I Have a Microwave

Or a ‘mee-crow-wah-vay’ as Nigella likes to say. When I moved into my house in MIlton 20+ years ago, I decided to get a built-in microwave, so I gave my old counter-top microwave to a friend. Then, being the brilliant procrastinator that I am was, I left it several months before thinking about buying a new one. By then I realized I didn’t miss a microwave at all, so I never did replace it.

Over the years I have used them sparingly – heating up my lunch in a bank branch (I once burned a cardboard Timmie’s cup in the Dixie Mall branch kitchen while trying to re-heat my 3-hour old coffee), or at my sister’s house (again, re-heating coffee). I once needed Orville Redenbacher’s Microwaveable Popcorn for a wine-tasting & pairing (the instructions were very clear; it had to be Orville to go with the Chardonnay), so I ran next door just before the guests arrived to get two bags popped (no wonder my neighbours tell me they miss me – they miss the comic relief). The house on Papdale didn’t have one either.

So here I am in my new cottage with a microwave. But I keep forgetting. I find myself still re-warming coffee in a pan on the hob (stove) before thinking, “hang on, I could have done that with the microwave.” Of course, I never do that with tea. Tea cannot be re-heated, and more specifically, tea CANNOT be put in a microwave. I don’t know why, but it’s true. Yesterday, I was halfway through my second choice for dinner because I hadn’t thawed any chicken (chicken with leeks had been the original plan), when it dawned on me – I should have defrosted it in the microwave. I had prawns for dinner last week and thawed them by placing them under cold running water for 15 minutes.

But now that I’ve mastered the concept of having a new toy, I am getting into the swing of it: the best are baked potatoes! Anywhere from 5 – 12 minutes depending on the size. Ditto roasted beets, celeriac, and turnip – this is great! Yes, I do realize everyone reading this is rolling their eyes and saying welcome to 1975, you Luddite. Don’t care – having fun!