Preserves are really easy to make in the Thermomix®, and save you standing over a stove stirring for hours. Use this recipe in the butterfly cakes recipe. Also delicious served with croissants.

Spread on toast or bread, use in smoothies or with yoghurt or muesli.

1 tablespoon of stock paste is roughly equivalent to 1 shop-bought stock cube.

For a fluffier texture, steam in the Varoma after cooking. Transfer cooked bulgur into Varoma dish. Place 9 oz water into mixing bowl, set Varoma into position, secure Varoma lid and steam 10 min/Varoma/speed 1 . Transfer steamed bulgur to a serving dish and fluff with a fork. Use as desired.

For a frozen treat in summer, pour juice into icy pole moulds and freeze.

Setting point test: place a saucer in the freezer (5-10 minutes). Place 1 tsp jam onto the saucer. When cool, push jam with your finger. If it wrinkles, it is ready. If not, boil jam for a further 2 min/110°C/speed 3 , then test again.

The amount of water for cooking potatoes should be sufficient to cover the weight of potatoes used, and at the same time it should not exceed the maximum capacity of the mixing bowl (2.2 l).

Use as a basic spice paste for Balinese Pelalah Shredded Chicken, Menadonese Rica-Rica Chicken or Balado Eggplant.

To roast pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin: scoop out seeds from pumpkin, place seeds in a large bowl of water, seeds will float to top and pulp will sink. Discard pulp, pat seeds dry and proceed with recipe.

To prepare bottles, place 17.5 oz water into mixing bowl. Place bottles and lids 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 bottles and lids in hot, soapy water. Rinse by pouring over boiling water. Prepare for filling, by placing on a clean tea towel in a roasting pan and heating in the oven at 212˚F until required.

Enjoy this salad as is or as a side to grilled meat, fish or poultry, poached eggs, or protein of choice.

Don't be tempted to add salt to the cooking water as it will toughen the texture of your octopus.

Gochujang can be found in Asian grocers under the English name of Korean chilli paste or hot pepper paste.

Vegetable fritters, or bakwan, is the Indonesian version of tempura and a popular food during the Ramadan period in Indonesia.

Steam any kind of mushrooms, e.g. oyster mushrooms, porcini mushrooms.

Be sure to use clean utensils and sterilized jars for best results. Wash all surfaces and containers that will be used with hot sudsy water and rinse well with very hot water before use. To ensure preservation, sterilize jars as directed in recipe and fill while jars are still warm.

To make your own chickpea flour, place 100 g dried chickpeas in mixing bowl and grind 40 sec/speed 10 .

Jackfruit is popular throughout Southeast Asia and India, and has a distinct sweet aroma. The fruit can be starchy and fibrous, but when cooked has a texture similar to pulled meat (making it a great option for vegetarians and vegans).

This cocktail mixer gets its characteristic colour from the pomegranate juice that is reduced with sugar. It is a simple syrup commonly used in many cocktails. Store-bought versions are often full of food colouring and flavourings, but when it's this easy, why wouldn't you make your own?

The glaze will thicken as it cools. To test if your glaze is cooked, place a metal spoon into the mixture. The glaze should coat the back of the spoon in a nice thick syrup-consistency.

The syrup can be made up to 1 week ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

- For 4 portions, the pineapple should weigh 650-800 g (approx. 1500-1700 g unpeeled). - Serve warm with a scoop of lime sorbet or an ice cream of your choice (e.g. vanilla, coconut, rum and raisin).