Category: Our House

Woohoo, it’s challenge time again and the first challenge for 2015 is…

lets go back to basics – with a 14 day challenge –
12th Jan- 25th Jan
Your challenge is to use your Thermomix every day for 14 days –
It doesn’t matter what you use it for – get out your EDC or B2B cookbooks –
Look though and set yourself a plan – even if it is just doing your rice – a simple salad – or boiling our eggs for lunches – for those not yet feeling confident
For our members who are Thermie “pros” – you can still participate in the challenge – your everyday cooking may well be the inspiration others need

          

12th January: it’s summer here, school holidays and warm. Perfect time to have a go at making icypoles. Orange Calippo-style icy poles.  Yummo. Must try the lemon version.
13th January: day before payday. Perfect time to clean out the fridge and make savoury mince. Added bonus – makes enough so I can freeze for another meal. Also really nice cold in sandwiches or as shepherd’s pie.
14th January: hubby decided to have lamb cutlets. Miss k & I had salmon cakes from the Baby & Toddler book. Miss A had sweet potato (also from Baby & Toddler book)
15th January: someone (not mentioning any names) left a bag of groceries in the car which we didn’t realise til I went to cook tea last night. Queue frozen puff pastry that had defrosted. Made sausage rolls and quick pizza scrolls (they aren’t thermo but oh well)
16th January: Friday night is when hubby goes out to a mates to play Shadowrun. Decided I needed a sweet treat all to myself (well actually it was to freeze for daycare/kindy lunches) so made banana, honey & cinnamon muffins.
17th January: Miss A’s choice for tea – chicken so I made Thermofun chicken vol au vents. Totally forgot to take a photo. They were delicious!
18th January: A quick & easy tea – curried sausages.
19th January: Steak & veg night. Made honey joys as a treat for lunchboxes. 
20th January: We had pizza for tea. Made cupcakes as a trial for Australia Day
21st January: my Dad’s birthday. Converted his favourite cake – Chocolate Orange Drizzle cake 
22nd January: Beef & bacon pasta bake. A great one to cook then freeze for later (or have for lunch the next day)
23rd January: ThermoFun Coconut chicken curry. Even made my own coconut cream (OMG this is so easy & quick). 
24th January: Mini Italian lamb meatballs. These are super yummy. Miss K loved them so a possibility for school lunches. Made heaps so froze some. Will make them for Miss K’s birthday
25th January: ThermoFun Lamington cupcakes for a pre-Australia Day event. From the Australia Day recipe box – you can download it here.

I wasn’t sure how I’d go with this, especially when hubby said he wanted a chook roast but we managed and we got to try some new recipes, so it’s always a win.

Day 1 saw me making the salmon in the Varoma.

Day 2 was homemade pizza dough from the EDC (Everyday Cookbook). I love this pizza dough recipe. I made smaller pizzas this time so had dough left over and have frozen it for quick pizzas for lunch or tea (or a late night snack). We had a garlic pizza to share, I had BBQ base, ham, onion and cheese, hubby & Miss K had tomato base, salami, ham and cheese.

Day 3 – we were out all day but I whipped up the 5 second chocolate coconut slice. I love this slice and will often whip it up if we’re going somewhere and I want to take a little something.

Day 4 – savoury mince (with a side of wedges, sour cream & sweet chilli). So yummy. Might add some more herbs next time. Made enough to feed 2 adults and a 4yo. Hubby had seconds and there was still heaps to freeze for another night.

Day 5 – first time cooking a roast chicken in the Thermo. Used the recipe from the ThermoFun Cook Along. Super moist. Downside was, even with putting it in the oven for 15 minutes, no crispy skin. I can live with that.

Day 6 – Chicken mornay with leftover chicken. Yes the recipe is tuna but we substituted chicken for tuna. Very  nice. Served with rice. Would be yum mixed with pasta and sprinkled with some cheese

Day 7 – Sausage casserole from ThermoFun. Hubby thought this had too much tomato. I loved it, mixed with some sweet chilli sauce. Miss K loved it & has 3 helpings!!

Day 8 – Yoghurt (using the ThermoFun recipe – this is one of the best I’ve tried and turns out nice and thick) & berry coulis (EDC). So much cheaper than buying it. And I forgot to photograph it :/

Day 9 – Ended up staying at Mum& Dad’s for tea but had made some brownies earlier in the day. LOVE these brownies

Day 10 – Creamy tomato & bacon pasta. A quick, yum family favourite

Day 11 – Bourbon chicken (a ThremoFun club recipes). Mixed responses. Was nice but not sure if we’d have it again.

Day 12 –Honey Mustard Lamb roast (before cooking and served with roast veg)

 

Day 13 – bread. The BEST every white bread (so far). Super crispy crust and soft bread in the middle. Delicious – especially strait out of the oven spread with butter *yum*

Day 14 – Finally… curried sausages from the recipe community. Always yum. I added a bit of coconut this time and it’s yum.

Would I give this a go again? Hell yeah. I’ve enjoyed trying new recipes and using my Thermomix more. Maybe I’ll make it a monthly project.

We’ve had our thermomix for just over a year now and I still don’t use it enough as I could/should. So for the next 14 days I am going to make myself use it everyday. I’ll be sharing photos and links to the recipes I cook unless the recipe is from the ThermFun recipe club. 

Tonight’s meal was a ThermoFun recipe – Salmon Steaks with Cucumber & Spiced Yoghurt

I’ve never cooked fish in the thermo and I know how touchy salmon can be so jumping in at the deep end LOL

The salmon was perfectly cooked and melted in your mouth. I’d change the sauce slightly next time I made it – less coriander – but that was very yum too and would make a nice refreshing dip. 

I’ll be back at the end of the fortnight to let you know how I’ve gone but you can follow along daily as I’ll be Instagraming what I make – follow me @nightwolfs_den

With winter in full swing here in Tasmania I thought I’d share some of my favourite soup recipes – Mum’s Pumpkin Soup & Mum’s Carrot Soup

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