KITCHASTER!

AAAUGH!

If you're thinking about remodeling your kitchen . . .

DON'T.

Just don't.

Or do, but move somewhere else in the meantime. The Fire Swamp, for instance. You could build a summer home there. I hear the trees are actually quite lovely.

We are so close to finishing this project that I can TASTE victory! Not because I've cooked it, mind you, but just figuratively speaking. Raw victory. Maybe dipped in ranch sauce.

Anywho . . .

Today we saw real progress. The dishwasher is installed! It fit! The garbage disposal is in. It works! The slide-in range is in and the elecric oven works, but the gas still needs to be hooked up for the burners. 

And then there's the microwave.

Behold this lovely piece of Sharp engineering:

This is the much-anticipated Microwave Drawer that we installed in the island. Remember the whole debate about "microwave high" or "microwave low"? John didn't want to stoop and I didn't want the kids climbing on counters. So we splurged on this fancy drawer that you load and unload from the top:

Yes, yes, I'm very impressed that you noticed the two hour difference in photography here. My original "closed" shot was blurry so I took another. You're very smart. Shut-up. (The Princess Bride)

The microwave is lovely. It operates very quietly. It popped our after-school snack very efficiently. It even says hello on the display and "enjoy your microwave drawer" when you first plug it in.

But . . .

K-JOHN: I still can't believe that you didn't bake us a cake last night!

ME: But I told you . . . the oven had a coating smell that needed to be burnt off. By the time I ran it for an hour it was too late for baking.

LEO: I really wanted some cake.

ME: Oh OK, you big babies, I'll just bake you one in the microwave. You see, I have this marvelous piece of Pampered Chef geniusry . . . the Rice Cooker (choir of angels). You put in a cup of rice and two cups of water and microwave on high for 12 minutes and you get perfect rice every time!

LEO: But I don't want any rice.

ME: Wait for it. The Rice Cooker (choir of angels) also cooks cake! I can put a cake mix in it. You can even add the frosting and it will be like a lava cake!

K-JOHN: No kidding?

ME: I don't kid about my Rice Cooker (choir of angels). In fact, I gave it a place of honor right here in the cabinet above the sink since I use it so much. (fetches the Rice Cooker choir of angels)

K-JOHN: Is that thing going to fit in your microwave?

ME: Uh . . .

ME: Whaaaaaaaaaa!

K-JOHN: I guess you'll just have to throw that thing away.

ME: My Rice Cooker (choir of angels)? sniff

K-JOHN: No, I meant the microwave!

I called Evelyn to tell her the sad, sad news. She, too, has the Pampered Chef Rice Cooker (choir of angels) and could understand my pain. She's a good friend, though. She didn't diss my microwave at all, telling me that I could just switch to boil-in-a-bag rice and my life was still worth living.

Thank you, Ev.

Speaking of Ev, a bunch of girls are going out tonight to celebrate her birthday, which was the day after Christmas but we've had two blizzards so this is the first night that works, so I have to fly like the wind, Bullseye.

I shall raise my margarita glass in honor of the Rice Cooker (choir of angels) and then I will find a good home for it

REQOTD (Me: Hey kids, let's get a cake mix and then whenever the oven is hooked up we'll bake a cake to celebrate! Emma: But we didn't throw a party for the refrigerator or the dishwasher.)

Comments

[rach]

ha! LOVE the microwave drawer - poopy about the pc rice cooker (will have to add that to my pc wish list) - yep, i'm considering learning how to cook - hee, hee! um YEAH, when cows fly - DO cows fly yet!? have fun out w/ev! cheers, rach

[Kathy]

That is a total shame that your rc doesn't fit in your new microwave (I have never seen a drawer-type before; guess I don't get out much).

Have you ever tried using a rice cooker that you plug in to make rice? They really work quite well (but it does take longer than in the microwave or boil in the bag).

[jen]

Oh.NO!!! I used my Rice Cooker (choir of angels) tonight and yet again, exclaimed how I couldn't live without it. Oh nooooo! LOL
And you're gonna hafta share the cake recipe in the Rice Cooker (choir of angels). I've never heard of such a delicacy.

[Tifani N]

You can send your Rice Cooker to me and then guess what...all is saved. :-)
I need your email address. I have news to send you. Kitchen looks GREAT!!!

[Kim Parker]

I think pc has a smaller rice cooker that might fit in your micro drawer. (but I don't think it's big enough for cake)

[corinne delis]

girl that is one awesome microwave! sorry the rize cooker don;t fit.

corinenxxx

[Jody]

Ev is lying to you...rice cooker is WAY better than boil in the bag!!!!!!!!

I too, have a love for this simple kitchen item and my rice cooker is showing signs of a long well used life.

And then I visit your blog and saw that awesome black rice cooker just standing there (mocking your microwave drawer, but I digress) and I actually heard those angels sing! Me likey and me want LOL

[Tanya Webster]

Ok, bummer about the rice cooker BUT i have to address the fact that if you have not already seen Ali Edwards blog you need to read the one about words....i am thinkin' you have no trouble picking a word or making one up....you have a knack girl! :) T

[christy]

Sorry to hear about the rice cooker...but what an awesome microwave you have! Okay, so last night I snuck away from my 4 kids to take a long bath, and grabbed an old magazine to thumb thru for ideas. (CK Feb 2005) I get to ask the experts...and there is your picture!!!! Just had to share. I know...I am two years late, but I got pretty excited about it. :)

[Amy B-perumbula]

my mother used to cook rice in the microwave in a casserole dish. it does the same thing the fancy schmancy rice cooker does . . . and it's shorter. ;) make sure you allow room for boil over and take your measuring tape when shopping for your new casserole dish/rice cooker. you're welcome. :)

your kitchen looks lovely. we'll be redoing our kitchen this year. do you have any recomendations on lots in the fire swamp? I like trees and I don't believe ROUSes exist.

[Amy B-perumbula]

oh and I cook two cups of rice on my stove top in 15 minutes. it comes out perfect (and fluffy) every time. e-mail if you want my method. it's a bit different from what I've seen most people use.

[janet o.]

I'll be happy to take it off your hands - I have an 8 year old girl whose two favorite foods are rice and cake, and she would fall over if she knew they could both be made in the same thing. :) And I'd even say (choirs of angels) every time I used it. :D

[Dianne K. Nelson]

I couldn't live without my Rice Cooker (choir of angels) now that I've found it. I'm soo, soo, soo sorry for your (loss?) pain at the non fitting thingy. Maybe a microwave downstairs just for the rice cooker?

Smiles,
Dianne

[Mary Kay Seckinger]

That's it! Dianne has the answer! Auxilliary microwave in basement for rice cooker use. Genius.

I do not have one of these contraptions (gasp!) but think I may have to look into it. I suppose I will wait until I'm invited to another PC party (are you reading, Rach?) so a friend can get credit for my purchase that's YOUR fault.

[Mary L.]

Dang - I need one of those rice cookers! I'm still using the 45 minute steamer...so I rarely use it because by the time I remember to use it, it's too late to go with dinner.

And HEY!....I was out with the girls Thursday night also. Mind you, we sat OUTSIDE on the patio. :) I can gloat about the snow now because Christmas is over...the only time I really want it. I wish I had known you were out...I would have toasted you with my marg.

MWAH,
Mary (how's that for a sign-off? too intimate and personal?????)

[Betsey Terry]

must know how to cook the cake in the microwave!!

Tupperware also has a steamer, that you can bake a cake in (havent tried it)..and havent tried rice, but it works great for vegetables...and I made rocky road in it too!!