Monday, August 19, 2013

Toaster Oven: Yay or Nay?

Among other (small) things, Chuck got me a toaster oven for my birthday because he knows I love tuna buns. (I believe "tuna buns" = "tuna melts," but I'm not sure. They were just called tuna buns in our house. Also, I grew up calling ramen noodles, "soba" because of the time my parents spent in Japan in the 70s. Scarred for life, I tell you.)

Anyway, we have yet to open the toaster oven because I'm just not sure it's worth it. However, I really dislike microwaves. I feel like we hardly use ours, and therefore it's just wasted counter space. So if I could just swap the two, then I'd be happy. But because I didn't grow up using a toaster oven (again, the scars! the scars!) I don't know that much about them. Does anyone out there have one? If so, how do you use it? Could it replace our microwave? And if we go with the toaster oven, do we need a toaster?

P.S. While we're talking food, any suggestions for lunch boxes? Ones that won't be refrigerated? Ones appropriate for picky kindergartners? (Not that I have one or anything...)

P.P.S. Sorry this is a boring post. Wednesday will be juicy, I promise.

P.P.P.S. Now I have to invent something juicy. Sigh.

7 comments:

  1. well, seeing as we grew up in the same home, i can't help you out with the toaster oven questions. sorry!

    P.S. i'm pretty much just a sandwich-making gal for my kids' school lunches. sometimes miles gets a quesadilla. sometimes, in the winter, i send them with soup in a thermos. there are super cute ideas on pinterest, but when it comes down to it, i just mainly do sandwiches. would he do a wrap - in a tortilla?

    P.P.S cool!

    P.P.P.S. ha!

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh, i was also going to say - he might learn to be not-so picky. if what you give him is his only option, then he's just gonna have to eat it or go hungry. he might choose to go hungry for a few days, but i doubt it would last . . .

    ReplyDelete
  3. I also want some lunch box suggestions since my kids are not generally sandwich eaters. But M does better with them so maybe I'll ease her into a greater frequency for lunch. I think I'm also (judge away, folks) going to let her do a school-bought lunch or two if she wants on random days. I admit it. I liked the cafeteria food from time to time. And the CDC where she's at... well, I'm pretty impressed. It's all the same gov't food, so I know she at least likes the Mac & Cheese.

    As far as the tuna buns and soba. Hilarious! I am craving a tuna melt right now! I was in love with these in college and on my mission. Thanks for the reminder!

    Finally, for the toaster over. We love ours. We still use the microwave, but the toaster oven is awesome! Toasting bagels, toasting toast, tuna melts, reheating homemade sweet potato fries, reheating waffles, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc. Ours even has a grill option, so I use it to do small servings (my own lunch or a side dish to a small family meal) of grilled green beans, zucchini, toasting almonds, etc. LOVE THE TOASTER OVEN! Definitely don't need a regular toaster if you have one. Enjoy!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i think my sister "lets" her kids eat school lunch once a week. they look at the menu beforehand and pick which day. i like it! no judging here.

      Delete
  4. I've never had a toaster oven either, SORRY, and I didn't have a bowl of ramen that I recall until college. HA. But soba works......;)

    As for lunches.......I pretty much stick to sandwiches too, BORING, but my kiddos don't complain.......probably cause I'm not there to complain too! Pintrest is full of ideas, of course. LOVE the retro back to school dinner idea. GENIUS!

    ReplyDelete
  5. We got a toaster oven about a year ago when our toaster died and it's great! No need for a toaster now. We use it for reheating things like pizza/fries/waffles etc (crispy things) and of course making toast...I also use it for roasting/baking small portions of veggies and things when I don't want to turn on the oven or when it's just something small. It does take up a lot of counter space though and isn't very pretty in my opinion, but I've found it to be very functional.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I didn't grow up with one either so I wouldn't know what to do with it!! Good luck!

    I'm so sorry to hear you have a pinched nerve!!!! feel better please. You're amazing for getting out and doing so many fun things when you're hurt!!

    RHETT IN K!?! Oh man...how is he so old?!!?!? I met Rhett when he was Fred's age. Does that mean Fred's going to be in K in no time at all? I can't wait to hear all about it.

    Oh and talk about scarred....my mother, from New Jersey, taught us that coloring CRAYONS were pronounced "crowns," along with "MOSH-mellows," "wooter (water)," and lots of other ridiculous stuff.

    ReplyDelete