Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 31 Dec 85 23:23 From: MARIELLE_ELLEN @SUPPORT To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Subject: Microwaving Hi Greg, We just got our very first microwave. Is there a recipe file for microwave cooking? I didn't see anything in the index and would like to try something a little more venturesome than making instant coffee. Thanks. Happy New Year! Ellen Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 01 Jan 86 17:54 From: LEHEY_GREG To: MARIELLE_ELLEN @SUPPORT Cc. COSIG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 31 Dec 85 23:23 From MARIELLE_ELLEN @SUPPORT : Microwaving Dear Ellen, This is a theme near and dear to my heart. I am forwarding it to everybody with the request to submit any tricks you might know. I will save all replies in the file \ESSG.$OS.COSIG.MICROWAV. The sort of thing I am particularly interested in is: - How can you use a microwave oven to cook real food? - What lies have you found in the manufacturer's documentation? - What features do you really like about your machine? Why? - What problems do you have with it? I'll send out my own thoughts on the matter in the next day or two, after _TRANSFER_ on \ESSG has calmed down a bit. Regards Greg Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 02 Jan 86 01:47 From: BUJES_JOANNA @PRUNE To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 01 Jan 86 17:54 From LEHEY_GREG : COSIG: Microwave cooking? Dear Greg, I have never been happy with anything coming out of the microwave except for 1. defrosted steak 2. warmed up coffee I have also tried using the microwave to warm up dishes that I had originally cooked using traditional heat and I have found the results to be very disappointing -- a good deal of flavor GONE!!! Nix on the micro--joanna Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 02 Jan 86 18:13 From: WARD_DORIE @TS To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 01 Jan 86 17:54 From LEHEY_GREG : COSIG: Microwave cooking? Greg, I know people who think the MW is the greatest thing but frankly so far I have only succeeded with bacon and heating food in it. I did read somewhere reliable (and don't ask me where) that the mw zaps A LOT of the vitamins so they don't even recommend heating baby foods in there. Anyway-I tried to cook breaded pork chops in it and I am not sure why but boy was it dry and hard. I would not live without one though cuz it is so hard to think of dinner before you leave for work and I love being able to defrost with it. If you get some tips on cooking "real food"--please share them with me!! Dorie Ward Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 02 Jan 86 17:43 From: RODGERS_PAT @TS To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 01 Jan 86 17:54 From LEHEY_GREG : COSIG: Microwave cooking? I actually use the temperature probe to make great bread--I had lost the knack after returning to work, and couldn't seem to get the liquids at the proper temperature to get the yeast started. I use the probe to heat the liquids to begin with, and then after I have all ingredients added and ready to rise, I stick the probe in again for a last-minute "goose" up to temperature. That really gets the yeast ready to jump! Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 02 Jan 86 22:31 From: HICKEY_SARAH @PRUNE To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 01 Jan 86 17:54 From LEHEY_GREG : COSIG: Microwave cooking? Does anyone have any good, tried and true recipes for microwave cooking? My housemate just bought a microwave and so far we've used it only for reheating leftovers and water. Thanks. Sarah Hickey Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 06 Jan 86 17:32 From: BLANKE_LINDA @MFG To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 01 Jan 86 17:54 From LEHEY_GREG : COSIG: Microwave cooking? Hello Greg, The microwave makes wonderful steamed vegetables. Cut and put any vegetable in a microwave-proof dish, with about 1/4 cup of water. (enough to cover the bottom of the dish) Cover it with a lid or piece of plastic wrap. Cook at high for 5-6 minutes and check. The only exception is corn. To cook an ear of corn, wrap it in waxed paper or plastic wrap and cook it for 4-5 minutes Linda Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 08 Jan 86 11:23 From: LEHEY_GREG To: BLANKE_LINDA @MFG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 06 Jan 86 17:32 From BLANKE_LINDA @MFG COSIG: Microwave cooking? Thanks for the info, Linda. Suggestion for improvement: forget the cup of water. It's not necessary, and just takes the taste out of the vegetables. We regularly cook all green vegetables this way. You still do need salt, of course. Regards Greg Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 09 Jan 86 00:35 From: TANENBAUM_BARRY @ESP To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking reply In Reply to: 01 Jan 86 17:54 From LEHEY_GREG : COSIG: Microwave cooking? I have had a microwave for 14 years now (always AMANA). Now I have two (older one plus built-in in house I purchased). I am a uwave fan, and use it regularly. First off, forget meat!! Microwave cookery is not for turkey, steak, veal roasts or whatever. It does all this, but not well. Next, uwave is best on vegetables, fresh or frozen. It's even good for blanching (much better on brussels sprouts, for example, because the heat gets inside faster) for freezing. Almost any veggie (try acorn squash!) can be cooked to crisp perfection. Eggs. uwave makes a wonderful, puffy, omlette. Brownie mix from a box. Melting chocolate. Melting butter without ever burning it. Clams. Just throw in steamers, uwave a bit. Great. Reconstituting dried fruit. (I tried lobster once, but you sort of have to stun the fellow, then cook him while be moves about a bit. Better to boil (in brine). Popcorn with no oil (I use the AMANA popcorn accessory). Frozen dinners. Defrosting only if it has to be 10 min or less. Uwaves defrost unevenly, and start cooking whle still thawing. Cold water and a little patience is much better. I did rice a couple of times. It's ok, but not great. Fish comes out fine...I just use simple recipes. Any questions, just ask away. I'd like to see the file and hear others. -barry tanenbaum Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 09 Jan 86 18:06 From: BLANKE_LINDA @MFG To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 08 Jan 86 11:25 From LEHEY_GREG : COSIG: Microwave cooking? Greg, Actually, I never use salt when I cook vegetables so I forgot to mention it. Also, I use only a small amount of water, only about a tablespoon. Linda Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 12 Jan 86 15:16 From: LEHEY_GREG To: BLANKE_LINDA @MFG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 09 Jan 86 18:06 From BLANKE_LINDA @MFG COSIG: Microwave cooking? Dear Linda, Well, I suppose use of salt is a matter of taste - I wouldn't want to be without it. Why do you put any water in at all? Do you use it, or do you end up throwing it away? If you use it, I suppose there is some point, but it's not necessary for cooking the vegetables. Regards Greg Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 13 Jan 86 23:34 From: MARTIN_JUDY @CANADA To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 01 Jan 86 17:54 From LEHEY_GREG : COSIG: Microwave cooking? And for entertainment of young and old alike - go get a bag of marshmallows. Also something edible to put the marshmallow on - if you intend to eat the result - see recipe below. Turn on the microwave light. Put a marshmallow on a cookie (or bit of waxed paper on a plate - let's not have a massive clean-up requirement), put the marshmallow on whatever it's on into the microwave, on the floor of the microwave. Set the power to full. Set the timer to longer than a minute. Close the door. Turn off the lights in the room. Turn on the microwave and be entertained. THIS IS A MUST. YOU WON'T BELIEVE YOUR EYES. It is also part of a bona fide recipe for 'smores Requires 1 marshmallow, 2 squares of honey graham crackers & a piece of chocolate bar slightly smaller than one cracker for each one. Procedure - zap the marshmallow, remove from the oven before it blasts of put the chocolate on top, and then the other cracker. Squoosh. Eat. Guaranteed to delight kids and dentists. Printed by: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Sent: 13 Jan 86 23:21 From: MARTIN_JUDY @CANADA To: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG Cc. MARIELLE_ELLEN @SUPPORT Subject: COSIG: Microwave cooking? In Reply to: 01 Jan 86 17:54 From LEHEY_GREG : COSIG: Microwave cooking? I sprung for a microwave/convection oven - best investment I ever made. Read the replies in \essg.$os.cosig.microwav - on cooking vegetables. I use chicken soup base (or a crushed bouillion cube) instead of salt and butter. Lower in fat, etc, and adds a nice flavour, plus the parsley flakes are already there. Cooked pudding - no scorching & easier cleanup. Fish dishes - sprinkle seasoned breadcrumbs over fish (or coat), and a bit of butter and lemon juice - partially cover with plastic wrap or wax paper. Works great. Baked potatoes. Fantastic and fast. Also reheat leftover baked potatoes scrape out insides & mash with butter, cheese, chives, egg, milk, season to taste - sprinkle cheese, chives, bacon bits, paprika, whatever, and hot them up - almost better than the first go-round. (mix in whatever suits - overkill is worse than under, because you can always add to taste at the table - and pass the sour cream) RICE - leftover cooked rice - sprinkle with instant soup mix (I like spring vegetable) and dot with butter - leave uncovered. Almost instant vegetable fried rice, and it's good too. Zap 'til it's hot. Canned soup - zap it right in the bowl. Hot chocolate - no scorching Frozen casserole-type dishes - make 'em and freeze 'em in single serving portions - I did 8 dozen cabbage rolls - cook them right in the plastic bag until they're done - from frozen - I use cooked rice & meat, so by the time the filling is hot, the cabbage is cooked. Also stuffed peppers or onions or tomatoes, or squash - if the filling is cooked. Otherwise Spaghetti sauce - from FROZEN whole tomatoes - cheating - thawed in microwave to cooked - but still in bag - and poured off the tomato water left all the pulp and a little bit of liquid - saved all that simmering to get rid of the water. Good sauce though. Baked apples - like baked potatoes - core them & fill with brown sugar, raisins, orange zest, bit of liquid, shake of cinnamon - serve with cream milk, sour cream, ice cream... Poached fruit - Be careful melting chocolate - but if you zap it too long - add milk fast and stir - I discovered this and wish I hadn't - my kids request it now. Don't forget hotdogs & buns. I prefer to heat them separately, but now I don't have to have hot hotdogs and cold buns Oh yes, mustn't forget hot towels. Beats holding your hand under the hot-water tap in the middle of the night in a snowstorm. Copied By: LEHEY_GREG @ESSG SENT: 88-03-29 01:42 FROM: ERPENBECK_BARBARA @SIMS TO: DL.COSIG @ESSG SUBJECT: CHICKEN MARENGO (MICROWAVE RECEIPE) CHICKEN MARENGO 2 pkg. (1 1/2 oz.ea.) spaghetti sauce mix (or 1 large pkg.) 2 tlb. seasoned bread crumbs 2 to 2 1/2 lbs. chicken pieces 1/2 cup white wine 1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced 1 can (about 16 oz.) Italian style stewed tomatoes (prefer S&W) Blend spaghetti sauce mix with dry bread crumbs. Dip chicken pieces in mix & place skin side down in 2 qt. baking dish. Microwave covered with waxed paper on high for 5 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over and cook another 5 min. Combine all remaining ingredients and any remaining coating mix. Pour over chicken. Microwave on high about 10 minutes. Let stand 7 minutes before serving. Adjust cooking time if your microwave is less than 650 watts of power. Serve with noodles and spoon sauce over noodles.