If you’ve been playing along on Instagram (@emmasteendam) you may have noticed a little something-something now sitting on my kitchen bench…
Yes. It seems all my dreams have come true and I’ve joined ‘The Cult’. I’ll save you the long convoluted story, but basically the Thermomix actually belongs to my sister’s friend. My sister was borrowing it to see if she wanted one, turns out she did (naturally) but she bought the new schmancy TM5 model, then passing her friend’s TM31 onto me to try. Six weeks later and it’s become part of the family! Although, I am still without a basket or butterfly…
I literally umm-ed and aah-ed for years about the Thermomix debate, the great internal struggle. I first used one about five years ago when visiting my friend Ange in Papua New Guinea, where we would stay for a good few weeks so I got to flex some serious Thermo muscle. Since then I’ve been to a few demo’s, borrowed my sister-in-laws, used some friends. I knew a fair bit about Thermomix’s without actually having one. Living remotely I wanted one, but couldn’t justify just with the two of us. Now as a family I was thinking more and more about one…’borrowing’ this one has been just the push I needed (although I knew by having one for a few weeks I could never go back! I was convinced before I was convinced -ha!)
So, I admit, I went hard early – a Thermo binge if you will. I am now in a frenzied hangover phase, after the initial excitement I’m easing into general everyday Thermomix use. So what have I been making? Well, for dinners I’ve made beef stroganoff, chicken and cashews with noodles, roast pumpkin ravioli, honey soy beef (cooking the beef in the sauce in the bowl, steaming broccolini in the Varoma), chicken lasagne, chicken leek mushroom pie, chow mein, pork apple and fennel meatballs, mushroom risotto, curried sausages, chicken and sweet corn soup, cauliflower and cheddar soup with bread rolls and I do mashed potato regularly in it. I’d like to make some more things for lunches as Matt’s forever asking “what’s for lunch?” in the mornings when all I want is caffeine injected into me. I did make a polenta crust pumpkin, carmelised onion and fetta tart, but the crust was all wrong, next time I might stick to my shortcrust favourite. For Eleanor I’ve made several concoctions of veg/meat/egg and frozen in batches, although she’s much more into finger foods these days and generally eats what we do. I’ve perfected a savoury muffin packed with zucchini, carrots, spinach etc. which Eleanor loves too, and I’ve made herb and cheese crackers in tiny-teddy form which I throw in our bag for out and about. I was over buying her the organic red carrot rice cakes she devours for $5 a packet! Desserts I’ve made: sticky date puddings with butterscotch sauce when we had a friend for dinner, self-saucing chocolate pudding, golden syrup dumplings and custard as well. Ice-cream is next on the list!
I think the key to Thermomix ‘success’ is knowing that it isn’t a whole meal creator (although things like a risotto or soup or the honey soy beef I made definitely can be). It’s best used as a ‘component builder’ to compliment your existing recipes you cook regularly for your family. A lot of people don’t ‘get’ that but I think it’s important. Lots of people question whether they should get a Thermomix ‘to make them like cooking’. That is entirely the wrong way to go about it, if you don’t like cooking, a Thermomix is absolutely not going to make you like it.
I’d love to hear from any She Sows Seeds readers who have a Thermomix, are lusting after a Thermomix, dealing with the internal struggle or even had a failed Thermomix experience? How you use it everyday for your family, tried and true recipes, any Thermomix info you’ve got to share! I’ve got lots more things I want to try, especially once I get a basket, butterfly, Thermoserver and silicone mat. Things like homemade sauces, peanut butter, yogurt and making more things from scratch is what I’m looking forward to – I’ve made Eleanor some fruit bars not packed with sugar and a bunch of scary numbers, Matt also loves them in his lunchbox!
Are you part of ‘The Cult’?
Have a favourite Thermomix recipe?
Can’t live without your Thermo now?
Or think they’re a ridiculously overpriced food processor like my husband? Humph…
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I’m unsure how I will post recipe methods on She Sows Seeds now if I use the Thermomix – I personally don’t think it’s that difficult to figure out how to adjust to suit non-Thermomix or vice versa. I know that pre-Thermomix, recipes written in Thermomix terms would annoy me, but now sometimes when I am specifically looking for a Thermomix recipe it irks me having to adjust! I think it depends on the type of recipe/food too. Would love to know your thoughts…
Erin says
My friend just got one and to hear her rave about it..Oh I’m so tempted, it sounds absolutely fantastic!
Veggie Mama says
I’ve borrowed one twice now, and very happily gave it back both times! They’re not for me π
Emma says
I have a friend who was the very same, sold hers promptly, and I’ve had my moments like that too! I am getting used to it now, but I was surprised how I didn’t really fall head over heels in love like people told me I would, and then was all angry about it?! (Why don’t I love you like I ‘should’?! lol) I have accepted that it’s not going to make everything for me and damn it I like to stir my big pot o’ soup and simmer it on top of my fire still. And that’s ok.
Jasmine says
I am totally lusting over the Thermomix, and think I have nearly driven my husband insane, when he decided to set me a goal, I meet the business goal and I get a Thermomix! I run a small business from home and am very time poor, with 3 young children, so could definitely see the benefits for myself and my children in owning the beast. I’m a third of the way through the goal he set, so it’s pretty exciting.
Kathy says
I have a Thermomix and have had one for 3 years and I love it. My 2 kids use it and it’s very easy. Get the basket because you can boil eggs in 10 mins while you have a shower and you make rice in the basket as well. We make yoghurt home made in the Thermomix which my kids love. We use ours every second day on average and I only wished I had one of these when my kids were going onto solids instead I was buying tinned baby food. I love the Thermomix and if you want to make stuff that’s good for your family without chemicals it’s worth it’s weight in good. I know retro mumma posts a lot of Thermomix recipes but she usually posts the normal cook method underneath to cater for bith camps. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
Emma says
Thanks Kathy, I definitely am grateful I’ve got a Thermo now with Eleanor, and future babies. It’s fantastic to make big batches to freeze! Now she’s onto more things like little nuggets/meatballs and fritters it’s good to whip up that fast too.
Meg says
I have had a Thermomix for about two years. I don’t use it every time I cook and I know that I haven’t fully explored all its possibilities…BUT I use it often to make things I would normally buy where there is a saving in doing so. Things like stock paste, icecream etc. are very economical when made in the Thermomix. I also use if for soups and risottos as they are easy to do quickly and save work at the stove. I think, when considering a Thermomix, it’s a good idea to ask if you can afford it and if it will save you money/time in the long run. I don’t think it is about joining some exclusive club or having ‘the latest gadget’. It should be about a careful consideration of whether this particular piece of kitchen equipment is truly going to add value and save money.
Emma says
Absolutely couldn’t have said it better myself.
Sharyn says
I have thought about the ‘big’ purchase alot!! It’s interesting to read your thoughts….thanks. It’s exciting though!!
Helene Meurer says
Great to read your enthusiasm for my fave kitchen machine π The dilemma about recipe instructions is definitely worth consideration. I’ll say this to add to the discussion: if you post instructions for Thermomix users, it will bring a whole new audience to your blog π ( see what I mean? Your first post already brought me here… and there are millions more of us out here…) Just saying, lol!
Emma says
Thanks – I definitely see what you’re saying. I’m thinking it might depend on what the recipe is? Some I could easily do for Thermo/without Thermo.
Vanessa says
Love my Thermomix to feed 2 adults and 5 kids. My favourite recipes are from Jo Whitton’s Quirky Cooking recipe book and website. She does fabulous all in one meals using the jug, basket and Varoma and I find her recipes make decent size quantities. Happy Thermomixing:)
Emma says
That’s awesome to hear as my husband’s main bug-bear with it is portion size! I’ve done a few Quirky recipes but need to get more into them when I get a basket…
Vanessa says
Great to hear! You will love the basket. Perfect rice every time π
Erin says
Do you mean he is concerned it’s not big enough? My friend who just bought hers has 6 children (well 5 are lads and the two oldest are young men) and it’s large enough for them. One of my questions too
Jo @Countrylifeexperiment says
I could see that I would use a thermomix, but it isn’t a priority for our budget at this time… there are other things I want first – like a kitchen that is newer than 1940. So far as recipe writing goes, I think that anyone who owns a thermomix would be able to transfer a ‘non thermomix’ recipe for use in their thermomix, but a lot of people would just jump straight past a post that is written specifically for a thermomix. My training makes me fussy about recipe writing… π If you want your recipes to appeal to the masses, I think keeping them ‘non thermomix’ might be better. Wow I’ve said thermomix a lot!
Emma says
Ha I know, right? I felt like doing a big disclaimer that this was NOT SPONSORED! Thanks, I think you’re right re: recipe writing.