skip to main content

What was the first thing you cooked on your new stove?

rob333 (zone 7b)

18 years ago

I wouldn't doubt it's been asked before, but I'm curious. How did you break it in? I've waited so long and here it is, now what?! What did you make?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (19)

Cloud Swift
18 years ago
I made a stir fry - something that was much easier and better with my new burners than my old stove.
rob333 (zone 7b)
Original Author
18 years ago
You jogged my mind. What will my new one do what my old one didn't? Since it'll keep a more even temp, I think I'll do something with a butter sauce... Marinated Shrimp with Champagne Beurre Blanc. Keep the ideas coming. We have the first course!
Related Discussions
What is the most challenging thing you ever baked/cooked?
Q
Comments (47)
When I was a teenager, I made a "Spanische Windtorte." The picture of it was so pretty, and it sounded wonderful. It is an Austrian dessert composed of meringue filled with cream. You pipe meringue in a close spiral and bake it for the bottom, easy enough. Then you have to pipe and bake many rings, which you layer up from the bottom and glue with unbaked meringue to form a round box. Then you do another close spiral for a lid. The inside is filled with whipped cream flavored with cognac and fresh strawberries. After carefully placing the "lid" on top, the outside is decorated with piped whipped cream and candied violets. It wasn't that it was difficult, exactly, it's just that it was seriously time consuming, handling the brittle meringue rings was troublesome, and decorating had to be very quick so that one could serve the dessert before the inside cream began to melt. I had to make my own candied violets as well, which didn't help. It was very pretty, but when it came to eating it you might do just as well with a bowl of strawberries & whipped cream by crumbling a few meringue cookies on top. All that work and so little gustatory umph.
...See More
Cooking atop your wood stove?
Q
Comments (13)
I used to do wood stove cooking/baking demos back in the day. It's definately easier to cook a stewy roasty type dish than bake. Baking is the holy grail of woodstove cooking. The tough part is the oven doesn't heat evenly. The side close to the fire box gets hotter than the other side, so need to turn halfway through baking. It is also difficult to maintain steady heat. You want med. sized HARD wood logs for baking. Actually not the hardest. Can't quite remember what's good for what, I do know ELM is best for baking, but elm wood is hard to come by. Can't remember for sure the others. Maple for frying. You don't want a super big log for baking either, that will get too hot. You can get an oven thermometer to test the temp., or use the hand method. I can't quite remember how long you're supposed to try holding your hand in the oven to test it but it isn't very long. Look online you can probably find old timey tips for judging oven temps. I can't remember them off the top of my head. I just waited until I had a nice, even, med. sized fire going. You can't judge the baking times by what is printed in a modern recipe, you have to keep a closer eye on the baking things, and like I said, turn halfway. But you can't be opening the oven all the time either, that messes up the heat too. So it's a balancing act. The more you do it the more you get a feel for how your oven works in tandem with the fire box and the type of fire you have going. Cakes are really difficult. Something like a cobbler or crisp works well. Fruit bars with a crumb topping and short or crumby crust were good too. My best dessert was maple pecan bars. Cookies are OK, so are pies. Potroast is great. Cheesey liquidy casseroles good too, something like scalloped potatoes, etc. Really, the only thing that was really, really hard was a nice light well risen cake. It can be done but I never quite managed to finesse that one. But then I hardly ever can manage a cake in a modern oven. I did bannana maple oatmeal quick bread too, that was OK.
...See More
What's The First Thing To Do When You Get Keys To New House....?
Q
Comments (25)
In no particular order: 1) Change all the locks to use a single key and have extra keys made. 2) Measure all of the rooms and draw a plan of each room. Note where the electrical outlets are in each room. Measure the windows and doorways. 3) Figure out where all of your furniture will go before you move it and draw up a plan. Mark your boxes and furniture with the name of the room where they will go. 4) If you have the time and $$, refinish the floors, steam-clean the carpets, and paint if needed -- so much easier to do if the rooms are empty. 5) Take photos. (I wish I'd done this!) 6) If you're not changing the paint, ask the PO what paints were used where. (If you're lucky, the PO will leave the marked cans for you.) 7) Ask the PO for a list of plants, trees, and shrubs and any special care requirements, especially if you're not a gardener or if you're moving to a different climate. Something that looks like a weed in May could turn out to be a beautiful flowering plant in September. 8) Ask the previous owner for a list of service people (septic cleanout, electrician, plumber, snow removal, lawn service, pest control, etc.) that they used. It will be a good starting point. 9) Fill out the change of address form at the Post Office. Find out where the breaker box, gas, and water shutoffs are. Find out if there's a Newcomers Club (or similar) in your new town. Mine was a terrific resource for meeting people and finding out about all sorts of things I never would have known. Stock up on toilet paper and cleaning supplies and a couple of waster baskets. Clean! Even if the PO hired a cleaning service, it probably won't be as clean as you like. Besides, there's something really disgusting about OTHER people's dirt. Get doormats before the movers come. Put down rosin paper for the movers in the hallways, etc. Call the town hall to find out when trash and recycling pickup is (if your town provides that service) and what the rules are. If your town requires you to use special bags for trash, stock up. My town provides recycle bins. Get your trash barrels and recycling bins BEFORE you move because you'll have a lot of packing materials and other stuff to get rid of after you move. (You can also give away packing materials on Craig's List or Freecycle.) Arrange for the utilities and to keep your current phone number (if that applies). Make sure that the house number is visible!
...See More
what are you cooking in your new kitchen?
Q
Comments (25)
I made this last night. Have made it before and it's a winner in our house! Yummy! I cook it longer 'cuz we like the chicken to fall off the bone. Should adjust liquids accordingly because of longer cooking time--I didn't quite add enough last night (left it cooking for a really long time while leaving DH at home--longer than I'd realized), so I had to add more stock/broth and wine shortly before serving. Here is a link that might be useful: Ginger-curry chicken with lentils and leeks
...See More
sigh
18 years ago
Chicken cutlets. I wanted to make them because I was reeling from the thought of having actual counter space on either side of the stove so that I could actually lay out the flour, egg & crumbs on the left, fry the chicken then remove it from the pan & place on the platter to the right. My last stove was free standing, no counter on either side. Cutlets involved running back & forth from the prep area on the kitchen table & balancing the platter on a spare burner.

The next thing that I made was jambalaya. I had better flame control and the lights on the hood (no, I didn't have a hood over the old stove either) made it easy to see when the roux was right, the veggies had carmelized, etc.

I love my kitchen.

Nina
stacy3
18 years ago
what did you get rob333??? Do you have pics???

I feel your excitement - it was less than a year ago that I got my new stove...

Mine came with a separate shaped grate that sits ontop of the regular cooking grates - that holds a wok. So naturally, we had stir fry too! My old one was a smoothtop that I hated so was very excited by the heat and wok grate of my new gas one...

Then, I did cookies and pizza in the oven to check out the convection feature...:-)

Have fun!

Stacy
rob333 (zone 7b)
Original Author
18 years ago
It's not spectacular, just really nice and better than I had. Some day, a Wolfe or a Viking. I hadn't even thought about the oven, but MLC or Chocolate pudding cake is in order!
granjan
18 years ago
I made Roasted Vegetable Soup. It was about 90 degrees out! The contractor was about 6 weeks behind the promised date and it was Norm's 60th birthday. I had 30 friends coming for a surprize party and 2 other soups made because that was all I could make that would work to make ahead in my temp kitchen. Oct. can often get really warm here and it was NOT soup weather!

But my new vent, I'd never had one, did an awesome job of taking the heat out. We shoved all the tools against the wall in the living room, which had been the shop for 5 months and partied! (That's my neighbor, everyone else was admiring the new unfinished kitchen!)
Terri_PacNW
18 years ago
Thanksgiving Dinner..
But had to prep and work on plywood temp counters! LOL
compumom
18 years ago
Mmmm, roasted vegetable soup sound good. Do you have a recipe to share?
Congrats to Rob on his new stove!
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
18 years ago
Spaghetti. Comfort food for the stress of having the appliances and new counter go in that morning. Then having to try all the burners before finding the right one. We are still doing that; the controls seem to be placed differently than on the old stove. I privately thought my husband couldn't wait to splatter the new stove's black top with tomato sauce. He did call it christening.
jazmynsmom
18 years ago
I decided to really break mine in last year and made duck! Then I broke out the wok. Then I roasted a chicken so I could play with the new temperature probe that plugs into the side of my oven wall and turns it off when the inside of the meat hits my desired temp. Then I sought out recipes where the accompaniment needed to be cooked at a different temp than the main so I could use my second oven. My menu for the first month with that puppy was entirely gadget-centric.

Congrats Robin! That's a beautiful appliance. Have fun getting it dirty and putting it through its paces!
stacy3
18 years ago
oooh, that's a beauty! I love the grates that cover the entire top. That "accubake" thing sounds like it accomplishes the same things as convection - you'll LOVE IT!

Have a blast - looking forward to hearing what you do with it...

Stacy
lucyny
18 years ago
Gee, I don't remember what I cooked on this old stove of 6 yrs old.... does that mean it's time for a new one...Please say YES! :^ )

Have fun with your new one & cook up a storm

Lucy
rob333 (zone 7b)
Original Author
18 years ago
YES YES YES Lucy! You must have a new one ;)

I don't have new cabinets or plywood tops yet... sounds like it'll be fun to prep when that comes around! Roasted vegetable soup? In this decidedly cold weather, sounds good! Spaghetti, yes again! Jaz, best meal of my life was duck (course, I like dark meat on chicken). Did you and/or S get that duck while hunting?
woodie
18 years ago
New stove? No, I'm not at all jealous, not at all. Harumph. (Enjoy it, you lucky person, you!)
pranjal
18 years ago
I got my first new stove last month ... I boiled a small pot of milk and let it overflow ... many Indians believe in doing that for new beginnings (when a child is born, whoever is at home does that .. when my nephew was born, I forgot to do that, just rushed to see him at the hospital LOL). Then I cooked rice and dal on my new stove, and roasted whole chicken in the oven (rotisserie). Then I baked a date-n-walnut cake. Now I walk/run for an hour everyday to lose weight!
jojoco
18 years ago
I boiled a big pot of water to see how long it took. Very impressive, if not boring.
Jo
canarybird01
18 years ago
Like Woodie I'm wondering um....what new stove?

My stove has been in this house even before me....I guess well over 30 years. Darn thing just won't break down and keeps on working ....and working....and working. Just as well I guess. I can spend money on other things. :-)

SharonCb
ritaotay
18 years ago
Well let's see..... I re-did my kitchen back in 1982... Counter tops, sink and appliances... ( had the down stairs bathroom done at the same time )... The first thing I did was clean up everything and put stuff away... So the dish washer got a real work out... The second or third day all my work was completed, new curtains and all... For the next week or so we only had cereal and take out food... After all that work I wasn't about to let my 'new' kitchen get messed up.... LOL

I'll move before I go through that again... lol

Rita
kframe19
18 years ago
My little finger.

I tested the units to make sure that they worked (I got an almost new GE electric from Freecycle - the previous owner bought a new house and redid the kitchen) and got my little finger up against one.

Youch.

Related Stories

MOST POPULAR First Things First: How to Prioritize Home Projects

By Alison Hodgson

What to do when you’re contemplating home improvements after a move and you don't know where to begin

MOST POPULAR 6 Kitchen Flooring Materials to Boost Your Cooking Comfort

By Jennifer Ott Design

Give your joints a break while you're standing at the stove, with these resilient and beautiful materials for kitchen floors

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Function and Flow Come First

By Becky Harris

A designer helps a passionate cook and her family plan out every detail for cooking, storage and gathering

KITCHEN DESIGN A Cook’s 6 Tips for Buying Kitchen Appliances

By Christine Tusher

An avid home chef answers tricky questions about choosing the right oven, stovetop, vent hood and more

KITCHEN DESIGN Houzz Call: Tell Us About Your First Kitchen

By Becky Harris

Great or godforsaken? Ragtag or refined? We want to hear about your younger self’s cooking space

KITCHEN DESIGN Not a Big Cook? These Fun Kitchen Ideas Are for You

By Laura Gaskill

Would you rather sip wine and read than cook every night? Consider these kitchen amenities

KITCHEN DESIGN 8 Kitchen Organizing Ideas for Messy Cooks

By Lisa Frederick

Not the clean-as-you-go type? Not to worry. These strategies will help keep your kitchen looking tidy no matter what your cooking style is

KITCHEN APPLIANCES Love to Cook? You Need a Fan. Find the Right Kind for You

By The Sky is the Limit Design

Don't send budget dollars up in smoke when you need new kitchen ventilation. Here are 9 top types to consider

HEALTHY HOME Detox Your Kitchen for the Healthiest Cooking

By Robyn Lawrence

Maybe you buy organic or even grow your own. But if your kitchen is toxic, you're only halfway to healthy

COLOR Cooking With Color: When to Use Blue in the Kitchen

By Jennifer Ott Design

Keep your cool. We show you when to nosh around navy or try a taste of turquoise so you can stay relaxed while finishing your kitchen

Sponsored

Snider & Metcalf Interior Design, LTD

25 Reviews

Leading Interior Designers in Columbus, Ohio & Ponte Vedra, Florida

More Discussions

Apple Recipes for Fall

25

Cooler Weather Dinner

9

But where's dinner? ... ... ...

7

Seriously??? Lazy cook story

15

Treats to make for Halloween party?

27