I was making lunch for my little people last week, and decided to try giving the baby I tend some bite sized veggies to try (she is learning to feed herself). I popped some frozen veggies on a plate and put them in the microwave. Within seconds I was hearing a zapping noise, and seeing arcs of light. I stopped the microwave and inspected the inside for bits of food that may have fallen off the turn table (sometimes stray food has gotten zapped by our crazy microwave). I didn’t see much, but decided to do a quick microwave wipe down just to make sure it was going to operate properly. I got it all cleaned out and set about trying to warm up the veggies again. Again within seconds like beams from the mother ship, I heard the zapping and saw arcing. I opened the microwave and found blackened carrots, and part of my microwave door had melted! I also noticed tiny burns all over on the inside of my microwave, as though it had been attacking itself for a while now.
I realized that our microwave had bitten the dust. I have never been particularly fond of it, it came with our house, and we have used it even though it has little power and heats everything unevenly. The kicker is, that last summer in an attempt to revamp our kitchen and finally get our fridge in there, we had gotten an over the stove microwave that had a vent hood that needed no outside venting . (This is good because we just re-roofed our house 5 years ago, and I really didn’t want to have to mess with putting a vent on our roof). We got it home thinking it would be just a few weeks until we could install it (we just needed to build a wall, and move a gas line and add some electrical), we thought so anyway. After looking into what was required to install a microwave that size, we realized that it would also include adding an additional breaker, and since our tiny breaker box (only has 6) could not hold another one we would have to install a new breaker box, which unfortunately according to code, would require a complete rewiring of our house.. We ended up abandoning the idea entirely, because we want to sell the house and not put too much more money into it.
So here I am trying to stay on track with my budget, I have no usable microwave, and a completely brand new unusable over the stove microwave in the garage. The good thing is, since I have made my “Become financially free” declaration, I have decided that we can live without a microwave, we barely used it anyway. And when the time comes that we have saved up enough money, we plan on getting a microwave toaster oven combination anyway to save on space. The old me would have probably gone out and bought a new microwave with a credit card, but I now weigh the cost of the interest, and how much this goal means to me, and have realized that I can make this sacrifice for now. Yes, some days it does feel as though the Universe is out to get me, but really I think it is just a test to see how serious I am about eliminating the burdens.
The microwave I had died last fall, also. (It was an old one, too - it was foisted upon me after Dorothy passed away 5 1/2 years ago). We didn't really use it to cook, either. Maybe steam veggies, heat up burritos and in the morning, I used it to bring my 1/2 & 1/2 to just below luke warm before I added my coffee. After it died I had to, as you put it, go 'old school' for the steaming and the heating up - except for the coffee preparations. I started setting my mug with creamer on the slots of the toaster and pushing down the toaster lever a couple of times. Shawn wasn't too jazzed about that, but I didn't want to use a pan every morning. Shawn's girlfriend moved in and brought her microwave, so it's only use is to warm my 1/2 & 1/2. They don't use it at all.
ReplyDeleteI admire your committment to your goal. Victoria
You know, we rarely used ours as well. I used to to warm up food brought by my daycare kids, and occasionally warming up my coffee (which I rarely drink anyway). And I was feeling all smug, and thinking that we can live without one just fine... when I decided to make my annual valentines sugar cookies, so far so good, I was all done baking them and ready to start making the buttercream frosting, when I realized all the butter I have is frozen, and then I remembered that I did use the microwave sometimes, for 8 seconds usually to defrost the butter. Oh well the frosting will just get made later tonight.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you used to warm up your half and half, it made me smile. :)
I am having to make some adjustments for sure, I had leftover mashed potatoes and chicken and wanted to eat them warm, so I put them in a foil packet and stuck them in the toaster oven, it worked like a charm, and the flavor was better than when I microwave.
Update, we have now been without a microwave for nearly 8 months, and I still don't miss it. Some things actually warm up faster on the stovetop anyway.
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