ankita, Author at One Girl and her Thermie

Coffee Face Scrub

Ingredients:

80g medium coarsely ground coffee (fresh, if possible)
40g coconut oil
40g vitamin E oil
3 to 5 drops CBD oil (optional)

Recipe:

Weigh coffee into TM bowl and then grind for 30 seconds, speed 6.
Add coconut oil and heat 2 minutes, 50 degrees, speed 3 to combine.
If adding CBD oil, add and then mix 10 seconds, speed 3.
Decant into and bowl and use.
Gently apply and massage into the skin in circular, upward motions for three minutes.
Rinse with water and pat dry.

Disclaimer – Thermomix® is a cooking appliance intended to be only used for food preparation.

However, the recipes here are things I do with my own Thermomix. I also have multiple Thermomixes and TM bowls, so I can safely use separate bowls for making these without any cross-contamination. I also clean the bowls thoroughly with soap, then vinegar, and finally run it through the dishwasher to ensure that it is thoroughly clean before making a food recipe in my bowl. If in any doubt, don’t make them.

Top 10 Bakes during Lockdown

2 Comments / Baking (Sweet), Blog, Breads

Baking has become the nation’s biggest boredom breaker to fill the days of lockdown which has resulted in shortages of flour and yeast all over the country.

Baking is a great way to unwind, pass the time and bring some fun into the household.

So here’s are the top 10 favourites as compiled by BakeryandSnacks.com with my favourite recipe suggestions to use with a Thermomix.

Apple Pie – A truly delicious apple pie is about two things: perfect pastry and a generous filling of sweet, fluffy apples. This recipe delivers on both counts.
Cheesecake – This is a classic New York Baked Cheesecake that turns out perfect every time. It’s actually the most popular recipe on The 4 Blades blog, so when they were developing the ‘Champion Cheesecakes’ section, it was an absolute must-include. This is my all-time favourite recipe and when my Dad tried it, he said I should open a dessert shop, it’s that good.
Rhubard Crumble For a classic spring pudding recipe, make this pretty rhubarb crumble recipe and serve with plenty of custard.
Victoria Sponge The perfect party cake, a Victoria sponge is a traditional bake everyone will love. This recipe from Cookidoo is a good one and from the British Isles on a Plate cookbook.
Cupcakes. I can’t take credit for this recipe, as it’s been converted by my friend Kerry New, who I believe converted it to the Thermomix from Country Women’s Association in Australia (CWAA) a recipe that her grandmother made. Hats off to the original creator of this recipe, it is still single-handedly my favourite vanilla cake recipe and my go-to for birthday cakes and cupcakes. There’s also variations to the recipe which turn this basic recipe into chocolate, coffee, orange or lemon cake. No wonder it is my go-to.
Bread Cooking can be good for the soul and making bread is such a rewarding, therapeutic, tactile thing – you’ll be so proud of yourself when you’ve cracked it. If you have never made bread before, I suggest you try this ‘Quick Bread’ recipe on Cookidoo which uses a Dutch Oven (I use my Le Creuset Cast Iron Casserole) to bake the bread. Do try it.
Chocolate chip cookies A chocolate chip cookie is a drop cookie that originated in the United States and features chocolate chips or chocolate morsels as its distinguishing ingredient. Circa 1938, Ruth Graves Wakefield added chopped up bits from a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar into a cookie.
Lemon Drizzle Cake Everyone needs an easy lemon drizzle cake that is super-quick to bake and perfect to wheel out for office cake days or visiting mothers-in-law.
Savoury Pie The secret it a good pie is the ingredients. This chicken and leek pie is a Cookidoo recipe from the British Isles on a Plate cookbook. I absolutely adore this recipe, as from start to finish the recipe is made in the Thermomix and it’s a great recipe.
Rainbow Coloured Sponge Cake I’d like to take inspiration from Great British Bake-Off winner Candice Brown reveals how to make this show-stopping rainbow cake. Candice Brown’s rainbow cake recipe would be the perfect centrepiece for any charity bake sale, or party. The Great British Bake Off winner has created this showstopping rainbow cake to support children’s charity the Rainbow Trust – who offer support to seriously ill children and their families. And yes, I know this link isn’t to a Thermomix recipe. But if you’ve got this far, you surely would ve able to convert a recipe by now. If not, this is a fabulous time to try.

12-reasons to invest in a Thermomix

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With our 0% finance offer on in April 2020, available for all purchases for Thermomix TM6, I thought I’d give you 12-reasons to invest in a Thermomix this month.

1. To simplify your life (in and out of the kitchen)

Doesn’t it feel good to declutter?!

The Thermomix replaces over 20 of your household appliances. Imagine the space you’ll create in your kitchen cupboards. Have a garage sale or eBay those big items (like the bread maker) that take up a lot of room for the limited time they’re in use! No need for measuring cups with the built-in scales in the Thermomix, or for smaller chopping gadgets that take time to pull apart and clean.

This is actually a picture of my friend and TM customer’s kitchen redesign by Omni Home Designs in Hertfordshire. Isn’t it just beautiful?

2. To save you valuable time in the kitchen.

Chopping, mincing, milling, grinding, stirring and kneading all done for you!

We all see how life throws certain demands at us and it’s easy to take short cuts in the things that matter most. Food preparation is one of those things! We choose quick frozen, or takeaway meals because we haven’t got the time to prepare more nutritious food…and quite frankly, convenience is killing us. Then, there’s the time you save cleaning up- one seamless, non-porous bowl helps clean itself! This is the ultimate fast food machine!

3. To eliminate those packaged foods with harmful additives and preservatives.

It allows you to avoid the chemicals in modern processed foods and returns you to the tradition of wholesome home-style cooking using the technology of the future. Make your own delicious nutritious marinades, sauces, butter, condiments like mayonnaise & custard.

This is the ultimate health machine.

4. To save you money in your trolley on many general items. (And on takeaway)

Did you know you could make 1 litre of fresh fruit sorbet for just £2.00? 500ml of Tesco’s Raspberry sorbet costs £2.20, so for the same cost, you can make double.

A good quality bread in the Thermomix will cost you around 50p as to £2-4 in the supermarket
Risotto in the TM is around £5 to make and it serves 5, I have paid up to £18 in a restaurant for a serving for one! These are just a few ways the Thermomix saves you money.

5. To save on your energy bill

The Thermomix costs around 15p an hour to run. When I got my Thermomix I reduced the amount of gas I was using with my cooker and my energy bill went down 20%; now that’s impressive especially since I was suddenly using the oven a whole lot more. We’ve done analysis that cooking a soup is 40% more energy-efficient than doing on the stove-top.

Faster and more efficient, and has no rival on the market. Featuring a gearless motor, Solingen steel blades, and a stainless steel bowl, Thermomix brings a new dimension to food preparation and cooking. The Thermomix is great for families on a budget!

6. Creativity made easy

Beautiful, infinite recipe possibilities with a line up of many books, websites and our very own recipe platform, called Cookidoo. With over 50,000 recipes available at your fingertips and new recipe collections every single week, in every single country, there’s always something new to create.
Cook like a pro with gourmet recipes all made by your Thermomix. The Thermomix gives you the edge!

7. It will reduce your carbon footprint (and your household rubbish)

It’s dreadful the amount of waste the average home creates on a weekly basis. Seeing that many of your meals can be made from basic ingredients such as vegetables, grains, legumes nuts and seeds, you’ll see a dramatic impact on your household waste. No more juice containers, no more cardboard boxes, less tin cans, and a reduction in plastics; the earth will have you to thank.
The environment is grateful for the Thermomix!

8. It will get the whole family preparing nutritious meals.

The delight to many of my customers has been, that their family has taken on more meal preparation! Previously, meals in my home were primarily made by me but now with the Thermomix having gone digital and easier to use, even hubby’s that don’t cook enjoy and appreciate the gadget that ends all gadgets! My kids as young as 8 and 11-years now use the Thermomix guided cooking functions unaided. The Thermomix brings families together in food preparation.

9. It’s compact and portable, making it the perfect travel companion. Who wants to be spending time cooking while on holidays?

Many of my customers have taken their Thermomix in their campers and away to their holiday homes as an all-in-one appliance that does the lot. You don’t even need saucepans and a kettle. This is the ultimate super kitchen appliance. I regularly take mine on holiday with me and last year, when we went to France, my Thermomix was slipped in the back of the car for our self-catering holiday. Yes, I know a holiday is a time to go out and eat, indulge in local cuisines and I’m all for that. But eating 21-meals in a week’s holiday out can be expensive and sometimes, that quick breakfast of perfectly boiled eggs or no-lump porridge for breakfast, or quick tomato sauce and pasta for little ones who need to eat early is a lifesaver.

10. It puts the enjoyment back into cooking.

The Thermomix does the hard jobs for you like stirring the risotto for 17 minutes while freeing you up to go have a shower, check your emails or just go put your legs up! What about the lump-free bechamel or custard without burning the bottom of the pan…gotta love that! The Thermomix will give you a love for cooking again.

11. To make beautiful homemade inexpensive gifts is just another way to save with the Thermomix. Give a gift that you’ve lovingly prepared and everyone will enjoy.

Make your own Christmas pressies such as Dukka, Lemon butter, Jam, and homemade chocolates!
The Thermomix makes gift-giving affordable and gift ideas easy. It’s also much cheaper than buying a hamper.

12. Makes entertaining a breeze!

Whip up dips and salads in just seconds. I use to spend the day in the kitchen preparing a dinner party- not anymore. I can whip up all sorts of delicious recipes in no time from starter to dessert.
Then there’s the superb cocktails, and after dinner coffee…oh yes it makes Cappuccinos & Lattes too! The Thermomix is being bought by cafes and restaurants all over the world!

*As you can see the investment in initial outlay, is nothing compared to all the things you get back with Thermomix. This is why Thermomix is sold every 2 minutes around the world. In China, during the Covid_19 lockdown, sales of Thermomix went up 80% as people were home.

Why wait when you can buy now, pay later?

You may like to take the opportunity to with our Ikano finance options to purchase a Thermomix.

If you would like a chance to see the Thermomix in action, why not join me on one of my Virtual Cooking demonstrations. I’m hosting them every couple of days. Why not? We’re all home.
To book call me today on 07977 563537 or see one of my socials for more recipe inspiration in terms of photos and videos.

Liquid Soap

Ingredients:

120g soap bar, cubed
1200g of water

Recipe:

Blitz soap bar on speed 5, slowly working up to speed 8 until fine.
Melt at 80 degrees, speed 2 for 2 minutes or until melted. Some people find they need to increase the temp and speed slightly. If its not melting increase to 90 degrees, speed 3. Add a little of the water to help the process.
Continue to mix at 80 degrees, speed 2 whilst pouring water slowly in to the bowl through the hole in the lid.
Continue to mix for 2 mins or until nice and smooth.
It will look like milky water. Don’t panic like I did. I almost threw it out thinking I put too much water in.
Pour into a big bowl.
Now leave it for the day.
As time goes on it thickens. Just keep giving it a stir every hour or so. Its not essential to stir hourly, just regularly.
I bottled mine after approximately 12 hours. Keep any extra in a bottle in a cool dark spot until needed.
If you find it’s too thick just pop it back into the TM Bowl and blitz on speed 8 for 30-60 secs. That will smooth it out again.
Thin with a little water if needed

Disclaimer – Thermomix® is a cooking appliance intended to be only used for food preparation.

Homemade hand sanitiser

Ingredients:

833g isopropyl alcohol (99%)
38g hydrogen peroxide (3%)
14g glycerin
115g water
A few drops of essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

Add the isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and glycerin to the mixing bowl of your Thermomix. Mix the ingredients together for 20 seconds at speed 4.
Slowly add the water to the mixing bowl, mixing the ingredients together for another 20 seconds at speed 4.
If desired, add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture, and mix everything together for a final 10 seconds at speed 4.
Pour the hand sanitizer into clean bottles with pump dispensers or spray caps, and label them with the date and contents. Make sure the bottles are tightly sealed and store them in a cool, dry place.

That’s it! You can now use your homemade hand sanitizer as needed.

Disclaimer – Thermomix® is a cooking appliance intended to be only used for food preparation.

This recipe was converted from the article in the Independent online article, CORONAVIRUS: HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN HAND SANITISER, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS.

How to make Easter Eggs using natural food dyes

Leave a Comment / Basics, Dairy, Non-food, Poultry, Vegan & Vegetarian

The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection. However, real eggs continue to be used in Central and Eastern European traditions. Although eggs, in general, were a traditional symbol of fertility and rebirth, in Christianity, for the celebration of Eastertide, Easter eggs symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus, from which Jesus resurrected.

The practice of coloring Easter eggs is very much alive in Poland today as well as enjoyed by Polish people all over the world. There are several techniques for making ‘pisanki including the use of wax flowing from a pipe or funnel, producing richly ornamented designs or the etching of designs onto a previously colored egg. The geometric and floral patterns or the animal and human images produced reveal a high level of craftsmanship and artistry.

The pisanki derive from an ancient tradition when eggs, the symbol of life, were endowed with magical properties and were thought to ensure both a plentiful harvest and good health. The name Pisanki comes from the Polish word “pisac”, which means to write.

This method to dye eggs using natural foods is definitely one for the bucket list this Easter and very easy to prepare using your Thermomix. Super fun times for the whole family. I love colouring Easter eggs and until recently I always used to buy these little food colouring tablets in my local supermarket. This year I decided to go a little more natural and try something different. I am so impressed with the results of Thermomix natural Easter egg dye and I can only recommend you try it for yourself. It is a great way to make use of leftover vegetables and scraps that you would have otherwise chucked away. There are so many colours you can make but I have listed my favourites and also included a method below for you. When you’re done with the big Easter egg hunt, simply use up the leftover boiled eggs to make my tasty Egg salad.

On the Saturday before Easter Sunday, Poles paint hard-boiled eggs (called pisanki) and then have them blessed. I’m not sure given the current status of lockdown if we can go to church but we’ll be sending our prayers around the world. Happy Easter.

Egg substitutes

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Whether you’re egg-free by choice or allergy, or just can’t get hold of eggs, I thought I’d help with a trusty guide for egg substitutes in baking and cooking.

Typically, eggs in baking us generally are used for two reasons; either that act as a binder which means that are used to hold the recipe together or they act as a leavening agent meaning that is used to help the recipe rise. The binding element helps combine the ingredients and hold them together giving the food it’s structure. The leavening helps trap pockets of air in the foods allowing them to expand during cooking. Think soufflés, angel cake, and meringues which all have a light airy texture. Sometimes they are used to help bind and rise.

Eggs also have moisture functions in which the liquid for the eggs is absorbed into the other ingredients which help keep the finished recipe moist. They can also improve the flavour and appearance of recipes.

Fortunately for us, there are plenty of alternatives to eggs.

Bananas. Mashed bananas are a popular egg replacement. About 65g of banana is the equivalent of 1 egg. The only downside to baking with bananas is that you might have a mild banana flavour, so substitution works best in cakes, muffins, brownies, and quick breads. You can also use mashed avocado or pureed applesauce and pumpkin in the same quantity.
Vinegar and Baking soda. Mixing 7g of baking soda and 15g of vinegar can replace one egg. Apple Cider vinegar or white distilled vinegar are my recommendations. when mixed together, the vinegar, and baking soda start a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide and water (I know I’m a chemist) which makes baked good light and airy. This alternative works best for cakes and cupcakes.
Yoghurt and Buttermilk. Both of these are good substitutes. It’s best to use a plain version as flavoured varieties include the flavour and are usually sweetened. You can use 60g of yoghurt or buttermilk for egg required and this can be used for cake and cupcakes. You can also make your own buttermilk by souring milk with a couple of drops of lemon juice or vinegar to curdle.
Aquafaba. Ever opened a can of chickpeas or beans? Aquafaba is the liquid leftover from cooking chickpeas and legumes. The liquid has a similar consistency or raw egg whites, making it an excellent substitution for many recipes where just egg whites are required. You can use 45g of aquafaba to replace one egg. You should also try using aquafaba to make meringues, they are amazing.
Nut butters such as peanut, cashew or almond butter. About 60g of nut-butter is enough to replace one egg and best used in recipes where they already have a nut as an ingredient such as brownies or cookies.
Carbonated water can add moisture to the recipe plus acting as a leavening agent. The carbonation traps air bubbles which help the recipe become light and fluffy. You can replace the egg with 60g of carbonated water.
Silken tofu. Tofu is condensed soy milk that has been processed and pressed into solid blocks. The texture of tofu varies, the more water that has been pressed out, the firmer it gets. Silken tofu is soft as it has high water content and therefore just 60g is needed to replace one egg. Silken tofu is an excellent alternative as it is also flavourless.
Ground flaxseeds or chia seeds. Most would suggest flaxseed or chia seeds higher in their list as both are highly nutritious. High in omega-3 fatty acids, fibre and plant compounds, just 5g flaxseeds or chia seeds with 45g water blended together is an alternative to one egg. However, I will add live in a household with kids, think they are gourmet food connoisseurs who can taste the hidden vegetables in tomato sauce or when I’ve swapped plain flour for semolina in pizza bases, so personally don’t get away with this one. But if you can, then it’s great.

Luckily, plenty of foods can replace eggs in baking, though not all of them act the same way. Some egg alternatives are better for heavy, dense products, while others are great for light and fluffy baked goods. You may need to experiment with various egg alternatives to get the texture and flavor you desire in your recipes.

Do let me know how you get on.

Thermomix: Your Best Friend in a Crisis

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Thermomix in a Crisis For all those Thermomix owners out there right now, I thought I would share this article here – Thermomix: Your Best Friend in a Crisis. I hold my hands up that I didn’t write this and don’t know who has (I did ask but haven’t had confirmation yet), but I thought it was important to share with you how Thermomix makes healthy home cooking, fast, easy and fun. It is the perfect solution for any household and invaluable as we plan to cope with the Coronavirus crisis and potentially long stretches of self-isolation.

(For my own views and rambling – see the other post)

Thermomix: Your Best Friend in a Crisis

Why?

Anyone can cook a nutritious meal from scratch.

Yes, anyone just needs to follow our guided cooking instructions on the screen. This means that even if the main cook becomes poorly the family can still eat well and stay well with healthy mealtimes

You can cater effortlessly for your special occasions at home.

With Thermomix you can celebrate with restaurant-quality food effortlessly. Starter, main courses, dessert. Thousands of possibilities plus cocktails too! Entertaining at home reduces your contacts with the outside world and with Thermomix self-isolation celebrations can be memorable!

What we choose to eat is now even more important! With Thermomix healthy food is easy and effortless.

What we eat does make a difference to our wellbeing and ability to fend off illness. Fresh vegetables and fruits are key to boosting our immune system and with our Cookidoo recipe platform, there is plenty of inspiration for how to include and create healthier meals and treats.

We can make our own kitchen basics.

With the possibility of food stores limiting some basics we can be reassured that with Thermomix we can make many basics ourselves. From yoghurts, bread, stock paste, sauces and so much more!

Store cupboard mealtimes with Thermomix.

Should food shopping not always be possible we can rely on Thermomix to help create delicious meals from store cupboard ingredients. The search function on Cookidoo enables you to type in the main ingredients to hand and then it lists the possibilities.

Enjoy your own takeaways or ‘fakeaways’ with Thermomix.

Perhaps you are unsure of the safety now about getting those takeaways in for the family? With Thermomix pizza nights, Indian feasts and Chinese are all easy and healthier!

A chance for the whole family to enjoy cooking.

With many of us spending more time at home there will be more time to enjoy cooking as a pastime. Inspire the children and encourage and teach healthier eating. With Thermomix cooking is fun with perfect results every time!

Thank goodness for Thermomix! The smartest kitchen appliance that will quickly become your best friend in the kitchen and especially in these uncertain times. Available with a bespoke, personal service to help you use your Thermomix to its full potential.

#Thermomixathome Cooking experiences tailored for you online by our expert advisors.

Covid_19: Stay home, stay safe, stay healthy

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I was debating whether to write this or not. I’m not actually sure how many of you read this blog part of my website…and when I decided not many, it’s more for me to put my thoughts down on how I’m feeling, I decided to go with it.

It’s a strange feeling. I’ve never felt like this before. I don’t think any of us have. It feels like the Covid_19 pandemic is following us everywhere. For me, it resonates more. I have been following it since it started. I have a good friend and TM-client who moved from the Isle of Dogs with her family a few years ago to Wuhan; the place where it all started. I have been following her and her husband’s social media posts on how they were and what the situation was like from the start of the lockdown in China, first hand. I watched Sky News as Flora walked off the first plane that evacuated British Citizens and taken to Arrow Park Hospital. The hospital where I grew up when I first moved to the UK as my parents were both doctors. We lived in hospital accommodation for the first few years until we moved to a house nearby. This wasn’t just a virus that was happening to someone else, it was happening to people I know and in places, I had visited, lived.

The UK was still oblivious to it all and so was I. We went on our usual half-term ski holiday with the kids. To Italy. It was only a couple of days after we came back that the outbreak in Italy was announced. The news talking about yellow, orange and red zones. Thankfully, we were in Sauze D’Oulx, outside the areas of concern at the time. The kids were already in school for two days, I had been back at work for just one. I was asked to stay at home until they worked out we had been in the safe zone. We carried on as normal.

The end of February came and went, March started. It’s was World Book Day and my husband’s birthday. We celebrated with restraint. It wasn’t a big birthday but equally, one shouldn’t have a celebration and not mark it. We both sat and had a drink contemplating how life was going to be different, very different in the next few months.

All too soon, it was. We started hearing the words social distancing and self-isolation, neither of which you can truly do if you have to jump on the tube to go to a central London day job. In my part-time, FE lecturing job, by mid-month, we moved to face-to-face lessons and adapting to remote teaching. Mircosoft Teams, a new challenge. Everyone around us started panic buying. There was a shortage of toilet rolls. And rice. Flour. Pasta. Tinned tomatoes. Schools closed. Restaurants closed. All non-essential shops closed. The number of cases in London was about the third of the entire country. We had to lock down, shut down.

And it started to hit home. By Year 6 daughter, came home from her last day of school last Friday. We don’t know if this is goodbye to the school that has been the only one she’s known for the last 8-years. To her, the cancellation of school is not a holiday. She has missed her school ski-trip which was supposed to depart tomorrow. A trip that her brother was due to go on for the first time. It was their only opportunity to do it together. It’s a time she doesn’t get to spend with their friends in the last few months before they finish school. She’s anxious, realising they may never be able to walk the halls for the last time or attend their leaving parties. She’s sad that the sports seasons, events and concerts that her & her cohort have practiced and prepared for, and looked forward to for so many years, may have come to an end before they’ve had the chance to take the field, court, or stage one last time. They don’t know if they will have their Outward Bound Adventure. Whilst for Yasmin and her friends hope this isn’t the end, there have been tears knowing that nothing feels right or the same anymore. And then homeschooling started. Work from home while homeschooling. That’s a whole other blog post.

Thermomix-wise they have allowed us to do virtual demonstrations since the second week of March. They quickly introduced this as more and more customers were cautious, understandably, of having Advisors come into their homes. With a large workforce, all self-employed, it has been unclear what the roles and responsibility Vorwerk UK have to their sales team. After all, we are not employed, we are self-employed Independent Advisors. They couldn’t tell us to do anything but only guide us and tell us to keep to government protocols. Advisors who were continuing to go out and offer Cooking Experiences were to follow WHO guidelines which include washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces with a disinfectant and asking any hosts to cancel or guests if they were sick to stay at home, if they were sick.

They introduced Virtual Cooking Experiences for those who would still love to see a Thermomix in action but prefer to do it online. Some Advisors out there are comfortable with this, some aren’t. I’m lucky that I’ve been in the business for over 10 years so one, know the demonstration, and any iteration of it, like the back of my hand. Having to present in my non-Thermomix life every day is easy for me. BUT doing it online is a new challenge; one that we have had to adapt to. So watch out on my socials both Facebook and Instagram for the odd video – maybe in front of the camera, but mostly photos turned into videos.

Whilst, I am still passionate that Thermomix can help us eat well and healthy during these days, I am conscious of not using this pandemic purely for personal gain. I don’t want to push my product or services onto others when I know that there are people getting sick, people are dying, there are food shortages because of those panic buyers. Restaurants and cafes closing down, businesses having to close and people have real financial woes. Those who are self-employed or business owners have little or no income coming in. Those employed, don’t know if their employers have the income to pay them long-term. When there are key workers and NHS frontline staff going out every day putting themselves in harm’s way, without the proper personal protective equipment.

What I will promise though is to stay open and stay active. Honest and transparent as always. Give engaging content as often as I can (remember I am still remote working and homeschooling).

For my entire readership, I will be sharing useful information. Where I am sourcing my staples such as milk, eggs, fruit, and vegetables from and what substitutions I will use when I can’t source ingredients. If my research can help you, then my job is done.

For those who have Thermomix, please stay in touch. I have a well-stocked household (after all I am a foodie, first and foremost) so I will be sharing what we as a family are cooking and eating while in lockdown. I hope some of the things that are are able to make will inspire you to make them too. Tomorrow, we plan to make play dough; something we haven’t done in years but given that we’re home, it’s the perfect opportunity to make it again. Customers have been sending me recipes for liquid hand soap and antiseptic hand sanitizers. I’m not sure how scientifically accurate they are yet, but I’m willing to give it a go. I have plenty of food and non-food recipes, to keep us occupied during this time.

For those who don’t have a Thermomix, but would like to consider buying one, then please stay in touch. Hopefully, the same photos and videos will show you what can be done in a Thermomix and during this time, give you the time to fully utilize it. I had one lady call me just last week, saying that, “If we’re going into lockdown, now is the time to have a toy”. She had been contemplating purchasing a Thermomix since 2017. I managed to complete her order and conduct in-person welcome visits before the school closed and we as a family went into lockdown. I’m glad I did; they were a super nice family with teenage kids and I’m sure will enjoy their purchase. I bet they are already wishing they would have had one sooner. Most of my clients say that. I am still happy to do virtual demonstrations and welcome visits, but during this time I might not be advertising or promoting Thermomix as much as I usually do. But I am here so please feel free to contact me.

I’m going to use the time to hug and kiss my kids a little bit more, snuggle up, play with them, talk to them, read together, cook together. Kiss them a little more. They are not babies anymore but I finally understand now when my Dad looks at me and sees a 6-year old with pigtails, even though I’m fortysomething now, I see my kids as babies. Babies who are helpless and need me to be their carer and provider. Hopefully, in reality, we not kill each (we are all living in a confined space for an indefinite amount of time) but appreciate each other a little more.

So, whether anyone really reads this blog or not, all I wanted to say to you all, is to stay home, stay safe and stay healthy.

From my family to yours, with lots and lots of love.

Keep cooking up a storm, Ankita