Lazy and cheap needs micro advice

[2catstango]

Hi,
When it comes to cooking, I'm very lazy. But, I need to start because I'm tired of tv diners (lazy and cheap) and eating out (not real cheap). I don't have a working oven, but I have a small, cheap, crappy microwave. I had a rice cooker but it was too big for my needs. I broke the old crock pot.

So, I'm thinking about buying a microwave/convection oven. These aren't cheap. I was wondering if a microwave without the convection part is good enough to cook box casserole like things. I really don't know much about microwaves either. I heard once that a microwave needs to be 1000 watts or better. Any suggestions?

[SizzlininIN]

I don't know anything about a convection oven so I can't help you there but what about a toaster oven. I've used these in the past when I didn't want to heat up the kitchen by using the oven. I even made mini meatloaves in it.

[Barbara L]

I would go with a good microwave oven (yes, 1,000 watts, and a turntable) and a toaster oven. You can broil meat in the toaster oven, make (duh!) toast, bake potatoes, biscuits, etc. With the right microwave cookware you can do a lot more than reheat in your microwave. You can even make a cake in there (with a box mix), and it doesn't even need oil! Now, if you want to bake cakes, pies, etc. and roast chckens, etc., you may want to go with the microwave/convection oven.

:) Barbara