As we begin to make our way through November, Winter is slowly creeping in. This means stacking up the backyard furniture, closing the pool, and saying goodbye to our wonderful beach days to spend more time in the house (can you tell I am a summer person).
With that being said, now is the perfect time to assess your home to determine what to include in some of your favorite spaces, including your man cave. In addition to the essentials of a comfortable recliner and a large flat-screen TV, feel free to add a microwave to that list. If you are looking for the perfect fit, I highly recommend the Sharp Stainless Steel Carousel Countertop Microwave Oven. With all of its features, including the Orville Redenbacher’s ® Certified Popcorn Presets, each bag of popcorn would come out extra tasty and perfectly popped.
Still not convinced that adding a microwave to your man cave is a must? Let’s go through some of the benefits and show you why it will be the perfect addition to the space of relaxation. Feel free to let us know what you think by connecting with us on social using #SharpHome on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Also, feel free to check out some of our microwaves available online at Sharp USA.
Take Fewer Trips To The Kitchen
Location is everything when creating a man cave, and while you may have an ideal spot in the home, you would like it to be. Let’s face it; the man cave is not typically the priority when designing your home. From personal experience, I have commonly found man caves to set up in basements, lofts, and other spaces away from the kitchen (and yes, away from the food).
While now you may be thinking, “oh, I can just go in the kitchen to grab a snack,” but it is easier said than done. Imagine you are in extra innings watching your favorite baseball team, and you automatically have a craving for some popcorn. The last thing you are going to want to do is either get up during an essential part of the game or during the climax of your favorite movie.
According to the “United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service,” Americans spend an average of 37 minutes a day preparing and cleaning up food per day. Could you imagine stepping out for 37 minutes, or even 15, during your favorite baseball game? So while you are preparing your meal in the kitchen, be ready to hear all of your friends screaming in your man cave over the home runs and grand slams that just occurred.
Don’t get me wrong; I know the microwave oven won’t be used every single minute of every single day. If cost is a worry for you, feel free to unplug it while not in use. In this “Trulia” list consisting of electronics you should and should not keep plugged in, small kitchen appliances (yes, microwave ovens) rank number one on things that can stay unplugged to save electricity. Without the clock staying on, you can save money and not miss out on your favorite moments with your favorite people. Sound convincing?
So Many Microwave Recipes
Before I started writing for Simply Better Living, I only used microwave ovens for reheating leftovers, microwavable dinners, and then the apparent snacks such as popcorn. Once I started to research more and more recipes, it wasn’t long before I realized you could cook a Thanksgiving meal in a microwave oven. No, seriously, almost anything can be made in the microwave.
Whether it is a morning tennis match on the television, or it is Super Bowl Sunday, and the big game is one you can whip up anything from a tasty dessert to satisfy your taste buds or a quick snack to hit the spot.
While searching through the internet and across social media, I came across a recipe roundup from “Greatist.” These unique and delicious recipes will be the perfect supplement and addition to your ideal Sunday in the man cave. If you are looking for something comfortable and delicious, these may be the answer.
One of the most unique but straightforward recipes that stuck out the most was how to cook corn on the cob in the microwave from “The Kitchen.” This is one of my summertime favorites, so bringing it from the poolside barbeque to the man cave is a win-win situation and quite simple.
All you need to do is place 1-4 ears of corn in your microwave oven for about 3-4 minutes. Make sure that you do not stack them. If you are like me and prefer to eat softer corn, you may want to keep them in the microwave just a bit longer. Once the time is up, allow them to cool nearby. Watch! They may look warm on the outside but can be hot on the inside, so use a bit of caution.
Finally, if you are feeling up to it, grab some spreadable butter and bring it up before you enter your man cave and get a sweet and buttery taste. Yum! And the best part? All of this can still be done without barely taking your eyes off the big game!
Build a Snack Bar
So, I guess by now, you already went on Sharp Home USA to buy the perfect microwave oven for your man cave and added it to your list of man cave essentials. You know what I am talking about, the big TV, comfy couch, mini-fridge, and (now) your microwave oven. The essentials in a typical man cave consist of a few things: a sofa, television, fridge, (and now) a microwave oven, and a place to store the snacks. If you’re a sucker for DIY projects like me and are obsessed with making your man cave the ultimate hangout spot, let’s take the idea of a microwave a step further.
You guessed it! I am talking about building your mini snack bar in your man cave, serving as a hub for all your small home appliances and storage for your favorite Super Bowl snacks. I get that your man cave may not be the ideal 1,000 square feet you may want it to be, so it doesn’t have to be that big.
With this idea inspired by “Improve Net by Craftjack,” you need a few things to get your snack bar up and running. I highly recommend buying a cabinet to hang on the wall to store all your delicious treats and possible ingredients for your microwave meals. This may include having a box of popcorn, chips, salsa, as well as some other items like plates and napkins. If you go to your local big-box hardware store, you can find cabinets pre-assembled, causing you just to hang it up.
The next component you may want to include in your snack bar is a countertop with your mini-fridge underneath. Let’s face it; you don’t want to be preparing your quick microwave oven meals on your sofa or coffee table. Simply add a countertop by placing it on top of additional cabinetry or use brackets to hang straight from your wall.
Once you have your countertop up, place your microwave oven along with a few bins filled with your favorite snacks. I guarantee this will be your new favorite spot in your man cave.
Save On Take Out and Delivery
If this COVID-19 pandemic has taught me anything, it is that take out food and delivery can add up, and cooking from home is more enjoyable and better for my savings account. While on a Sunday, it may be easier to call your local take out restaurant and get all of the carbs you want to munch on during your favorite game; keeping a microwave oven in your man cave will allow you to put the phone down and prepare your favorites.
Don’t worry; I am like you. Pizza, wings, mozzarella sticks, I enjoy them all when football is on. If the game gets a little boring sometimes, I will pay more attention to the food than the players. So, keep the 20’s’s in your wallet and keep your credit card in the pouch because we are about to make chicken wings in the microwave oven.
These excellent steps and recipes from “Livestrong“ are dubbed as a quick fix to solve your hunger needs and are the perfect way to satisfy your guests and yourself. The first step is to place eight wings on a microwave-safe dish with a ½ inch between each one. Place them in your microwave oven for about 3 ½ minutes on high, making sure to check continuously to see if they are cooked. You can check on this by using your fork to see if the center is hot. Are you hungry yet?
Once you take them out of the oven, let them sit and cool off for about 3 minutes. I know I’m not particularly eager to wait either, but they must cool down. Supplement them with blue cheese or ranch dressing for the extra bit of taste.
Finally, now is the time to fill up your plate, put your feet up, take a sip, and enjoy. You deserve the time to yourself!
It Really is Simply Better Living
Okay, I know the title is a bit cheesy, but here at Simply Better Living, my team and I strive to provide our favorite readers (yes, that’s you) with top tips and projects you can complete that will make improvements in your life. Whether it is design related or just entirely out of convenience, like putting a microwave oven in your man cave, each tip and suggestion is well thought out with your best interest at the front of our minds.
With that, I couldn’t wrap up this blog post without shining light on some of Simply Better Living’s most favorited and cherished posts and recipes. We are a FAN of the microwave oven and may know a thing or two about a few top recipes.
Ask anyone what is associated with a microwave, and I guarantee that popcorn will be one of the top answers. However, we had no other choice but to add in our creative touch and put together the best “Popcorn Remix Recipes,” showcasing top unique popcorn recipes that will satisfy your taste buds.
Within this remix, my favorite take on popcorn includes adding granola. Thanks to our partnership with “Food 52“, this Popcorn Granola can now be shared with all of you. This protein-filled snack offering will fill the stomachs of all your favorite guests who enter in and out of your man cave and possibly keep them coming back.
I know what you’re thinking. Yes, this recipe and creation are a little out of the box; however, that does not discount the deliciousness and incredible taste. I often find recipes that allow me to step out of my comfort zone are always the best. If you are like me and are bored with the same traditional desserts and snacks, then you found the answer to something new.
Be sure to check out the recipe in the video below. Doesn’t it look like fun?
