Help with Main Meals

[Brumington]

OK, I feel like I'm probably writing this too early into my TMX'ing but I really need some help with my main meals.
I'm loving the TMX for drinks, ice cream, breads (oh my, the breads!) but I'm finding the main meals I've made a bit 'blah' to tell you the truth.  I've made....
Tikka Paste and Butter Chicken (lovely flavours but way too hot - not really a Butter Chicken mildness)
Chicken Strogonoff
Bacon, Tomato and Onion Risotto
Broccoli and Cheese Soup (super yummy!!!!!!!!!)
Ummmm? Can't remember what else...
I'm finding everything way too saucy and a little bit bland - visually and taste wise.  Do you think my stock concentrate is a bit bland?  Am I being too conservative with it?  I read that it's too salty so have reduced the amount specified in recipes but am I reducing it too much?  When it asks for three spoons I'm putting in one.  I've heard of the miracle that is Teninas Garlic Paste.  Do you think I should invest in her cookbook so that I have more recipes to hand?
I'm just so worried I'll lose my enthusiasm if I can't improve my mains.
Sorry in advance if I've offended anyone if any of the above recipes are theirs!  I know it's a problem with me and not the recipes cause the reviews don't lie!

[obbie]

A great list of yummy recipes that work is
CP63 favorite recipes so far.Go back 4 pages in chit chat.

Hope this helps,

Robyn

[Halex]

Oh you poor love. Dont despair, when I first used my TM, I thought wow these are all bland & not very interesting at all. In my opinion there is not much in the edc (book that comes with TM) worth making. I would use less  than 10 recipes.

There are great recipes on here & other wbsite, read peoples tweaks & adjust to suit your flavour.

We like edc Beef Rendang, bechamel sauce, rice cooking, foccacia, garlic & herb dip, pasta dough, shortcrust pastry, anzac cookies,  mmmm thats about it.

Try some of the forums recipes. Yes Tenninas book is great.

H

[dede]

Brum maybe you need to add extra flavor to keep your taste buds happy. Do you like spicy foods? With stronger flavors.  If so then you will love Tenina's book from all that I have read about it.
Maybe where recipes say 1 or 2 tsp etc you should add 2. Don't hold back on the ingredient as they are important to add extra flavor. Some recipes I will cut back a bit on spices as my kids won't eat it if it's to spicy, but others I add extra to give it that extra zing
I think it's a bit of trial and error to get the right flavor to suit your needs.

[Brumington]

Thank you! I think perhaps I'm following recipes a bit too closely whereas before I would ad lib and add much more flavors to my cooking. I'm going to try the honey mustard chicken tonight and really heap in the flavourings. Like you dede I have two young kids so am quite conservative with the spices. Perhaps adding more garlic and onion at the start of the recipe will help me.  I suppose I just need to find my confidence and tell myself that the ingredients are the same as what I usually use but the method is different. I kind of wrote this post cause I know you are all so enthusiastic and supportive and I was hoping for some of that to rub off on me! LOL! I just felt a bit disheartened I suppose when I read how beautiful a meal had turned out for somebody else why I wasn't finding the same. I know I'll improve and you can all point a finger at me and say 'I told you so'! You have my permission!

[deedub]

Have you tried tikka masala with your tikka paste? Really easy and the yoghurt makes it mild enough for kids - mine love it. What about quiche? Some good recipes on here, also risottos. Good luck with it, I've had a few misses as well as hits with main meals. I tend to rely on this forum more than the EDC for recipes.

[fundj&e]

 do u taste your meal while its cooking Brumington u can always add more flovor while it cooking,  tomato paste, salt , pepper , herbs, chilli and garlic, just to name a few.

[cookie1]

With your vegie stock use 1large teaspoon to about 250ml of liquid. Don't add any extra salt.

I guess it is just a matter of trying recipes and adjusting them to suit you. Try some of the more popular ones on the forum and read all the posts about them. Have you tried Baf's Chicken dish?  This has a nice sauce to go over the chicken and vegies and lots of alternatives too.
Let us know what you have tried and how you would like to change them and perhaps we can help.

[Brumington]

Thank you all.  Baf's recipe is on my list to be done. It sounds very promising.  I might give the chicken tikka a shot in the next couple of days too.  Fundj, how mad is it that I haven't tasted as I've been cooking and yet this is the norm with my pre TMX cooking.    So obvious, and yet I needed it pointed out to me! Confidence is the key! I'll let you know how my honey mustard chicken goes tonight.

[desi]

Hi Brum,

I had the same problems when I first started using my TM. I was used to cooking Mediterranean meals and at first I wasn't getting the same flavours. Very soon I started experimenting and use the recipes as a guide only. Since then I have been very happy with the results. I guess the TM takes awhile to get used to and the EDC book basically has to cover everyones tastes.

Please don't get disheartened and with the help of this forum you will be an expert soon.
 

[judydawn]

Also, I think our casserole type meals taste better if left for a day Brumington.  If you are finding the recipes have too much sauce, reduce the liquid and see if you are happier or alternatively, serve with a slotted spoon then just pour over as much sauce as you want. The leftovers are then handy to freeze for an instant sauce for a roast or something later.  If you are finding recipes bland then just add the flavours you like which is the same as those of us who find some recipes too hot and spicy and have to remove some of the spices.  Have you tried bangers & mash, an ordinary meal but very tasty. Peanut chicken is another good one.

[mcmich]

Teninas recipe for umami paste is another way to fix bland meals. It's easy to make and in Teninas own words has saved many a meal.

[haybray]

Hi Brum
I also would love some more ideas for simple main meals. I have 3 boys and they are quite fussy so I just make basic things. Here are my favourites
EDC
Creamy Tomato & Salami Fettucine ( I use  cooked diced chicken instead of Salami)
Lasagne
Spaghetti Bog using Bolognaise sauce ( I omit the red wine and pancetta)
Veal Pizzaiola
Love the mashed potato

From Forum
Quirky Jos Fried Rice
Judydawns Apricot Chicken
Bafs All in One Chicken & Veg in Varoma
JulieOs Pesto Chicken Pasta with pumpkin
Chicken Kiev
Simple Avocado Fettucine with Bacon
TrudyOs Honey Mustard Chicken   (this is my sons favourite)
Riv mums Chicken, ricotta and spinach Cannelloni
Chelseas Bangers and mash in gravy
Riv mums Beef & Guinness Stew
Johnros Macaroni Beef with monkeyboyzmum Special awesome cheese sauce on top
JulieOs Beef enchiladas
Tuna Mornay
Hope this list helps as these are all good

[Brumington]

Wow haybray - thank you for this list.  It is great to get this sort of idea from somebody else in the same shoes as me.  I will work my way through them and see how I go.
Mcmich - the unami paste is one I've heard loads about.  i'm definitely going to make this in the next few days and hope it remedies a few disasters!
It's comforting to know I'm not the only one who has experienced a few teething problems at the start.  I really just need the confidence to experiment and carry my own style in to the TMX.
Following on from this, I made the Honey mustard chicken tonight and changed it according to my taste.  I added carrot as another person had suggested at the start, I added more mustard and took out a little of the honey and it was definitely the best meal I've had so far.  The kids devoured it (after an initial attempt to throw it on the floor by the youngest!) so I'm very pleased with it.  Following my success I threw together a desert on the spur of the moment - the last of our yogurt, frozen blueberries, frozen bananas and a splash of cream.  It was lovely!
I've now come to a conclusion that I think my stock isn't the best.  I'm considering binning it and starting another one.  I was too afraid to ask when I was given the machine and the rep made the paste with me if we could go against the one in the EDC and make the recipe that Fundj had given me in another thread.  Should have really asked, I'm sure she would have been happy to oblige!  I'm also wanting to make Teninas chicken stock, the KFC spice mix and the garlic paste - I think these will help me loads in putting some added flavours into things.  I'm thinking of asking for Teninas book for mothers day (cause a $2000 machine wasn't nearly enough  ).

[gertbysea]

Brumington , I have said it before, "if you buy only one cookbook it must be For Foods Sake" all the basic good stuff is there.
Umami paste is a must.

Gert