My Yoghurt Discoveries (2)

SECOND BATCH - MY WAY OF COOKING - FULL CREAM MILK

1 litre of full cream milk (long life)

120g pot set yoghurt

50g milk powder

Place all ingredients into Thermomix and warm for 4 minutes - 50 degrees - Speed 4

Pour yoghurt into small jars or containers and wrap them in a blanket or towel to keep warm.  Leave for 8-12 hours to set - Do not disturb or move the jars around

Put in fridge to chill before serving

HINTS

* Use long life milk, it is important that your milk start off at room temperature
* Use Jalna brand POT SET Yoghurt - This is definitely the key - I've tried with Farmers union, generic brand etc natural yoghurts and it is no where near as thick and creamy - kind of hit and miss with these brands.  Jalna is the WAY TO GO. 
* Use about 400-500g size jars - smaller jars gives you a thicker consistency 
* Don't move your yoghurt around while it is setting - do not disturb the process!!!

This was an okay consistency, not as thick as the other recipe but I really did like that my yoghurt was done and left to set within a very short 4 minutes.   The other downfall was having it set 3 jars instead of one large pot.  I will attempt having it set in the thermoserver next time and see what result I get. 

I would give this 7/10 for taste and texture but 10/10 for the ease and simplicity to make yoghurt.  Perhaps as i reuse this as my culture for next time it will keep getting better and thicker.  

My Yoghurt Discoveries (1)

First Batch - EDC Recipe - Full Cream Milk

800g full cream milk
50g milk powder
3 Tbsp Pot Set Yoghurt

Combine milk and milk powder in Thermomix - Speed 7 for 10 Seconds
Cook for 30 minutes at 90 degrees on Speed 1
Allow to cool to 37 degrees - (I stuck my finger in when the light came up 37 degrees and it still wasn't really body temperature, i waited an extra 10 minutes or so and then it was perfect)
Add the pot set yoghurt - Speed 4 for 4 Seconds
Cook for 10 minutes - 37 degrees - Speed 1
Pour into thermoserver and wrap in a blanket/towel to keep warm (Or use a thermos like Easiyo)
Leave for 8-12 hours to thicken - be sure not to fiddle with it during this process or move it around
Pop in fridge to chill before serving

HINTS: 
* Use Jalna brand POT SET Yoghurt - This is definitely the key - I've tried with Farmers union, generic brand etc natural yoghurts and it is no where near as thick and creamy - kind of hit and miss with these brands.  Jalna is the WAY TO GO.
* When the 37 degree light comes up just test with your finger, it usually needs a tad longer to cool, you'll know if it's too hot - I waited 10 extra minutes
* Don't move your yoghurt around while it is setting - do not disturb the process!!!

This was the best batch I've ever made and I owe it all to the Jalna brand pot set yoghurt.  It was nice and tart and very thick - my husband even commented on how 'shop bought' it looks.  Using the thermoserver was new to me also and it worked great.  Means you can do a double batch if you like.

I would rate this 10/10 - although time consuming and annoying having to wait for the cool down process this is a job worth doing.  I find night time a great time to do it - it can then set overnight and be ready to go in the fridge in the morning

TUESDAY TESTIMONIALS.........

TESTIMONIAL NUMBER 2

A happy customer of mine shares her thoughts on the Thermomix!  

What I love about my new Thermomix:

"Where do I start, and how do I even start to explain how this one little machine (nicknamed "Little Chef" in our house) has literally CHANGED my life and my families life forever?! 

I have had some health issues in the past few years relating to food allergies and so buying food such as take-out or pre-packaged is simply something I can no longer do. I was also very passionate about providing my family with the BEST quality food possible, and get this I'm a working Mum too so I needed something that would take me less time than what I was spending to prepare it?! Can't be done right? Wrong!!! 

The Thermomix has allowed me to cook very healthy food, from scratch quicker than if I had bought pre-packed food. Amazing! The money we have saved is truly noticable too. I spend most of our food money now at the fruit/veg/nut/grains store and a LOT less money and Coles & Woolworths. In fact, with some of the money we have saved we chose to start having our groceires delivered. Even more time I can spend now with my children doing the things that really count in life! 

Thank you Thermomix! I'll never go back to the old days, NEVER."

Mango/Peach Fruity Dream

Once again one of Rachel's favourite - MANGO!!!
So thought I'd whip her up some Fruity Dream with Mango and Peaches


I had cut, peeled and placed Mango in the Freezer early this morning so come the end of dinner tonight all I had to do was chuck it all in for a freshly made ice cream style dessert. 

30g sugar - Speed 9 for 10 seconds
Add Frozen Mango (I used 2 mangos) + 200g Frozen Peaches - Speed 8 for 10 seconds
Insert Butterfly, add 1 egg white - Speed 4 for 45 seconds

Ready to serve!
It would have actually been even better if I whipped it up early today and let freeze even more before serving!

Chicken Hors d'oeuvre As A Main Meal

These are one of Rachel's favourite - I usually serve with salad but tonight with Sweet Potato and Peas and Corn.  A bit of sweet chili sauce for dipping is also yummy - or - my kids like just tomato sauce

Handful of Parsley
Large Handful of Baby Spinach
2 Shallots
1 Onion
2 cloves of garlic
700g chicken breast
130g Feta Cheese
150g Breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 200 degrees
Place parsley, spinach, shallots, garlic and onion in Thermomix - Speed 7 for 8 Seconds
Cut Chicken into large chunks and add to bowl - Closed Lid - Turbo - 5 times 
(Check to see all is minced, if not go again once or twice on Turbo)
Add feta and breadcrumbs and mix on Speed 6 for 8 Seconds
Form small meatballs, approximately 2cm in size and bake in oven for approx 20 minutes.  Toss twice during cooking duration.

Sticky Date Puddings

I needed to improvise at a recent demo and decided to do Sticky Date Puddings for everyone.  They worked a treat and even better I discovered they didn't need egg.....so here is the recipe I used, hope you enjoy as much as all my guests and I did (I just had to have one too of course) 

150g Seeded Dates
300g Boiling Water
1 teaspoon Bicarb soda
50g Butter
90g Brown Sugar
150g Self Raising Flour

Mill sugar 10 sec/ speed 10 set aside
Add dates and water cook 5 min/100c/speed 1
Add bicarbonate and mix 5sec/speed7
Add butter, flour and sugar mix 10 sec reverse speed 6
Divide between molds (I use individual silicone cup cake molds) and place molds in varoma, some on top some on bottom - should fit about 5 in the bottom and 7 on the top tray.  Place lid on Varoma.
Rinse bowl, place 1.2 litres of hot water into bowl set varoma position, steam 25 min speed 3.
Cool slightly before turning out. 

To Make Sauce

120g brown sugar
300g cream
80g Butter
1 tsp vanilla 

Add sugar, cream and butter - 5 min/90c/speed 4

Add vanilla through lid and mix 10 sec speed 4

Pour over hot puddings and enjoy 

TUESDAY TESTIMONIALS.........

TESTIMONIAL NUMBER 1
A happy customer of mine shares her thoughts on the Thermomix!  

I was originally very skeptical about the Thermomix

1/ Would it be able to cook meals big enough for my family of 6 (with two teenage boys)

2/ Could it really make that much of a difference time wise in my kitchen

3/ Could it be worth the hefty price tag?

After attending a couple of demonstrations and researching on the internet i was surprised at how quickly my mind was changed!

There is room for the recipes to be adapted for larger families and we sometimes have left overs!

I feel like it gives me a super power, being able to whip up numerous baking and cooking within the day with little effort - I am slowly eliminating products in my pantry that i don't need to buy any more!!

The added bonus that i hadn't considered is the health benefits to my family, no more jars of pasta sauce or salsa with all their additives and it's so much cheaper to produce my own dairy free gluten free replacements!!

I feel blessed to have this machine in my kitchen!

(wife and mum, age 39)