A relative of mine is currently enduring a kitchen remodel, and I must admit, I’m not the least bit envious of the process. It’s been a few years now since we remodeled our kitchen at our previous house, but I can still vividly remember how difficult it was to get dinner on the table.
Our kitchen remodel was triggered by a leaking pipe from our upstairs bathroom. We ended up replacing all of the plumbing from our second story down to our basement… and in the process, had to replace the entire kitchen ceiling in a 70-year-old house. Talk about a mess! It was a few weeks before we were able to enjoy our new kitchen.
Living without a functional kitchen really makes you think about dinner planning.
Here are some ways you can survive life without a kitchen:
Plan ahead. If you have an idea of when your kitchen remodel will take place, cook up a bunch of meals in advance and freeze them. Then you’ll only have to reheat them during the remodel.
Use a crockpot. You can make an entire meal in just one crockpot. (Plus, you can drive your contractor nuts while it cooks all day long). Check out A Year in Slow Cooking for some great recipe ideas.
Fire up the grill. Much like the crockpot, you can grill your entire meal, too. The best part about grilling is that there are no pots or pans to wash later!
Eat light. Soups, salads, and sandwiches can be whipped up quickly without a lot of dishes, especially if you purchase vegetables that are already washed and cut. (Not frugal, I know, but more frugal than eating out!)
Use an electric griddle or skillet. If you’ve got one of these gadgets, you won’t need to worry about using your stove. Pancakes for dinner, anyone?
Work eating out into your budget. There will be at least a day or two where the thought of piecing together a meal without a functional kitchen will be overwhelming. Give yourself a break and order in or take the family out to eat.
Just remember, the sacrifices you make during a home remodeling project are always worth it in the end. Soon enough you’ll be able to enjoy your new kitchen and be back to cooking!
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