Appliances for garage living

May 25th, 2012

Appliance Talk Ovens & Cooking Small Appliances

Here’s a hypothetical for you – how would you go living in a garage?

Not just hanging out for a few hours, or camping in there overnight, but turning it into a proper home.  Would you still be able to cook and eat well, or would you have to survive on takeaway food?

One couple in New Zealand have proven that healthy garage living is indeed possible.  When Lisa de Haan and Melissa Morrall’s house in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch was damaged in the recent earthquakes, they were faced with a difficult decision – do they rent temporary accommodation while repairs are made, or tough it out at home?

Well, with two kittens, a dog, two rats and three chickens to look after, renting would have proven problematic at best, so instead they elected to stay put and convert their garage into a cozy living space.

With repairs taking a month to complete, the pair became quite adept at getting the most out of their smaller appliances to overcome the lack of space, limited power supplies, and no running water beyond a garden hose.

Here are a few of the appliances and tricks they used to keep eating well:

Electric frying pan

Perched on a dining table next to the bed, the couple’s electric frying pan got the biggest workout over the course of the month.

It proved its versatility and value by cooking beef stir-fries, pasta pockets, chicken drumsticks, devilled sausages, basic bangers and mash, and poached salmon and pan-grilled steak.  With a little bit of ingenuity, it was even put to use for boiling water for pasta.

And if you want  a treat, there’s always the option of pikelets…

Slow cooker

We already knew that slow cookers are awesome, but the couple’s garage adventure just serves as a demonstration.

Not only did their slow cooker keep costs down by turning cheaper cuts of meat into hearty casseroles, bulked-up by cans of beans, but preparing entire meals in a single pot saved on washing up – essential when the only hot water available requires a jug and bucket.

Microwave

Like the other small appliances, the couple’s microwave got quite a workout during their garage sojourn.  From heating up freezer bags of veggies (the simple solution when you don’t have a cooktop handy), to cooking porridge in the morning, there was always a use for the microwave.

The only issue was managing the microwave’s electricity needs – as the toaster and microwave couldn’t run at the same time without risking an overloaded power board, the couple had to prepare their breakfasts of toast and porridge one at a time.

The most important appliance…

…is attitude.

If, for any reason, you lose access to your home’s conveniences, you can still keep cooking well and maintain a healthy diet, without having to resort to takeaway food.  All it takes is some creativity and courage to get the most of the appliances you have available.

“It was challenging, but you do adapt,” said Melissa regarding their experience. “Keep your focus on your house being fixed up, because that is your silver lining.”

Lisa’s alternative suggestion for keeping spirits up was looking forward to a “welcome back to the house meal” once you move back in.

Oh, and keep some smoke alarms handy.

If you ever need to experience garage living for yourself, try Melissa and Lisa’s recipes for pita bread towers, slow cooker casserole, and steamed pudding.