lockdown cooking Archives - One Girl and her Thermie

South Asian Thermomix Cooking Class

Recording of our South Thermomix South Asian Class on Saturday 20th March 2021.

We, as a team, have been doing several virtual cooking classes since lockdown and it’s a real joy for us. It gives us an opportunity to do some team activities and really does feel like a team, as well as sharing our hints & tips with you. This was particularly special for me as both David and Richard have recently been recruited as Advisors on our Owners Program. They haven’t even met in person, yet I think they pulled off a fabulous class! I’m so proud to have them on my team.

We’d love to see the culinary creations you’ve been inspired to make since the Class, so please share your photos on the Facebook Page or Group and Instagram of your Thermomix® Advisor – don’t forget to #thermomixukandireland and our Advisor Here is the Instagram handles of today’s team, please do hashtag us on any of the dishes you make after the class.

Do come back to me with feedback on the class, we’d love to hear your comments and also suggestions for future virtual classes. You can do this either by replying to my email or if you would like to share your feedback publicly, you can do this via this Google link (One Girl and her Thermie)

Finally, whilst these classes are offered free and to Thermomix customers, during the lockdown, I’m personally asking if you are able to give a donation then please do. I am supporting a charity that helps feeds people. The Trussell Trust has pledged to stop people from going hungry across the country. With more than 1,200 food bank centres across its network, the charity will spend any donations on getting meals to those who need them most right now. At times like this, I am more aware of those not as fortunate as we may be, so request if you can spare a pound, two or ten, to stop help UK poverty and hunger, then please donate here

If you would like to book a demonstration or find out more, please contact me on Ankita@onegirlandherthermie.co.uk or call/text/ WhatsApp me on 07977 563537

Thermomix Vegan Class

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Recording of our team Thermomix® Vegan Cooking Class in January 2021.

It was lovely to share with you some of our vegan favourites with you – we’re sure you’ll agree that life is when you get together and share your love and passion for food.

Recipes we cooked today include:

Turmeric Wellness Shots
https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r341167

Thai Broccoli and Spinach Soup
https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r341816

Vegan Pesto
https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r336885

Plant-Based Parmesan
https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r303908

Healthy Chocolate Mousse
https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r123193

Our Thermomix January offers are available 31st January 2021. Our recommendations are the following which is available online to buy. Three- years extended warranty for just £49. This is an Advisor exclusive so can only be purchased via an Advisor. If you already one, then please do go back to your Advisor. If you don’t, then please do get in touch and I will gladly assign one of my team to look after you.

Have you booked a Cooking Experience with your Advisor yet to claim your free host gift? You can even do this virtually and still invite friends to enjoy the cooking fun. This month you could even earn the Plant-based Kitchen cookbook, just for hosting a virtual demonstration and invite 3 friends to attend. (See host gift attached)

If you’d like to start spreading the Thermomix® love, please speak to your Advisor about how to become an Independent Thermomix® Advisor yourself. Customers make the very best Advisors! If it’s not for you, don’t forget to recommend your Advisor to your friends and family if they’d like to see the Thermomix® for themselves.

As I mentioned, we train every week on a Wednesday at 11 am and have the opportunity to either Earn and Demonstration to get a Thermomix TM6 or if you already have a Thermomix TM6, then you can start on our new owner’s program which starts in February. Lockdown and COVID have never been a better time to join the business with remote training, remote cooking demonstrations and remote classes!

We look forward to seeing you at the next Cooking Class.

If you would like to book a demonstration or find out more, please contact me on Ankita@onegirlandherthermie.co.uk or call/text/ WhatsApp me on 07977 563537.

Top 5 Thermomix Biscuit Recipes

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So being on lockdown doesn’t mean we need to hoard several packets of biscuits from Tesco’s. There is nothing better to settle down with a nice cuppa and let me show how you can make some of nation’s favourite biscuits in your Thermomix.

The UK’s favourite biscuits according to the Metro:

1. Chocolate Digestive
2. Chocolate Hobnob
3. Custard Cream
4. Shortbread
5. Jaffa Cake

Thermomix and Cookidoo have plenty of recipe inspiration at hand and I thought I’d list my Top 5 Thermomix Biscuit recipes, which are tried and tested to feed your souls.

Chocolate Chip – Probably my favourite of all biscuits/ cookies. A chocolate chip cookie is a drop cookie that features chocolate chips or chocolate morsels as its distinguishing ingredient. Chocolate chip cookies originated in the United States around 1938, when Ruth Graves Wakefield chopped up a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar and added the chopped chocolate to a cookie recipe. For a twist to the Nestle recipe, I’m sharing this sourdough discard, chocolate chip recipe as it has become my kids favourite. I feel using sourdough discard makes them healthier somehow. https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r630323
Oreo –Another great one from the US. Oreo is an American sandwich cookie consisting of two wafers with a sweet crème filling. Introduced on March 6, 1912, Oreo is the best selling cookie brand in the United States. My favourite recipe on Cookidoo is this Italian one. You will need to use Google translate and do manual cooking if you don’t speak Italian but it’s worth it. https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r169011
Shortbread – Shortbread is a traditional Scottish biscuit usually made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three to four parts plain wheat flour. Other ingredients such as rice flour or cornflour are often added or part-substitute the flour to alter the texture. There are lots of recipes on Cookdioo with variations such as sweet lavender shortbread or savoury, parmesan with fennel and chilli shortbread or keto and gluten-free versions but for the purposes of this blog post, I want to go simple. Try this Shortbread reicpe, https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r69097
Biscotti – Biscotti, known also as cantucci, are Italian almond biscuits that originated in the Tuscan city of Prato. They are twice-baked, oblong-shaped, dry, crunchy, and may be dipped in a drink, traditionally Vin Santo. This is also in Italian, so will need Google transpate. I gifted this recipe at Christmas to teachers, friends, and neighbours and got rave reviews. https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r673190
Orange Jaffa Cake – Jaffa Cakes are biscuit-sized cakes introduced by McVitie and Price in the UK in 1927 and named after Jaffa oranges. The most common form of Jaffa cakes is circular, 2 ¹⁄₈ inches in diameter and have three layers: a Genoise sponge base, a layer of orange flavoured jam and a coating of chocolate. The best Jaffa cake recipe I have discovered is the Raspberry and Orange Jaffa cake recipe on Cookidoo. It uses 150g raspberries so to keep it as close to the original, substitute 150g for 150g orange segments – new or canned work perfectly. https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r129667

Obviously, this is a list of my top 5, and I have missed out on some wonderful biscuit & cookie recipes that are also regulars in my household, Bourbons, Hobnobs and Jammie Dodgers. So I encourage you to use the search engine and filters of Cookidoo to seek out your favoruite. And if it’s a good one, please do leave a comment below with the link.

How much have you saved during the pandemic?

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If you have managed to save during the pandemic, then have you considered a Thermomix?

Brits are saving a higher proportion of their income due to the current pandemic, a new study finds. It has revealed that due to the social restrictions that have been in place during the lockdown, the average Brit has been able to save £495 per month (an increase of £273 compared to their monthly savings pre-pandemic).

According to the data, during the lockdown, the average UK adult has saved £178 per month on recreational and cultural activities, such as going to the cinema or going out for drinks with friends. The data also shows the average adult has saved £142 per month on restaurant meals and £121 per month on hotels or holiday accommodation.

The increased number of people working remotely has also had an impact on savings, as the average adult has managed to save £92 per month on commuting costs.

The research has also revealed that the temporary closure of gyms and sports facilities has helped to reduce spending habits, as the average adult has saved £54 per month on their membership during the pandemic.

It’s no wonder that during this time, people are considering Thermomix purchases more and more. At £1149, I appreciate it is a considered investment, many who have been hesitant have jumped on the opportunity to save time in the kitchen while locked down, home working whilst homeschooling.

If you don’t know already, a Thermomix is the ultimate kitchen appliance with over 20 different functions. Make delicious, healthy and nutritious meals in the comfort of your home.

Here are some testimonials from my latest clients (taken from Google reviews):

Buying a Thermomix was the best idea of my life. All family was quite skeptical, almost everyone was complaining about how expensive it was and that I wouldn’t use it much. I received my Thermomix 7-weeks ago and I can say that these 7-weeks have been completely life-changing.
I love to cook, but unfortunately, my professional life never allowed me much time for that pleasure. My daily routine used to include ordering take away at least twice. In the past 7-weeks, I have cooked everything from bread to yogurts, cheese, spreads, and the most delicious recipes. My close family is in love, and my friends, although still skeptical about the Thermomix, but see plenty of advantages. In 7-weeks, I have not bought any processed food, take-away orders disappeared, and the only “outside meals” were done for social motives. It’s practical, economic, and my new best friend.” Sara C

I contacted Ankita because I have been interested in purchasing a Thermie for a while and I wanted to get a demonstration before making this investment. Ankita was so helpful with my queries and we scheduled a demonstration at my home. The demo was very informative and we cooked some great food. Purchasing my Thermie was a great investment – it’s an expensive item but well worth it. My family eat a wider variety of food now, we never waste anything and we use it every day. It’s so easy to use and saves a lot of time for me, especially when I also have to care for my 8-month-old! I would highly recommend Ankita and I would not be without my Thermie now! Karen Y

As we have spent quite a lot of time at home during the lockdown, we have made the conscious decision of eating healthy while exploring new dishes. I have come across Thermomix before but was very hesitant to take the plunge. While researching it, I found Ankita and reached out to her. She was very lovely and gave me all the preliminary information that I needed over the phone and provided some video where I could see the device in action. Also offered me two options: a further live virtual demo over a video call where she cooks and I watch or I could purchase the device with 2 weeks refund guarantee and her walking me through each step of a meal via a video call. We have opted for the second option as it would give us the opportunity to learn from her and further experiment ourselves during the 2 weeks period of time. Although I was skeptical in the beginning, Thermomix proved itself to be a worthy investment. Made me try new recipes (fairly healthy ones as well) and encouraged me to make things that I wouldn’t normally dare. Thank you for showing things and taking my culinary skills to the next level! Beyza G

Although this research reflects increased savings levels for those who are fortunate enough to still be in employment, we understand that not everyone has been so lucky in these difficult times. My team has also grown during the pandemic and I welcome anyone in London and the surrounding areas to join me in my Thermomix adventure.

With many individuals across all sectors being furloughed and or made redundant, especially in the restaurant and catering industry, people are looking at new opportunities to supplement their incomes. Some Advisors have joined the team and the Thermomix business to earn an income to supplement their main career, others have joined purely to earn and demonstrate their Thermomix for personal use. My team consists of men and women, some who work full-time and part-time with careers such as in the medical and health industry, banking and accountancy, surveying, aviation as well as those who are stay-at-home parents, looking to do something in and around their family life.

Whatever the reason, we have had a huge success in recruiting this year with remote training and remote cooking demonstrations, enabling those who previously didn’t have the time to travel to our branch offices or take time off work, are now able to fit the training in around their work or family life.

We have had real success in the team too, with most of the newcomers earning their Thermomixes in their 3 month period and enjoying the business opportunity so much that they have stayed on. Read one of their testimonials below.

“Becoming an Advisor didn’t take much convincing! My love affair with Thermomix started back in 2013 when I was living in Sydney, Australia. I was turning 30 and my mother-in-law was asking for a gift idea. I hadn’t even been to a demo or really seen one in action but a Thermomix’s reputation proceeds it wherever in the world you find yourself! Now seven years later, back living in London with growing mouths to feed, my Thermomix has become my extra pairs of hands that I need to ensure a delicious, nutritious, and stress-free meal gets put on the table each day. Whilst my TM31 was great, the TM6 has taken my love affair onto a whole new level! I couldn’t justify upgrading when my old one still did the job perfectly well but I just couldn’t stop thinking bout this fully integrated, wifi connected model that required even less input from me on the one hand (through the guided cooking option) yet could also perform more complex techniques such as fermentation and sugar stages. I had to have it! Joining the TM4U programme under Ankita’s guidance was a wonderful opportunity to use my time rather than my money to pay for the upgrade. Ankita’s wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and dedicated work ethos ensured that I sold the required four in my first two months of becoming an advisor. So if I can do it at a time when the whole country is in lock-down and as I juggle home-schooling plus toddler entertaining then so can you! What are you waiting for? Take the plunge, Ankita’s got your back and will ensure your pathway leads to success.” Ellie Mantle

If you would like to book a demonstration, buy a Thermomix or find out more about being an Advisor, please contact me on Ankita@onegirlandherthermie.co.uk or call/text/ WhatsApp me on 07977 563537.

Social Media Plan for 2021

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With people across the globe practicing social distancing — or in some cases, on a national lockdown, we’re in Tier 4 again in London — and I’m stranded in Goa until the borders open between UK and India, traditional media channels that have taken a bit of a hit. Subsequently, there has been a huge spike in people spending time online — reading the news and using social media platforms.

I’m so fortunate that during 2020, Vorwerk offered us social media training for any Advisor and Team Leader who wanted to partake in it – all 30 hours cover Facebook, Instagram, and content by Lisbon Digital School. I’m not sure if it was the soothing voice of Paulo Rossas who personalised the Complete Digital Marketing Program to Thermomix UK and Ireland, but I learned so much from it.

How has online behaviour changed since the talks of a lockdown?

According to ComScore, the number of minutes spent by readers on news sites has increased by 46% in the same period last year. And since people can’t hang out with their friends in real life, they’re connecting virtually — on every platform possible.

It’s not only Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram seeing increased traffic — Zoom and Skype user numbers have skyrocketed since the global pandemic began.

What is most interesting about this perhaps, is to consider how these behavioural changes are likely to shape the future of our world, not just now but in the future too. Undoubtedly, we’ll see more businesses offering remote working opportunities, but we’re also likely to see people utilizing more online communication channels to stay in touch with their teams.

Why is social media usage increasing?

The most obvious reason for the rise in social usage is the fact that people are social creatures by nature. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, after a couple of days of self-isolation, you’re likely to miss your friends or colleagues.

The gap that is left from the lack of social interaction with social communities is significant, and social media offers a way to fill this void. The global pandemic has left most people feeling anxious and looking for support amid the ongoing uncertainty — and as such, people need to feel connected more than ever before.

To stay connected, albeit virtually, video interaction is on the rise. In particular, the rise of traditionally social, external events being streamed online. From business conferences to DJ sets — you can stream just about anything today. We went overnight from offering face-to-face demonstrations in people’s homes to virtual cooking experiences via video calls. I was hesitant at first but it’s been a huge success.

How has the value of social media has changed?

Social media has always been the place where people talk, but with people being isolated, it has become the only place people talk. Because of this, it is undoubtedly the most important channel for brands to focus on right now.

With people spending more time online, social platforms are the perfect place for brands to connect with their audiences. There has never been a better time to spend time on building relationships with my audience and giving them more of what you want. More themed content.

To do this, I have revised my social media marketing plan for 2021. Instead of simply posting what I am cooking each day, I’ll be a little more creative.

To do this, One Girl Social Media plan includes:

New and different content on Instagram and Facebook. So no more posting from one platform to the other. The photos and content will be the same theme but slightly different, so you will want to be on both.
Weekly content themes – I have previously struggled to define my niche purely because it’s diverse. I am an Indian married to a Pole who has lived and traveled to many countries and eats many cuisines. I am a mother with young kids, so am always cooking child-friendly meals for the whole family instead of just what I would choose to eat if I didn’t have kids. I like fine dining but love street food too. I’m a non-vegetarian but would like to eat more vegan and vegetarian meals for my own fortysomething health goals. So it’s been hard to narrow this down to a handful of topics but I think I have managed it.
- Meatless Mondays (vegan and vegetarian recipes, plant-based diets)
- Workout Wednesdays (healthy lifestyle recipes for detoxing, good gut health, and weight management)
- Friday Indian Fakeaway (Indian food, converted to the Thermomix)
- Weekend World Wonders (everything else from converted Japanese favourites to celebrity chefs I love and follow such as Yotam Ottolenghi, Ferran Adria, and Wolfgang Puck, who is a huge fan of Thermomix.

I really hope that my readers do like and appreciate the new content. I’d really like you to be engaged, like, and give me comments and feedback as soon as possible.

And while One Girl in the Mix accounts will be streamlined to this new type of content, I’ve created a new feed, WhatAnkitaAte to show you what I’m also eating during 2021.

Here’s wishing you the gift of prosperity throughout 2021. Thank you for being a supportive client to my small business Your support has always helped us grow. We wish you a happy new year.

Thermomix to the rescue – second lockdown

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Whether you are a home cook or an experienced chef in the kitchen, we are all cooking far more than at home. We know meal times bring people together (especially in lockdown) but the act of feeding may have become an inconvenience rather than a way to relax and unwind. So why make life harder for yourself, Thermomix to the rescue.

I love to cook, it’s how I initially bought a Thermomix and why I became an Advisor. To share my love of food and cooking and how easy it can be with this kitchen robot. But my last 12-years in this business has shown me how different people have different reasons for purchasing a Thermomix.

Some love cooking, like me. Some hate it. Some want to be more creative in the kitchen. Some want time savings or cost savings. Others simply want to increase their knowledge in the kitchen. Most bought for a reason that was more emotive than practical.

But wow how things have changed. COVID 19 and the first lockdown was hard enough. Having to cook three meals a day, every day while keeping the menu exciting, nutritious, and delicious – who would have thought that would even be a thing?! and yet it is so important to support our own, and our families, physical and mental wellbeing. Which is a thing, a big thing in today’s world.

The beauty of a Thermomix is that it is a smarter way, to cook and meal plan. People are just realising this but some of us have known this secret for a while.

Thermomix changes you. A Thermomix changes the way one cooks and plans. I always thought we had a balanced diet (I’m a slight control freak with nutrition) until I realised we were heavy on chicken, minced beef, and salmon (I’m a mother to young kids, remember). But with Cookidoo, I was suddenly able to plan white fish, lamb, and pork dishes into our fortnightly meal plans, hide oily fish in pates and spreads, sneak tofu into smoothies and avocado in my frozen fruit.

Also, more surprisingly, has injected the joy back into my kitchen.

Of course, everyone is skeptical at first, I definitely was. I denied myself seeing a demonstration for over 3-years as I didn’t believe my sister-in-law that one kitchen appliance could really do all she claimed it could. For those of you, like me, who had never heard of the Thermomix….it’s basically the Ferrari of kitchen gadgets. This can make light work of everything. Stir, mix, emulsify, chop, blend, grind, cook, heat, steam, weigh, whip, and knead. And I bought my first TM before the digital era came along.

Guided cooking. Thousands of recipes are available via the Cookidoo platform providing endless culinary inspiration. Think of guided cooking as your personal commis chef prompting you with the ingredients to add, how much to add, when to add it, and then doing all the chopping and cooking for you with successful results guaranteed. I mean, yes, please! There are over 60,000 recipes available at your fingertips and every week, in every country this number increases as new collections are added.

It’s a running family joke that when I finally did see a demonstration, I bought on the spot and realised what I had been missing all those years. Within months, I was demonstrating purely because I needed to share this revelation with everyone. This kitchen robot really did transform how I cook, save me time, restore kitchen creativity, and see me turning out nutritious, healthy, no added nasties, tasty new dishes every day.

So 2 weeks into the second lockdown, it is saving me again and I believe there’s no need to struggle when Thermomix is there to rescue us. Coronavirus and lockdown have impacted our daily lives. As we get to the end of the year, there is general fatigue amongst my friends. Most of my friends are already owners but it was funny when the other day when speaking to a friend about her trials and tribulations, the conversation steered towards how much joy her Thermomix gave her. The fact that food gives us the nourishment we need to go on, but can also create lasting memories when we want to entertain or celebrate can be a beautiful thing. The Thermomix is not just for lockdown but for the long-term.

If you would like to find out more, I would love to share my passion with you. Contact me to join in one of my many virtual demonstration and cooking experiences I am doing every week. It could help you, so please do get in touch.

And remember, keep safe, keep going, we will all get through this.

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.

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