Me and my Thermo

[Decadent Dot]

Hi everyone. I am English and living in England. I have called myself decadent because I have had a Thermomix for over 2-1/2 decades.  I have updated along the way of course and currently use a TM21 and have thought of moving on to the TM31 for years. I have held off because I keep getting an eerie feeling that an even newer model is on the way and I know that I would want the latest plus my TM21 is still doing a great job.  Having been married to a chef,  you would be forgiven in thinking that I had my meals prepared for me but that was not the case. We had hotels and restaurants and even a motel in Queensland. Sadly my husband died and now I live alone. I told myself that I don't need such an expensive toy just for me but actually, I use it every day and most meals. Today I am making curried carrot and celery soup and hummus and 5 Seed bread….and that is just for lunch! I plan my week ahead using  a terrific food software program that I have, that way I am never without the ingredients I need and I can control my diet (well I try not to sabotage the diet)  I just love this machine. It is like playing an exciting game that I never tire of winning.

[salval]

Hi Dot!! Wow I can't believe you've had a TMX for so long.. And that you still use it every day. If that's not proof about how wonderful it is, I don't know what is. What a great advertisement you are!

Sounds like you've got a great eating & menu plan happening.

Karen

[pandateddy]

Hi,
 What is the name of the software that you have that helps you with the meal planning? I would be interested to find out about it. Thanks

[foodiepep]

Me and my Thermo is't it mean't to be....'My Thermie and I'......?
 

[Decadent Dot]

Me and my Thermo is't it mean't to be....'My Thermie and I'......?
 

Absolutely true Foodiepep but here I am using colloquial English or you can call it friendly conversational slang.

[Decadent Dot]

Hello pandateddy,
The software is called Diet Pro. Made by Radium Technologies. It costs $65 US. You can download a trial albeit a short trial. (I have no affiliation with this software, I just enjoy using it) There is a forum to look at too.
http://www.dietpro.net/demo/priceit.htm
Here are some of the things I use it for:
1.   I plan my week’s meals ahead. I can follow any diet I choose because each recipe lists the nutritional values. Supposing I am a weight Watcher, I can at a glance say how many weight watchers points are consumed that day and increase or decrease them as required.
2.   Plan a weight goal over a period of time. It will tell you how many calories you need to consume to reach the goal. Every recipe will list its calorie value and much more besides. Example: Diabetics will find it a boon.
3.   It will even tell you how much water you should drink.
4.   It will follow an exercise plan telling you how many points to add with each exercise that you did. Example mow the lawn for 60 minutes and it will tell you how many calories you used.
5.   You can include photographs and reports to analyse your progress.
6.   Copy and paste any recipe I see on the net that I like (no typing required)
7.   I can design my shopping list into isles of my favourite store and so avoid looking at items that are not on my grocery list. Just walk the isles and tick   off on the list.  As I live in a tiny village with no shops, I need to be sure not to forget anything.
8.   Keep separate cookery books. My favourite is my Thermomix book.
9.   Share any recipes or even books with other Diet pro owners by e-mail.
10.   I can detail the ingredients that I have in stock and Diet Pro will deduct them as I use them and then only top up what is needed on my grocery list. 
11.   I copy the recipe into a shopping list on the program. (It lists the recipes I am making on the shopping list as well ) It adds up the ingredients of several recipes and it then takes off anything that I have in stock. It also prices up the shopping list.
12.   Left overs. ! No problem, it will search for any recipe containing that ingredient.
13.   It will also search for any recipes that you want to find quickly by asking it to search out descriptive recipes example: “Thermomix” or “breakfast.” Or “any recipe with over 5 grams of fibre” or “recipes that take  only 30 mins to complete”
P.S. Sorry for writing such a long reply

[Cornish Cream]

Hi and welcome to the forum Decadent Dot.With your experience of the TM for 25 years you will be able to give us some great advice and probably some great recipes to try.

[Decadent Dot]

Hello Karen,
Some people might say thatI spend rather too much time, money and effort where the Thermomix is conserned. I do love machinery and gadgets though.
An Apple ipad would be a great way to have a recipe book where you want it to be. In the kitchen, at the shop or taken to share with friends. No more printing or searching. Should I buy one or should I upgrade my TM21 to aTM31? What do you Thermies think?

Dot

[johnro]

Hi Decadent Dot and welcome to the forum. What a wealth of experience you bring to this forum, so pleased that you have joined us.  BTW an ipad is very handy to have on the recipe stand - so much easier than the laptop!!!!! Cheers -    

[Decadent Dot]

Thank you for your welcome Cornish Cream.
I have to tell you that I have never had a fault on any of my machines in those 25 years which I think is really good. I will of course be happy to get involved. I am reading various bits of the forum and getting into the spirit of it.
Dot

[Decadent Dot]

Thank you Johnro. But is an ipad a better spend than upgrading to a TM31?  That is the big question.
Dot

[knittercook]

Me and my Thermo is't it mean't to be....'My Thermie and I'......?
 

Nah!! Me and me Thermie (insert a real Aussie accent) 

Welcome Decadent Dot and wow what a wealth of experience you have to share with us, so great to have you on board 

Sharon

[judydawn]

Hi Decadent Dot, welcome to the forum.  If you are quite happy with your TM21 why bother upgrading just yet.  I'd wait until the next model comes out - goodness knows when that is but you'd be spitting chips if it came out just after you upgraded. Obviously the TM31 is better than the TM21 but it is just you to cook for and you don't seem to be having any problems or needs.  It was lovely to read your first posting - a very satisfied customer indeed.  Enjoy your time on here, it is a great place to be.

[Katya]

It's a tough choice between iPad and TM31.   I think I  agree with the others.  Why bother to upgrade to the TM31 as you seem to be happy with the TM21.    And the iPad will expand your horizons in a way that the TM31 probably won't....

I guess the only thing you have to ask yourself is what would you do if (heaven forbid!) the TM21 gave up the ghost.   An iPad wouldn't really help with the cooking at that point 

[Nik2WIN]

Hi Decadent Dot, I'm also in England so a great big welcome from me.

I'm on the side of an ipad.  I would LOVE one but I just can't justify the spend for something that I know I would mostly use for recipes and cooking!  Every time I use a recipe I've downloaded I wish I had an ipad but I have a mac and an iphone (3gs not 4) and my lust for gadgets is getting out of control.

I love that you use your TMX every day still.  I've almost always cooked from scratch even if it was just for myself, although mostly did it the long way as its only been Me and My Thermo for around 6 months.  I have 3 boys and they have a real interest in cooking probably because my kitchen is gadget city!

I love your dietpro program and am off to investigate (I follow weight watchers )

Thanks for sharing and great to "meet" you

Nik xx