Come and motivate me to use my Thermomix please.

[BitterChocolate]

I got a Thermomix for Christmas, which has been sitting in its box in the hallway since then. Yesterday I unpacked it and gave it its own space on the counter, which is a step on the way to using it I suppose. I just can't get up any enthusiasm for using it, so have been glowering at it instead. I think it's been glowering back at me, it gives the impression of being a grumpy, sulky piece of machinery.

Are you in the UK? I have a feeling Thermomix is not a really well-known brand in the UK (yet).

I live in Germany and everyone (seriously everyone) has a Thermomix (except for me). It is like a sect here - they are all whittering on about their delightful concoctions and admittedly the stuff they make is fantastic but when I say oh how yummy can I have that recipe, they look aghast and tell me it's a Thermomix recipe (implying I am therefore unable to whip it up using my trusty Kenwood chef and a spot of brain power).

But seriously I have had lovely breads, great jams and chutneys, cakes, soups, fabulous fruit ice cream, raw food salads, marzipan liqueur all done using the Thermomix. Try having a look at their recipe website for some inspiration.

Alternatively move to Germany to be closer to fellow sect members!! Our local Thermomix rep has a massive Thermomix studio and does regular cookery demos with lots of new ideas and things to taste and try. Apparently they are excellent - maybe there is something like that near you?

I quite fancy one when my Kenwood dies (but that will never happen as Kenwoods live forever!)

Give it to me!
Make porridge, now,go make it!
Then soup. Also move to Germany where they are as common as microwaves.

If you are in the UK, there is a UK thermomix owners group on Facebook that's worth joining for motivation.

What sort of things do you love to eat? Why did you buy it?

Sorry just saw it was a present. Did you ask for it? Have you had a demo?

A friend of mine with a Thermomix uses hers religiously for risotto. It self stirs and heats so you can leave it to it for 20 mins. They're always pretty good.

Other than that she uses it for kneading bread, making yoghurt, and general chopping etc.

I'm in the camp of I'd-really-rather-chop-heat-etc myself but if I had one, I would use it for risotto

Everybody in Australia has them too, except me, and I want one!

Are they still ££££? I'm guessing they'll eventually come down in price, but the last time I looked, they were about £1000.

OMG I love my Thermomix. What do you like to eat and what do you find a pain to prepare?

I make DD fruity dream, which is soft serve ice cream, but made entirely from fruit. Risotto also good, béchamel sauce, spag bol, hollandaise, home made mayo, bread, dim sum, sorbet, ooh the nice 5 grain bread too, play-doh for the littlies, veg prep for huevos rancheros, home made chicken kiev, soup.

I could go on. Tell us what you like to eat or if you want to prepare more food from scratch, or get healthier or save money.