The Sunday before we left for Dallas, we were out running errands like crazy people. There was so much that needed to be taken care of [read: bought] before we left – new shoes for the girls, a cart full of groceries so my mom would have all the girls’ favorite foods on hand, storage containers to hide all the crap I don’t want my mom to know normally lives on the floor of our house organize the house a bit, and last minute items for our suitcases. New clothes, anyone?
Anyway, midway through running errands Erajh remembered that he had Best Buy rewards credits that were going to expire soon…like real soon, like the next day. Heaven forbid we let those puppies expire. So we detoured and ran over to Best Buy. But when we got there Hazeline was asleep in her carseat and Greenleigh was happily watching the iPad. It was quiet and serene and perfect in the car at that moment, so why mess it up? Instead, I told Erajh to go in on his own and I would meet him in there if the girls started to freak out. I mean, who doesn’t want to bring their freaking out 1 and 3 year old into a store? Regardless, Erajh agreed and headed into Best Buy alone.
Now at this point, you’re probably thinking we came home with a ginormously large television or deafening sound system, because if left unattended with rewards dollars burning a hole in their pocket, those are the things that husbands typically buy.
But not my husband.
Instead, my husband emerged from Best Buy with a box the size of an old fashioned 1980’s microwave. The size and shape of the box ruled out a large flatscreen television and the fact that it was one box that he could carry on his own pretty much ruled out a sound system. When I asked him what he bought he replied, “Well I was going to get something for myself, but instead, I decided to buy something for you. Something for our family.” I had no idea what I or my family needed in Best Buy, so I replied, “Okay, great. What did you buy?”.
His response – “A convection oven. You know, because you’ve always wanted one.”
Um, what? A convection oven? Other than a kitchen appliance, I don’t even know what a convection oven is. And for the record, I think the only time I’ve ever said the words “convection” and “oven” in the same sentence was when I was looking over directions once and said out loud, “Wait, there are directions for conventional oven and convection oven. Which one do we have?”. Yep folks, that’s it. My only mention ever and I’m pretty sure that was at least 4 years ago – you know before I had kids and had time to read directions, instead of just guessing cook times because I have screaming, hungry children already at the table.
So I’m now a proud owner of this:
Perhaps the greatest misunderstanding of our marriage.
I sound ungrateful, don’t I? I don’t mean to be, really, I don’t. Sure, it’s shiny (a good prerequisite for any gift), but it also hogs a good bit of my countertop. And I’m not sure that I know what to do with it. And honestly, I really don’t want to take the time to learn. I don’t have the time to figure out another appliance when my original, conventional oven does the trick. And let’s not forget, I’m not a great cook. I cook out of necessity more than love for cooking itself. My cooking skills are pretty basic. Hell, I just learned how to make quesadillas this year. Quesadillas, people! Who doesn’t know how to make those by the time they’re 34 years old? This girl, right here.
But my husband? He’s chosen to embrace our shiny new visitor and has been convection-ing the crap out of everything in sight. The very next day after its arrival, I returned home to find our corndog dinner heating in the convection oven (very gourmet, I know). He’s used it no less than 5 times in the 7 days that we’ve been home. It’s even become his standard response when I talk about cooking anything – Garlic bread for a our spaghetti dinner…why not use the convection oven? Those late night pizza bites? Much better in the convection oven. And how about heating the taco shells in the convection oven? Blah, blah, blah. They’re pretty much best friends.
I’m starting to question whether this gift was really for me at all. At least he’s cooking more…maybe that’s my gift?
That’s funny! Depending on the appliance, I’d totally love it as a gift. I have a convection oven, but it’s my actual oven, it has the option. So to side with your hubby, I love my convection oven. I’m like you, not much of a cook and no idea really what a convection oven does…but it does cut down on my cooking time (which sometimes sucks if you don’t remember to adjust the time) and I can cook multiple things with them cooking evenly. To side with you, I would despise anything on the counter top, I have such little room as it is. But heck, if it got my husband to cook, my countertop would be FILLED with them! 🙂
What a cute story!!! Not to mention how TRUE it is!!! I totally relate!
Thanks for sharing!!!
ROFL!!! This sounds sooooo much like something my husband would do. I don’t know how many gifts I’ve received from his that he swears I had been “wanting forever”…. ummmm no!!!
I said it was “for our family” not Jen.
She has talked about it before.
And it does cut down cooking time and allows for multiple dishes to be prepared at once, very convenient for Thanksgiving, dinner parties, etc.
I guess you just won’t share in the tasty goodness that I prepare in “our” convection toaster oven.
I have no idea what a Quesadilla is let alone how to cook it so you’re doing better than me!