Back before we moved house, when we had a tiny but fully-outfitted kitchen (terrible oven with only a top heating element, one of the rings on the hob didn't work, various other complaints, but it was an actual kitchen and I didn't know how good I had it!), my husband bought us a basic but very reliable microwave. It didn't vent very well, so moisture collected in it... it started to smell bad so I called him Stinky Box. Then I cleaned him thoroughly and kept up with the cleaning, and now he is called Steamy Box (still the same venting problem, but at least he doesn't stink!).
About a year or so ago (maybe more... I have a very poor concept of time), I purchased some beef mince from the Tesco butcher counter, and it came with a security-enabled label on it that I failed to notice. When I tried to defrost the mince in the microwave (still in its packaging), it caught fire. Fortunately, I was in the room and noticed the flickering, so I stopped the microwave and put out the fire before it got too bad. And we continued to use Steamy Box all this time.
But yesterday I was mopping up the moisture that collects under the turntable when I noticed the powdercoat finish was a bit crackly when I poked at it, so I prodded a bit more... and it came off in huge sheets. The floor of the microwave is all rusted and it looks grim and is kind of scary.
"Why did I tell this story in 'Little Moments of Happiness'?" you may be asking. I will tell you why:
I JUST ORDERED A COMBINATION MICROWAVE THAT HAS CONVECTION OVEN AND GRILL FUNCTIONS! It arrives Friday, and from Friday, I CAN BAKE! I'm so excited I could cry. Mind you, Steamy Box is retiring, and that makes me a little bit sad. But he's had a bit of a hard life, and he's served us faithfully as best he can, despite the abuse I've dealt him. He deserves a rest, and I deserve baked goodies!
