Help! No kitchen for a week!

katholicos

We had a kitchen fitted a couple of years ago...well, when i say kitchen i mean we had new ceiling, newly plastered walls, even new flooring, along with all the kitchen cupboards (it's rented accommodation)...the plumbing and wiring was all replaced too so you can imagine the disruption to our lives for the 6 weeks it took the workers to complete their job.

Everything from the kitchen was put in the lounge and in the bedrooms. We were living out of cardboard boxes etc. The microwave took some hefty use during that time and we had a few more portions of chip shop chips than was good for us but we got through it. I didn't use the slow cooker during that time, and only you know what is best for you with regards to your child, but I would be wary of using one unless there was no way on earth your child could reach it and pull it over.

jc2703

Thanks for taking the time to reply - some great ideas.....particularly paper plates:T Like it!

Think I will sit and make a loose meal plan (using your suggestions) and see how I get on. Might even sweet talk one of the neighbours into lending me an oven for a night or two!

J x

babyshoes

For a week or two I wouldn't be too worried about eating a lot of high carb, easy foods like toast, potatoes, pot noodles, pasta etc as long as you eat plenty of fruit instead of your normal veggies. Even tinned fruit (as long as it is in juice not syrup) counts towards your 5-a-day, and makes a nice pud with a bit of instant custard (or cream if you prefer!) Also consider the old favourite of fruit in jelly or an easy trifle as a good way to get some fruit into youngsters.

A lot of microwaveable foods are available in tins too - they might not be quite as healthy as home made, but have to be better than take aways! Have a look for things like tinned stews, roast meat with gravy etc. They could be served with microwaved rice and microwaved veg. If stuff gets a bit cold while you are cooking something else, just dish it up cold and zap each plate for half a minute before serving.

Lots of meals can be cooked in the microwave, I am sure you will find enough simple recipes if you do a quick search on here! Look at meals designed for students, as they often have limited cooking facilities too.

Also, consider eating out occasionally at places with a carvery, especially if they do special offers such as mid-week specials or two-for-one, because you can then load up on the veggies which you might be missing out on.

beautiful_ravens

You could set up the slow cooker in the shed if you have one.

I would set up a kitchen area somewhere, with just enough room for a bit of food preparation. Have you got a high sideboard?

You could buy a ready cooked chicken, and just cook your own micro potatoes and veg to go with. I made mashed potatoes in the microwave today, they were a bit chewy but that made a nice change hehe
Do you have a lean mean grilling machine or a sandwich toaster? They could be handy.

Quite a lot of those frozen microwave meals, like the Mr T 5 for £4 ones are versatile enough that you only have to add a few things to make a full meal

9p noodles are a doddle in the microwave.

Hope it all goes well

Actiongirl_2

We just had our second kitchen fitted in 2 years - long story but we moved house and there was no kitchen in the new house as we are renovating it! I have a toddler just coming up to age 2 and one on the way so understand the family angle.

Anyway.

Top tips from experience:

Make it clear to the fitters that they have NO access to your kettle/microwave. If you have a spare, leave it in the room they will be working in with mugs and milk if you wish.

Make it clear that if they want the mugs clean, they rinse themselves - or you will have more washing up and frankly you can do without it when you are trying to keep a house clean for a young child.

If they need to access your toilet, cover the carpets/floors if you can. However clean they claim to be, if they are in and out to vans, they will walk in muck and water particularly at this time of year.

We invested in paper plates and knifes and forks - minimises washing up. Get them from the pound shop to reduce cost. (I know not total OS but I think there are occasions where concessions can be made!)

See if you can borrow a mini fridge if yours is out of action. You know the drinks kind. Just cold enough to keep milk chilly.

Good luck and it will soon be over! We had a temporary kitchen for a full 12 months, and the house was a building site... but now we are in the new kitchen we LOVE it!!

kinkyjinks

jc2703 wrote: »

Evening all

I'm stuck for ideas and in need of help!

So how do I feed us all (7 of us) for a week with no cooker and without resorting to takeaway everynight!

J x

I had a new kitchen last year and it took them 4 weeks :eek: I don't know if this will be any help for you at such short notice but I cooked like crazy in the 2 weeks leading up to the renovations and froze it in family sized portions.

I had my slow cooker in my bedroom and used that a lot and got loads of comments about the yummy food smells from the workmen. If you have an electric steamer you could put that in the bedroom too and cook your veg that way too. Maybe make some mashed potatoes up and freeze them too.

I thought it would be a nightmare having no kitchen for that long but I actually had fun rising to the challenge.

Oooh maybe you could consider using your clow cooker overnight as well if you're worried about scalds.

gizmo111

I've done this twice and it is a nightmare, first time was 6 weeks, 2nd time was 3 months - I invited myself and kids out a lot to freinds and family for tea, especially sunday roast, ffamily sent me big lasagnes and things that could be reheated in microwave. Get some toasted sandwich bags for toaster, and supermarket ready meals. We ate out quite a bit as well on 2 for 1's but we were so sick of it at the end at least yours is only a week or so, you should be able to manage OK.

Good Luck

morganlefay

Actiongirl is so right about not letting the workmen in 'your' temporary kitchen space, and even more so about the loo. My daughter had her entire downstairs ripped apart when she had a new (2 months) baby and was paranoid about cleanliness ( and quite right too) so her workmen had to have a portaloo in the front 'garden' (just a tiny little space really) and I noticed that others in the same street then did the same. Don't let them share your 'kitchen' space or use your fave mugs or loo if you can avoid it. However lovely they are you'll want to have a nice clean space of your own and they can't help being covered in dust etc.
I am sitting here with 10" snow outside and thought that the occasional barbecue out in the snow (well wrapped up) might be different. And if we could devise a way of keeping the foxes at bay (big plastic box with lid) we'd have no need of a fridge at present - everything could sit in the garden. My daughter's kitchen is now completely perfect and worth the immense hassle, so good luck with it all !

misskool

we've had no kitchen for months.

microwave in the dining room (in fact, must move it to the kitchen) with the toaster above it.

we had a single induction hob ring but the main problem is washing up. So ready meals, paper plates, disposable cutlery and the ability to enjoy pasta and sauce a lot.

It was only 2 adults so we were quite flexible.

If you have frozen ready meals (in those plastic tubs), zap in microwave and then eat from them (:O) and throw away. Cheese toasties go down well as well

A week isn't a long time and it'll fly by.

pawpurrs

I have been without a kitchen for two weeks now, and looks like it could easily be another three at least! As the kitchen man cant get the wood delivered to start building it! Running out of food and cant get the cars out! A week will fly by. The going up and down to wash up in the bath is the worst of it. Ate out for the first time last night at the local. The remoska is very helpfull at the moment.