Wow! It has been longer than I thought since my last post. I will have to get y'all caught up on what all has been going on in the state of Washington. Just not right now.
Yesterday, I removed the microwave from the house. I have been wanting it out for a while now. So, yesterday, on a whim, I got up and asked Chad if I could do an experiment. He said yes without even asking what it was I wanted to do, which is a good thing for me (I get away with a lot more that way). So, I told him I wanted him to remove the microwave from the house. My request didn't come as a surprise. I had discussed it with him a few weeks ago. Microwaves are convenient, but the physical ramifications of using them has always concerned me. Besides how lazy are we that we can't reheat something on the cook top.
Anyway, the plan is to not use it for a week and see how it goes. But, I knew if it stayed in the house the kids would find a way to use it. So, out it went. I didn't tell the kids what I was doing, and I knew that Cody, more so than the others, would not be happy about it. Her go to meal at lunch is a baked potato with a cup of sour cream and just as much butter and cheese. And it drove me nuts. On the way home from her classes (that will be in an update post) I told her what I had done. And, I was right. She wasn't happy. She is an instant gratification type of girl and did not want to wait on cooking a potato in the oven. You know what she did. She made a healthier lunch, a burrito with steak, cheese, sour cream, and a few fried potatoes. I know it doesn't sound much different, but she used WAY less sour cream and cheese and added way more protein. I say a win for both of us.
Earlier, when Noah found out about the microwave he was upset. Why? The only thing he will make for himself is a tortilla with a slice of lunch meat and cheese, throw it in the microwave and that will be breakfast or lunch. Not possible now. So, I showed him how to make one on the cook top. You know what? He said it tasted way better then in the microwave, more like a quesadilla.
Yesterday, I reheated oatmeal on the cook top. I survived.
Today, Jessica had to reheat her tortellini in a cast iron skillet on the cook top. She lived.
So, why do we feel a microwave is a necessity? Before microwaves came along people did just fine living without them. Besides, this kitchen is small and I feel like I can't function well in it. I don't have much counter space in this kitchen and all the space I can get is helpful to my sanity.
The only time I have felt a tinge of guilt about removing the microwave was when Chad's coffee became a bit chilled and he wanted to reheat it on his way out to work and couldn't. But...that tinge of guilt quickly left when I remembered that I had purchased some very nice travel mugs for him to use. You know, the kind that keep drinks insulated for hours. The same ones he leaves at work everyday. His coffee would still have been quite warm had he used one of those, so my guilt quickly left.
I am not saying the microwave will stay out forever. But, I do love the idea of more counter space and the fact that the kids have to put more thought into what they will eat.
