Dinner | Arwen's Thermo Pics

Atlas Dinning’s Masterclasses

by Arwen | Sep 7, 2020 | Dinner, Food Styling, Foodie Adventures

Wow these crazy times we live in at the moment have seen some terrible things happen but also some inventive and amazing things too. So I love this idea that Chef Charlie Carrington and his team came up with to have Masterclasses with 3 recipes a week and each week will be a different country’s cuisine. If you are lucky enough to live in Melbourne you can order the box of ingredients for the week and then cook along at home while you watch the youtube masterclass or each of the nights Charlie does a live video on instagram where he cooks the recipe and answers any questions. If we can’t travel the world right now we may as well taste it in our own kitchens. I have been doing the DIY version and having to make up parts of the recipes myself as some of the ingredients boxes includes parts of the recipes already completed like the spice mixes, pickles or sauces. This really has been a delicious journey so far and I am definitely along for the culinary trip around the world with Charlie & his team. I’m so grateful to be able to join in and already have been introduced to some new recipes, ingredients and spices to make & taste.

Week 1: Vietnam

Fish Cake, Cucumber Salad with Bean Sprouts (I was missing bean sprouts) YUM!!

Chicken, Rice, Egg and Peanut Crumble – So Delicious!!

Week 2: Israel

Shawarma Lamb Pitta with Hummus Israeli salad & pickles

Chicken Schnitzel Spiced Butter and Pumpkin Salad

Eggplant Matbucha chickpeas goats cheese & olives – AMAZING!!

Week 3: Korea

Buckwheat Noodles, Chicken Mince & Red Kimchi – So good, I used my homemade kimchi & smoked tofu YUM!!

Week 4: Mexico

Week 5: Peru

Smoked Cauliflower, Quinoa Salad and Ocopa Sauce

Week 6: France

Week 7 Brazil

Week 8 Thailand

Pad Kra Pao Moo – Pork Loin Stir Fry with Green Beans

Pad See Ew -Mushroom, Noodles & Chinese Broccoli

Week 9: China

Week 10 America

Smoked Beef Brisket (I bought mine from The Wood Fiery Red Head) Slaw, Dill Potatoes and BBQ Sauce

Week 11 Lebanon

Week 12 India

Week 13 Spain

Patatas Bravas -Chicken, Potato, Chorizo

Pork Albodiga – Meatball Roast Vegetables Almond Gazpacho

Spanish Omelette with Olive Tapenade and Rocket and Pear Salad

Week 14: Turkey

Marinated Chicken Skewers, Hummus, Turkish Pilaf Rice

Beef Tepi Kofta, Broccoli Tabouli, Tahini, Flatbread

Braised Leek & White Beans, Walnuts, Feta

Week 15: Argentina

Minute Steak, Potatoes, Radish and Chimmichurri

Quinoa Stuffed Capsicum Broccoli and Chimmichurri

Week 16: Greece

Lemon Marinated Chicken, Greek Salad, Tzatziki

Pork Gyros Potatoes Tzatziki (on homemade pitta bread)

Week 17: Morocco

Lemon Marinated Chicken with Caramelised Onion & Olive Sauce and Cous Cous

Lamb Kofta, Tomato Sauce and Moroccan Carrot Salad

Week 18: Portugal

Peri Peri Chicken, Rice, Cabbage & Fennel Salad

Salted Blue Grenadier with Potato Salad Egg & Olive Sauce

Caldo Verde Kale Soup with Crumbed Cabbage & Egg

Week 19: Britian

English Chicken Roast with Sautéed Vegetables and Gravy

Week 20: Italy

Chicken Milanese with Crushed Potatoes and Peperonata

Porchetta with Fennel and Radicchio and Orange Salad

Mushroom Ragu with (homemade) Fettuccine and Sautéed Silver Beet

Week 21: Japan

Chicken Teriyaki (homemade) Udon Noodles with Daikon Salad

Beef Tataki with Cucumber Wakame Salad and Ponzu Sauce

Week 22: Columbia

Colombian Chicken Rice Sofrito and Blistered Beans

Pulled Pork Patacones with Orange and Coriander Salad

Arepa Butternut Squash with Black Beans and Salsa

Week 23: Taiwan

Three Cup Chicken with Ginger Basil and Rice

Braised Pork Belly with Rice and 5 Spice Vegetables

Cold Noodle Salad with Egg, Sesame Dressing and Vegetables

Week 24: Indonesia

Satay Chicken Skewers with Rice & Pineapple Sambal

Beef Rendang with Roti and Cucumber Salad

Week 25: Croatia

Paprika Chicken with Gnocchi and Mustard Sauce

Cevapi Sausage with Red Capsicum Sauce, Potato and Dill

Stuffed Cabbage Roll with Beetroot Butter, Fennel and Dill Salad

Week 26: Singapore

Hainanese Chicken Rice with Chinese Broccoli and Ginger & Spring Onion Sauce

My Addiction To Dani Valent’s Recipe Website

by Arwen | Sep 4, 2020 | Baking, Basics, Breakfast, Desserts, Dinner, Foodie Adventures, Lunch, Snacks & nibbles, Thermomix Recipes, Thermomix Tips

It’s no surprise to me or anyone else that I love the Dani Valent website. It is a subscription site for amazing Thermomix recipes and videos, you get approx 1 free recipe a month for the free subscription or for a yearly membership you get 1 recipe a week & you start with all the current recipes when you join. It’s great value & features home cooking recipes by Dani & also amazing Chef’s recipes too. What’s not to love? Being inspired to try & taste new recipes, learning new skills & ideas for your Thermomix cooking plus I love seeing how Chefs use the Thermomix for their dishes. Sign up here.

I have now currently made ALL of the recipes from this website & some of them I have made a few times because they are so delicious 🙂 It has taken me a few years to complete all the recipes and I will be attempting to keep up and cook each new recipe every week and update this post with the photos of the recipe. I hope you will be inspired to cook along too. Happy Thermomixing!!

Here is one of the free videos with Jo Whitton from Quirky Cooking making Coconut Pancakes with Blueberry Syrup.

Matcha Smoothie Bowl

Black Rice Pudding

Breakfast Curd with Toasted Grains recipe by Chef Jesse Gerner – It was really yummy!

Chai Porridge

Miso Hollandaise (served with slow 60 degree eggs)

Buckwheat Kedgeree

Mango Lassi recipe by Jessi Singh

Khachapuri (a cheese pie from Georgia) recipe by Anthony Femia – so GOOD!!!

Wattleseed & Macadamia Dukkah

Bread With Tomato recipe by Emma Warren

Lettuce Soup

Steamed Oysters with Ginger & Spring Onion Oils, recipe by Victor Liong

Pierogies

Pretzels

Steamed Corn with Spicy Allioli another drool worthy recipe by Chef Jesse Gerner. Watch the free video here.

Stuffed Zucchini Flowers

Shane Delia’s Warm Roasted Cauliflower Dip with Spiced Beef – You have to try this!! It could be the best dip ever!! I loved watching the video for this recipe too, it was a lot of fun!

Blue Cheese Dip – recipe by Anthony Femia

Sophia’s Grissini (Thermomix Baking Blogger)

Dani’s Dill Spiked Feta Dip

Cervelle de Canut Cheese Dip

Everything Salsa & then the same salsa used to make a cashew dip & a cream cheese dip- just 2 of the ideas for the salsa – so tasty & versatile!

Chicken Tart – This recipe by Dani has the most amazing lemon & mustard flavoured pastry – plus shredded chicken & buttery leeks in the filling!

Spicy Peach and Mango Jam Glazed Ham

Dani Valent’s Pithivier

Cheesy Quinoa Bites, recipe by Alice Zaslavsky

Sopa Freda de Meló – Melon Soup – Emma Warren

Strawberry Gazpacho with Tomato, Basil & Goat’s Cheese Salad

Gazpacho – recipe by Eyal Shani

Recommended way to serve this dish is to drink straight from the Thermomix bowl!! If it’s good enough for Dani, then I’m in 😉

Scallop Mousseline with Lemon Caper Sauce

Leek, Potato and Truffle Soup

Tasty “Emergency Lentil Soup” watch the video here.

Creamy Chicken and Brown Rice Soup – recipe by Jo Whitton from Quirky Cooking

Matzo Ball Soup (Dani asked me to make this recipe & photograph it for her website, I also had to make my own matzo because I couldn’t find any in Hobart to buy :-))

Pumpkin Soup with Virtual Bacon Dust – recipe from George Calombaris – this recipe is from the In the Mix cookbook – I have made it so many times & it’s my all time favourite pumpkin soup!

Mushroom & Millet Minestrone

Soulful Chicken Soup

Victor Liong’s Corn Custard with Chicken Congee – it’s seriously good!!

Goma Dofu (Japanese sesame tofu)

Jing Shui Daan recipe by Tony Tan – its a delicious steamed custard with shitake mushrooms & pork with black beans on top 🙂

Gnocchi

Cauliflower Rice – it’s a delicious vegan recipe 🙂

Shane Delia’s BBQ Prawn Kofte Salad is seriously good!!

Pear Coleslaw with Pear Vinaigrette

Beetroot, Pear & Pomegranate Salad

Prawn & Potato Salad

Lamb Shank Barley Casserole – Yes the shanks are steamed in the Varoma for some of the recipe!

Delicious Duck Bao – inspired by the Momofuku recipe by David Chang

Char Siu Bao – Steamed Pork Buns

Hummus- recipe by EyalShani, such a great video to watch, and a delicious recipe to guide you but it is ultimately up to your taste buds to adjust the balance of flavours 🙂

The Beauty of the Beets recipe by Sam Gowing

Zhoug

Tandoori Cauliflower

Tandoori Chicken

Preserved Lemons

Butter

Sushi Shapes from the Lunchbox Lessons post 🙂

Chicken Lettuce Cups from the Lunchbox Lessons post 🙂

Ultimate Mac and Cheese Toastie – recipe by Anthony Femia

Pineapple-spiked Vietnamese Lamb Salad

Hainanese Chicken & Egg, seriously amazing recipe by Trissalicious This is also from In the Mix & includes my favourite way to cook eggs – at 60 degrees!!

Jerk Chicken

Quirky Cooking Gluten Free & Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pie is so Yummy – we even took some for lunches too!.

Chicken Tinga So easy & delicious (pictured with my gluten free wrap – Dani’s recipes serves it with her flour tortilla recipe)

Chicken Tagine with Green Olives

Turkey Buffe and Herby Quinoa Stuffing

Steamed Fish with Eggplant Miso – so healthy & fresh – a great recipe using the Varoma.

Aligot – French cheesy mash – so wicked & so good!!

Chilli & Lime Crumb – I’ve made this recipe from In the Mix Cookbook before – I love how tasty & versatile it is. watch the free video here.

Palak Paneer

Marmitako (Basque Seafood Stew) recipe by Chef Ruben Trincado – A delicious video filmed in Spain.

White Garlic Soup with Seafood – recipe by Chef Jaun Carlos Caro, in the video (filmed in Spain) you see him using the TM 21 to make this dish.

Vadouvan Mussels which includes the recipe for the Vadouvan spice mix 🙂

Tuna version of the Poke with Furikake & Wasabi-spiked Avocado Sorbet

Wasabi-spiked Avocado Sorbet

Kha Nhom Jeen Nam Prik – Thai recipe by Pla Liamthong, that not too spicy peanut sauce is so good!!

Gang Prik with Steamed Chicken -another great Thai recipe from Pla Liamthong

Thai Ribs with Coconut Rice & Coleslaw – this is the version I made with lamb instead of the beef – I made the beef version too & that was amazing, I will be making it again soon – for sure!!

Thai Ribs with Coconut Rice & Coleslaw

Fork-Apart Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder

Vitello Tonnato – An Italian dish of poached beef & tuna egg sauce, sounds weird but it is really delicious 🙂

Beef Stir Fry

Gang Prik with Stir Fried Kangaroo – recipe by Pla Liamthong (I served mine with broccoli “rice”)

Barolo Braised Beef with Polenta Cremoso, recipe by Chef Joseph Vargetto – The best polenta I’ve ever tasted!!

Cauliflower Crumbed Schnitzel

Low & Slow Asparagus Risotto – I got to watch Dani make this video at Prahran Market 🙂

Creamy Tomato and Vodka Pasta Sauce

Egg Fu Yong, recipe by Ben Shewry – yes there is creamy scrambled eggs under that shredded chicken 🙂

Native Pepper Berry Salt recipe by Jesse McTavish

Lamb Cutlets, Salsa Verde & Lovage Oil recipe by Jesse McTavish

Pork Cutlets with Chestnut & Apple Hash

Beef Rotolo

Boeuf a la Ficelle (Beef on a String)

Dani’s Hungarian Grandmother’s Goulash

Bialys

Un-sandwiches – Dani’s Lunchbox Lessons made alphabet shaped rolls, I made the round ones!!

Best Ever Bread Buns – (these ones were made by Dani herself I got to be on her set for a couple of days shooting!! Yes it was awesome!!)

Dani cooking her BeetRoot Burgers for us to eat for lunch 🙂

BeetRoot Burgers – This is the one from the shoot made by Dani herself too & I got to eat it 🙂 Well we all had one, they were very tasty!!

My version of the BeetRoot Burger

Spaghetti Bolognese

Millet and Beetroot Pilaf

Double Trouble Dumplings with Tomato Passata

Passata

Kimchi

Amazake

Vegan Kimchi Mayo

Rice Crackers & Furikake

Fortune Cookies

Chestnut Butter

Pan de Muerto – Mexican Bread of the Dead

Banana-Choc Hemp Bliss Balls- Recipe by Julie McKie

Granola Bars

Sophia – Thermomix Baking Blogger‘s Orange Polenta Cake 🙂 ( pic taken on set in Dani’s kitchen)

Orange Polenta Cake

Cherry Pasta recipe by Chef Lorenzo Cogo (a gorgeous fusion of Italian & Japanese)

Chocolate Volcanos

Tarte Tatin

Peach & Mulberry Cobbler (Dani’s Recipe is for apricot cobbler)

Chilli Cherry Ripe

Chilli Peanut Butter Truffles

Chocolate Mousse Brownies – Dani calls them little squares of joy & they are so WOW!!

Basque Cheesecake is so easy & delicious!! Watch the free video here.

Orange, Cardamom & Pistachio Truffles

Castagnaccio

Pavlova

Elaine’s Chocolate Cake – this is a super duper keeper recipe for sure – here are my other photos.

Karen Martini’s Banana Bread recipe

Plum Syrup Cake

Chocolate Ravioli with Orange & Apricot Sauce, recipe by Joseph Vargetto.

Steamed Pecan Pie Puddings

Steamed Orange Pudding with Almond Milk Ice Cream

Cherry Semifreddo, recipe by Christy Tania ( I loved licking the butterfly & the bowl for this one ;-))

Choc Top recipe by Christy Tania using the Cherry Semifreddo recipe (I didn’t have the correct silicone moulds but it was still deliciously wicked!!)

Egg Tarts – Tony Tan Recipe

Instant Chocolate Mousse

White Chocolate & Bailey’s Parfait with Coffee Crumble recipe by Julie from the Wholefood Alchemist.

Chlorophyll Paste & Smoothie

Mexican Green Juice

Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Smoothie by Jo Whitton

Jar Smoothies (Mango) from the Lunchbox Lessons post 🙂

Wet Chai

Tiramisu Martini – recipe by Anna Polyviou

Carrot & Sage Cocktail

Blueberry Spritz

Peach Margarita

Casa Daiquiri

Nefrozi

Watermelon Blush

Negroni

Sangranita

Frose’

Watermelon Smash & Watermelon Rind Pickles

Watermelon Smash & Watermelon Rind & Ginger Pickles

Vodka Prosecco Sorbet

Lemon Bomb Smoothie – recipe by Jock Zonfrillo

Mint & Choc-Chip Hemp Smoothie recipe by Julie McKie

Rhubarb Saffrontini

Cucumber, Lime & Mint Dry Ice Sorbet – recipe by Chef Pierre Roelofs

Passionfruit Dry Ice Sorbet – recipe by Donato Toce from Gelato Messina (This is possibly the best sorbet I’ve ever eaten!!)

Tortilla (mine doesn’t look so good but it tasted good – I did the frypan option)

Middle Eastern Salmon with Tahini Sauce and Walnut Relish

Winter Minestrone with Butter Lovin’ Leeks with Parmasean and Chilli Twist Bread

Flourless Almond, Coconut And Vanilla Cake recipe by Belinda Jeffery

Chestnut Pancakes with Instant Pear Bircher Muesli

Carrot Layer Cake recipe by Christina Tosi ( also in the In the Mix 2 cookbook)

Pistachio-Crusted Lamb Cutlets with Green Tahini Sauce

Mint & Coriander Chutney, recipe by Jessi Singh

Prawn Cocktail Skewers recipe by Emma Warren

Buttered Cabbage with Orange Syrup – recipe by Gerard Phelan

Toasted Coconut Paste (Kerisik) – recipe by Suriya Abdullah

Chilli Padi Chicken Rendang – recipe by Suriya Abdullah

Sea Corn Tacos ( I used prawns instead of crab)

Steamed Snapper, Heirloom Tomatoes and Burnt Butter Sauce recipe by Jesse McTavish

Silky Pumpkin Tagine with Couscous and Harissa

Honey, Rosemary and Buttermilk Chicken Pilaf

Roasted Aloo Gobi – recipe by Jessi Singh

Cardamom Pistachio Kulfi – Recipe by Jessi Singh

Coconut Fish Curry – recipe by Jessi Singh

Hong Kong-style Braised Pork Ribs with Tomato – recipe by Annie Xavier

Wombok Coleslaw recipe by Gamila MacRury

Hakka Yam Abacus Beads – recipe by Annie Xavier

Golden Pillow & inside is a Tamarind Pork Curry – YUM!!

Stir-fried Pork and Long Beans – recipe by Annie Xavier

Bitter Greens Salad with Truffle Vinaigrette

Slow-Cooked Brisket Tacos with Grilled Spring Onions and Tomatillo Salsa

Dani’s Vegetarian Daughter’s Quick Sustaining Dinner

Dulce de Leche Espresso Martini – recipe by Gamila MacRury

Steamed Fish with Quinoa, Spinach and Basil

Apple Clafoutis recipe by Gamila MacRury

Chicken Liver Pate recipe by Charlie Carrington

Marron, Chestnut and Pine Mushroom Risotto (I used lobster instead) Recipe by Philippa Sibley but I used my Thermomix as much as possible to make this delicious meal.

Cilbir – recipe by Coskun Uysal – brown butter crumble, poached 60 degree egg with smoked yoghurt, brown butter sauce and crispy chicken skin.

Mackerel with Pil Pil on Olive Oil Rice – recipe by Jesse Gerner (I used a different fish that was available)

Pan-Roasted John Dory with Bay Leaf Oil & Sugar Snap Peas – recipe by Phil Wood

Finger Lime, Gin & Cucumber Cooler from Dani’s Cocktail ebook – so good!!

Simple Shakshuka Sauce recipe by Charlie Carrington

Simple Shakshuka Sauce recipe by Charlie Carrington I added mixed roast veggies, feta & fresh coriander YUM!!

Christmas Trees – Chrissy Kueh! (except I made them in snowflakes shapes with blue pea tea to colour the top layer)

Chestnut, Macadamia & Plum Tart with Olive Oil Pastry with Plum Sorbet with Davidson Plum Sherbet

Prawn Wontons with Peanut Sauce and Chilli Oil

Hummus with Prawn & Crab – recipe by Tom Sarafian

Pesto alla Trapanese – recipe by Joseph Vargetto

Pesto alla Trapanese – recipe by Joseph Vargetto Served with homemade fresh pasta

Zucchini Fritters with Quick Pineapple Chutney

Fresh Sardines with Vinegar and Currant Dressing

Chocolate Banana and Pecan Cookies recipe by Helen Goh

Parsnip and Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Almonds Crumbs recipe by Darren Robertson

Goat’s Cheese, Artichoke & Herb Stuffed Sweet Potato by Jules McKie

Celeriac and Apple Soup with Parsley and Thyme Oil

Put-It-On-Everything Chilli Soy Dressing – recipe by Khanh Nguyen

Beef Short Ribs with Pickled Carrots and Noodles

Sambar – Southern Indian Lentils – recipe by Payal Bisht

I’ll keep updating this page as I go with photos of the recipes I have made from the site – as you can see there is a good range of family meals & exciting fun things to give a try too.

Cook Your Cookbooks!!

by Arwen | Sep 1, 2020 | Dinner, Thermomix Recipes

Beetroot & Feta Galette with (homemade) Za’atar from the Falastien Cookbook

Eat Your Greens

by Arwen | Sep 1, 2020 | Dinner, Food Styling, Lunch, Thermomix

Of course greens are so good for us, so what are your favorite ways to “Eat Your Greens”?

Duck Covid Atlas Masterclass

by Arwen | Aug 11, 2020 | Dinner, Food Styling, Foodie Adventures

This wasn’t on the menu but I also made Charlie Carrington’s Chicken Liver Pate but I used Duck livers instead

Home Quarantine Tips

by Arwen | Mar 30, 2020 | Dinner, Food Styling, Foodie Adventures, Thermomix Recipes

I’ve currently been in home quarantine for 7 days, so I’m halfway through after cutting my holidays early leaving Brisbane last week. My state (Tasmania) had just put in place that anyone returning to the state from overseas or the mainland had to self quarantine for 14 days as a precaution in case any of us had the Covid-19 Virus to stop the spread of this virus to the community. I like to remain positive so I have been keeping a diary on Facebook of what I’ve been doing & I have just loved cooking my way through the week.

I’m now in my 8th day of home quarantine and despite having a long list of things I have needed to do at home for quite some time, (I am very skilled at procrastinating!!) I have been watching some awesome, inspiring and fun live videos on instagram and facebook by some of my favourite Chefs.
So I thought I would share my list so far and please let me know if you have anyone else to add to the list – I haven’t gone out of my way to search for these they came up on my feeds and I have started enjoying them and may be slightly addicted!! (I have barely watched netflix etc)

Also as an aside the Pets of Isolation – what’s your pet doing today? group is really good too – not to mention the Bin Isolation Outing Facebook group!!

eloiseemmett.com has live cooking workshops with her kids about 3 times a week – visit her website to see what is coming up & you can even cook along – once I get some more ingredients I can’t wait to make some of the recipes!!

Massimo Mele has been sharing videos of his son cooking with him too and has more coming out soon.

On instagram I’ve been drooling over Dan Hong’s videos https://www.instagram.com/hongsta_gram/

I’m loving watching Massimo Bottura’s fun live videos too. https://www.instagram.com/massimobottura/

David Lebovitz has been making amazing drinks & cocktails!! https://www.instagram.com/davidlebovitz/

Darren Purchase always has great recipes https://www.instagram.com/darrenpurchese/channel/

George Calombaris has been cooking up a storm too https://www.instagram.com/gcalombaris/channel/

I’m so looking forward to Charlie Carrington’s Masterclasses that travel around the world virtually – It’s Vietnamese starting soon https://www.instagram.com/charliesatlas/?hl=en

UPDATE: I completed my 14 days in home quarantine only to continue into home self isolation. So not much has changed. I am unable to continue working at the gym and even though the gym is doing live stream classes to our members the Bodybalance class I teach has strict copyright laws, so members are still able to do all those classes on the Les Mills on Demand App and so am I. I am fortunate to be able to exercise at home even though it is not as much fun & my motivation is a bit low. I have a few bits of pilates equipment at home too so I have been enjoying a stretch on the roller too. We are allowed to go out to exercise and maintain social distancing and have no more than 2 people together (unless you have more than 2 in your immediate family). I try to go to my local dog beach once a day so my dog can get some exercise too and I take off my shoes and walk on the sand and in the sea water. It has always been my happy place and now even more so. I have had most of my food delivered and we are allowed to go out for essentials while maintaining social distancing.

Everyday I have a routine take a photo of the sunrise, go for a walk on the dog beach with bare feet & paddle in the water (as long as it is good weather). Choose cookbooks of the day to read – 1 non Thermomix cookbook and 1 Thermomix cookbook or cookidoo collection, I post these on my instagram stories and on my Facebook page. They are chosen in relation to facebook memories or what is going on at the time. Of course morning coffee, breakfast, lunch & dinner are very important parts of the day. Checking social media & posting food pics throughout the day. watching any live cooking videos that are on during the day and cooking along with any of the cookalongs. Saturday nights is virtual happy hour with my friends and Sunday nights are virtual family dinner night. There have been some great positives to come out of this time. I have slowly been ticking off a list of things I have always wanted to cook, some have been great and some not so great!! It is all part of the adventure.