Another UK newbie

[Eloquy]

Hi everyone
Just bought a TM21 on ebay and am picking it up on Saturday. Sooo excited - I can't wait.

A friend in Germany told me about hers a couple of weeks ago. I did some internet research and Wow! I couldn't believe how wonderful they sounded. This is going to be a real help for me. My children are so picky - one won't touch potato (at all, not even crisps!) but the other isn't keen on pasta. One loves spicy food but the other likes very traditional stuff. Trying to juggle mealtimes so that everyone gets at least something they can eat has become a real chore.

Even just thinking about my new thermomix is making me feel excited about cooking again! I am sure I will have lots of questions (I haven't even seen a real demo) - but just wanted to start by saying hello.

[judydawn]

Hi Eloquy, welcome to the forum. Meal time sounds a bit of a chore in your house so hopefully the TMX will be a help in this regard.  We have a few people who own the TM21 model so if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Here is one link that may be of interest to you.  Not long to wait.
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=109.0

[Cornish Cream]

Hi and welcome to the forum Eloquy.How exciting for you to be receiving your TM on Saturday,you certainly will  have fun cooking.Where abouts in the UK do you live? I live in Bucks.

[Decadent Dot]

Hello and welcome Eloquy,
I'm glad that you are on here. It is an exciting though frustrating wait. have you bought in your ingredients for a few recipes yet. I am always willing to help with your TM21. There are plenty of others too to give you lots of ideas on getting over the childrens little quirks. I told my three children that they were only allowed one "don,t like" so to choose very carefully. The eldest was difficult because he chose butter that could be seen. I noticed that he was fine with cakes though! My daughter chose baked beans and my younger son chose tomatoes. They are fast aproaching 5o years and strangely they still dislike their chosen "don,t like"  but have never added another one on. Perhaps it is because I only allowed them one.
regards, Dot

[Eloquy]

Thanks to you all for the welcome.

Thanks for the link Judy. That's really helpful.

CornishCream - I am in Nofolk! I wonder if there are any other Thermomixs here?

DecadentDot - What a great approach to take with your children. I have some ingredients for soup (leek and butterbean!) and bread (I usually make my own anyway so looking forward to having the dough mixed for me!). I have promised to pick up a big bag of ice before it comes so we can try making ice cream or sorbet. Thank you so much for upgrading your machine so that I can play with your old one! Try to keep it safe for me until Saturday!

[CreamPuff63]

Eloquy, I never take into consideration what my kids like. I cook what I like, and they help me only when I have hit a brick wall and ask for suggestions. Our kids think food is important and I am teaching them this as they grow and they are wanting to know how to prepare the recipes as they are thinking of leaving home soon (thank goodness - oldest is DD23, then DD21, then DS19). There is no pressure at all to eat what is cooked, but when they were growing up they were never allowed anything before or after dinner (that would serve as a meal replacement ie. bread, biscuits, snacks etc). When they were babies I pureed what we ate for dinner, and when they were toddlers I only put like 2 teaspoons of each food on their plate ie. 2 tspn mashed potatoe, 2 tspn peas, 2 tspn meat etc - and in that way they would not be overwhelmed by not being able to eat the food, they could always have more if they wanted. If they wanted something "bad" they had to eat something good first ie. eat an apple, and then you can have a biscuit.

I have never understood parents who allow their kids to eat as much as they like from a box of biscuits "because at least they are eating something". Just don't give them the biscuits, and pretty soon when starvation kicks in they will eat the food you put in front of them.

My kids don't like takeaway, although they have been exposed to it but after a while they refused it (and still do, I could be accused of being the "naughty one"  ). They really look forward to meal times, and are very health conscious, and quite often call me to see what is for tea before making plans for the  night because they know our food is very wholesome and they can eat better at home. They have all helped me critique my favourites list.  I believe if you "ban" something, they will only want it more. Make a fuss about something, and they will only wonder what all the fuss is about. I am trying to involve them as much as possible to prepare them for moving out of home soon, and getting them to make TM and traditionally cooked meals. What we cook at home, most people would not even consider doing.

(NB: okay okay they should help me more cos I work full time , and sometimes they do (mainly the eldest and definitely not DS) but with teenagers its a very slow process in the Help Department I think)

[knittercook]

Hi and welcome Eloquy 

One of the main reasons I wanted a TMX was because my DH is a meat, potato and veg guy whereas the rest of us really enjoy pasta and soups etc. so I was quite often making seperate meals (all those dishes to wash up!) whereas now I can cook a nice pasta dish or soup in TMX and only have one extra pot to wash, and it does that itself LOL! 

You will be amazed how easy it is to make lovely meals for your family, enjoy!

Sharon

[Carine]

Welcome Eloquy!  I'm sure you'll enjoy your TMX!
Mothers always worry about what their children eat- pretty natural    I've always cooked the same meal for everyone, except when my boys were babies and with the exception of curries (the spicy version for hubby and I). My boys are now 12 and 10 and enjoying their food with the occasional time in the kitchen cooking a meal.  Of course they both love our TMX!  I'm sure your kids will discover new recipes thanks to your new kitchen helper.  Have fun together!

[Eloquy]

Thanks everyone. Sharon, that is exactly it. They both love totally opposite types of food.

I have a question.
When you first got your Thermomix did you start by adapting recipes you already knew how to make - or stick with the cookbook? It seems like it would be easier to  make things I know but i don't want to just stick there -  I want to make sure I am taking full advantage of it. But I am worried that getting to grips with it AND trying new recipes might be too much.

What do you think?
Eloquy

[trudy]

Welcome to the forum.

[knittercook]

Eloquy I have only had my TMX a short while so am still a newbie so stick to mainly recipes from the cookbooks and here, but the best thing to do would be to search for your favourite recipe and I am sure you will find similar and someone has already done all the converting for you.

I am sure that others have jumped right in though and used their own.

Sharon

[cookie1]

Welcome Eloquy. I'd stick to recipes from here and others from the book. (check for alterations). I take it you have bought Decadent Dot's machine. Good luck with your new experiences.

[Eloquy]

Thank you both for your advice. I will stick to book/forum recipes to start with.

best wishes, Eloquy

[Katya]

Welcome to another UK user Eloquy - great to have you on board.

I echo what everyone else says - I think it's better to use recipes from here or from the Thermomix books to begin with as it will take you a while to get familiar with the various ways you can use your machine.   Once you've grown in confidence, it's then a lot easier to adapt your own recipes.

[Decadent Dot]

  There is no pressure at all to eat what is cooked, but when they were growing up they were never allowed anything before or after dinner (that would serve as a meal replacement ie. bread, biscuits, snacks etc). 

You have a good point cream puff. A la Carte is great in a restaurant but it is not a good choice in a domestic kitchen with just one voluntary chef. I  told my children that I only do table d'hote and I choose the menu.  It goes without saying though that I want to prepare meals that my family enjoy.
Dot