Getting my TM tomorrow, what should i cook for dinner??

[Ladds]

Hi, I'm very excited to be getting my TM tomorrow. Now all i have to do is decide what i will cook using it for the very first time!!! this forum is the place to start!

One question i have is when using the varoma, how long does it take to actually get the steaming process to begin. I currently have a steam oven which takes about 2 - 3 mins to steam up before the clock starts ticking.

Thanks and look forward to chatting to you all! 

[Karen Joy]

Hi Ladds,

Like you, I'm just new here and I'm also waiting for my TM. I dont exactly have a date as to when it will be delivered but I was told it will be within three weeks! oufff! so long! So, while waiting, i've been searching the internet for recipes and I found hundreds! Perhaps you can browse for some and prepare the ingredients ahead :-)

I wish you good luck in your first (and more) dish using the TM!

KD

(sorry, I cannot answer your question about the varoma yet :-) )

[judydawn]

Hi Ladds, welcome to the forum.  We seem to have a rush with new members joining tonight.  If I am just cooking vegies in the varoma and rice or potatoes in the basket, I pour boiling water into the TM bowl to get things moving faster but if you are cooking an all-in-one meal from that section here on this forum, the times are all laid out for you as to when to put the meat and vegies in.  Sorry if I haven't answered your question, someone else may know the times it takes, I don't really take much notice of how long it takes a sauce for example to reach steaming point.

[Frozzie]

hi ladds and welcome to the forum..re teh varoma it doesnt matter how long it takes as all recipes take that into account but does take a couple of minutes to get steaming but if you are doing like JD mentioned your own kind of meal or bits and pieces then perhaps yes put boiling water to hurry up the process and overall cooking time but dont now exactly how much time it takes...most recipes state the cooking times which include the heating up until steaming including all the conversions...maybe one of the consultants will have a better response regarding actual time from their training...its kind of a see as you go kind of process when doing your own thing..

[thermoheaven]

From the sounds of things, the steam oven sounds faster, but I'd be incline to use the varoma when you have a smaller quantity to cook because it is more energy effiecient.

[judydawn]

Yes, my DD uses her steam oven in preference to the TMX - why wouldn't you when you have paid to have one installed.  They apparently cook the vegies more evenly too but having said that, I love my varoma and am very happy with what it does for us. We have members with large families who can fit enough into the varoma dish/tray to feed everyone so you may be surprised at how much you can actually fit in there.  You will soon work out for yourself your preferred appliance for steaming.

[dede]

Hi to the new members,
I have a family of 7, tonight I cooked a roast Pork in my Turbo Oven and steamed all the veggies in the TM. I figure the TM uses a lot less power than using my stove top of which I would need to use all 4 plates. I place the Potatoes in the basket and fill the Varoma with the rest of the Veggies. I quiet often do this depending what we are having. Even when I'm cooking the main dish in the TM I will throw that in the Thermoserve when cooked and then throw the veggies in the TM to steam after that, I don't use the stove top much at all these days. It all takes time to work out but you soon get the hang of it. I have only Had my TM for 5 Months.

[Katya]

I think the length of time the Varoma takes to come up to steam depends on the amount of water you add and how cold the water is (ie probably takes longer in winter than in summer).

I did asparagus last night (first of our new season of English asparagus, YUM!) and I think it took about 3.5 minutes to reach temperature with 500 ml water but our tap water is pretty cold.

[Cornish Cream]

Hi and welcome to the Forum Ladds.How exciting for you getting your TM and having fun cooking for the first time.

[rostess]

the first thing i cooked was the pasta with tuna from EDC and it was really easy and really yummy.  My Dad had dropped in and couldn't stay long so I had 30 minutes to cook dinner in a machine I'd never used before, while also bathing the baby, and it turned out beautifully.

[Cuilidh]

Gosh Rostess - talk about the bravery of multi-tasking whilst using a brand new appliance!  Well done.  The TMX does make it so very much easier, doesn't it.

[rostess]

It sure does.  It feels like no effort at all now to whip up some bread, whereas before it would have consumed the whole afternoon.  Motherhood makes you a very efficient multi-tasker as I'm discovering!

[TM_Ted]

Welcome Rostess, Pasta with Tuna was one of our first dishes as well. Our 2 1/2 yo grandson loves it, so we always have some in the freezer for when he visits, and we always send some home with his parents.

Over time we have made one or 2 changes to try and make it like the Tuna Mornay MIL used to make.

I have attempted to attach a copy of our recipe, hope it works as I have not attached anything to a posting here before.

We have just got into TMX bread, it is so easy I can't believe it. Who would want to buy a bread machine that takes 4 hours?

[TM_Ted]

Apologies, that should have been welcome Ladds.

[judydawn]

I found the original recipe in the 2008 book way too bland, don't know if they have added things to it in later additions to improve it but it definitely needed something.  Ayla put out a recipe very similar to this one Ted here