Reddit mentions: The best plate serving covers

I personally use wooden utensils in place of silicone ones. They equally don't scratch up non-stick surfaces and can be more affordable.

I'd also get a stainless steel high walled pot like this. It doubles as a frying pan and a sauce pan, which means less storage and clutter. I do 90% of my cooking in this.

Like others have said a crock pot or Instant Pot. I have both and if I had to choose one I'd get the Instant Pot. It does more faster.

If you like making smoothies, purees or sauces a blender can be invaluable. But outside of that it's not necessary. I've been a home cook for a decade and only recently got one because I wanted to experiment with making my own hot sauce.

I would also get a few wide mouthed mason jars. They make for fancy cups, great storage for meal prep, or fermenting/pickling. I'd get a few 16 oz and 32 oz. Not an absolute necessity unless you're into fermenting/pickling. If you just need meal prep storage then any glass container will do fine. I prefer glass because it's safer for microwaving.

Also a really nice to have is a splatter guard for your microwave like this. It has the added bonus of steaming your food a little and of course keeps your microwave clean.

A spice rack will keep your spices organized and can add a world of flavor to your cooking even if you're just making beans and chicken breast all the time. Something like this will get you started.

Stay away from as many single-use gadgets as you can. They'll just end up breaking on you and cluttering up your limited kitchen space.

Other kitchen tips to make cooking cheaper/easier/quicker without spending extra money include reusing glass jars (pasta sauce, oil, etc.), having a dedicated rag/towel for wiping up oil and grease, and planning out meals in advance whether it's writing them down on paper or making food in bulk. Like any other skill it takes practice and time to get it down right. I've burnt plenty of things when I first started. Have fun!

So I would only do two rows of seating. 7and 8 staggered so everyone gets a view. And you can enter ceremony from sides. Chairs don’t need to be touching. Spread it out a little. Guaranteed view without having to go big half circle.

Food: put food table near ceremony space. Ceremony chairs double as seating for eating if wanted. You could do crescent rolls with meat or veggies and cheese, maybe pesto to add flavor and moisture. Easy to make ahead. Also mini quiche are easily customizable or even available frozen, just cook ahead. Veggies and fruit on a stick/kebab for sides. None of these things need more than a napkin. They also aren’t all that temperature dependent, so you can have them sitting out before. Use something like this to keep them safe. Easy to decorate if want to.
M.V. Trading Giant Outdoor Tabletop Food Cover, 24" (W) x 46" (L), Retangle Shape https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00025BBSI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_veUrDb7KVKZVW

Tea and lemonade make nice drinks to coordinate with.

Little extra food and drink does inspire more lingering.

I think 4 hours is on the edge, but most people won't be deterred by it, especially if they get free lodging for the whole weekend out of it. I say go for it! Also consider asking your friend if you can pay for a mosquito spraying service a week before the event. In my area, it's only about $80 for a 1 acre lot, so it's not a big splurge but can make a BIG difference in the bugs. They also make little netted food covers that you can put over food to keep the bugs away, and fun arm bands to repel them from you.

The best boxes are Egg boxes you can find in grocery stores, they are high-quality and they will protect your stuff because they can protect the eggs.

Trust me, you will need these here!

Yes. Just do it on low power, for very short times (20 seconds at a time) to avoid popping. Related: a microwave shield would be an excellent investment for you.

You can get quick-cooking rice, and steam-in-bag frozen veggies.

Oatmeal (or oatmeal smoothies) is always a good go-to breakfast. Don't get the sugar-filled packets. Get rolled oats or steel-cut oats. You can add frozen or fresh fruits, peanut butter, cinnamon, etc.

Better LPT: Buy this http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BOA2D0?cache=ff0d32fe5e7eed2f7671556856acadd2#ref=mp_s_a_1_1&qid=1393659200&sr=8-1 and your microwave will stay very very clean.

Use the Nordic ware tray and cover, works like a charm. I clean mine in a dishwasher to deal with the mess.

http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Sided-Round/dp/B00004W4UM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396564769&sr=8-2&keywords=microwave+bacon+cooker

http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Spatter-Cover/dp/B000BOA2D0/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1396564769&sr=8-9&keywords=microwave+bacon+cooker

Do people not have those microwave plate covers? Keeps your microwave clean, and I think it also cooks your food better.

Get a good splatter guard. This helps steam the food while it is cooking.

I use these picnic plate covers. It also helps keep away small insects in the summertime while the resin is drying

Pop-Up Mesh Screen Food Cover Tent Umbrella, SPANLA 8 Pack Colored Food Cover Net for Outdoors, Screen Tents, Parties Picnics, BBQs, Reusable and Collapsible Reusable and Collapsible,17 Inches https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XP1F3YS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_c0WZDb6CXGQEY

There's a motion-activated compressed air device that we've used to deter our cat from certain areas: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Deterrent-Activated-Repellent-Environmentally/dp/B0721735K9

For new plants, especially small babies or props, we cover them with a mesh food cover to discourage nibbling until we're confident the cats will leave the plants alone. These may not work for a taller, upright plant like a Ponytail Palm though. Or a very determined cat. But it's been effective for our needs.

Here's some different types:

• Mesh: https://www.amazon.com/Apecks-outdoors-Protector-Umbrella-Collapsible/dp/B07H58VLP6/
  
• Large Mesh: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDV517W/
  
• Pop-Up: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EYFV4M/
  
• Mesh & Bamboo: https://www.amazon.com/Cocoboo-Serving-Natural-Artisan-Handmade/
  
  For more desperate measures when we needed to keep cats off window sills or ledges, we put some wide double sided tape on the window sill or some kind of sticky or noisy pad they wouldn't want to walk over. There's all kinds of "cat training tape" or scratch control strips for furniture available online or at pet stores.

Or you could just put something over it like a paper towel. I don't get why people have such an issue doing this.

"That doesn't help the environment, Groggy! Maybe some of us don't want to use napkins/paper towels because it's wasteful!"

OK? Then buy a $10 microwave cover (or, if you want the cheaper alternative, a $3 cover) from Amazon...it's resuable, it rinses off, and you don't have to wait 10 minutes to heat up a bowl of soup. And yes, I own one.

It's faster to cook it on regular heat and let it stand for a minute than putting it on low and waiting way longer.

Edit: Downvoting it doesn't make it any less true. And if you're going to downvote, please chime in with why you think having a reusable cover is a bad thing.

Just a bunch of spiteful people on this site anymore.

Get a few of these in different sizes, heights. They are a lifesaver.

Amazon link

Cool! I found some bee-free resuable plastic wrap here fyi.

What I usually do is put a little glass of water and the food in the microwave and then put one of these on top of it all. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004W4UQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1502121964&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=microwave+cover&dpPl=1&dpID=41T7u4amH4L&ref=plSrch

Amazon sells mesh food tents. I've been to a wedding where the bride and groom customized the handles on them.

They make a pop-up mesh cover for picnics. Might be a bit light. If the size is too small you could use 2?

I either use nothing or a microwave splatter cover: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOA2D0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nfSMDbRQ6VJTC

Here

That’s why you get a microwave cover.

Unless the directions say to keep it in the box, don't keep it in the box.

If you're concerned about splatters get one of these - http://amzn.com/B000BOA2D0

Or just use a microwave food cover, which you should totally have anyway.

Just use a microwave cover, won't need cleaning, if at all, for a long time.

https://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Plate-11-Inch/dp/B00004W4UQ

Plate cover buddy, decrease your slob game by 100%.

microwave plate cover

What you need is a microwave-safe spatter cover.

Never clean your microwave again. I just throw my cover in the dishwasher once a week.

Uhm dude one question: have you really never heard about those things?

http://i.imgur.com/kzzHBzF.jpg

You just put it over your plate. If it gets dirty just wipe it out or throw it in the dishwasher

They are available at IKEA or amazon for example http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Spatter-Cover/dp/B000BOA2D0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412259675&sr=8-1&keywords=microwave+lid

(or search for microwave cover or microwave lid wherever you want)