I’m back this week to give you my final review on the Target Bellini Super Cook Kitchen Machine (Bellini). If you missed my first review, you can read it here.
This week I was a little more ambitious with the Bellini. I found this fantastic group on Facebook called Bellini Addicts. It is a wealth of knowledge! There is a member created recipe book and a place where you can ask questions about using your Bellini. With a little more knowledge under my belt I set to making some real meals with the Bellini.
I quickly found that I didn’t use my stove all week. I chopped, sauted and cooked everything in the Bellini. How fantastic was that. No standing over the stove stirring or making sure it didn’t burn or having to wait for something to cook before I could go outside and do the clothes or play with the boys. I was beginning to see how the Bellini would actually work in my kitchen and family.
So now plans are being made to get more bench space in the kitchen (just don’t tell hubby that we will be up for a new kitchen now, ha!) On a side note, my bench space is confined to less then one meter it is rather small for a family so the addition of the Bellini is a great excuse, right!
How I cooked three dishes – step by step account of my afternoon
Ok, so back to what I made this week. I made three dishes in the afternoon to go with our roast pork that was on the Weber Family Q in around 1.5 hours. I wasn’t confined to the kitchen for the whole duration which meant I got other things done while I was waiting for them to cook.
Firstly I made Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup. This was as simple as adding the onion to the Bellini, chopping it, sauteing it, adding the pumpkin, sweet potato and stock. Cooking for 20 minutes before adding cream and turning the speed up to turn it into soup.
While the pumpkin was cooking I placed the Vapore Steam Tray on top and added my frozen broccoli and cauliflower to make the Broccoli and Cauliflower Cheese Bake (recipe shared below), this steamed until the soup vegetables finished cooking.
After the soup was blitzed, I cleaned the jug. (25 minutes)
Added some old bread to make the crumb for the bake, removed from the jug and set aside.
Prepared the cheese for the bake, removed and set aside.
Prepared the cheese sauce. (10 minutes)
Poured over the broccoli and cauliflower, sprinkled over the bread crumbs, and baked in the oven.
Cleaned out the jug.
Started the rice pudding – stage one and then stage two which cooked for 30 minutes.
The Bellini took care of the stirring and I didn’t have to keep an eye on the pudding to make sure it didn’t burn.
While the pudding cooked, the bake cooked in the oven, the pork cooked on the weber and we were ready to have a three course meal in 1.5 hours.
Conclusion, I had used one jug to prepare and cook the three dishes. The cleaning of the jug in between meant I didn’t end up with a pile of pots that needed to be scrubbed if I had of cooked these dishes on the stove. In actual fact I had 90% of the dishes done before we sat down to dinner.
Overall view on using the Bellini
Using the Bellini has made the way I cook a little different, for example I have to stop myself from chopping the onions (the Bellini will do it), I don’t have to grate the cheese (the Bellini will do it), I don’t have the hang around in the kitchen (yes, the Bellini will stir it). It is going to become a saviour on those busy nights or Sunday afternoon cook ups before the new week begins.
I have found that you can easily convert your conventional recipes for the Bellini. A little trial and error and you will be thermo cooking the family favourites in no time.
I have also found that you will change the way you shop. You will buy more whole foods – spices, butter, milk, vegetables, meats etc and make your own sauces etc. So yes I believe if you are a big buyer of premade sauces and foods this will help you save money and convert to a more ingredient based cooking style (this is what I do already – the Bellini has made most things easier and quicker).
Exclusive to Target
Bellini Super Cook Kitchen Machine retails for RRP $899. On Sale for $699 until 25th March 2015. EXTENDED UNTIL 31ST MARCH 2015.
Some more info:
• 13 functions
• Can operate at up to 130 degrees
• 1000 watts cooking power & 500 watts mixing power
• 10 speed multi and turbo mixing functions
• Weight scale
• 2 Litre jug
• Everyday essential – can literally complete all kitchen needs
• Yumi Control System with its own recipe collection and access to 1000 plus free online recipes (36 installed on the included SD card)
As part of Target’s ‘Massive Home Sale’ the Bellini Super Cook Kitchen Machine will be on special via Target’s online store only, from 12 March for $699. Free Delivery. On sale only until March 25 2015. EXTENDED UNTIL 31ST MARCH 2015.
BROCCOLI & CAULIFLOWER CHEESE BAKE
INGREDIENTS
50gm Parmesan Cheese
30gm Butter
2 Tbs Plain Flour
400ml Milk
1 Cup Fresh Breadcrumbs
500gm of Broccoli and Cauliflower (I used frozen)
LETS PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
1. Place the frozen the broccoli and cauliflower into the vapore steam tray. Either cook while cooking a soup in the jug or add 500ml of water to the jug, set to speed 1, temperature 110 degree celcius.
2. Once cooked remove what was in the jug, clean. Add the old bread, sp5 10 seconds to make fresh breadcrumbs, remove and set aside.
3. Cut the cheese into cubes, add to jug on sp 7, 10 seconds, remove and set aside.
4. Add the butter to the jug, Set sp 3, 100 degree celiciu for 5 minutes, add the flour at the 2 minute mark.
5. Turn up to 130 degree celcius add the butterfly replace the lid and start. Gradually pour the milk in still on speed 3 cook for 8 minutes – add the cheese 2 minutes before the end time. Cook until it thickens.
6. Pour over the cooked vegetables. Sprinkle on the breadcrumbs and bake in a 180 degree celcius oven for 10-15 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden.
This is a sponsored post for Target. I was also gifted a Bellini Super Cook Kitchen Machine to review. All opinions, photos and recipes expressed are my own. This is my review of the product and how it fits into my life.
Hi, l have the Bellini supercook,and I’m wondering how I can cook my own recipes and not following the recipes preprogrammed, like use in in a manual mode?. Is there a manual mode l can put the machine into?
Thanks
Hi Belinda, I cook all of mine in manual mode just simply press the speed button first and select your speed, time and temp
Amanda, does this machine have a reverse setting and if not do u find rice etc gets pulverised as some people are saying
Hi Chris, no there is no reverse. Instead there is a blunt blade that you use for dishes where you don’t want the food ‘pulverised’ as you put it. My risottos come out perfectly.
I have the Bellini Intelli Kitchen Master and LOVE it but looking at the new Supercook all shiny and lovely looking has made me a little bit jealous.
The Bellini makes me look good. I am a working mummy so time is precious but it’s so important that the family eats right. The Bellini makes this easy- plus I am able to show up with baking and other impressive dishes whether it’s mothers group or family BBQs and look like I have been slaving in the kitchen for hours when actually it was a cinch.
Now my bubba is starting to look interested in real food I am looking forward to seeing how we go with the baby food too. I look forward to seeing what else you make with your new friend 🙂
Hi,
I have just bought a Belinni and tried a recipe on the Belinni Addics recipe page, Creamy tomato & salami fettuccine.
Unfortunately it was more like soup than pasta sauce and even though it tasted okay…it wasn;t what I expected. Can anyone explain why this happened ???
Hi Deb, I’m not sure why it ended up like that. I guess it would be because the recipes are contributed by members and they may not be accurate with their measurements. Here is my version: http://www.cookingforbusymums.com/creamy-tomato-and-chorizo-salami-pasta/
I have just had my bellini supercook wifi for 4 days i do love it but having trouble logging in would love to have more recipes in a book so i can use it i do have the book that came with it but more choices would be good,can i download the recipes for the other machine that doesn’t have the mumi
Thanks robyn
head to the Bellini Addicts facebook group and they will be able to point you in the direction to get help.
i would love to buy a second hand one