Thermomix Menu Planning & Updates & Restaurant Review!

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've had a chance to get any blogging done, so there's lots of news to share!  If you're looking for the menu plan, scroll down past all the photos and you'll find it somewhere at the bottom... Otherwise, sit back and enjoy the photos and news update! :)

Two weeks ago I flew to Perth to do my Junior Group Leader training for Thermomix.  What an amazing week! On the way we stopped off at Ayers Rock (Uluru) for a quick look (my girls were with me, as they were going to stay with Nana and Poppy in Perth for the week) - what a beautiful place... I was amazed by the colours and wished we had more time there...

It was difficult getting Miss C back on the plane - she really wanted to keep chasing birds, catching grasshoppers, climbing trees, and playing in the red sand!

We finally made it to Perth, the girls went off to Nana's and I got to meet lots of lovely Thermomix ladies over dinner, at a restaurant near our resort. It was a bit of an exhausting first day - I was up for 22 of the first 24 hours!  Actually, we had a lot of late nights, but it was worth it... We had a great week, learnt heaps, met some great people, made lots of new friends from all over Australia (and New Zealand), and were totally inspired! 

Room-mates! Vanessa, me & Bronwyn

Sandy & Tina

Julie & Rene

Yvonne & me

What a wonderful bunch of people belong to the Thermomix world... All the consultants and group leaders I met love their job, and I didn't meet anyone who thought of it as 'just a job' - even the staff at the office love their Thermomixes and were happy to have a chat about what they'd been cooking - it wasn't 'just a job' to them either! I was very impressed by the atmosphere at head office - everyone was so friendly. What a great company to work for.

I stayed a few extra days, as I was running an Allergy Friendly Cooking Class at the Thermomix headquarters on the Friday night, so I was able to go along to the 10th Anniversary celebration for Thermomix in Australia on the Friday morning. That was really exciting - it was great to hear Grace (the lovely lady who brought Thermomix to Australia) tell how it all started, and how it was a good five years before there was much interest, and how quickly it's growing now! Did you know there are over 35,000 Thermomix owners in Australia now?? Wow! And we are the fastest growing distributor in the world, so watch out world, here we come! Grace's energy and passion are catching, and I love her attitude - in her speech she said, "It's all about customer care... We don't teach our consultants 'selling skills'. The product sells itself. We teach consultants 'people skills', and that's really important."

Happy 10th Anniversary, 

Thermomix Australia!!!

Grace presenting bouquets to the three consultants 

who've been with Thermomix for the whole 10 years! 

Anne, Zofia & Karin

*     *     *     *     *

We had a lot of fun at my Allergy Friendly Cooking Class on the Friday night - the ladies who helped were wonderful, and it all went smoothly. Except for the chocolate mousse mixture turning to jelly before it got drizzled into the egg whites, because I forgot to take it out of the freezer where it was cooling - lol. But Anne and Meagan sorted it out, so it worked in the end. (Thanks guys!) :)  It was great to meet lots of the people I often talk to on the Thermomix forum and my blog - a lovely bunch of Thermomix addicts who I would've loved to have spent more time with!  Here's a few photos of the class...

Chatting before the class...

(Meagan & Anne working hard in the background!)

I absolutely LOVED the kitchen - there are cameras over the two Thermomixes which show what you're doing on a screen overhead!  It's so good when you've got a crowd - they can all see what's going into the bowl, and what you're doing... only thing is, they can also see any mistakes you make!! Ha ha...

Me cooking, Anne explaining...

Making the gluten free pizza bases...

Thanks again to all of you who came along - I loved meeting you all, and I definitely want to come back to Perth again - loved every minute!  If you'd like to try any of the recipes I made at the class, they're listed here on the Thermomix Recipe Community, with links to each recipe.

*     *     *     *     *

"The Greenhouse" restaurant, Perth

One of the highlights of my week in Perth was getting to go to "The Greenhouse" for dinner!!! Ever since Matt Stone went up against Neil Perry on Iron Chef, I've been dying to go to his restaurant - partly because they use the Thermomix there (yay!), but also because I just thought Matt was so amazing and innovative in his cooking and his way of presenting his dishes. (I still think he should have won!) So when I found out I was off to Perth for training, I was determined to get there... and a few others had the same idea, so on our night off we took a taxi into the city to visit The Greenhouse.  And you'll never guess what we saw as we walked in...

They were using the Thermomix!! YIPPEEE!! Of course, we were all jumping around like silly schoolgirls, calling out to the chefs and asking them what they were doing and what they used their Thermomix for, and how many they have*, and telling them we'd come all the way from the East coast to check out their restaurant, and taking photos and videos... they thought it was pretty funny, and enjoyed all the attention. :D

Unfortunately, Matt wasn't there, as he'd gone to Sydney to set up a 'pop-up' Greenhouse restaurant that will be open for only 10 weeks - so if you live down that way, don't miss it!  It's at 'The Rocks', Sydney harbour, open Mon - Sat (7:30 - Midnight) Sunday (10am - Midnight), for only a few more weeks. Check out this video of the pop-up restaurant, designed by Joost - it is SO cool! *(They only have one tmx in each restaurant, but they wish they had more, and Matt wants one at home - someone give him one!!)

Us at The Greenhouse - Front: Denise, Bronwyn & Vanessa; 

Back: me, Amanda, Rochelle & Sue

They grind their own grains and make their own breads at The Greenhouse (and the flatbread I ate was delicious - I wonder if they'd give me the recipe if I ask for it...)  Everything's rustic and recycled, and the theme is 'waste not, want not' - even the toilets are water-saving, and the hand towels are calico squares that get washed, not chucked in the bin!

Yummy wholegrain breads...

A wood-fired oven for cooking the breads & pizzas...

An interesting water jug...

The food was brought out on wooden boards, about 5 or 6 courses, and we all shared... we ended up paying about $30 each for the main meal, and we were all very full! Although we did manage to fit in a little bit of dessert :) Here's a few of the dishes we had... (Sorry the photos aren't too good - the light was very low, and I only have a little 'point & shoot' camera...)

An amazing dish of chorizo sausages, fried croutons, piquillo peppers, and a slow cooked egg that you mix in as a 'dressing'; and chickpea falafel in the background - so yum!  

Babaganoush (lovely smoky flavour) with whole grain flat bread

Polenta & poppy seed crusted cuttlefish 

with iceberg lettuce and a dressing

The BEST slow cooked lamb shoulder, with flat breads, 

and a salad topped with slivers of pickled onion, and aioli

It was all just delicious! And the atmosphere was great - a very friendly, helpful waitress, friendly chefs, and a great group of friends to enjoy the experience with. :)  What a great restaurant! Anytime I'm in Perth, I'll be going there again, for sure.

Me & Vanessa at The Greenhouse

*     *     *     *     *

So now I'm back home trying to get into the swing of things as the Group Leader for the Atherton Tablelands and Cassowary Coast... It's an exciting new focus for me, and I'll be working on building a team of great consultants up here, so if you'd like to join us please let me know! I love this job, and I know a lot of you Thermomix addicts would love it too. :D

This week is already flying by, so before it gets too far along I'd better post my menu plan! It helps keep me on track, and makes cooking for my family a lot easier. Here's my plan for this week... Keep in touch, and I hope you all have a great week. :)

[tmx = prepared and/or cooked in the Thermomix]

Monday:

(lunch) Chicken & vege soup (tmx)

(dinner) Grandma's chicken/beef pot pie (tmx) & chocolate pudding (tmx) - G'ma made dinner for us :)

Tuesday:

(lunch) Pasta e Fagioli (tmx) - a family favourite, quick & easy

(dinner) Cabbage Patch Soup (tmx) - a cabbage & mince soup topped with mashed potatoes

Wednesday:

(lunch) Koftas (tmx - Indian cookbook) with garlic quinoa (tmx) & salad

(dinner) Steak/hamburgers & salad

Thursday:

(lunch) Oriental Coleslaw (tmx) with Lime, Chilli & Garlic Fish & baked potatoes

(dinner) Gluten free olive & sun-dried tomato foccacia (tmx - using my gf pizza base recipe) & leftovers

Friday:

(lunch) Lamb stew (tmx)

(dinner) Leftover stew in steamed buns (tmx - steamed in Varoma)

Saturday:

(lunch) Tuna a la King (tmx) on brown rice (tmx)

(dinner) Roast chicken & veges (gravy in tmx)

Sunday:

(lunch) Pie made with leftover roast (tmx)

(dinner) Leftovers/sandwiches (bread & mayo made in tmx)

On My Mind...

Waiting for Cyclone Yasi to hit...

Hi everyone, I haven't had time to post a menu plan or recipes this week (or last week, due to the cyclone), but I thought I'd just share a few photos and thoughts of things that have been on my mind lately.  This post is linked to "On My Mind" at Down to Earth, a wonderful blog about living simply.

The photo above is one I took of my youngest daughter on the night of Cyclone Yasi, when we had no power and were waiting for the long night to end.  I just love this photo - she looked so peaceful and unworried about the cyclone. I felt the same way - I was concerned, but not frightened, knowing we are in God's hands. Not long after this she went to bed and slept through the worst of it. How wonderful to have the faith of a small child, that God is with us and all will be well! 

The boys decided to sleep in the bathroom, 'just in case'.  But they were not worried enough to stay awake - they slept through the whole thing too!  The kids wanted to make sure the bird and the two guinea pigs would be safe, so they put their cages in the shower for the night, and they were fine. Until last night, when the neighbour's cat got the guinea pigs... oh well. :(

Writing stories by candlelight

All in all, the cyclone was scary, but not as bad as we thought it would be, thankfully. For a while there it was heading straight for us, but it veered south at the last minute and hit Tully, Cardwell, Mission Beach and Dunk Island. A lot of people down there have lost their homes - I'm sure you've seen the photos. It's so awful. All we had was a couple of trees down and a sleepless night, and no power for six days... which was enough to make me a little crazy!! I coped okay without phone, mobile, power, hot showers, Thermomix, oven, etc... but when I couldn't get onto the internet I started to lose it! Lol...  Most of the time I could keep in touch with my T-Touch, by sitting in the car and plugging it into the car charger, but for a while there we had no reception. I was so happy when it came back! :)

Cooking without my Thermomix was a bit of a challenge - we had a small metho burner (which my husband used for boiling the billy for cuppas) and a small gas cooker. I came up with a few ingenious ideas!  Like this one for heating up my spelt tortillas... I wrapped them in foil, placed them on a cake rack, and warmed them over the gas camping cooker on very low heat.  It worked great! (Note: I learned that you don't lean over the metho burner with your hair down - I burnt the ends off my hair and gave myself a fright!!)

We still ate well despite only having a little gas cooker to cook with - although I think the kids got a little tired of fish, as we had it for three meals in a row to use it up...  Thankfully I didn't have a lot of meat in the freezer though, and only lost a couple of bags of grains that got wet and damaged in the thawed out freezer. At least I got the fridge and freezer cleaned out, which desperately needed doing, just in time for my half yearly bulk order of grains, seeds, flour and Rapadura!

Fish cooked in the frypan (coated in cornmeal, flour, sesame seeds & seasonings) - served rolled up in spelt tortillas with mayo and salad.

This was my husband's favourite 'cyclone dinner' - spicy Mexican chicken (halved) cooked with veges in a pan on the gas cooker (with a little water in the pan and the lid on, over low heat - took about 45 mins).  It was very tasty!  (The chicken stayed frozen for a few days in our big freezer. We cooked whatever was in the freezer as it thawed out.)

After about six days without power I was REALLY missing my Thermomix, so a friend lent us his generator as his power had come back on. The first thing I made was a cranberry relish (I needed to use up the last of the thawed berried from my freezer) which we had that night on a meatloaf, also cooked in the Thermomix. Of course, once we had the generator all set up, it was only another hour before the power came on... typical!  But at least I got to try out the Thermomix with a generator, which I hadn't done before. (It was a 2 kva generator with an inverter - I wouldn't recommend using one without an inverter for your Thermomix, and don't use it at the same time as your fridge and freezer are plugged in, as they can cause power surges.)

So now the power's back on and all is well... it's taken me a while to get the house back in order - it looked like the cyclone hit inside worse than outside! Lol. Now I'm frantically getting ready for my trip to Perth for Junior Group Leader training (for Thermomix) and the allergy friendly cooking class I'm running there on the 18th. I'm really looking forward to meeting some of you there! Can't wait :) Here's the menu for those of you who are interested - it's all dairy free, gluten free and naturally sweetened, with some egg free and raw dishes too. I'll be posting the recipes on the Thermomix Recipe Community for those who want to try them (although most of them are here on my blog too).

Menu for Allergy Friendly Cooking Class, Perth:

- Raw Cashew Cream & Cashew Milk

- 'Green' Sorbet (cashew milk, berries, rapadura, baby spinach, ice, egg white/frozen banana)

- DF Cream Cheese Dip with rice crackers

- GF Pizza with DF Salmon Salad Topping

- Chicken & Cashews with Coconut Rice and Cashew Satay Sauce

- DF Chocolate Mousse with Berry Nougat

- Grain Free Pecan Cake (served with cashew cream)

- Samples of 'Almost Raw' Chocolate

I'll also be explaining why it's best to avoid refined sugars and what to use instead, how to cook gluten free breads, how to substitute for dairy in recipes, and lots more.

So it's going to be a busy week next week with training and cooking and all! It may be another week or more before I get back to blogging, but I'll keep in touch via my Quirky Cooking Facebook page. Please drop by and say hi! Hope you all have a great week.

Jo :)

Blog Birthday Giveaway Winner!

And the winner is...

(drumroll...)

DENISE!

(from 'the other side of the world')

Denise said...

"Congratulations on your 2nd Birthday Jo.You are very much appreciated by someone who lives on the other side of the world. I love your style of cooking and most of all you make it fun and easy."

Denise's comment was randomly drawn from the comments on this post using Random.org's 'List Randomizer'. 

Denise, please contact me with your address details, so I can send off your prize!  I know you're going to love it :)  Hoping to hear from you soon!

We're preparing for a cyclone here at the moment - looks like it's going to be a big one... If I'm offline for a few days, it's because our power's gone out.  Last time there was a cyclone this big we lost power for two weeks - including no water :(  But I'll try to keep you all posted via my Facebook page, which I can update from my T-Touch (until the battery runs out, anyway!).  Jo :)

Menu Plan - 31st January

Well, today's the last day to enter my blog birthday giveaway - I can't wait to draw the winner in the morning and see who it is!  If you haven't entered yet, you still have a few hours... just leave a comment on my birthday post.  And check back tomorrow to see who's won!  Thank you everyone for your lovely comments - and especially Pamela for your very clever poem you added today - I was very touched. :)  I don't think I've ever had a poem written for me before - I've just got to share it with you all!  Here it is...

Here’s Cheers to the Blog that’s just turned 2
And to Jo and her passion for our daily chew

Huge thanks to you Jo and your Quirky Cooking
WE feel so much healthier and dare I say.. better-looking?

You make it all so easy to follow
Dairy free has never been so easy to swallow

And who would have ever thought that the word “yummy”
Could apply to Gluten Free food in our tummy

You’ve helped me to make the most of my Thermomix
With your caring and sharing of your tips and your tricks

So my mate “Thermie” and I send you huge bunches of gratitude
And let me assure you that is no mere platitude

You help so many people in so many ways
To so easily navigate the “natural health” maze

Your inventiveness and culinary daring 
Are matched only by a nature that is sharing and caring

So Happy Birthday Quirky Jo 
And may your Blog prosper and grow!!!

We love you and thank you and this is the end
Of my Thank you poem to our Quirky friend.

- Pamela Walton.

Isn't that sweet??? :)

So what wonderful things are you hoping to cook this week?  Our meals may look a bit back to front this week - they always are when my dh is on late shift...  And you may notice I use leftovers a fair bit - it saves time to make double batches of things so there's enough for another day. :)

I keep trying to find time to make some chocolate filled steamed buns with cherry sauce, but still didn't manage today (much to the kid's disgust), so I'm going to make them for breakfast tomorrow - they're kind of healthy! (I know, a bit of a strange breakfast, but we're into strange breakfasts here - early mornings are my favourite time to cook, so you never know what you'll get!)  Anyone want to pop over for breakfast? :D

Chocolate Filled Steamed Buns with Cherry Sauce

It's a good thing I can make my own chocolate - there's a cyclone heading this way, and I couldn't bear to run out! (lol)  Although if the power goes out, like it usually does, Thermie won't be much help :(  I hope all you guys on the North Queensland coast will be okay - stay safe!  Hopefully it will fizzle out a bit before it gets to us up here.  So here's my menu plan, although this could change if we have no power... if that happens it will probably be baked beans and scrambled eggs on the menu (if the neighbour's chickens don't all blow away)...  Hope you all have a safe week!

[tmx = prepared and/or cooked in my Thermomix]

Monday:
(lunch) Out
(dinner) Leftover roast meat pie (tmx - made with leftover roast turkey)

Tuesday:
(lunch) Leftover leftover roast meat pie! (lol)
(dinner) Salmon & rice casserole (tmx - didn't need it last week) for family
No cooking class tonight - cancelled due to Cyclone Yasi!


(For the next couple of days, I've planned meals I can make on the gas cooker if I have to, in case the cyclone takes our power...)


Wednesday:
(lunch) Steak, baked potatoes & salad
(dinner) Vege frittata

Thursday:
(lunch) Black eyed pea stew (tmx - double batch) with cornbread (tmx)
(dinner) Hamburgers on spelt buns (tmx)

Friday:
(lunch) Grilled fish & potato salad (tmx)
(dinner) Salad & gluten free pizza bread (tmx)

Saturday:
(lunch) Leftover black eyed pea stew & pizza bread
(dinner) Spaghetti & meat balls (tmx)

Sunday:
(lunch) Roast something - haven't been to the butcher's yet to see what's on special!
(dinner) Roast something sandwiches :D

So that's about it - nothing too exciting planned, but that doesn't mean I won't make anything exciting - I just haven't thought of it yet... so watch this space!  Actually, you should really keep an eye on my facebook page, because that's where I post updates of what I'm cooking and experimenting with each day, as well as mini recipes... When I don't have time to blog, that's my 'mini blog'!  Come on over and have a chat :)

See ya!

Gluten Free Pizza Base

I'm so excited - I've finally come up with a great gluten free pizza base! I've tried lots of different recipes, but this one has been the best so far. It's lovely and crispy, but not too hard, and definitely not crumbly (like so many gluten free recipes are).  It's delicious as Pizza Bianca - topped just with olive oil, fresh rosemary and garlic, and sea salt.  Or bake it plain, and top with a dairy free avocado topping and chopped, raw veges.  Or you can spread a homemade pizza sauce onto it (I use the back of a spoon) then bake and top with a salmon salad and dressing. Another one I love is the Lamb Mince & Salad Pizza. Or just make your usual version of pizzas.

Avocado topping for a dairy free pizza

This recipe makes three or four large pizzas, depending on how thick you like them.  Don't expect it to be the same texture as usual pizza dough - it's more of a batter, and you spread it onto the baking paper lined trays with a spatula.  Make sure you cook it until it's nicely browned and crispy on the edges.  Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 220 degrees C.

1.  Mix chia seeds with water in a cup, and leave to soak for a few minutes:
- 2 Tblspns chia seeds
- 2 Tblspns warm water

2.  Grind in Thermomix on speed 9 for 1 minute, or until finely ground:
     (Tip: I put a piece of kitchen paper towel under the MC to stop the grains from spitting out onto the lid)
- 120g basmati rice, raw
- 120g brown rice, raw


3.  Add and grind for another minute, or until finely ground:
- 80g millet, raw
- 40g dry chickpeas or buckwheat

4.  Add and mix on speed 6 for 10 seconds:
- 140g arrowroot flour (or tapioca starch, or potato starch)
- 40g mixed seeds (linseeds, pepitas, sunflower seeds)
- 2 tsp dry yeast (or 1 sachet)
- 2 tsp sea salt

5.  Add wet ingredients and mix on speed 5-6 for 15 seconds, using spatula to help it along if needed:
- 380g warm water
- 1 Tbspn apple cider vinegar
- 60g extra virgin olive oil
- soaked chia seeds; water

6.  Divide mixture between the pizza trays (lined with baking paper) and spread into a circle with a spatula.

7.  Drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil, especially around the edges so that they crisp up nicely.  Add herbs or sauces and toppings (see ideas and links above), and bake in hot oven for 25 - 30 minutes, or until browned and crispy.

Pizza Bianca is yummy served with a raw tomato soup!

[Note: This recipe was inspired by Cyndi O'Meara's 

gluten free bread recipe.]

Lemon Butter made with Rapadura

Don't you just love homemade lemon butter?  The tangy, creamy, sweetness goes so well with a thick slice of homemade spelt challah, hot out of the oven.  I could eat it all day, and so could my daughter - so I'm posting my healthier version of lemon butter so she can look it up and make it herself without constantly asking me how to do it!  I use a mixture of Rapadura and stevia in place of sugar, and I really love the flavour the Rapadura gives it - a little bit caramelly and not so sweet that the flavour can't shine through.  

It's really quick and easy, so if you get up in the morning and realize there's nothing to have on your toast, you can whip this up in no time at all.  Try it with lime, too - it's really good!  It's also great as a filling for little tarts made with pie pastry.

1.  Grind for 30 seconds on speed 9:

- 60g Rapadura

2.  Scrape down sides with spatula, insert butterfly, and add:

- 1/4 tsp stevia liquid or powder

- juice of 1 lemon

- 80g ghee or butter or coconut oil

- 2 eggs

3.  Cook for 8 minutes, 80 degrees, speed 3.  The lemon butter should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.  Pour into a clean jar and keep in the fridge.

I have no idea how long this will last - it never lasts more than a few days at our house, because it goes quickly!

Menu Plan - 24th January

I'm not doing too well with getting recipes posted lately, am I!  Sorry about that :)  Although if you go to my Facebook page, you'll see some 'mini recipes' posted there, like Chicken Stock Paste and a 'Green' Sorbet... 

Today, being the first day back at school, was very busy - lots of organizing to do, as well as teaching and reading to the kids - so I'm only just getting around to organizing this week's menu.

This morning I was up really early, so I decided to make pizzas, partly for my dh's lunch, and partly because we like a hearty breakfast - it keeps the kids energized longer for their schoolwork!  So by 6am I had three pizzas made - a fruit pizza for those who like a sweet breakfast (topped with berries, rapadura and lemon juice, and maple syrup) and dairy free savoury pizzas for those who don't (topped with tomato paste and herbs, flavoured tuna, olives, sun dried tomatoes, and dairy free 'melted cheese').  The 'melted cheese' is really yummy - I'm hoping to post the recipe soon.  Here's a couple of photos of the fruit pizza - the bases were just made from spelt scone dough (quick and easy).  (The photo's not real great, as it was too early and the light was low...)

Oh, and don't forget there are only five days left until the winner of my Blog Birthday Giveaway is announced!!  So if you haven't entered yet, you still have time - all you have to do is leave a comment on this post: "Happy Birthday to Quirky Cooking!".  

Here's my plan for this week - if you'd like some breakfast ideas, this menu plan has breakfasts as well as lunches and dinners.  And there's more breakfast ideas here.  There's also a post here about how to begin planning a weekly menu, if you need some help.  Hope you have a great week :)

[tmx = prepared and/or cooked in the Thermomix]

Monday:

(lunch) Creamy Chicken and Brown Rice Soup (tmx) with Spelt Bread (tmx)

(dinner) Chicken & Vegetable Biryani (tmx) on Spiced Basmati Rice (tmx) (a little bit of chicken that needed using up, with lots of veges, and coconut cream & lemon juice instead of yoghurt.)

Tuesday:
(lunch) Raw Tomato Soup (tmx) with gluten free Pizza Bianca (tmx)
(dinner) Chunky Beef Chilli (tmx) with brown rice (tmx) & salad

Wednesday:
(lunch) Pasta e Fagioli (tmx) (with gf pasta)
(dinner) Salmon Rice Casserole (double batch) (tmx) with salad

Thursday:
(lunch) Out at demo
(dinner) Leftover Beef Chilli on baked corn chips with dairy free sour cream (tmx) and salad

Veges for a 'Chop Salad' made in the Thermomix

Friday:
(lunch) 'Fish Fingers' (homemade, cornmeal coatin) and Chop Salad (tmx)
(dinner) Baked potatoes with df sour cream (leftover), beef burgers (no bread) & raw vege sticks

Saturday:
(lunch) Fried Rice (tmx)
(dinner) Salmon Rice Casserole (from freezer) for family while I'm at a demo

Sunday:
(lunch) Roast Turkey & veges (I bought one after Christmas on special - yum!) (gravy in tmx)
(dinner) Leftovers :)