First year without a microwave

The microwave bothered me more than the opening for the stove being too big

About a year ago I threw out our microwave after it started making scary popping sounds.   I took it as a challenge to see if we could do without one for a little while.  I hated the way it looked in my kitchen, there was no way to make it not look like a big black box next to my lovely vintage stove. Now I have a spot for our R2D2 cookie jar.  But no microwave also meant no instant oatmeal, frozen pot pies or quick popcorn.  We had been using our popcorn maker to make popcorn anyway, melting the butter in the microwave but now I had to do it on the stove. The first time we did this the popcorn tasted better and then we realized the butter was NOT microwaved and it seemed to have a richer flavor.  I had read some articles about the food breaking down in the microwave and depleting the nutrients, not sure if this is really the case but it certainly seems to effect the flavor.

We use more pots now and I don't like the extra dishes. Also leftovers are warmed on the stove or in the toaster oven and I'm still challenged by reheating pasta without it sticking to the pot.  I was going to heat up some frozen vegetables the other day  in one of those steamer packets and it would take 20 minutes on the stove as opposed to 5 in the microwave. I mostly steam fresh vegetables now. If we had a microwave I would be tempted to pop something in quick that the kids would love but would make me feel guilty. Not having a microwave has allowed me to cook healthier, no cutting corners with meals and the kids know not to even ask for some things even though I know Sophie daydreams about having one of those easyMac containers of her own  I have taken the microwave off our things we need/want list and there is no going back, for now.....