Being from a military background, I grew up with Mom cooking in just about any conditions known to mankind. Since I followed suit, I cooked in just about anything you can imagine. Back in the "olden days", (i.e., before microwaves), Mom travelled with an electric skillet and a percolator that she removed the "Guts" from. Between the two of them she could cook us just about every dish known. We'd get soup or hot cereal made in the percolator. You can cook just about everything in the electric skillet. Since you have a hot plate, the electric skillet can be your second burner. Yes, we are all obviously in agreement; you can and will cook wonderful meals with just the basics. We often lived like this for months on end .... and we were a big family. I assume you are single from the posts I've read (I haven't read them all). But if Mom could cook for six, doing for yourself and occasional company should be a cinch. I agree with all to go for a toaster oven instead of a simple toaster, much more flexible. I also agree with someone, above, who said the teflon electric skillet is more versitile than the "George Foreman" type grills unless you eat that type of dish on a very regular basis (you can do stews, chilis, etc, in the skillet as well as meats and grilled sandwiches).
