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.

To prepare jar: place 17.5 oz water into mixing bowl. Place jar and lid upside down in the center of the Varoma and steam 20 min/Varoma/speed 1 . Leave to drain - do not dry or touch the inside surfaces. Alternatively, thoroughly wash jar and lid in hot, soapy water. Rinse by pouring over with boiling water. Prepare for filling, if needed, by placing on a clean tea towel in a roasting pan and heating in the oven at 212˚F until required.

Cashew cream will last up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

To make your own butter, see Cookidoo® for the recipe.

To make your own butter, see Cookidoo® for the recipe.

Fruit coulis are sauces or purées produced by blending fruit and cooking briefly.

Delicious with Christmas pudding or mince pies. Makes a lovely gift.

Refrigerate leftover dressing and use within 3 days.

Lemon curd is so versatile, and can be used in everything from all sorts of pastries, lemon meringue pie, as a filling for sponge cakes, as a quick dessert with fruit and yoghurt, or simply as a preserve on toast. It is quick and easy to make your own at home, and it tastes so much better than the shop-bought variety.

To make your own golden syrup and butter, see Cookidoo® for the recipes.

You can store this sauce in sterilised jars in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

To prepare jar: place 17.5 oz water into mixing bowl. Place jar and lid upside down in the center of the Varoma and steam 20 min/Varoma/speed 1 . Leave to drain - do not dry or touch the inside surfaces. Alternatively, thoroughly wash jar and lid in hot, soapy water. Rinse by pouring over with boiling water. Prepare for filling, if needed, by placing on a clean tea towel in a roasting pan and heating in the oven at 212˚F until required.

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

Christmas pudding wouldn’t be complete without a dollop of thick, creamy brandy sauce. This sweet custard takes less than 10 minutes to prepare with Thermomix®, and thanks to the constant stirring, there’s no risk of any lumps.

Roll butter into a sausage shape to make butter rounds or form into a rectangle shape to store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Fruit coulis are sauces or purées produced by blending fruit and cooking briefly.

Delicious poured over ice cream or chocolate sponge cake.

If you prefer, you can use regular cocoa powder in place of the raw cacao.

To prepare jar: place 17.5 oz water into mixing bowl. Place jar and lid upside down in the center of the Varoma and steam 20 min/Varoma/speed 1 . Leave to drain - do not dry or touch the inside surfaces. Alternatively, thoroughly wash jar and lid in hot, soapy water. Rinse by pouring over with boiling water. Prepare for filling, if needed, by placing on a clean tea towel in a roasting pan and heating in the oven at 212˚F until required.

Spread frosting onto completely cooled cakes or cupcakes or transfer into a piping bag and pipe frosting onto cakes to decorate.

The sauce may harden in cold weather; to bring it back to a liquid consistency, stand jar in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes.