My kitchen remodel starts next week. I've frozen a few meals and bought some gift cards so we can eat out on occasion, but am hoping that some of you have survival tips to share with me. I'll have my refrigerator in my dining room, and I plan to set up a small table for the microwave and coffee pot. I've stocked up on disposable plates.

Besides the kitchen, we are having a small addition put on the house (mud room). The whole project will take about 6 weeks.

Help! I need ideas!

We did this years ago and also used the dining room (dining area in our case -- part of the living room) as our kitchen. I'll try to think of more ideas, but the ones that jump immediately into mind are: crockpot and electric frying pan. We didn't have room to set up another table, so I just used the dining room table as a cooking area (microwave, coffee pot, crockpot, and frying pan). And then we took our plates into the living room and ate in front of the TV. I remember way too many nights of washing dishes in the bath tub and the awful back ache I'd get from that! Where are you? Is it warm enough to use your grill? That was a big help for us.

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Linda

Thanks Ifaivre. It is (barely) warm enough to use the grill. I hadn't thought of the crockpot. Good idea! The kitchen designer told me "you'll like me until I take away your sink". I know the final outcome will be so worth it, but I'm dreading the next 6 weeks. Maybe I should just look at it as an adventure and try to have fun being creative!

I havent personally had a kitchen makeover but from people I know who had it done, dont count on the original time frame, its usually weeks after that.

I moved into my new house on the 30th of Nov. (nine years ago) the tenants wouldn't vacate so this was a month later than it should have been. The kitchen would have to be done after we moved. On the 2nd of Dec. DS #7 made his month early appearance in this world. We began the renovation when he was 1 week old!! I survived thanks to my CROCKPOT CROCKPOT CROCKPOT CROCKPOT and paper goods. It really was not as bad as I thought it would be. I set up a table and chairs in the family room and a long table as a counter. It had the handy CROCKPOT, toaster oven, paper goods and a few odds and ends. I lined the CROCKPOT with an oven roaster bag so there was virtually no cleanup. Every morning made a new CROCKPOT dinner. Lunches were sandwiches or if I was gourmet frozen pizza. It took a month but we made it and it was well worth it.
Good luck

We finished a complete remodel & addition this past June. We did all new cabinets appliances & flooring. We had to do new wiring, luckily not plumbing though. Don't count on the 6 week to be finished. That's what we were told & it ended up 2 1/2 months to complete. Even if it's cold, use the grill to break up the crock pot bordom(sp). We bought a lot of precooked chickens. They are big enough for the four of us for dinner. Hubby bought them on his way home. We had lots of salads.
Good luck.
By the time they're finished, everyone will REALLY appreciate your cooking.
Judy

The best advice I got one day at the Expo looking for cabinet pulls during our kitchen remodel was to get valium!!!
Good luck and just remember that when it is finished it is ALL worth it!!!

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I don't have any tips. We haven't done our kitchen yet, just a bathroom. I'd sure love to see before and after pictures though!

Do you have one of those George forman type grills?

Also for really cheap, you can get a sandwich maker.. 2 pieces of bread a Slice of cheese and close the lid. You can also bake brownies, muffins etc in them. They have them in walmart for $10ish

An electric griddle.

Plastic and paper cups, untensils, etc.

If you get the George Foreman with the removeable plates you can make waffles on it, as well as pancakes, omelettes, scrambled eggs, bacon, grilled cheese sandwiches, pannini's - plus the usual grilling.

Its possible to bake cakes and make stuff like oatmeal in a crockpot.

You might want to consider a toaster oven.

Stock up on the steam in the bag frozen veggies - very convenient - no pot needed.

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