We are building now, but when we were remodeling our current home we had no kitchen for 6 months. Remodeling was a must as we had just remodeled and just finished our wood floors , we were at home improvement store getting floor grates when ds called shrieking saying the washer pipe had burst and it was flooding everything. Rushed home, everything downstairs wet with massive amounts of water. I was heartsick and devastated. We had been remodeling for about 4 months. Ok, you think thats bad, I was going to hosp. in 2 days to have 11th child by c-section. I was distraught. Insurance adjusters came next day, with large indutsrial fans in tow, and started ripping everything out, floor, carpet, new wainscot, baseboard, appliances etc. Everyone had to live upstairs, which was 2 bathrooms, master bedroom, small family area. Kitchen, the only usable downstairs room, was torn apart, our frig was on back patio. No stove, no nothing except sink and counters. Thats how I came home with new baby. I was just a little hormonal. I cooked in that kitchen for 6 months, May-Dec. Prepared just about anything you could think of with the counter top appliances. Made Thanksgiving dinner with a large roaster (did you know you can make wonderful pies in those things), crockpot, micro, electric skillet and 2 burner portable cook type thing. I definitely couldn't feed my children fast food for that long & really had to maintain some sort of normalcy for them. Am not saying I would do it again, but boy I still appreciate my new kitchen and its been 3 years.

Just a suggestion - large cutting board over washtub? We got one from ikea that had a counter edge lip (so it couldn't be pushed off). Our very long time in purgatory (turned out to be 7-8 months when originally guestimated as 2-4 weeks) was mostly over the cold months, so zero hamburgers here. Vegiburgers, on the other hand, microwave fairly well. Rotisserie chicken, bagged salads, frozen veg, occasionally nice entrees from nice delis that just needed reheat, carryout, eat out. I got a lot of experience in everything you can make in one pot at a time. Stews, braises, etc. I had a portable induction plate that was a life saver. So, think of the easiest way to make meals. Buy bottled dressing, premixed salad and forgive yourself later. Cook the entire bag of potatoes and refrigerate the leftovers so you can just heat in the micro on demand. Maybe think of it more as camping... And consider that the cost of an electric griddle or whatever you miss having most is less than dinners out. I kept staring at this thing from camp chef. dh kept telling me it was for outdoors - introduced a little bit of sense for which he got some rather pithy stares. Both the slight fantasies that you can buy something that will give you the ability to be normal during the remodel and the raw edges of stress poking out in unaccustomed ways might also need forgiveness.

When our kids were younger (they're 19 and almost 21 now), we ate all our meals together - from the time they could sit in a high chair at the table through high school and, now, when they're home from college. So many studies have shown that when children eat with their parent(s) at least 5 days a week, the children are far less likely to get involved with drugs, alcohol, etc., than those who eat separately. Plus, it brings the family together, promotes bonding, and is more fun! (Probably why the studies had the results they did!) All our meals are eaten at the table - b/f the remodel the table was in the kitchen, but it was a tight squeeze once our children reached 9 or 10; after the remodel, we ate at the table in the DR (we eliminated the Kitchen table in favor of a far more functional Kitchen.) Interestingly, when we started eating in the DR, it seemed that our children's table manners improved - or maybe it was b/c they were getting older. :-) To us, having a DR that was used only for holidays or for inside parties (pre-remodel) was a waste of space. Far better to use all the rooms in the house on a regular basis and have enough room to be more comfortable. Even our Living Room was converted into a music room with a piano and places for the children to practice their instruments. Later, we added a desk when my DH and I both started working from home occasionally (this allowed us to have two desks). Even when both our children are away at college, my DH and I eat at least half our meals at the DR table. The only time we eat in the FR on trays is when there is something we want to watch on TV or a movie - or when there's a fire going in the fireplace! :-) We have found that eating at the DR table still increases bonding and it's a great way to reconnect with just the two of us after so many years of raising children. Just as when the children were growing up, it's also more conducive to conversation - both seating and less distractions. Oh and sitting at an actual table is more comfortable than eating in the FR on a TV table/tray or at the peninsula.

I don’t know the answet to that, but I’d assume the nylon ones are what they’re referring to. I haven’t been thrilled with any of the nylon ones I have as they don’t stand up well to higher heat. Which, in fairness, they’re not designed for. My favorite spatula is an old Calphalon, yes probably nylon but it’s held up well. Perfect size and feel that I’ve found nowhere else, including their newer products. But this thread put my quest in the forefront again, and conveniently the NYT just published a Wirecutter on spatulas which led me to GIR products. I’ve ordered a fiberglass cored silicone spatula, rated to 550°. The size looks perfect for me; I’d prefer it not to be angled but I’ll adjust if the rest works for me. If I like it I’ll order one of their cookware sets. If I’m reading it correctly, the sets are their non-ultimate ones don’t have the fiberglass core, but I don’t expect that to matter for most uses. https://a.co/d/1jniYM6 I’ve been trying to move away from plastic in general, using mason jars more than deli cups, etc. I do have a lot of black stuff which I’ll mostly dispose of if I find a good replacement. Anyone have any favorite NESTING, lidded, glass containers to recommend?