMX within a very short time.  There are many of us with just 2 in the family as well as those who have never enjoyed cooking.  This machine is just the thing to change their thinking - if you can enjoy cooking you will cook more and if you can't eat all the food you produce (just because you can) then you can share it with others.  Some things make great presents for Christmas hampers and there are lots of us that do that every year - homemade sauces, relishes, jams, chocolate treats, biscuits, curry powders & pastes, you name it and we can usually make it in our Thermomix.  My freezer always has something I can grab out when I am too busy to cook or late home as I normally make a meal for 4 and freeze the leftovers which means sometimes I can not have to cook for a week or more if I don't feel like it.  You say you love technology with lots of buttons and we have just that so you would absolutely love this machine.  Enjoy your time on the forum, it is great as it is a very sociable place to hang out.

[cookie1]

Welcome fujicat707. I cook for 3 but DD eats like a bird and I try to take small servings so it is really cooking for 2½. I very often halve recipes or if I make the full amount I do the same as Judy and freeze some for meals later. It isn't hard to cook for 2 at all. I take my machine on holidays with me and then there is only 2 of us. It is so quick to cook with and ever so easy. For rice, pasta etc you will only cook the amount you can eat. eg I only ever cook 100g rice for 3 of us and never more than 200g pasta. (that is usually too much)

Reading through the forum you will have come across people who don't like cooking but have found their TMX to be a real help.

[Katya]

Hi fujicat707.  I'm another one of those where there are just 2 of us in the house.   As I've mentioned elsewhere, I find the TMX has rekindled my interest in cooking and we eat a much greater variety of meals than we used to because it is such fun to try new recipes (and there are so many good recipes out there to try). 

It is much less effort to cook using the machine so cooking isn't a chore any more.  And the machine works just as well at cooking half quantities as it does the full amount.   As Judy does, I sometimes cook meals for 4 and freeze half so we very very rarely (in fact I can't remember when we last did) buy ready meals any more.

An additional advantage of using the Thermomix is there's much less washing up to do and you can clear up as you go along as there is usually a period where the machine is doing all the work so you are free to do other things.

As you can tell I'm a happy convert - it is a huge decision to make but I'm sure it's one you won't regret if you do go ahead and buy one, especially with all the brilliant support you can get on here

[fujicat707]

An additional advantage of using the Thermomix is there's much less washing up to do and you can clear up as you go along as there is usually a period where the machine is doing all the work so you are free to do other things.

My husband will be pleased with this, as he is my "kitchen fairy" - we have a deal, I do the cooking and he cleans up the kitchen ... a rare breed of man indeed!  I have just booked in for a TM basics cooking class at Carina at the end of the month, so hopefully can get a little more inspiration from that. 

[fujicat707]

And the machine works just as well at cooking half quantities as it does the full amount. 

Is there an easy formula to use when halving recipes in the TM, in particular cook times?

[judydawn]

Enjoy your basic class fujicat707.  Our Everyday Cookbook says to halve a recipe you cut processing or cooking time by 20%. I've never taken much notice of that, I just go with my gut feeling and do the taste test when I think it might be cooked.

[Debbiebillg]

Where abouts in Brisbane ? I'm in Eight Mile Plains.  If you get a TMX, you'll love it. It makes cooking fun. You'll make things you never dreamed you'd make, just because you can and because you don't end up with a hell of a mess to clean up afterwards ! Good luck with your decision.
Debbie

[achookwoman]

Fujicat 707, 2 here also,  no problem.  But the most important thing to me is that it is great fun.

[Katya]

And the machine works just as well at cooking half quantities as it does the full amount. 

Is there an easy formula to use when halving recipes in the TM, in particular cook times?

I haven't come across one I'm afraid - I tend to use my instinct.   For a lot of things time isn't too critical but where it is, for example for risotto, I will use less time and check if it's ready and if not will cook for a bit longer. 

[Cornish Cream]

Good luck with your basic cooking class fujicat707 in Carina, is your DH going with you?Many men are very impressed with what the TM can make,he would also love how quick the TM is to clean.

[faffa_70]

And the machine works just as well at cooking half quantities as it does the full amount. 

Is there an easy formula to use when halving recipes in the TM, in particular cook times?

I haven't come across one I'm afraid - I tend to use my instinct.   For a lot of things time isn't too critical but where it is, for example for risotto, I will use less time and check if it's ready and if not will cook for a bit longer. 

The general rule of thumb if you are halving or doubling a recipe is to reduce or add your time by 20% as JD said. It is also only the general rule of thumb lol I generally use it but check as it is getting close to time - though it would be rare (if ever!!) that I have halved a recipe 

[fujicat707]

Good luck with your basic cooking class fujicat707 in Carina, is your DH going with you?Many men are very impressed with what the TM can make,he would also love how quick the TM is to clean.

Thanks Cornish Cream, DH is the kitchen cleaner , I am the cook ... Think he would rather pull his teeth out than go to a cooking class! But i am sure he will use it if I go ahead with a purchase in the near future.  I am also flying down to visit my brother in Melb next week.  They have a TM so will get to have a play!

[Cuilidh]

Hi fujicat707.  Just two in our household as well and I was not really an inspired cook before.  Now I make all sorts of things I would never have even attempted before and I often simply make things for the fun of it and because I can - especially those tasty, delicious, fattening sweet recipes that I have grown to love - I just make them, eat one (after all, I do HAVE to try it to make sure it is edible), then give the rest away.

[johnro]

Hi fujicat707 and a belated welcome to this forum - it is such a wonderful resource especially in this time of your decision making.  Just two in our household but I would prefer to be without any other appliance over thermie - it is used daily sometimes on multiple occasions.  Cheers