No oven/stove-top for a week... what can I cook??

[overthinkit]

So, we replaced our oven range. This is a good thing, except that I discovered we have to have an electrician come out to install the new oven (the old one was so old that it was hard wired into the wall, the new one needs an outlet, etc..). The old one is already gone.
...and the earliest the electrician can get here is Thursday!

Now I have to find a way to cook ... using only a microwave ... until the oven is operational.

Any ideas??

Thanks!

[butzy]

I would buy a small gas bottle and cooker top (at a camping store?) and use that to make one-pot meals or to brown any meat. They always come in handy!
I got a number of them, so when we have a powercut, at least I can eat (by candle light)...

[MartiniGenie]

Pot roast in your slow cooker, you can add potatoes and carrots. Then make it into soup the next day...add barley and mushrooms, maybe. Reheat the extras in the microwave. I also toss cut up chicken into a slow cooker and add your favorite sauce base (one of the only times I will use quality canned cream of mushroom soup) and it will actually turn the sauce a golden brown by the time it is done. No browning necessary.
If you have a glass covered dish, then you can steam any vegetable in the microwave. The trick is to not over do and only add about one tablespoon of water. Cook times broc, 3 minutes, asparagus, 1.5 mins, brussel sprouts, 3 mins.

[Breezychow]

You really only have what, 4-1/2 days to worry about? Surely you can use your microwave & your slow-cooker, plus maybe 2 days of take-out or eating out to fill that gap? It's not like you have to wait for several weeks.

[Hank Hanover]

Buy an electric skillet and a roaster oven. You should be able to buy both for less than $80. You will be able to do anything you could do before.

[sueatmo]

Many years ago I got through a week or so of kitchen remodel using a microwave oven and an electric skillet. Others in this forum have been using induction burners. You plug them in, and use pots or pans with encapsulated bottoms, or an iron pan will work. If you have any small electrics, now would be the time to pull them out for use.

Maybe you could borrow an electric skillet, or small oven?

[Terrie H.]

If you can swing it, I agree that a crock pot would be a good idea. A couple good soups paired with sandwiches and salads should get you through a few days and a crockpot is great to have for future use.

I agree that this also calls for dinner out or delivery when you can. It's only a few days. Enjoy the new stove when it arrives!

[overthinkit]

Totally forgot about my slow cooker! Yeah, good idea. Can't brown anything first, of course, so that rules out quite a bit.
But I could get some instant rice and make curries and such.
Thanks for the ideas, everyone! I'm grateful to hear any others you happen to have....

[Terrie H.]

Minestrone, bean soup with a ham hock or smoked turkey, chicken and dumplings, or a quick soup using a store-bought roast chicken and canned broth will work without browning meat first. I'd probably use it as an excuse to do a cheese fondue.

[Njchicaa]

I mostly use my slow cookers to make chili and Italian-style sausage and peppers. Soooooo easy and delicious.

[Antilope]

You can make polenta, risotto, brownies, puddings, etc in the microwave. Get a slow cooker and you can bake banana bread and cornbread in it. You can also make pork loin or pork shoulder in the slow cooker.

[magiesmom]

I'm guessing you don't have a rice cooker or slow cooker?
Personally I'd see it as a sign from the universe to eat out and hint to friends.

[tsl_saga]

Salad and sandwiches comes to mind. Those require no cooking. You can try Pan Bagnat which is like salad in a sandwich. I like the recipe from food 52.

You can also steam your veggies and squashes in microwave too. I even make steamed fish in microwave.

[Njchicaa]

Do you have a grill?

[overthinkit]

...nope, no grill...