How many times a day do you use a Thermomix?

This was one of my lingering questions before I purchased my Thermomix...was I REEAALLLYY going to use it everyday or was it going to be a really expensive kitchen ornament? I am still surprised at how much I use my Thermomix and I know I haven't even scratched the surface of its usefulness yet.

Yesterday for example, I used it FIVE times to: 

• Make pizza dough in 3 minutes (to use for Cheesymite Scrolls) 
• Grate cheese for the scrolls (10 seconds)
• Made breadcrumbs with all my leftover crusts I keep in the freezer (20 seconds)
• Made meatloaf from the awesome Travelling with Thermomix cookbook 
• And finally made custard for dessert...my hubby's favourite! (secretly I think this is what sold him on us buying a Thermy!)

Meanwhile, my poor hotplate has been covered up with a large chopping board and has honestly been used 3 times in the past 4 months...so money well spent on the Thermomix, we think! It certainly gets a workout.

Orange and Poppy Seed Shortbread Biscuits

Since I have had a Thermomix I now lament over all the bits of food that I previously have thrown away which I now find uses for and can turn into something delicious in literally seconds!

Orange peel!! Who would have thought a little piece of peel could add so much flavour? I have started shaving off all the orange rind before I cut up an orange for myself or the kiddies to eat, and I keep the little peels in a small container in the freezer...perfect for adding to recipes later. 

Such as Orange & Poppy Seed Shortbread Biscuits!!

Using the shortbread recipe from the Thermomix EDC (Everyday Cooking) cookbook, I simply added 1TB of peel (around 20g) and 1 TB of poppy seeds. Add the peel in with the sugar first to get finely grated up, and add the poppy seeds in at the kneading stage. Too easy!

What other recipes do you add orange peel to?