Perfect rice every time

I have added this post as this is one of the features of the thermomix I use 3 times a week if not more. It is so easy to make perfect fluffy rice and when done prior to dinner it can be stored in the thermoserver to keep warm while a curry is being prepared afterwards. Instructions are in the everyday cook book.

Perfect rice every time



Red Curry Chicken



Perfect rice > 14minutes (faster than my rice cooker and just as good)

Red Curry chicken > 19minutes  http://www.thermomix.com.au/01-testimonials-sub02.html

Washing up > hardly any at all!



Easter Buns (ok it's a bit late, but you'll be all ready for next year:)

These little babies were delightful. Best when just out of the oven.  They are pretty easy and well worth the effort. I ground the cloves fresh also which I think may give them an even better edge. Find the recipe in the everyday cookbook (free with your thermomix)

Gozleme (from Budget Busters)

I had a little bit of spare time the other day and wanted to try this from the Budget Busters book. Anyway it was Fabulous and made way too much for us to eat. I think making small bite sized versions would be a really nice finger food. I cooked mine in my sandwhich press which made life much easier too.

Recipe can be found here (can change beef for any meat) http://tenina.com/2008/09/gozlemegerz-lem-ay/

Margaritas

Yesterday i had a couple of left over limes so I raided the liquor cabinet and came up with this. Yes it was Wednesday but the Thermomix had already made dinner so I thought this would make bath time with the kids a bit more fun. And so easy and fast to make in the TM.

Recipe
1 part lime juice
1 part Cointreau
1.5 parts tequila
some ice

Skin limes and add to bowl. Mix sp7 for 6 secs
instert steamer basket to drain lime juice. Discard left over 'grainy bits' and add lime juice back to bowl.
Weigh juice and add the same weight of Cointreau then one and half of tequila.
mix sp 4, 5 secs. Set aside.

Add ice to bowl and crush sp 9, 5 secs. Use spatula to assist if necessary

Add ice to cocktail saucer and pour margarita over.

Risotto

We all know how easy risotto is in the thermomix and some people have been asking about other flavour combinations.

I have found these combinations by doing a google search.

Chicken and vegetable (pic above... use chicken stock instead)

Parmesan pumpkin and Porcini

Crab and leek

Cannelini bean and Red onion

Tomato and Bacon

I have also added a very simple risotto recipe to use as a base. From this get as creative as you like by adding ingredients in the last 3-5 minutes. Recipe is from "A Taste of Vegetarian" $30

Thermomix recipe community

Well, it has been a while since I have been on here. We have had a massive festive season at Thermomix with more and more people realising the benefits thermomix can have for them.  In light of such a positive response, the team at thermomix have introduced the a new recipe blog http://www.recipecommunity.com.au/ You can link it to your facebook feed too so that you can have new recipes almost daily.

Pot Set Yoghurt

I have managed to get my yogurt perfect after 3 trial runs. I used a little less milk than the EDC suggests and wrapped the thermoserver in a wool blanket (Thanks for the tip Meg) for 14 hours of resting. Anyway this is what I got. Thick and creamy with a smooth texture and flavour. Not tart at all.

Spelt Bread Rolls

Spelt is an ancestor of modern day wheat and is used as a healthier alternative when making wheat products. Spelt has high water solubility, so nutrients are easily absorbed by the body making it easy to digest. In comparison with other grains spelt has generally more vitamins and basic minerals.

Average mg/100 grams	Barley	Rye	Wheat	Oats	Spelt
Vitamin B1	0.43	0.35	0.48	0.52	0.649
Vitamin B2	0.18	0.17	0.14	0.17	0.227
Potassium	-	-	481.00	335.00	385.00
Calcium	38.00	115.00	43.70	79.60	38.00
Iron	2.80	5.10	3.30	5.80	4.17
Manganese	1.70	2.40	2.40	3.70	2.90
Copper	0.30	0.50	0.44	0.47	0.62
Zinc	2.70	1.30	3.36	4.00	3.40

Sources: product analysis souci, milupa (11. 11.88) and SCI-TEK Lab.  from http://www.biodistributors.com.au/ProdInfFiles/spelt.php

I had a go at some spelt breadrolls last week and even the kids loved them. Everyday Cookbook p113

Cindi Omeara Lecture

I can only describe this as life changing. What an inspiring day. I have left this talk with motivation to make real dietary changes at home. (And I only really went to see what all the fuss was about).

Reasons for change (some notes I took during the talk)
1. I am now really quite frightened after hearing about what is in almost all the food we eat

2. After tasting the alternative foods (which are taste delicious, no mung beans in sight) I am motivated.

3. I think the most confirming part is that the thermomix is the tool that can make producing natural healthy food actually POSSIBLE and EASY even if we don't have hours on end to spend in the kitchen.

I have added links to some her website for your info. I can recommend checking out the recipes page

Hot and Spicy

 Our kitchen has the most amazing smells coming from it lately. I have been working through the Indian Cookbook (no I did not know that it was going to be a promotion for October). I made garam masala the other day and the recipe made ALOT. The flavours are so much better than the packet stuff. I also feel really glad Kongs is just down the road so sourcing all the spices was pretty easy too.



After 45 seconds



Before





Later I made a simple Chickpea Curry with rice, Raita and Naan Bread. The chickpea curry was so easy and freezes really well and the Naan Bread puffed up in the oven in 3 minutes and then it was time to eat. And it took only 3 minutes to make the silkiest dough.  

Naan dough with cumin seeds





Converting Recipes

In response to a few questions about converting your own recipes I have found the following;

Victorian TM consultant Steph Berg has a great blog for beginners and those looking to find out more about the Thermomix. She discusses how to go about Converting Recipes from your old style of cooking to the TM. She also has an A to Z Index of around 500 recipes and even discusses ebay ripoffs of thermomix products.

And while I was looking through 'Meat on The Menu' I came across a page dedicated to converting recipes. I have pasted it below. Hope it helps

A weekender with my thermomix

Last weekend we went to the farm. Normally I spend quite a bit of time cooking and preparing meals beforehand because I really dislike going on a 'break' and spending a huge amount of time in the kitchen (especially after a 3 hour drive). But this time it was different.

We arrived at 3pm and I quickly whipped up a chocolate custard for the kids desert (straight to the fridge for later) 7 mins. Afterwards I made a advocado dip for us in 3 mins. An aioli mayonnaise (YUM) 7mins. A coleslaw 2 mins. Then a peppercorn sauce for the steaks in prep of the BBQ later on 10 mins.

Then I had a glass of wine and relaxed!

TOTAL TIME TAKEN about 40mins (including all the cleaning done)

I should also mention that I didn't need to pack the esky full of ice etc for the travelling bit either :)

Comfort food

Mashed potato is my favourite comfort food. I was impressed when I discovered my potato ricer 6 years ago. But again, the TM has surpassed my expectations for perfectly creamy and easy mash. (without a painful cleanup) I have been told that some of the best Perth restaurants make their mash using the TM. I can see why.

Chocolate 'Yogo' style desert (even approved by princess fussy pants!)

This is for you Ange...

40g Dark chocolate
60g sugar
2 eggs
500g Milk
30-40g cornflour (as you like it)

Place chocolate and sugar in bowl for 20 secs, sp9. Scrape down sides of bowl, Add Milk, cornflour and eggs.
Cook 7 minutes at 90C on speed 4.

I am slowly cutting down on the sugar however using this much dark chocolate gives it a similar taste of store bought Yogo.

Recipe makes 6 of these. Containers available at Target

Turkish Bread gourmet burgers

Yesterday I made red onion relish from the EDC book. So much easier than the oven method(and no messy tray to clean up!) I also wipped up a hommus dip and pan fried some haloumi. Added everything to some toasted turkish bread with rocket and tomato and a dollop of TM yoghurt raita. A very simple but delicious fast dinner in the same time it would have taken me to go thru the drivethrough ;)

Other Meatier flavours include;

Lamb burgers and harissa mayonnaise (so Easy in the TM)

Beef burgers, onion relish, cheese and salad

Oh and I just found a recipe to make my own Turkish Pide bread. EXCELLENT!

ThermoMixup: Urban Provider Thermomix Passion cooking classes

ThermoMixup: Urban Provider Thermomix Passion cooking classes: "Here's a heads up for all you Perth Thermomix fans - Leederville-based gourmet cooking school URBAN PROVIDER are planning Thermomix Passion..."

Spatulas

Buy a silicon spatula to use in the bowl too. I like the Chefn brand. It's just as handy for emptying contents but I would ONLY use thermomix spatula while machine is running.

The Self Clean

I♥THIS!
The Self Clean
Fill with warm water to cover blades but not the nut
15 Secs at Speed 7, press reverse,
15 Secs at Speed 7
lock lid, press Turbo X2

Broccoli, Almond and Lemon pasta

Heavily Inspired By Donna Hay

300g orecchiette or other short pasta
30g butter
Half or the rind of one lemon (no pith!)
250g Brocolli florets
2 garlic cloves
50g water
1tbsp TM stock
1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
40g slivered almonds
40g parmesan

Add parmesan to TM bowl grate 10-15 secs sp 8. SET ASIDE
Boil water and cook pasta in TM or saucepan
Add garlic cloves and lemon rind. Chop 5secs sp7
Add butter and saute 1-2mins 100c softspeed.
Add Broccolli florets, cook 4mins 100c speed soft REVERSE
Add lemon juice, stock salt and pepper and pasta and combine together either on softspeed REVERSE or in serving dish the old fashioned way.
Sprinkle with generous amounts of parmesan and almonds on the top,

Great as a side with steak or a light meal on its own

Gina Fords Beef and Vegetable Pot supper 9months+

500g lean beef mince
1 small onion
1 clove garlic (optional... suggestion is wait til 12m+)
2 tsp olive oil
250g carrot
150g swede
100g red lentils
400g water
2 tbsp TM stock
1 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
mixed herbs

Add carrot and swede chop sp5 for 3 secs.
Set this Aside
Add onion and garlic 5 secs sp 5.
Add oil saute 3 mins 100deg speed soft
Add mince saute 10 mins at varoma speed soft REVERSE
Add carrots, swede, lentils and stock, water, herbs, tomato paste
cook 15-20 mins 100deg sp soft reverse

Recipe makes 12 serves about this size (freezes well)