“That’s what he said. Time to go look for a new stove. What
are you doing tomorrow morning?”
“Looking for a new stove with you.”
“I think so!”
We
had been hand-lighting
the top burners on the old stove for years. They quit igniting along the
way. Our old stove clock, in times of power outages or time changes,
could only be reset by unplugging, plugging it back in, and
then setting the time. The timer hasn’t
worked for years. We just dealt with it and took it in stride. Inconveniences, but not essentials. Then this week the oven died.
That was the crushing blow that resulted in our new purchase.
My husband, who enjoys cooking, too, has opinions on these matters. We
had fun looking for the new stove together. We
debated getting the cheapest stove we could find or one more expensive,
yet more suited to our needs over time. This one will serve us better in
the long run.
New, shiny, and so clean... |
So, we have started the clock to see how long the new stove will last. We bought the five-year warranty, which I’ve come to accept as necessary these days. Appliances are not as reputable as in our parents' days. Replacing
appliances has its financial challenges all bundled with hopes for a good product that will serve and last.
Aside from color changes, the new stove comes with minimal razzle-dazzle technology and dashboard of keypads, which we learned to use quickly. It comes with a bigger oven and five burners, which my husband thinks will be useful, especially with two couples cooking in this house - and all four people cook, the men and the women. [Another couple lives upstairs]
Our new KitchenAid range |
We can now roast or bake with a convection oven. That will save energy, something pro-environment for me. It seems easy enough to do, according to the instruction manual.
Within less than 24-hours, we broke in our new stove and gave it a whirl:
First baked item, Monkey Bread – a worthy choice. |
First spill – melting butter with brown sugar. |
- First piece of popcorn hit the stove top and came to rest – proof that love is in the air and plenty to share.
- Grease spattered while cooking this morning's breakfast bacon. I had to back down almost immediately from my new vow of hyper-vigilance in keeping the stove top clean all the time, though I am hoping we keep it cleaner than the one we are retiring.
Thoughts included summers where it is too hot to cook. Holidays where certain baking and roasting smells fill our home and announce a season or a festive meal. Watching cheese melt and bubble on a pizza through the oven window at the end of a busy weekday. Anticipating a cake or cookies or fresh fruit crisp for a sweet treat. New recipes to try with humbled expectations and fun in the process. All these things revolve around a stove. The sizzle of sauté whether onions or garlic or something else. Stirring a hearty soup. Caramelizing anything. These are some of our delicious times around the stove that create bonds and memories, anticipation of something good, and value for the process.
So, out with the old...in with the new. Good-bye old stove! Now we have to figure out what to do with the old one. It looks so used and dirty with the new one nearby. It served us well for many years and now we will dispose of it in an environmentally conscious way.
Did you know new ovens no longer include broiler pans? Do you think replacing a major appliance ever comes at a convenient time?
No comments:
Post a Comment