Got a fussy husband like mine who changes his mind and wants something else after you have already cooked the thing he said he wanted? There are two solutions I have considered so far:
- You can bonk him over the head with a zucchini, or...
- Spoil him rotten!
Being one of the spoil-em rotten kind of homemakers, although I do use the latter term advisedly, I admit that this challenge has been almost as daunting as the problem of frequently having to heat up one meal for him and another for me due to our vastly different tastes in food. In addition to being the person who gets to eat up all the food that the fellow who changed his mind doesn't want anymore, being the "cook" I also get to eat the food that got cold while the other food was heating up. It is my Midwestern upbringing. It was drilled into my head from toddlerhood both to be thrifty and also that the person who serves a meal gives the serve the better plate. Well, now I've figured out a solution for that, too.
My answer is a little kitchen gadget that is inexpensive and easily available, even in most grocery stores. I use this gadget to heat and serve entrees other than the egg. It is good for preparing all sorts of food in the microwave including tamale pie and dumplings, although it is usually marketed under the name microwave omelette maker. I like the appearance of the brand Safeway sells because it is white and has a locking clasp that makes it handy for storing leftovers in the refrigerator. The one Nordic Ware manufactures has smoother edges though, is a bit easier to wash, and they cleverly put the hinge locks on alternating sides so that the gadget doesn't pop apart unexpectedly. I have had experience with other brands doing just that, as well as chipping when dropped. The secret to cooking in these, of course, is to put them on a plate such as Corning's Corelle, which is exactly the right size and has the perfect curve to cradle the cooker and keep it from sliding off onto the floor. Yes, I learned this the hard way.
This gadget is like a cross between a plate and a bowl, with a rust-free hinge in the middle and cute little handles on two edges. For casual dining at home, I like to eat right out of this so-called omelette maker, oven to table. The size is perfect for portion control. I do wish they made a nicer version out of something light but impervious to stains--something with a glassy surface like Corelle that could hold up to spaghetti sauce, though. If I were making these, they would be packaged with custom-made matching plates attractive enough for service at any table.
All you have to do is put some food in one side of each cooker, fold the hinged lid over and stack them up to six high even if your microwave is tiny. Most things cook in about two minutes. You can leave the lids down to keep the food warm until served and then flatten them out and stick a serving of salad or whatever on the side. I love the way this utensil keeps hot and cold foods separate on the same plate and prevents runny toppings like Alfredo sauce from crawling over to sog up the garlic toast. Unlike regular plates, they fit anywhere in the dishwasher, too, which is great for saving water and power. Their lovely non-stick surface makes them easy to wash whether by hand or in the dishwasher. Cupboard space is at a premium in many homes, too, so it is also convenient that these can be stacked open-faced or folded on a shelf. You don't have to have a picky husband to enjoy this great tool, by the way. Anyone who wants a serving or two of something fast can use it for almost any kind of microwavable snack.
I just wish they had given this marvelous gadget a yummier name, one that expresses all of the wonderful things it can do besides just making omelettes.
