The World's Smallest, Smartest Kitchen

Bronwyn & Aunt Dympna

Bronwyn with Gem & I and our new gadget

Chick Pea Soup (with spinach leaves) note pizza in rear of photo

My first home-made butter

Before I flew up here to Darwin, my sister Gemma & I had an exciting delivery - our brand new Thermomix. You may recall from the previous blog that our Aunt Dympna purchased one for us to share - given that I am in America for six months of the year, that should work well. So long as Gemma & Bill can part with it on my return!

For those of you unacquainted with Thermomix, just click on the link and check it out. Mind you, this is the Aussie site but if you are in America, there is sure to be a site just for you! Just google it. The appliance is the most popular selling item on bridal registers in Europe, and 3rd on the list in Australia - but that is likely to change as Australian's are only just getting to hear about it.

Anyway, my ex-sister-in-law Bronwyn made the trip down from Tambourine Mountain to make the delivery. She bought her own Thermomix down as well, as I had plans for her & I to create a dinner party for 6, using the new kitchen appliance - having two on hand would make things faster. To kick start the dinner party we had chick pea soup (made from dried chick peas) served with rosemary & garlic pizza (the pizza dough made in machine but cooked in oven), Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice for the main course, and Sticky Date Pudding for dessert (mixture made in machine and baked in oven). It was all so easy that I didn't want to stop 'playing' with it - so while Bronwyn was there I got her to guide me as I made my own vegetable stock to use in soups, casseroles etc. When you notice the vegetables in your crisper are starting to look a bit limp, blend them up in the Thermomix & simply add fresh herbs (we grow basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano & mint) and add salt (for preservative) and it keeps in the fridge for ages (thanks to the salt) and can also be frozen. Two dessert spoons of stock is equivalent to one stock cube. I intend to make up an ice tray full of 2 dessert spoon lots and freeze. Once in a ziplock bag in the freezer, I can just pull a cube out for my soups & casseroles. I will also make enough to give a bag full to my sister & Aunt. I had read where you can make your own butter, so I wanted to give that a go too. Using 600ml pure cream (makes about 300ml butter) you blend it until butter has formed. Pour off the buttermilk (save for making scones, cakes or soups) and pour in chilled water with some salt added. Rinse off again and then I added a bit of olive oil to make it spreadable. Too easy. I compared the cost of making it compared to buying it - and saved a few dollars on each tub of butter. But the best part of Thermomix cooking is that fresh ingredients are used and there are no additives such as dyes and preservatives that are found in shop bought foods.

Most weeks Murray makes up a week's worth of vegetable soup to have some each lunch time. It is his way of keeping his cholesterol under control by having lots of vegetables. He usually fills a crock pot with vegetables and stock & cooks it for 8 hrs on low. However, he ran out of time last week (golf & fishing take up time you know) and his vegetables were left sitting on the bench waiting for his attention. So I decided to make it in the Thermomix. I roughly chopped the veggies (pumpkin, potato, carrot, parsnip, turnip, onion, sweet potato) added some fresh herbs from the garden and 2 dessertspoons of the stock I had just made - in just 20 mins his soup was ready. He said it was delicious. Usually he also adds a few cups of soup pea mix, so I will add that next time too - might increase the cooking time by about 15 mins, but well worth it for the added bulk/fibre & goodness they give the soup. All helps with cholesterol lowering.

I don't get back home to Ballina for another week, and I am looking forward to playing with my new toy when I get home. Something to look forward to...meanwhile I am having a great time here in Darwin catching up with my son Mark and my nephew & 3 nieces - not to mention my sister Gemma & Bill are up here too. We are here to share in the Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin. Details will be in the next blog in a week or so.