Thermomix in the US

[JulieLK]

Hi Everyone, I just got my Thermomix and started using it this weekend.  It's been a fun time so far, but the best feature has been how easy it is to clean.  I hated my blender and food processor because of the cleaning, but this is very easy. 

I'm so pleased about this forum and how active and helpful everyone seems to be.  Since I'm in the US and had to buy from Canada, I don't have a Thermomix representative anywhere nearby to help me, so this forum is my lifeline with issues in cooking and usage if I need help.  I can't wait to try all of the great recipes posted here.  Thank you!  Julie 

[Nay-nay]

Welcome aboard!! There are a few gals from your way around here - I'm sure they'll see this thread and let you know who they are. What do you enjoy making so far??

[Frozzie]

welcome to the forum julie...i have a consultant close by plus our local (french) forum etc etc and this place is still my 'lifeline' and go to place for all things thermie and sometimes other....everyone is great and happy to help when they can..look forward to your future posts 

[judydawn]

Hi Julie welcome to the forum.  It is difficult without support but you have come to the right place.  You only need to ask a question and someone will give you an answer. Let us know what you are cooking and how you are going with things, it's lovely to have you on board.

[Katya]

Welcome Julie.  Whereabouts in the US are you?   Nowhere near those awful tornados I hope

[JulieLK]

Thank you everyone!!!  I have already made a few things, with varying success.  Pizza dough was beautiful, but when baked was a little tough.  I plan to work on that one, because we order pizza regularly and would love to make healthier versions.  I tried to make whipped potatoes from My Way of Cooking, but the butterfly kept getting knocked off.  So, I cut the pieces smaller and tried to make the rest of the recipe, but it turned into something more like glue than potatoes.  So need to work on that.  

Drinks have been more successful.  Made some smoothies and pina colada over the weekend, was good, and the consistency was perfect.  Made some very nice fresh tomato salsa, which when spooned onto grilled baguette, made the best bruschetta my husband said he'd ever had.  

Mango ice cream from MWOC was ok, but wasn't very flavorful.  But I can't wait to try chocolate and vanilla.  

So, the machine got a lot of use this weekend and I really like it.  I need to jump in and make some soup or some other stuff in the varoma, but I'm a bit scared to cook with it.  

[JulieLK]

Hi Katya, I'm in the Northeast, nowhere near the tornadoes.  I really feel for those people.

[Frozzie]

two things with the potatoes is they have to be cut not only smallish but all the same size roughly to avoid the butterfly beingt knocked up and the glueyness would be from the type of potatoes...potato types vary from country to country but more a floury potato..here they are always marked if they are better for baking, mash, salads etc depending on the type of potato used!

Any fruit in either icecream or sorbet is best when ripe...here we often buy fruit very ripe in season and freeze it cut up in cubes ready for use...makes a whole lot of difference with the flavour and as far as mangos or any tropical fruit goes they are never great flavour wise unless grown locally...

Why are you scared to cook with teh varoma? or do you mean the thermomix in general?? Thermie doesnt bite...juste take the plunge and you will not regret it  

[Cornish Cream]

Hi Julie and welcome to the forum.

[JulieLK]

Frozzie, I think you're right about the potatoes, thank you.  I think I may have used ones better for roasting than mashing, hence the glue.  I also don't think the fruit was ripe enough, so that makes a lot of sense.  These are good things to remember for next time.  

I guess scared is not the right word.  I am actually really good in the kitchen, using pots, pans and the oven.  But I have a 19 month old daughter and am 8 months pregnant now, and I don't have the time or energy to cook like I used to.  I really had a good time this weekend seeing what I could make with the Thermomix, but I don't want to go through blown batches of food (i.e. glue mashed potatoes).  

Are there some favorite recipes that you feel are easy but taste great?  I would like to get some experience using the cooking feature successfully and leave the real experimenting for next year when things slow down and I have to time to play a little.  I don't expect perfect results.  Thank you!  

[andiesenji]

Welcome to the forum, Julie.

I too got my TM31 from Canada and have had to go it alone, but for the wonderful folks on this forum.  
(I live in southern California.)

They are incredibly generous with their time and efforts to make using the TMX as easy as possible. 

I don't use it as often as most of the members but it has been an essential for me because of my age and arthritis that has made some food difficult to prepare.  The TMX has solved those problems.

I am especially fond of risotto but because of the prolonged stirring needed to achieve the perfect result, I rarely prepared it.  With the TMX it is so easy that I have it at least once a week and usually more often.  There are so many variations and it is so versatile, that I can prepare it with a different "flavor" each time and all are good.  Of course I like rice in any of it's many manifestations but this is one of the best.

[Frozzie]

I guess scared is not the right word.  I am actually really good in the kitchen, using pots, pans and the oven.  But I have a 19 month old daughter and am 8 months pregnant now, and I don't have the time or energy to cook like I used to.  I really had a good time this weekend seeing what I could make with the Thermomix, but I don't want to go through blown batches of food (i.e. glue mashed potatoes).  

Are there some favorite recipes that you feel are easy but taste great?  I would like to get some experience using the cooking feature successfully and leave the real experimenting for next year when things slow down and I have to time to play a little.  I don't expect perfect results.  Thank you!  

ok totally understand..i have a 2 and a half year old and a 5 year old and i am zapped most days but doesnt help that hubby works very long hours and is hardly ever here but remember exactly how i felt pregnant with my youngest and a young toddler at my feet...at least you have the thermie to help out and actually there are some easy great recipes on this forum ...some I would suggest are Bafs chicken in the varoma and there are several variations, risotto as andie suggested and on the forum there are several flavours...you can start with the mushroom risotto from the oz EDC ..my only advice is to always read the comments of members as often if they gave found any problems they are corrected and it avoids errers and stuff ups etc..also Chelseas Bangers and mash in a tasty onion gravy..these are all tasty simple meals that have had great results with most members so good to get you started...not long to go now then at 8 mths...i feel for you...i really didnt like the end of my pregnancies...

There are also heaps of dips, salads etc that are lovely etc and as we are gong into summer if you come across some nice ripe fruit grab it also, chop it up in cubes and freeze it for quick tasty sorbets etc..quick tasty easy is the key until you havre the energy and time to play aroudn a bit!...hope this helps a little 

[knittercook]

I cannot believe that someone in the US hasn't started selling them?  I am thinking that it is a business venture just waiting to happen ??

[judydawn]

Julie, below are some links which may be of interest to you as a newcomer.
Suggestions for first meals
Ideas for first use of the varoma
Forum members top 10 recipes
Mango Kulfi - my favourite icecream


With the mashing of the potatoes, are you overbeating perhaps. I don't add the parmesan cheese, just a knob of butter, a splash of milk (check after a few seconds to see if you need more, less is best to start with) and I find 10 seconds is all that is needed and of course, you can only use speed 4 with the butterfly in place or you could end up with bits of black plastic amongst your mash.

Have a go of some of the recipes on the forum, we have quite a few with many reviews which prove they are as delicious as they look and sound. It all takes time, I'm sure no-one was slower than me getting off the ground with mine but your confidence grows the more you use it and if there are a few failures along the way, that is perfectly normal too.

[Decadent Dot]

I don't use it as often as most of the members but it has been an essential for me because of my age and arthritis that has made some food difficult to prepare.  The TMX has solved those problems.

 

I wondered if you have tried Arthritis and herbal soup.  I do have a recipe for this.
Of course it won't cure it but it can't do any harm to try.

Dot