I have recently become obsessed with all sorts of life ‘hacks,’ they seem to be everywhere at the moment and it’s inspired me to write my own hack guide, to that busy family’s lifesaver, The Microwave. Be it a small manual non-branded microwave or an all singing all dancing combination microwave like these beauties from Panasonic, I’ve got a hack for you.
1 No more chapped lips! Make your own lip balm
Image from theseasonedmom.com
- 5 tablespoons coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons beeswax
- 12 drops of your favourite essential oil
- Melt coconut oil and beeswax in a pour-able glass measuring cup in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted.
- Add essential oil and pour into empty lip balm tubes or pots.
2 Mug Cakes
For that quick fix of sweetness and chocolate, with my favourite ingredient, Nutella!
Image from yummytummyaarthi.com
Ingredients
2 tbsp. plain flour
1.5 tbsp cocoa Powder
1/4 tsp baking Powder
1 Egg
2 tbsp Nutella
1 pinch salt
Method
- In a mug, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Beat in the egg, sugar and nutella with a fork until blended together.
- Microwave on high for 60-90 seconds, or until risen and it’s set in the middle.
- Let it cool slightly
3 Microwaveable Heat Bags
In this cold weather it can make joints and muscles ache and these heat bags are easy to make and can be given away as gifts.
Image from Beeinmybonnettco.blogspot.co.uk
They’re so simple, just pick your fabric, line with flannel, sew together and fill with rice (not cooked!). You can even do a no-sew version just tie the ends together making sure the rice can’t escape. Full tutorial here.
4 Never struggle peeling a butternut squash again!
Image from Huffingtonpost.com
Just pierce with a fork, cut the top and bottom off and then microwave on full power for 3-4 minutes. Let it cool and then peel easily with a speed peeler. Then roast in your combination microwave for 30 minutes.
5 Microwave five minute fudge!
This one you can let your imagination go wild – this is the basic recipe, you can add nuts, colouring, different flavours according to taste. Also makes a great homemade gift.
Ingredients:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 cups of chocolate chips (American measure)
1/4 cup of butter
Method
Mix together ingredients and then microwave on half power for five minutes, stirring every minute. Add any extra ingredients such as nuts, fruit, vanilla, peanut butter, chocolate and then leave to set in the fridge. Cut into pieces when cool.
I hope you enjoyed my Winter Warming Microwave Hacks! Have you got any to share? I’d love to hear from you.
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This post is in collaboration with Panasonic.
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