Little Red Corvette

Ok, just kidding. What I’m really talking about here is my Little Red Toaster Oven. Little Red Corvette sounds better, though.

But just like a Corvette, my Little Red Toaster Oven is hot, sexy, and fast. Especially when I compare it to my oven oven.

I like my oven oven. It’s a nice stainless steel built-in model. It works great, and even has all kinds of fancy-schmancy features, like a bread-proofing setting. It swings both ways, too. It can go convection, if that floats your boat. Fun.

But here’s what I don’t like about it. It takes FOREVER, and I do mean FOREVER, to heat up (when not in convection or broil mode, that is). Since it’s an electric oven I always feel like this is costing me a pretty penny.

This Christmas my husband gave me a red toaster oven. I’ve always wanted a toaster oven because 1) it’s one of the few appliances known to mankind that I don’t own, and 2) I think they are neato.

My husband always said, “What do you need a toaster oven for? Your oven does everything a toaster oven does.”

Well, that’s logic I can’t argue with. But my soul still longed for a toaster oven.

I finally got one this year. I think he’s running out of Christmas gift ideas for me.

Yay for Team Toaster Oven! I think this is a great addition to my Frugal Kitchen. Here’s why:

It heats up really fast.

I cook a lot, but it turn out that 80% of the time I use my oven oven it’s for things like Texas Toast. Things like Texas Toast require 10 minutes of pre-heating for 5 minutes of cooking. That’s crazy.

Yes, I roast turkeys and chickens, but I’m just as likely to do those things in my electric roaster or solar oven. Cakes come out great in the solar cooker, too. Casseroles? Yep, we’re talkin’ slow-cooker or solar cooker action there. Bread=Breadmaker.

Welcome to the Frugal Family, Little Red Toaster Oven!

P.S. Slow-Cooker Update: Last night’s dinner was New Mexico Cheeseburger from the Fix-It-and-Forget-It Cookbook. Yet another hit!