Thank you Delma I will keep this handy. Sugar
"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything." ~Sugar ----- Original Message ----- From: "delma bliss" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <recipesAndMore@googlegroups.com> Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 2:15 PM Subject: [RecipesAndMore] Things To Do In The Microwave Things to Do in the Microwave Microwaves can do more than you think. They can't do everything, but they can do more than just save time. When microwave ovens first became popular a few decades ago, cooks tried to make entire meals in them. The results weren't always great, & the process often was so tedious that enthusiasm waned. Things to Do in the Microwave: On her Web site, Sandy Moyer, Home Cooking Editor for Bella Online, (www.bellaonline.com) writes that "some food will always taste better when fried, grilled, or slow-cooked in a crockpot. But microwave ovens can be used for more than heating frozen dinners & re-heating left overs. "The following examples are from her Web site: Get more juice from citrus fruit. Gently warm a lemon, lime or orange before squeezing by hand or using a juicer. Heat on full power about10 seconds. Plump & soften raisins & other dried fruit. Place the fruit in a small bowl; sprinkle with water. Cover tightly with plastic wrap microwave on full power 30 to 40 seconds. Make applesauce. For 4 to 6 servings, wash, core & quarter two pounds of all-purpose cooking apples. Do not peel. Microwave in a covered, 3-quart glass casserole on full power 12 to 14 minutes. Process in a food mill for smooth applesauce. While it's still warm, add some brown sugar & a little cinnamon. Peel onions. Place onions on a covered microwave-safe plate & cook 1 to 2minutes at full power. Peel garlic cloves. Put cloves in a custard cup & microwave at 80% power 30 seconds. Let cloves cool enough to handle, then lift away the skin. Blanch fresh vegetables before freezing. Prepare vegetables as desired (wash, chop, peel, slice, etc.). Place in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a small amount of water, cover, & microwave on full power 3 to 4 minutes per pound, stopping to stir & rearrange halfway through. Drain, then immediately plunge into ice cold water to quickly cool. Drain again, then pack vegetables in zippered storage bags & freeze. Toast coconut. Spread coconut in a thin layer on a microwave safe pie plate or on a paper plate. Microwave on full power 2 to 3 minutes or until light golden brown. Watch closely to prevent over-browning. Blanch almonds. Microwave a cup of water until it begins to boil. Place almonds in a separate cup. Add enough boiling water to cover the almonds & then microwave on full power 30 seconds. Drain & rub off the almond skins. Toast sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sliced or slivered almonds. Place a layer of seeds or nuts on a microwave-safe plate that has been coated with vegetable oil spray. Microwave seeds 3 to 4 minutes on full power & nuts 3 to 5 minutes on full power. Stop to toss gently or stir often. Brown very lightly; they will continue to darken as they cool. Melt caramel. Place seven ounces of caramels (cellophane wrappers removed) in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon water. Microwave, uncovered, on full power 1½ to 2 1/2 minutes, stopping to stir every 30 seconds or until caramel is melted & smooth. Soften brown sugar. Place hardened brown sugar in a plastic bag. Add a slice of soft white bread or about a quarter of a fresh apple. Close bag tightly & microwave on full power 20 seconds. Discard bread or apple & stir sugar. Make croutons & dry bread crumbs. Microwave 4 cups of bread cubes or fresh bread crumbs 5 to 7 minutes at full power. Soften tortillas. Loosely wrap a stack of three to four corn or flour tortillas in wax paper. Microwave on full power 15 to 25 seconds. Delma --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
