Just beginning to get my feet wet in the MCU scene and after starting to gather info I've suddenly realized I have a problem:

How the devil does one mount an MCU so that it can be tested?

I want to have a board that I can add components to, interface with the controller, etc., yet these things, in addition to an LCD controller, are so damn tiny and have so many legs that I couldn't possibly hand make a pcb that I could use.

There eventually will be nice professionally silk screened and etched boards, but in the meantime I'm workin in my kitchen.

How are these things handeled in this environment? Is there a socket that has extra large contacts that can be put on a pcb with more manageable runs? I have no idea how I am going to handle these things to actually test my circuits.

I've seen emulator kits, etc., but have no idea they will do what I want. I want a functioning chip with all pins availble to connect stuff to, but no other circuitry or components, just the chip in a manageable form.

What's out there?