Custard - the TM version

I saw the TC version of custard in the recipe book but didn't like the idea of having to put it in the fridge so I sourced a TM recipe (which I have loved made in a TM) and it works quite well - I found I had to add a little time to the cook and the was some beginnings of the custard starting to burn on the bottom but nothing to be tasted (just slightly more annoying to clean!!)

So - 100g raw sugar whizzed for 20secs on speed 7

Add 500g milk, 2 eggs and 50g plain flour and cook on 90C for 9 mins at speed 4 (I like my custard more on the thicker side so adjust time to taste - 7mins was far to thin in my opinion but somewhere between there and 9 should set you right)

I know TM recipe book has ideas about adding cocoa and lemon rind etc so may play with some of those ideas another day

Meatballs - good for kids dinner or party snack

I had some mince out so thought I'd try some meatballs for the kids dinner - my 4yo is going through a phase where tomatoes are out of favour so no spag/meatballs allowed although I am sure you could easily adapt this recipe for that purpose.

I had 450g Mince
1 clove garlic
60g parmesean
2 pieces of bread
1 egg
sauces for your taste

So I popped the parmesean and garlice in the bowl and turbo'd for say 4 secs

Added mince and did speed 6 for 5 secs (can do more or less to texture you prefer, these were quite sausage mince looking but cooked up well for kids and retained there shaped which can be hard when the mince is more textured)

Add bread crumbs and egg plus the sauces to suit your taste - I used a squirt of BBQ, tomato & worstershire then speed 4 for 5 secs and voila!

Roll the mixture into balls and fry of in some olive oil in the fry pan until cooked.

I served them with some relish and steamed vege and the kids cleaned the plate so always a sign of a winner!!

Lemon Cake

I attempted to convert this lemon cake recipe and it turned out fairly nicely. It is a heavy cake and can be finished off a number of ways depending on tastes/purpose so quite happy with this one!

• So first I wizzed up some caster sugar (330g) out of raw sugar - this was my first time in the TC so I was experimenting a bit, I did 8secs on speed 8 then another 4 as I wanted the sugar quite fine. Set this aside
• Next I peeled a lemon thinly so I just had rind, threw that in the bowl and did a turbo for about 6 secs. Set this aside in with the sugar
• I popped in the butterfly and mixed the greek yoghurt (300g) and 4 eggs on speed 2 for 6 secs, scraped down sides then 6 more secs
• Then add 335g of - supposed to have been plain flour but I accidentally used SR & so instead of 1tbs if using plain I added 1tsp baking powder (I am not a chemist or a cook so I don't understand the science behind how these things work but the cake turned out!) and go speed 3 for 10 secs, scrape down sides then another 10 secs.
• Finally add 250g very soft chopped butter on speed 2 for 5 secs, scrape down sides then another 5 secs (butter will not be fully incorporated and still look lumpy in the mix and this is fine.
• Pour into a large round tin (or 2 loaf tins?) and cook for 50 mins (or until skewer comes out of centre clean) and let cake cool in the tin.

Now for toppings I like to make a lemon syrup and pour over while the cake is hot using 2/3 cup lemon juice and 1/2 cup caster sugar - alternatively you can use a cream cheese icing or just a simple icing sugar/butter/lemon juice icing or something more inventive!

Shortbread - really easy & yummy!

So we just escaped for a week away with the kids and I have newly invigorated to get cooking. Whipped up a batch of shortbread this morning and it is lovely!!

Preheat 160C oven
Wizz up 150g cold cubed butter, 75g caster sugar, 75g cornflour, 150g plain flour for 15secs sp 6
Knead for 10secs then scrape down sides and knead again for 10 secs
The mixture will resemble finely grated parmesean but when you press it into your tin (lined with baking paper - I used a 20cm square) it will come together nicely. I sprinkled some extra sugar on top at this point.
Bake for 35-40 mins (until light golden colour) then I cut mine while hot and transferred to a wire rack to cool.

Warning, appears to be addictive!! Best served with a lovely cuppa, I made this for my Nan's birthday and she thinks its a winner :)

Steamed vege and rice

I used the steamer for some vegies last night and thought I'd test out making rice at the same time - very impressed with the rice which I wasn't expecting! I ordinarily make my rice in a rice cooker and it is fail proof. The TC rice was really good, especially if you don't like gloopy, sticky rice.

I followed the recipe for this one - 1000g water, washed rice in strainer, vegies in steamer basket on top for 15 mins. I had my vege reasonably large still and they were on the crunchy side (somewhere between blanched and steamed) - brocholi and beans on the bottom and corn cobbs on top. I think possibly small cuts or a little longer for the vege may be ideal but it was still very eatable.

Next time I might try just the vege and a sauce in the bottom but this is a winner for a quick steak and vege meal.

Mashed potato and other experiments!

So, my husband loves the TM mash and I thought I would give the TC recipe a go to see how it stacks up. We both loved it although I am partial to the TM recipe as it includes parmesean and just seems to give it a nice boost so will add that next time. Would recommend cutting your potato up reasonably small though as at the demonstration I saw the mash was still a bit 'bitsy', I cut mine up smaller which I think allow it to be thoroughly cooked and was therefore nice and smooth.

I had a couple of failures - cake mixtures seem as though they would definitely benefit from the use of the butterfly for mixing. I was trying to convert a choc zucchini cake recipe and it didn't quite work so will try mixing with the butterfly next time.

Also attempted a fried rice by 'winging it' and that wasn't awesome either - egg didn't seem to cook right but may be a flaw in my methodology rather than a flaw with the TC!

The first recipe - LCM/LTM Bar adaptation

So I got home and felt like Old Mother Hubbard and all I could muster up was the ingredients for these (which, having a 2.5 & 4yo went down a treat!!) - simple and popular.

110g butter
100g sugar
2 tbs honey
1 tsp vanilla
60g Rice Rubbles/Pops
100g Cornflakes
50g dessicated coconut

Put butter, sugar & honey in TC bowl for 5mins at 100C on speed 3
With 1 min to go, add in the vanilla
Add Rice Bubbles, Cornflakes and coconut and mix for 10secs speed 1, then 10 more secs speed 2
Press into a lined rectangle baking tray and refridgerate for a few hours or until firm
I added 'sprinkles' to mine to make them more exciting but you could decorate them with chocolate or anything that tickles your fancy really. You could also make them with just rice bubbles or try cocoa pops etc too I'd imagine!