I find it a lot easier to simply have a small television in the kitchen.
I like the small kitchen in my telelvision. [ On Food Network, of course! 
]
I've got a microwave, a toaster oven, a Kitchen-Aid mixer, a Henckel's knife block and various/assorted jars for beans, rice, etc. Sadly, that leaves only a little room here, and a little room there, to "whip stuff up" in.
My New Year's gift to myself MAY be a smallish "butcher block island" cart (if I can figure where I'll station it when it's not in use).
