A slow cooker can be used for just about anything. Great for this time of year. A suggestion 'Fix-it and Forget It' cookbooks are wonderful! Easy to follow recipes and they are delicious.
Good luck! BB💐
Wow. I would freak out I I didn't have an oven! You're brave. I have to agree with the crockpot route. Special sized pans need to be purchased for toaster oven. They are very small.
Comfort food in the winter? Hot soups and nice bread all the way. My husband looks forward to winter for the soups. Southern chicken and homemade noodle (dumplings), Curried butternut squash and peanut with crispy fried sage on top, creamy potato with ham boullion, French Onion with broiled provolone on top and croutons.
FWIW - We have a very small kitchen and when my father became ill and wheelchair bound, he was unable to turn around in the kitchen due to the depth of our stove. I promptly threw that sucker curbside and replaced it with a narrow vintage table holding an induction burner and toaster oven. It's been 9 years since I made the decision to abandon a full sized stove. Even after Pops passed I never wanted to put one back in. The toaster oven/induction burner saves money on electricity and does all the 3 of us need. If I want to cook a turkey breast, out comes the huge crock pot and away I go. Stay warm and best wishes!
What are your go to comfort foods that use the oven?
As long as you have a good size pot with a lid there are tons of stovetop recipes for everything from risotto to braised chicken thighs to mac and cheese :)
This mushroom bourgignon has been a favorite for many years, just use whatever mushrooms you like and are readily available, wide egg noodles are a must to catch all the tasty sauce
https://smittenkitchen.com/2009/01/mushroom-bourguignon/
I make this ribollita several times each winter, it makes a ton and extras freeze well. Very comforting and filling
http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2012/01/ribollita-italian-cabbage-and-bean-soup.html
As a start, most people braise in the oven but any sort of braise can be done stovetop; it's just a bit trickier regulating the heat. I have a friend who uses her counter top convection oven more often than her regular oven, which is a very good one- not sure what's available nowadays, but I see ads for counter top ovens that sound pretty promising.
I totally recommend the Oster countertop convection oven. Mine is more of a toaster oven with a convection fan but I have owned it for at least 10 years. I have baked just about anything I could fit in it. My Oster was $40 from Costco. Here's a larger one for $100, https://smile.amazon.com/Oster-Countertop-Convection-Stainless-TSSTTVDGXL-SHP/dp/B00OXSR486/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_1405964225?_encoding=UTF8&SubscriptionId=AKIAINYWQL7SPW7D7JCA&ascsubtag=4138209%7Cgoogle.com%7C%7C%7C57%2C41%2C93%2C98%2C95%7C1%7C&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00OXSR486&ie=UTF8&linkCode=sp1&tag=aboutcom02thespruce-20
My sister has a Cuisinart countertop convection which she loves as well.
I think she paid about $90 and she's had hers for over 10 years.
A crock-pot or slow-cooker is your solution. Stews, soups, chili, pasta dishes (lasagna in a crock-pot is so easy and so good) you can even "bake" cakes.
If you can, get a toaster oven. It takes the place of your microwave on the countertop. Mine has a convection feature and also a rotisserie. Roast chickens anyone? You can do anything in it a big oven does. During the Summer I rarely go near my big oven.
dsullyo - You've nailed it! I was going to suggest stove-top recipes but you've gone much further. Wonderful!
Elena Mindry-King - if you want more ideas, search out a cookbook designed for college students or those in first apartments. Aimed at those who have less equipment and space, the recipes are often both simple and effective.
For fun, here's a marvelous one-pot stove top recipe for you.
In winter, replace the fresh tomatoes with canned or with another vegetable.
https://food52.com/recipes/30147-martha-stewart-s-one-pan-pasta
12 Comments
Good luck! BB💐
FWIW - We have a very small kitchen and when my father became ill and wheelchair bound, he was unable to turn around in the kitchen due to the depth of our stove. I promptly threw that sucker curbside and replaced it with a narrow vintage table holding an induction burner and toaster oven. It's been 9 years since I made the decision to abandon a full sized stove. Even after Pops passed I never wanted to put one back in. The toaster oven/induction burner saves money on electricity and does all the 3 of us need. If I want to cook a turkey breast, out comes the huge crock pot and away I go. Stay warm and best wishes!
As long as you have a good size pot with a lid there are tons of stovetop recipes for everything from risotto to braised chicken thighs to mac and cheese :)
This mushroom bourgignon has been a favorite for many years, just use whatever mushrooms you like and are readily available, wide egg noodles are a must to catch all the tasty sauce
https://smittenkitchen.com/2009/01/mushroom-bourguignon/
I make this ribollita several times each winter, it makes a ton and extras freeze well. Very comforting and filling
http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2012/01/ribollita-italian-cabbage-and-bean-soup.html
My sister has a Cuisinart countertop convection which she loves as well.
I think she paid about $90 and she's had hers for over 10 years.
If you can, get a toaster oven. It takes the place of your microwave on the countertop. Mine has a convection feature and also a rotisserie. Roast chickens anyone? You can do anything in it a big oven does. During the Summer I rarely go near my big oven.
Elena Mindry-King - if you want more ideas, search out a cookbook designed for college students or those in first apartments. Aimed at those who have less equipment and space, the recipes are often both simple and effective.
In winter, replace the fresh tomatoes with canned or with another vegetable.
https://food52.com/recipes/30147-martha-stewart-s-one-pan-pasta
And maybe tell us where you are, if it's no secret, so we can know the produce, meat, etc available there.