Vanilla seeds can easily be removed from the vanilla pod; hold the pod at one end, slit with a sharp knife lengthwise, then scrape out the seeds with the tip of the knife.

Grind your own almonds if desired. Place 120 g blanched almonds in mixing bowl before beginning recipe then grind 10 sec/speed 10. Transfer to a bowl and set aside until needed.

If you don't have a piping bag, cut the corner off a sturdy freezer bag and use as directed to pipe choux pastries on baking tray.

Recipe inspired by Maria Cecilia Espinosa, Thermomix® Independent Consultant Florida.

You can replace the cream cheese with 600 g firm quark in this recipe (you can find quark at European delis, or make your own - just follow the recipe on Cookidoo®). Using quark will result in an overall softer texture to your slice.

The word “Shortcake” is derived from an old English cooking definition which refers to something made crisp with the addition of fat. A shortcake is a crisp, crumbly biscuit made with butter. The traditional Canadian Strawberry Shortcake is always made with a butter-rich slightly sweetened biscuit often with heavy cream replacing the typical buttermilk to increase the crumbly crisp richness of the biscuit.

There is nothing more quintessentially British than a good old-fashioned sticky toffee pudding. With your Thermomix®, it’s easy to make and steam the puddings and it only takes a few minutes to make a gorgeous sticky toffee sauce.

This British classic hails from the picturesque village of Bakewell in Derbyshire. The delicious, distinctive combination of almond and jam makes this a wonderful afternoon tea snack. Can also be warmed and served with custard or cream for pudding.

For a firmer consistency, place the ice cream back in the freezer for 15 minutes before serving.

Decorate your cake with thin slices of fresh mango or lime.

Use the base of a drinking glass to press crumble base firmly into place.

There is nothing more quintessentially British than a good old-fashioned sticky toffee pudding. With your Thermomix®, it's easy to make and steam the puddings and it only takes a few minutes to make a gorgeous sticky toffee sauce. If you can find dark brown sugar, soft brown sugar and golden syrup, they will give you the most authentic flavours. However any type of brown sugar can be used and honey or maple syrup make a nice substitute for golden syrup.

The time it takes to whip cream depends on the temperature of the ingredients and the fat content of the cream - the more fat it contains, the easier it is to whip and the stiffer the consistency it will achieve. The optimum temperature is 4-6°C. For better results, you can cool the mixing bowl.

Place serving plate in freezer for 30 minutes before serving.

You can store these sesame snaps in a sealable container for up to 5 days.

Also known as a farmer's cheese, quark is a soft cheese popular in Northern and Eastern Europe. Quark can also be purchased in some delis and speciality food stores.

If you do not have a vacuum sealer, use the water displacement method: Fill a large container or bowl with water. Place 200 g strawberries and other ingredients into a snap lock bag and seal, leaving a gap of approx. 3 cm still open. Slowly submerge bag into the water (pressure from the water will force the air out), sealing bag closed just before it is completely submerged. We recommend using high quality snap lock bags. Look for bags made without BPA (Bisphenol A), which are widely available from major retailers. Polythene bags are not suitable for cooking food.

Try making this pie with blackberry or blueberry jam.

Trifle is a much-loved English dessert that dates back to the 1700s. To add a festive twist to this historic dish, we’ve replaced the traditional sherry-soaked sponge with a crunchy gingerbread layer. Together with a zesty mandarin jelly and white chocolate custard, this modern take on a classic could become a new Christmas favourite!

Lollipops start with the simple combination of sugar and water, which is made into a syrup then heated to a specific temperature to reach the hard-crack stage. They can be made with different shapes, using moulds or simply pouring the syrup on to an oiled or lined surface to set.

For a firmer consistency place ice cream in freezer for 15 minutes before serving.

For a perfect homemade pie crust, refer to the Two Crust Pie Pastry recipe in the Thanksgiving Collection.