I’ve been trying to figure out over these weeks just exactly why I haven’t been enjoying cooking much lately. I am certain that part of it is a restricted budget, because there’s only so many things one can do with hot dogs, you know? But I think a bigger part of it is the circumstances surrounding some of the meal times. Specifically, the meals that we eat outside of the home.
You would think this would be a piece of cake. I mean, millions of people take lunches to work every day and thrive just fine. Once upon a time I would take relish in packing Abigail a lunch to take to school in her Laptop Lunchbox. But packing the most substantial meal of the day can be tricky for me sometimes, and I think one of those reasons is simply the packaging. Strange but true.
When I make a meal to be re-heated in a microwave, I struggle very much with the idea that I’m having my children heat up food in plastic containers. Mainly for health reasons, to be honest. But there is also a part of me that cringes when I pack a pasta in red sauce or a bowl of chili, knowing that the container will be stained red for some time after that dish goes in the microwave. I have long been a fan of using glass in the microwave, but food-to-go? There are a few issues there, but the biggest issue is that good, sturdy glass containers are not inexpensive. The up-front costs of a set of portable glass dishes is about 10 times the price of a pack of gladware.
Fortunately for me, one of our Christmas gifts this year was a rather nice gift card to Bed, Bath and Beyond, which can be almost like a little playground for Andy and I. Seriously. All those cooking gadgets, dishes, pots and pans, decor, towels, etc. Even better, there are always 20 percent off coupons floating around for that store, so yesterday I set out to finally pick up some of these glass dishes for our meals away from home. Here they are!
I just finished washing them up, and now have the horrible task of figuring out where to store these babies. But I’m really excited about them! In fact, as I unpacked the box last night, and Andy saw the dishes, we both agreed that we know we need a second set, so I may be heading back tonight to pick up a second package. These are Pyrex brand dishes, which means that they are really heavy duty and durable. They are oven, microwave and dishwasher safe, so I can use the smaller dishes to bake individual gratins and baked pastas, then add a cover and haul them to dance to be re-heated. Nothing heated up in them will stain them, the lids seem to be pretty spill-proof, and when we get back home at the end of the night, they can go right in the dishwasher for the next day.
They do nestle inside each other fine for storage purposes too, so they won’t take up as much room as it appears they would with their lids on. I’m excited to fill them up and put them to work!
Love, love, love my Pyrex. I have all sorts of sizes in the freezer, cupboard, and the fridge. I’ve had them for years, and most of them are the ones with the blue lids.
Also, have a bunch of storage/mixing bowls with lids, that I use when baking, storing salad etc.
I’ve bought most at Amazon (I would keep in my cart, so I could watch when prices went down).
I don’t think my lids are microwavable (I have an old style). Also, I’ve had a prob with a Pyrex product and they had great customer service. They sent me a replacement. Like you said, no staining, cleans up great etc. I bought a set of storage bowls with the lids, ranging in size to have icecream, to a size for cookie batter for my parents and they love them too. Its not the usual clear glass, so can even serve with it, and not feel that your bowls look bad. Ha