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Cooking without a kitchen

8 replies

Stase · 22/02/2011 14:50

Help! Our kitchen is in bits and the cooker has packed up, so no hob or oven for about a month, maybe longer. I have borrowed a stacking steamer and bought a small microwave with grill.
What can I cook!?!?

My boys are 2 and 4, and a bit on the fussy side. No sauces for DS1, DS2 a bit more flexible. We've had jacket potato, cheese and beans, chicken in bought tom sauce with rice and veg, and ready meals that go 'ping!'. None of it very nice...

I miss the hob most, can't even sauté some onion and garlic! And no baking cakes! Unless someone knows a recipe for steamed or microwaved ones?

They're in nursery Wed-Fri, so just crudités, sandwiches and a yoghurt will do as they'll have had two hot meals already, but what the hell can I make tonight????

Any tasty suggestions much appreciated.

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Chil1234 · 22/02/2011 15:07

Sounds awful!! I'd also struggle horribly without a hob. We'd definitely die if we couldn't cook pasta. However, I own a two-ring gas camping stove like this one from Argos. Would that make life a bit easier?

In the meantime I suppose you could throw some rice, veggies and chicken pieces into a pot and microwave it for a kind of rough risotto

Chil1234 · 22/02/2011 15:08

(Should clarify... not actually offering you the camping stove but maybe, if you know anyone who likes camping, they could let you borrow a similar one)

Lilymaid · 22/02/2011 15:10

You can also get electric double burners and mini ovens from Argos - may be worthwhile if you'll be without a proper cooker for more than a month.

AlmightyCitrus · 22/02/2011 15:13

Get a slow cooker? You can do soups, stews and even roast dinners in one.

There is a microwave cake in a mug recipe I've seen somewhere on here.

Stase · 22/02/2011 16:42

So it doesn't sound like I can make it through on what I have?

Bugger... If I'd had half a brain I'd have saved the cost of the Microwave and bought a plug-in hob instead.

I wonder if the grill would manage sausages? Could steam spuds and veg and make some Bisto.

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grumpykat25 · 22/02/2011 21:02

Do you have a gas barbeque? Or one you could borrow from neighbour/family etc? Stick it outside the back door and grill away! I cooked everything for three weeks camping on one, and we ate all sorts of things.

PurveyorOfWoo · 22/02/2011 21:07

Steamed fish is good.

Our microwave grill can do burgers, fishfingers, sausages etc.
Also it is totally possible to do steamed sponge in the microwave - DP does a fab steamed syrup sponge. Serve with ready made custard - Yum!

Stase · 23/02/2011 09:32

I just had the most revolting microwaved poached egg ever!

I'll test the grill tomorrow (working late tonight), and definitely look up some sponge pud recipes!

We were hoping to be doing this work in summer and having BBQ, picnics, salads and sandwiches, but surprise third pregnancy and cooker packing up have forced it all forwards.

Dinner last night was hideous microwaved rice in a packet (will steam it next time) with steamed cod and veg, and bought watercress sauce. DH and DS2 didn't touch the fish, DS1 ate the lot on the promise of a yoghurt Can't wait til DS2 is old enough for coercion!

Think what I need is a plug-in hob. We've got a mini gas cooker (2 hobs, oven and grill) in the camper van, but it's kind of fitted and has a huge gas bottle, plus the van is tucked up under tarpaulin until Spring. Will get on freecycle...

Thanks all!

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