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Save money with Thermomix: Butter

1 Comment / Basics, Blog

Save money with Thermomix. It’s what we as owners and users say all the time. But finally, I’m able to share some of the cost savings with specific recipes like this butter recipe which is one of our household staples but also one that is a wow, demonstration recipe.

Why is it a wow recipe? Well, this recipe is so easy to make but showcases some of the greatest Thermomix functions – the whipping function. Home-made butter is incredibly easy to make but sounds rather impressive. Butter begins by over-whipping cream which can be done with a Thermomix.

But we’re here to talk about cost savings, so I’ve done a quick search for some tomato soups in an online supermarket. I’ve chosen Sainsbury’s today, but I will be comparing all of them in this series of articles to be fair.

Butter prices:

Compared to double cream:

In fairness, the £0.50 as of today’s date (December 28th 2022) doesn’t seem that much producing 250g butter from 600ml of double cream, but the trick is when do you buy your double cream >> read buy it at a discount and what do you do with your butter > read, turn it into flavoured butters.

The addition of 5-10% of flavouring elevates the falvour of basic butter but when buying store bought, increased the prices by 60-100% too.

Who doesn’t like a flavoured butter?

Ingredients

  • 600 g pure cream
  • 500 g chilled water

Preparation

  1. Insert butterfly whisk. Place cream into mixing bowl and beat 1-3 min/speed 4, or until solids and liquids have separated. Remove butterfly whisk.
  2. Using the simmering basket, strain liquids from solids, reserving buttermilk for later use, if desired.
  3. Place water and butter solids into a mixing bowl and mix 5-10 sec/speed 4. Liquids and solids should separate again (see Tips).
  4. Using the simmering basket strain liquids from solids a second time, so that only butter remains. Roll the butter into a sausage shape to make butter rounds, form into a rectangular shape or spoon into an airtight container (see Tips). Use as needed.

Hints & Tips

  • Cream closer to its expiry date will separate faster.
  • For butter that stays fresher for longer, wash a second time using 500 g chilled water in step 3 to ensure butter is completely clean.
  • This recipe will produce approx. 250 g buttermilk. Reserve the buttermilk (liquid portion) after draining in step 2 to use in scones, breads, pancakes, soups or hot drinks. See Cookidoo® for recipes. Buttermilk can also be frozen for later use.
  • Butter will keep sealed in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Butter will keep sealed in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  • Herb butter: place 1 garlic clove; 5 sprigs fresh dill, leaves only; 5 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves only; and 6 fresh basil leaves into mixing bowl and chop 3 sec/speed 7. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula then proceed as per recipe.
  • Salted butter: add ½ tsp sea salt after washing in step 3 and mix for a few seconds to incorporate. Salt assists in giving the butter a longer shelf life.
  • Spreadable butter: add 50 g oil, adjusted to taste and whip 15 sec/speed 4 through finished butter before storing in the fridge.
  • Lighter butter: add 50 g reserved buttermilk and whip 15 sec/speed 4 back into the finished butter before storing in the fridge.
  • Flavoured butter: add other flavours (e.g. oils, sugars, spices) to the butter and mix 20-30 sec/speed 4 before storing in the fridge.

Nutrition per 25 g

  • Calories 829.8 kJ / 197.5 kcal
  • Protein 1.4 g
  • Carbohydrates 1.1 g
  • Fat 21.3 g
  • Saturated Fat14 g
  • Fibre 0 g
  • Sodium1 2.9 mg

Get this recipe on Cookidoo https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r68363

Save money with Thermomix: Icing sugar

Leave a Comment / Baking (Sweet), Basics, Blog

Save money with Thermomix. It’s what we as owners and users say all the time. But finally, I’m able to share some of the cost savings with specific recipes like this icing sugar but also one that is a wow, demonstration recipe.

Why is it a wow recipe?  Well simply put it shows off the milling function beautifully.  Speeds 7 – 10 and Turbo: Grinding or miling ingredients such as sugar, wheat and coffee beans, blending to a completely smooth texture for creamy soups, smoothies, and ice-cream and chopping tough ingredients such as cured ham and hard cheeses.

Powdered sugar, also called confectioners’ sugar, or icing sugar, is a finely ground sugar produced by milling granulated sugar into a powdered state. Powdered Sugar is made by grinding granulated sugar with cornstarch to the desired grain size. White in color, powdered sugar has a sucrose content of approximately 97.0% and a cornstarch content of approximately 3.0% to prevent caking and increase shelf life. However, making your own in your Thermomix can your money on buying ready-milled icing sugar and you can do it instantly, hence not needing any corn starch too, so 100% pure.

But we’re here to talk about cost savings, so I’ve done a quick search for some tomato soups in an online supermarket. I’ve chosen Tesco today, but I will be comparing all of them in this series of articles to be fair.

Compare this with the cost of their granulated sugar, which you can mill into icing sugar

The cost savings would be £1.15 on the Silver Spoon and only 70p on the Billingtons. 

That kind of makes sense, as Golden Caster Sugar is more expensive so you would see a saving but not as much. But image how much you could save on a weekly, monthly, or even yearly basis. These pennies can add up to pounds very quickly especially if you bake a lot which I do.

*What Is Golden Caster Sugar? Most commonly found in the UK, golden caster sugar is made from unrefined sugar cane and sometimes beets. It has a subtle buttery flavor and gives baked goods a lovely shade of brown.

Ingredients

  • 200 g sugar

Preparation

  1. Place sugar in mixing bowl and grind 20 sec/speed 10. Use icing sugar as needed.

Hints & Tips

  • Icing sugar can be stored for long periods of time in an airtight container.
  • For best results, grind sugar in 100-200 g batches.
  • If more icing sugar is needed, repeat the process.

Get this recipe on Cookidoo https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r178855

Save with Thermomix and make your own Yorkshire Puddings

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Yorkshire pudding is a baked pudding made from a batter of eggs, flour, and milk or water and is so easy to buy these days, but even easier if made in your Thermomix. Save over £2.50 each time you make our Cookidoo recipe.

Ingredients

  • 500 g water
  • 1000 g potatoes (see tip), peeled, quartered (approx. 5 cm)
  • 4 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • coarse sea salt, to taste
  • ground black pepper, to taste
  • 5 – 6 garlic cloves, lightly crushed, to taste
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves only

Preparation

  1. Place water in mixing bowl. Place Varoma dish into position then weigh in potatoes. Distribute potatoes between Varoma tray and Varoma dish, ensuring some holes remain uncovered for steam to circulate, then insert Varoma tray. Cover Varoma then steam 16-18 min/Varoma/speed 2 until almost cooked and edges are softened (see tip). Towards the end of this time, preheat oven to 190°C.
  2. Remove covered Varoma and shake slightly to roughen edges of potatoes, then transfer to a large roasting tin. Drizzle over oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste then roast for 30 minutes (190°C). Turn potatoes, add garlic then roast for a further 10 minutes (190°C).
  3. Add rosemary then roast for a further 5-10 minutes (190°C) until golden and crisp. Serve immediately.

Hints & Tips

  • Roast potatoes are an essential accompaniment to any roast meal. In this version, we steam the potatoes in the Varoma before finishing them off in the oven with a couple of garlic cloves and a few sprigs of rosemary. Serve them to your guests and watch them fight over who gets the crispiest ones!
  • King Edward, Maris Piper and Désirée are good roasting potato varieties.
  • To get ahead, par-steam potatoes in step 1 then allow to cool before freezing. For extra crunchy results, transfer frozen potatoes to a large roasting tin and continue with recipe, roasting from frozen, watching carefully in step 3 to avoid over-cooking.
  • Goose fat can also be used for roasting the potatoes. Although no longer vegetarian, the results will be even crispier.

Nutrition per 1 portion

  • Calories 892.4 kJ / 213.3 kcal
  • Protein 3.5 g
  • Carbohydrates 30.2 g
  • Fat9.6 g
  • Saturated Fat 1.4 g
  • Fibre 3.8 g
  • Sodium 14 mg

Get this recipe on Cookidoo https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r491037

Save with Thermomix and make your own spuds

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Try making your own potatoes this Christmas and save with Thermomix.  A simple, healthy side dish bursting with festive flavors. These classic roasties with garlic and rosemary are perfect sides for your Christmas lunch and can be frozen ahead to make your life easier.

Ingredients

  • 500 g water
  • 1000 g potatoes (see tip), peeled, quartered (approx. 5 cm)
  • 4 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • coarse sea salt, to taste
  • ground black pepper, to taste
  • 5 – 6 garlic cloves, lightly crushed, to taste
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves only

Preparation

  1. Place water in mixing bowl. Place Varoma dish into position then weigh in potatoes. Distribute potatoes between Varoma tray and Varoma dish, ensuring some holes remain uncovered for steam to circulate, then insert Varoma tray. Cover Varoma then steam 16-18 min/Varoma/speed 2 until almost cooked and edges are softened (see tip). Towards the end of this time, preheat oven to 190°C.
  2. Remove covered Varoma and shake slightly to roughen edges of potatoes, then transfer to a large roasting tin. Drizzle over oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste then roast for 30 minutes (190°C). Turn potatoes, add garlic then roast for a further 10 minutes (190°C).
  3. Add rosemary then roast for a further 5-10 minutes (190°C) until golden and crisp. Serve immediately.

Hints & Tips

  • Roast potatoes are an essential accompaniment to any roast meal. In this version, we steam the potatoes in the Varoma before finishing them off in the oven with a couple of garlic cloves and a few sprigs of rosemary. Serve them to your guests and watch them fight over who gets the crispiest ones!
  • King Edward, Maris Piper and Désirée are good roasting potato varieties.
  • To get ahead, par-steam potatoes in step 1 then allow to cool before freezing. For extra crunchy results, transfer frozen potatoes to a large roasting tin and continue with recipe, roasting from frozen, watching carefully in step 3 to avoid over-cooking.
  • Goose fat can also be used for roasting the potatoes. Although no longer vegetarian, the results will be even crispier.

Nutrition per 1 portion

  • Calories 892.4 kJ / 213.3 kcal
  • Protein 3.5 g
  • Carbohydrates 30.2 g
  • Fat 9.6 g
  • Saturated Fat 1.4 g
  • Fibre 3.8 g
  • Sodium 14 mg

Get this recipe on Cookidoo https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r491037

Save with Thermomix and make your own Parsnips

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This is one of the nicest ways to serve parsnips, baked crisp and golden brown in the oven with a Parmesan coating. Try making your own Honey Parmesan Parsnips this Christmas and save with Thermomix.

Ingredients

  • 100 g Parmesan cheese, cut in pieces (2 cm)
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves only
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
  • 2 pinches ground black pepper
  • 100 g polenta
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 30 g unsalted butter, diced
  • 500 g water
  • 800 g parsnips, peeled, quartered lengthways
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 100 g runny honey

Preparation

  1. Place Parmesan, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper in mixing bowl then grate 10 sec/speed 10.
  2. Add polenta and mix 10 sec/reverse/speed 4. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
  3. Place oil and butter in a roasting tin and set aside.
  4. Place water in mixing bowl. Place Varoma dish into position then weigh in parsnips. Remove Varoma and divide parsnips between simmering basket, Varoma dish and Varoma tray (see tip), ensuring some holes remain uncovered for steam to circulate. Insert simmering basket then insert Varoma tray. Place covered Varoma into position then steam 15-18 min/Varoma/speed 1 until just tender. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 190°C then place prepared tin inside to preheat.
  5. Remove Varoma dish and remove simmering basket with aid of spatula then immediately transfer parsnips to bowl with Parmesan mixture and toss to coat.
  6. Remove roasting tin from oven and carefully place parsnips in hot oil. Mix well to coat then roast for 15-20 minutes (190°C) until lightly golden and crisp. Meanwhile, discard steaming water, dry mixing bowl and continue with recipe.
  7. Place garlic in mixing bowl and chop 3 sec/speed 5. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula then chop again 2 sec/speed 5. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula.
  8. Add honey and mix 10 sec/speed 6. Once parsnips are roasted, pour over garlic honey, toss to coat and bake for a further 3-5 minutes (190°C) until golden. Serve hot.

Hints & Tips

  • Roasted parsnips are always a favourite at the Christmas table, and we’ve added a twist to make this popular dish even better. The herby Parmesan and polenta coating makes them extra crunchy, and the honey dressing helps the natural sweetness of the vegetable shine through.
  • When distributing parsnips, place larger pieces in simmering basket and smaller pieces in Varoma tray to ensure even cooking.
  • If desired, the garlic honey glaze can be omitted. Simply stop the recipe at the end of step 6 and serve crispy Parmesan parsnips as they are.

Nutrition per 1 portion

  • Calories 1390 kJ / 333 kcal
  • Protein 9g
  • Carbohydrates 33 g
  • Fat 17g
  • Saturated Fat 7g
  • Sodium 313 mg

Get this recipe on Cookidoo here: https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r491061

Christmas Gifting – Honeycomb

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Christmas is around the corner and homemade Christmas gifts are a great cost-saving and a way to show you care. Here’s a recipe for Honeycomb made in the Thermomix and the cost saving you can have compared to buying it.

Whether you call it honeycomb, hokey pokey or cinder toffee, this Thermomix recipe is amazing.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda, sifted
  • 300 g white sugar
  • 1080 g water
  • 20 g honey or golden syrup
  • 50 g vinegar

Preparation

  1. To guarantee the success of recipes using Sugar Stages, please follow the exact quantity and description for all ingredients. The recipe should also be cooked immediately after placing the sugar with the other ingredients in the mixing bowl.
  2. Line a square cake tin (18 x 18 cm) with baking paper (paper should be approx. 5 cm higher than the tin – see Tips) and place on a heat-resistant surface.
  3. Sift bicarbonate of soda and set aside. Place sugar, 80 g water and honey into mixing bowl and start Sugar Stages without measuring cup.
  4. Immediately add reserved bicarbonate of soda around the blades and quickly stir with spatula until mixture foams up, taking care not to over mix. Transfer immediately into prepared cake tin. Using spatula, remove any mixture from the mixing bowl rim to be able to close the lid correctly for pre-cleaning.
  5. Place 1000 g water and vinegar into mixing bowl and start Pre-clean.
  6. Allow to cool completely to room temperature and break into pieces. Store in a sealable container at room temperature (see Tip). Use as required.

Hints & Tips

  • This lovely treat looks similar to real honeycomb. Bicarbonate of soda is the secret to achieving an airy texture. Stirring it in at the last minute is the reason for its namesake appearance. Honey is used to flavour the caramel. Honeycomb is great to decorate with and it is also good added to other desserts. Break the honeycomb into pieces or crush it and sprinkle over ice cream, for example.
  • Honeycomb cannot be left out in the open for an extended length of time, as it will draw moisture from the air and become sticky. Store in snap lock bags or wrap in plastic wrap and place into a sealable container for up to a week. However it is best eaten soon after it is made. Dipping honeycomb pieces into melted chocolate helps extend shelf-life by a few days.
  • Extending the baking paper up the sides of the cake tin encourages the honeycomb to rise.

Nutrition per 1 portion

  • Calories 445.3 kJ / 106.3 kcal
  • Protein 0 g
  • Carbohydrates2 6.2 g
  • Fat 0 g
  • Saturated Fat 0 g
  • Fibre 0 g
  • Sodium 830.4 mg

Get this recipe on Cookidoo https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r437218

Christmas Gifting – Amaretti

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Christmas is around the corner and homemade Christmas gifts are a great cost-saving and a way to show you care. Here’s a recipe for Amaretti made in the Thermomix and the cost saving you can have compared to buying it.

Amaretti di Saronno refer to a type of amaretto, a bitter-sweet flavored macaron, that is traditional to Saronno, a comune of Lombardy, Italy. It is one of many types of traditional amaretti, but the only one made with apricot kernels.

Ingredients

  • oil, for greasing
  • 2 egg whites, from large eggs
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 1 pinch fine sea salt
  • 180 g ground almonds (see tip)
  • 150 g caster sugar
  • 100 g dried mixed fruit (e.g. apricots, cherries, prunes), quartered
  • 100 g mixed whole nuts (e.g. pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts)
  • icing sugar, for dipping

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 190°C and lightly grease a baking tray.
  2. Insert butterfly whisk. Place egg whites, honey and salt in mixing bowl then, without measuring cup, whisk 2 min/speed 3.5. Remove butterfly whisk.
  3. Add ground almonds, sugar, dried fruit and nuts then stir 20 sec/reverse/speed 2.
  4. Using wet hands, shape tablespoons of mixture into small, rough balls and dip half of each ball in icing sugar. Place on prepared tray, icing sugar side up, and bake for 10-12 minutes (190°C) until just golden.
  5. Leave on tray to cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve or package up to give as gifts.

Hints & Tips

  • The literal translation of these Italian biscuits is ‘the little bitter ones’ as they were traditionally flavoured with bitter almonds. Plain almonds work just as well, and you can grind your own with Thermomix®. Prepare a batch and give as gifts, or serve alongside coffee or dessert wine to add some Italian flair to your Christmas meal.
  • To grind your own almonds, place 180 g blanched almonds in mixing bowl before starting the recipe and grind 10 sec/speed 10. Transfer to a bowl then clean and dry mixing bowl thoroughly before beginning the recipe.
  • In step 3, add 50 g dark or white chocolate chips

Nutrition per 1 piece

  • Calories 442.3 kJ / 105.7 kcal
  • Protein 2.8 g
  • Carbohydrates 11.8 g
  • Fat 6 g
  • Saturated Fat 0.6 g
  • Fibre 1.6 g
  • Sodium 22 mg

Get this recipe on Cookidoo https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r85060

Christmas Gifting – Florentines

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Christmas is around the corner and homemade Christmas gifts are a great cost-saving and a way to show you care. Here’s a recipe for Florentines made in the Thermomix and the cost-saving you can have compared to buying it.

A Florentine biscuit is a sweet pastry of nuts and fruit. Florentines are made of nuts and candied cherries mixed with sugar melted together with butter and honey, cooked in an oven.

Ingredients

  • 50 g pistachio nuts, unsalted, shelled
  • 30 g walnut halves
  • 75 g unsalted butter, diced
  • 75 g Demerara sugar
  • 15 g double cream
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 30 g dried cherries, halved, quartered if large
  • 60 g mixed candied peel
  • 50 g dried cranberries
  • 60 g flaked almonds
  • 150 g dark chocolate, small pieces or callets

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
  2. Place pistachios and walnuts in mixing bowl then chop 3 sec/speed 7. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  3. Place butter, sugar, cream and salt in mixing bowl then melt 3 min/Varoma/speed 1.
  4. Add cherries, candied peel, cranberries, almonds and reserved chopped nuts then mix 10 sec/reverse/speed 3.
  5. Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture (approx. 20 g each) into a ball using hands, place on prepared trays and flatten out as much as possible, leaving 5 cm between each to spread. Bake for 8-10 minutes (180°C) until golden then leave on tray to cool completely. Meanwhile, clean and thoroughly dry mixing bowl.
  6. Place chocolate in mixing bowl, grate 5 sec/speed 8 then melt 4 min/50°C/speed 2.
  7. Spread chocolate evenly over one side of each florentine and leave to set completely (see tip). Store in an airtight container until needed.

Hints & Tips

  • Florentines often have a wavy pattern on the chocolate. If desired, once chocolate is firm enough to hold its shape (30-60 minutes), use a fork to draw wavy lines across the chocolate.

Nutrition per 1 piece

  • Calories 531 kJ / 127 kcal
  • Protein 1.7 g
  • Carbohydrates 12 g
  • Fat 9 g
  • Saturated Fat 4 g
  • Fibre 1.5 g
  • Sodium 12 mg

Get recipes on Cookidoo here, https://cookidoo.co.uk/recipes/recipe/en-GB/r754184

Thermomix Cost Saving: Sugar

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How do you save money with your Thermomix? There are so many ways that owning a Thermomix can help you save you a little or a lot off your weekly grocery bill that I thought I’d share some of my Top Tips!

In this series of blog posts, I will share Thermomix Cost Saving tips, starting with Sugar…

Sugar! How Many Different Types Of Sugar Do You Have In The Cupboard?

Do you buy granulated sugar, caster sugar, and icing sugar? Purchasing different types of sugar is not only not economical but it’s also taking space in your cupboard. I live in London, with small kitchens and even smaller cupboards. Sugar sitting in the cupboard waiting to be used is not very economical. Plus, these sugars take up valuable pantry space.

How do you make caster sugar in the Thermomix?

Add regular granulated sugar to the TM bowl. Mill 2 -3 seconds on Speed 8.

How do you make icing sugar in the Thermomix?

Add regular sugar to the TM bowl. Mill 1 minute on Speed 8. If you want the icing to be even finer. wait until the TM bowl cools (it will get hot from friction) then mill again for 1 minute on Speed 8.

Top tip

To ensure that your sugar grinds perfectly, use a maximum of 100g in the TM bowl and repeat if a larger quantity is needed.

The cost saving is incredible.

As you can see you can save at least £1 each time you stop buying caster or icing sugar.

Notes: Prices and links to Waitrose Website are correct as of May 2020. Please do drop me a note if the links have changed or been deleted.