Author Topic: Hello from London!  (Read 10250 times)

Offline Brunette

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Hello from London!
« on: May 22, 2011, 08:35:48 am »
hello everyone

I've been impatiently waiting for my account to be approved so i could log in and say hello to you all.

I seem to be one of your few members in the UK - not much seems to be known about TMXs here but I have Italian heritage (both parents) so  know all about them. I have yet to have a demo and got my machine direct. Are there any other UK members?

I am a new TMX owner and have had my TMX for 4 days. So far I have made a tomato sauce (for pasta), a cheese sauce and steamed veggies (in the Varoma), the steamed garlic rice, and some pineapple sorbet.

I have lots of questions - esp re chopping vegetables - is it possible to get a 'dice' sort of chop - I keep turning mine to mush! Also I'd like to try and grate carrots and courgettes (zucchini) and not having much luck with that either!

can't wait to get involved with you all!




Offline Katya

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2011, 08:47:57 am »
Hi Brunette.  It's good to welcome another UK TMX user to the Forum - I am from Sheffield.  You are right in that there are very few UK members on here, but it's the quality rather than the quantity that counts  ;) ;)

I think the machine is beginning to take off over here, given that the UK Thermomix HQ has now moved to purpose-built offices and they seem to be ramping up their advertising for new consultants.

I don't think it's possible to get perfect dice in the machine.   To avoid mush, you definitely need to use much less time than specified in most recipes - for example, I chop my onions only for a few seconds on speed 5.   I think it takes  a bit of experimentation to get familiar with the machine and find out what works for you, but the best thing is to only chop for a few seconds at a time and then check how it is, before doing a few more seconds if needed.   

The same applies for grating - my instinct is to cut carrots smaller than recommended and again only whizz for a few seconds and then move them around a bit with a spatula before having another whizz.

I'm sure others will offer more helpful suggestions as well.  This is a great place to go to for support when first using your machine - everyone is very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.

Happy cooking  :D :D

Offline Brunette

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2011, 08:58:37 am »
Hi Katya!

thank you for the lovely welcome - I will do some experimenting with the veggies - I hate chopping and grating so hoping the TMX will take me away from all that!

will keep you all posted on my trials - risotto tonight I think

Offline Katya

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2011, 09:05:14 am »
Good luck with the risotto - I think that's where this lovely machine really comes into its own.   What version are you doing?

Offline Cornish Cream

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2011, 09:14:50 am »
Hi Brunette and welcome to the forum from another UK member.You have joined a wonderful, helpful and friendly forum who will answer any questions you have :)
Denise...Buckinghamshire,U.K.
Don't cry over the past,it's gone.Don't stress about the future,it hasn't arrived.Live in the present and make it beautiful.

Offline johnro

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2011, 09:22:17 am »
Hi Brunette and welcome to the forum and the world of TMX.  It is lovely to have another member form another time zone - I can always be assured there will be someone online during my insomniac moments - usually Frozzie or the 2 lovelies you have already 'met', Katya and CC.  As Katya mentioned your queries will definitely be answered on here, looking forward to hearing of your TMX adventures.  Cheers  :)  :)
Robyn from Rockhampton, Qld  :)

I used to have a handle on life, then it broke.

Offline knittercook

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2011, 09:48:16 am »
Hi Brunette,

like you I have only had my TMX 4 days! and you have already used your Varoma  :o Well done!!! 

Sharon  :)
Seize the moment.  Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.  ~Erma Bombeck

my blog http://shazknit.blogspot.com

Offline judydawn

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2011, 09:57:08 am »
Hi Brunette, welcome to the forum.  We have a few girls in the UK on the forum, you have met both Katya and CC and one of our moderators is also one of you (CarolineW).  I have just welcomed another new member, Decadent Dot so membership is slowly growing in the UK. There are probably even more and I'm sure they will also say hello.  It isn't hard to learn how long to chop your vegies without turning it to mash, as Katya said, a few seconds at a time and check again.  You can always add time but once it is mush, it stays mush  ;D ;D We don't waste mush though, we use it for soup.  Dice - not possible but it would be nice if it was. 
« Last Edit: May 22, 2011, 09:59:47 am by judydawn »
Judy from North Haven, South Australia

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Offline Nik2WIN

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2011, 11:37:26 am »
Helloooooo

I'm in the UK too.  I'm in Hook, about an hour from London, but I only moved here a week ago so am still getting organised and currently not too active on the forum.

I think I've had mine about 6 months. ( Actually I'm giving some serious thought to becoming a demonstrator ....)  I love to cook and bake and so far I've made better bread in the TMX than in a breadmaker or the Kenwood Chef.  You will seriously get the hang of it really quickly and wonder how you did without it.  I have 3 children and they LOVE macaroni cheese - a bit of a fag to make "by hand" - I used to bulk make the cheese sauce and then freeze it now its even simpler to make in the TMX than to defrost in the microwave.

I've made fab biscuits and cakes - TMX scones are the quickest thing ever!

Nik
Hampshire based independent Thermomix demonstrator.
Thermomix user since October 2010

Offline Brunette

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2011, 06:48:39 pm »
Hi Everyone

thank you for the lovely warm welcome - good to know there are other UK users here too!

Tonight I am making lentil soup in the TMX - it's on the go at the moment - we had a big lunch so the risotto is on hold until tomorrow night (pancetta and mushroom flavour).

Cheese sauce is my biggest win to date - my little boy loves macaroni cheese

will keep you posted

Offline Brunette

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2011, 06:50:34 pm »
ps i'm not sure what the received wisdom is about having the MC in or out during cooking - any tips?

Offline Cornish Cream

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2011, 07:15:34 pm »
ps i'm not sure what the received wisdom is about having the MC in or out during cooking - any tips?
I always cook with my MC on unless a recipe states for it to be off.Also I take it off if I want say a tomato sauce to reduce then I put the basket over the hole,stops the sauce splashing over my kitchen counter but let's the steam evaporate. You leave it out when the butterfly is in place when making meringue because you need the air to be incorporated with the egg whites.
Denise...Buckinghamshire,U.K.
Don't cry over the past,it's gone.Don't stress about the future,it hasn't arrived.Live in the present and make it beautiful.

Offline Brunette

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #12 on: May 22, 2011, 07:50:43 pm »
perfect. thank you

Offline CarolineW

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #13 on: May 22, 2011, 08:32:50 pm »
Hi Brunette, and welcome.  I'm in South East London.  I looove my Thermomix - but no, I'm afraid dicing is out.  Finely chopped is easy, though - as is grating.  I do it on auto pilot now (mainly by the sound/feel) so I'm not very helpful in telling you how to do it.  I'll try to take notice of what I do next time.  But like others have said, less is definitely more in this case.  Have a look, then see if you need to do it for any longer.

Are you North or South of the river, by the way?
As my picture shows, I've suddenly become younger :-)  DD was of the opinion that her picture should be here, not mine!

Offline Brunette

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Re: Hello from London!
« Reply #14 on: May 22, 2011, 08:43:22 pm »
Hi Caroline - North of the river - almost as far north as you can go before it stops being London! You?