So our oven died two years ago

[nadinbrzezinski]

been making do over the last two years with a table oven and well dutch oven and a few other tricks. My mom decided to gift us an oven (using points from her credit card, which she had lots off since my dad was in the hospital and is now as well as an 85 y\o can be) So tomorrow I will use it for the first time. Got it installed today...

I am thinking of a chicken, or a good cut of meat, any ideas? I have not done any oven meats (well not in a real oven that is) in a while. Also looking forwards to trying my hand at gluten free biscoti.

So many things to do....

(Oh and in the packing we had a nice piece of wood, that will be recycled into a base for war gaming terrain... happy, joy, joy)

[elleng]

1. ROAST CHICKEN!

Perfect Roast Chicken

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/perfect-roast-chicken-recipe/index.html


The Ultimate Roast Chicken

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/the-ultimate-roast-chicken-recipe/index.html

Have fun!

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Thanks....

We will enjoy it. Called home today to tell my mom that is is now installed. She was happy.

[Warpy]

6. Excellent, but consider dessert, too

Try a flourless chocolate cake: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Flourless-Chocolate-Cake-I/Detail.aspx

If you want to celebrate having a real oven at last, that's the way to do it, with a dessert there's no way you can do with a countertop job.

Then there's this alternative for an entree, a little too fussy for the toaster oven, just right in a big oven: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/skillet-souffl-10000001572910/index.html I discovered the skillet souffle ten years ago when my souffle dish broke and I had the mixture prepared. While it doesn't rise to the great heights the French mold produced, the end result at the table is the same, a feathery light, savory concoction with creaminess in the center where it collapses the second you cut into it. Yes, you do have to thicken it with flour, but I would think non gluten flour like rice flour would do the trick nicely. It doesn't require gluten, at all, just the thickening quality of starch.

I do without my oven 6 months of the year because it's just too damned hot in the desert to use it, so those first chilly fall days are a real celebration when I start baking everything, whether or not it needs it.

[grasswire]

3. it is a challenge!

The bottom element in my stove in this little apartment has stopped working. The upper element still works to broil, but there's no baking. (Thank goodness this happened after Christmas cookies!)

So I've been pondering what to do. I could replace the element, but it's not the plug-in kind and I might not be able to install it myself. I'm not sure how long I will live here so I don't want to buy a new stove.

Last month my faithful old Black & Decker toaster oven of twelve years died so I thought I would buy a tabletop oven. I bought an Oster tabletop convection oven. Ugh! It took 14 minutes to make a piece of toast, and just wouldn't get up to full heat. I returned it to the store.

Okay. Then last week I bought a GE tabletop convection oven. Toast is now 4 minutes. But this one isn't getting to full heat, either. The top temp on the dial is 450, but I roasted a chicken in it and it never got above 350.

I don't have the solution yet.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. My table oven does not get to 450 either

or rather the oven thermometer says it does, but the heat distribution is not good.

I used it to make meats and even baked breads, but stopped trying anything over 350 and if the recipe called for anything above that, would not even try it.

Don't get me wrong, I have used that thing intensely, still do... hell that is what the birds get their breakfast toasted in every morning... but having a real oven will be a nice change for baked goods.

[kestrel91316]

5. If you're in an apartment your landlord should be responsible for

repair or replacement of the stove.

[grasswire]

8. well, it's a family friend...

...who basically rescued us last year when the house we were renting was foreclosed and the landlady stole eight months of rent and our deposits. We stay here for very little money -- it's an old unused apartment over the garage. So I don't want to incur any costs for our host.

[kestrel91316]

9. Understandable. But maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask. The person might be appalled

to think of you going without a stove and gladly remedy the situation.

People can be amazingly gracious and generous.

[Warpy]

10. If you have any money to spare

consider checking your yellow pages for a place that sells refurbished appliances. I found one in this city and bought all reconditioned appliances for this house when I moved in 15 years ago--and they're all still working fine. I could barely have afforded a small fridge, otherwise. I got a large fridge, a washer and a dryer.

In some cities, Goodwill Industries does this. In my city, there is a business that does it.

It's the way to get a workable appliance for less than half the cost of a new one. It's also a way to pay back a very generous friend if you have the means.

[grasswire]

12. well that's thoughtful...

...about paying back the generous friend, and I appreciate that suggestion. But they intend to tear down this garage in a couple of years. Heck, I can get a used stove on craigslist for under a hundred dollars. I just haven't gotten around to getting anything done and hoped the tabletop would work out.

[Warpy]

13. Understood.

However, maybe a service call to get a new element installed in the one that's there would be a good deal for you. It sucks not having an oven.

I have to wait for wind free days to use the solar job, so I have to plan my bread days very carefully.

[Love Bug]

7. Why isn't your landlord fixing the oven?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Because this is nota rental DUH!!!!

[Love Bug]

16. wow -- no need to be snotty

Please note I posted my question before the OP answered it above.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Well got the last ingredients needed

and will try my hand at gluten free biscoti. Doing the Almond variety, and as much as I don't like going to Whole Foods because of how they treat workers, that is where I could get them pesky ingredients.

Should be fun and tasty to get biscoti for that latte.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Oh and just reporting

them gluten free biscoti are very yummy. Hubby will like them and the birds begged for seconds. Hell, I had another piece... they are wonderful...

Out of the 1,000 gluten free recipees by Carol Fenster... definitely will enjoy the baking now...

:-)

Conure asking for more, cute...