In some ways, the kitchen has been “done” since we tiled the floors and then finished painting the walls, cabinets and trim back in May. However a new stove is being delivered and installed today, making this the 4th stove in our little kitchen in one year. Crazy right?
We started out with the gem:
It came with the house. It was disgusting and never clean and when a mouse found his way into our house, he decided the stove would be a good place to live. So naturally when we planned to re-tile/spiff up the kitchen, this stove was history.
Cue Stove #2:
Based on what was going on with Stove #1 and the age of the house, we assumed there wasn’t any electrical in the wall behind for power to the stove (Stove #1 was gas). So we found a decent replacement on Craigslist that was all gas. Having only had electric ranges growing up, I didn’t realize an all gas stove would essentially be hot on the top all the time (the pilot lights just flame away beneath the metal all the time). Not so cool. (Literally and figuratively.) And when we demoed out Stove #1 and did our floor re-tile we found that there was a power outlet back there that we never even dreamed existed.
So. Stove #3. Also from Craigslist. (Stove #2 made it’s exit via Craigslist as well, on to better and brighter things in a rental apartment.)
Newer-ish, gas but with some electric features like a clock and such. Guess what. Those are the features that can and will die before the stove ever does.
And that’s what happened. About a month ago, we started getting a “F10” error on the display and then the stove would shut off. Really fun when you’re trying to make a “big ass” birthday brunch for your whole family. It turns out either the wiring harness or a sensor was shot or the stove really was overheating. We turned off the electric to it and have just been using the range top for the last month with the help of a large lighter to fire it up. Not the end of the world but it’s amazing how many recipes you find that require an oven WHEN YOURS DOESN’T WORK!!
So Stove #4 is being delivered today, husband is at home waiting for it as I type. Lesson learned: Sometimes the “list” isn’t always the place to shop for things that might be better with a warranty.
I am making these brownies to inaugurate Stove #4 tonight: THE BEST SALTED CARAMEL BROWNIES YOU’LL EVER HAVE found via A Cup of Jo (recently stumbled upon and loving). Wouldn’t everything be better with sea salt?
However if you should be oven-less for a month and be desperately searching for good range top recipes, try this one: Winter Vegetable Hash. I’m snacking on the leftovers for lunch right now and it is so yummy. (Also made better with sea salt . . . I sense a trend.) Yukon Gold potatoes are my new best friend. Until I meet my brownies tonight.
Have a great weekend and bake lots of yummy things! Like a lot of things in this life, you never miss your stove ’til its gone. Cheers – CT
Living Analog 
Please bring me some brownies:) They sound delicious!
This post confirmed what I was telling my SIL the other day about buying appliances new (with warranty) rather than on CL. A piece of furniture on CL is a pretty straightforward purchase. You can see if there’s something wrong with it, but an appliance…not so much.
Hope you love your new stove…and pass those brownies.
Congrats on the new appliance for that beautiful kitchen of yours!! I am sure that you will be baking a lot in the next couple of weeks with Christmas coming. I look forward to your posts on your cut-out cookies, etc. that you will be making and sharing with your mom!!