That's what happened to me Christmas morning. Maybe Santa was mad I didn't put up a tree. First thing, with sleepy eyes, I grabbed my coffee cup, filled it with water and stuffed it in the microwave. A minute later, it wasn't the least bit hot. I ran it again ... and again ... and again. POOF!!! Just like that it quit working. No warning signs, no loud noises, no bangs ... it just QUIT!!
Believe it or not, it took a minute to figure out how I was going to get coffee. AHA!!! I have a Keurig in the closet. I whipped it down, filled the water container and hit the button. It growled and grumbled, kind of like me first thing in the morning, then began spewing out ..... NOTHING.
I emptied it and tried again .... and again ... and STILL nothing. I put it away. Now what? This is just WAY too much for 4:30 in the morning! Finally, an actual pot on the stove heated up my water.
At least the oven was heating up as I worked to cook my Christmas dinner. Turkey .... check! It was the most beautiful turkey breast I've ever seen ... HUGE in fact ... that required I slather it with butter and spices. Oh wait ... I need to melt the butter. I put it in a paper bowl and had it in the microwave before I remembered. I tried it again, just to be sure. Nope ... not going to happen. I have one small pan ... I melted it on the stovetop. YAY! Only 3 hours to perfection.
Now it's the waiting game. How about a piece of quiche for breakfast? I'll heat it up in the ....... microwave. Or not! I looked around the kitchen trying to figure out how to reheat THIS one. I finally opted for a frying pan, kind of like reheating pizza. The crust came out a beautiful black color! Somehow that didn't work out like I expected.
I passed the time playing with the puppies, squawking at Jonathan and double checking the patio for kitties. I remembered the potatoes ... check! Those cook in a pan on the stove, as will the gravy when the turkey is done. Hmmmm I need a vegetable.
I scrounged through the fridge to find some broccoli. Perfect ... I'll microwave it! Oh wait ... no kidding, I thought about how I could cook it in the oven, or at least the Breville oven, to no avail. I searched through my cabinets for another small pan to place on the stove. AHA!! Found it.
That's when I remembered those plastic microwave pans don't work well on a gas burner. RATS!! I guess I'll have to wash that last pan and use it again.
When was the last time you had boiled broccoli? Of course I only added enough water for the microwave, so it was a tad brown on the bottom and WAY over done ... you know, that funny green color of overcookedness (my new word).
At long last, I was ready to carve the turkey. WOW!! What a turkey!! It was done to perfection and I have enough to feed a family of EIGHTEEN!!
In the interest of full disclosure, I ate one bite of the broccoli and tossed it in the trash. There's no use spoiling this magnificent turkey dinner.
Now to deal with the leftovers. It took me over an hour to cut it all up, make bags with my Foodsaver and get it in the freezer. I've no idea how in the world I'm going to reheat ANY of this dinner without a microwave. Who knew I had become SO dependent! Course I am the Queen of Lean Cuisine!! WAIT!!! How am I going to heat up THOSE dinners?
Two hours later, I finally found a replacement unit on the internet from Walmart. It's the exact same one and costs $20 more than any of the others, but I can pick it up THIS Friday, versus three weeks from now. Otherwise I'm going to have a few problems heating everything up on the stove with only two tiny pans. I mean really, how to you reheat turkey?? In a saucepan??
So Santa Claus, thanks for the Christmas morning adventure, but I'm going to fool you. I'll be taking all my meals in my MOTORHOME for the next three days!!! HA!!! Take that Mr. Santa Claus!!
keyword was at the bottom of the last sentence ,,motorhome,, microwave
ReplyDeleteOK maybe at 4 o'clock in the morning barefoot and PJsit might look a little bit funny but don't worry the neighborhood peanut gallery is mostly asleep
Should've bought it today after Christmas sales ?????
Yup that's me ... tiptoeing into the freezing air so I can have my breakfast quiche! lol I looked at the sales, but they are all too tiny for my frozen meals!
DeleteLOL,, Santa was not good to you this year at all.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how you get used to using a microwave. We very seldom use ours at all. I like to cook veggies on my Weber Q wrapped in foil or in a steamer basket in a pot on the stove. Boil water on the stove for coffee and tea, reheat leftovers in a pan and lean cuisine, take our of the package, into an oven pan heat at 350 for 10-15 minutes and stir to heated through. Even our Coffee maker we seldom use, coffee made in a perk on the stove too.
I looked for a small oven pan, but couldn't find one to save me. I refuse to use the big ovens, since just turning them on probably uses up $10 worth of electricity!!
DeleteAmazing how much we rely on the microwave. Have you ever tried French Pressed Coffee? We have here in the condo all the time...in the MH we have a Mr. Coffee type along with an outdoors percolator in case we don't have electricity (boondocking). With the French Press we use a cordless Electric Kettle to heat the water.
ReplyDeleteOk, I admit it. I drink phony coffee ... the instant pour-in-the-water kind. Otherwise I require three sugars and half a cup of cream!!
DeleteI can certainly sympathize with your dilemna. We use our microwave a lot too although it sounds like I have more pots than you. :) 3 different size one plus 2 microwave ones. LOL Without an oven, I'd be euchered with a microwave and would do what Mister Ed said, go shopping! glad you found one onlne and glad you have a fully equipped motorhome. :)
ReplyDeleteI mean really Patsy, I may just have to go back to the old days of cooking on a fire!!
DeleteChristmas Day was a day for thinking. I'm also very dependent on a microwave. But I do use a steamer in a pan on the stove for vegetables. Enjoy your new microwave. Elva Shannon
ReplyDeleteI guess I just never noticed how dependent I was on my microwave. You never appreciate things until they are gone, I suppose.
DeleteNice that you were still able to celebrate the day.
ReplyDeleteSome Microwaves have Reset Buttons on the back.
Greg from Our RV Travels has fixed his repeatedly. Get it fixed then put it in the closet until the new one conks out.
If Santa had given you coal you could have used it in a well ventilated space to cook supper.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
Rick, I couldn't even use my barbecue because I left it in Arizona! I'll see if my old microwave is fixable.
DeleteYou need a backup steamer basket, and a pair of tongs. Broccoli is good steamed and you can reheat turkey in a steamer. Buying the basket will help keep the microwave working.
ReplyDeleteOoooooh I never thought of that! I do have a steamer basket Allison. I'll give that a shot.
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