Couldn't resist this perfect Swiss chard
What list, you ask? The list of things that you never expect will happen to you. These are things you hear about on television, you read about in the newspaper and you chat about with a friend. The top of the list are fires and floods and tornados and dread diseases. Somewhere around number 19 is a faulty gas line in front of my building in Manhattan. I never expected to come home this afternoon and find a notice that the Department of Buildings had shut off the gas to my building, and that it might be shut off for "many months." Many months!
I'd like to say that I was totally calm about the news. Wrong, but not totally hysterical, either. I use my stove a lot. Two favorite meals are omelets and pancakes, which are quickly cooked on the stove. I'm also on a spinach/kale/Swiss chard diet for my macular problems and I stir fry spinach at least four times a week. These foods came to mind immediately.
But about an hour later I calmed down. My microwave will be my best friend and I did a search for microwave baking recipes. There seem to be thousands and I will start pinning on Pinterest. I have an air fryer that I have used twice. I'm going to start looking for recipes to make that appliance earn its counter space. I'm not buying any new small appliances until I know that I have a need for something that can't be filled with the ones I already have. I'm also going to pray that "many months" become many weeks fewer and by veggie roasting time my stove is back in business.
Fortunately I'd already cooked the majority of the rainbow Swiss chard in the photograph. I've got a few peaches I planned to turn into spiced peaches. They can be cooked in the microwave. It's not my first choice, but I'm sure they will taste good. I'm not a particularly creative cook, but it's time to become a more creative one.
There have been two terrible gas explosions in Manhattan in the last few years and despite my annoyance, I'm grateful that we are not a third. I'm also grateful that we can remain in our building while the pipes are fixed. I'm profoundly grateful that this is number 19 on the list and not numbers one to ten.
That's my news. I hope your news is that all is well and that you're keeping cool.
As ever, thanks for visiting and appreciate your stove!
10 comments
This chard looks like a beautiful bouquet, it is so colorful. I remember one of those gas explosions, watching it on t.V. It was awful. You have a great attitude about all of this, and you are right...it is so good that you can continue to live there with just some adjustment to your cooking. So good that you already have a microwave and air fryer! So maybe the experimenting will be fun, at least for a little while.
Shocking about the many months, but good news you can stay in your home. I use my gas stove top a lot so I agree it will take creativity with your microwave. I have a small George Forman grill which is quite versatile and of course electric. Rainbow chard is so pretty. August might be a great month for you to travel.
Thankful that you can remain in your apt. while the work is done and I pray the work goes faster than expected. You will have to share some of your "new" ways to prepare food as you experiment. Have a nice day.
Wow! That is going to be challenging! Does the gas heat your water for showering?
I'm grateful with you that they found a leak and will repair it before it exploded. I'll pray with you for it to be a quick job and not one that drags on and on.
We do often take things for granted until we don't have them and then realized how much we used them and yes, I am thankful for my stove. It's a gas one too and I would definitely miss it. Thankfully you do have a microwave so you can do some cooking. I mostly use mine to reheat things, but it would be missed too if I couldn't use it. A crock pot might be a good alternative for you you since it may be months with out your stove. I do a lot of cooking in mine and love it.
How is the building heated? With gas, electric, or some kind of diesel oil or whatever it is that burns in furnaces sometimes?
Yes - - you are a resourceful and intelligent woman and will do well. I think there are microwave omelets you can make in cups or mugs, also.
I love how you're able to summon the silver lining in every situation! I, too, am curious about the hot-water situation. Have you considered an Instant Pot? We've no room for one, but Tom's daughter swears by hers.
I once lived for two years without an oven. Long story but I learned that you can cook almost anything in a Crock Pot. You can even bake in it. Even so, today I wouldn't trade my oven for anything. And I too need my stove for omelets (but you probably already know that you can make an omelet in the microwave. Happy improvising! xoxo
I don't know if you have goodwill there...but a nice electric skillet would be good to have around. Or an electric hot plate. Glad you did not panic and praying they fix the gas lines. Be safe Carol. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
YIKES. We use gas for the hot water heater and heat (which we won't need the heat for a while). Still, it's an inconvenience when you are without something you need in your daily life. I hope you don't have to be without gas for as long as predicted. I use a Ninja cooker, it can be used as an oven, a stove-top or slow-cooker. One of my faves. Enjoy your day dear friend, HUGS!
Post a Comment