audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Living in an RV has motivated me to use the microwave when possible and I'm really glad when I find an easy technique that gives me superior results.
Over the past year I have had tremendous luck steaming veggies in the microwave using the Ziploc Zip'n'Steam bags. I really love them because you don't have to add water or deal with any dish or lid or stirring. My veggies usually have a little water from washing them. There are special vents on one side of the bag so you have to have the correct side up. Excess steam escapes - the veggies never come out watery.
Times are printed right on the bag for half bag or full bag and they are very reliable. Then let sit for 1 minute before opening. I do green beans a lot - they come out just perfect, and I don't think any other method has worked just right for me - or come out with all the beans even. I rinse and let the bags dry and reuse since I don't put any seasonings or sauces on them in the bag.
Well, tonight I got ambitious and decided to try artichokes. I'd tried once or twice to microwave artichokes in a covered dish years ago but they came out overcooked and unpalatable. Looked up some recommended microwave times on the internet. Rinsed an extra large one, trimmed it and cut in half, rubbed cut surfaces with lemon. Microwaved 8 mins. Didn't look quite done, so rotated and did 2 more minutes. Came out perfect!
You can bet we're going to be eating a lot more artichokes in this household! Now I have to wait until they are in season and much cheaper. I paid a lot for tonight's jumbo artichoke, but I had some leftover cilantro aioli that was just screaming to be used as a dip.
These bags are available in the plastic wrap/bags aisle. I have both the large and medium sizes. [I'm not going to link to the product web site as I could kill the Ziploc web site designer. The site is so heavily flash animated it's almost impossible to use, and I can never get the individual recipes to display - grrrrrr!!!!!] OK - here is a fun and useful link (and you can download a Steamy Chefs (male) calendar - well, it is 2008, but do you care?) Ziploc Zip 'n Steam Microwave Bags
Anyone else use these?
Audrey
Over the past year I have had tremendous luck steaming veggies in the microwave using the Ziploc Zip'n'Steam bags. I really love them because you don't have to add water or deal with any dish or lid or stirring. My veggies usually have a little water from washing them. There are special vents on one side of the bag so you have to have the correct side up. Excess steam escapes - the veggies never come out watery.
Times are printed right on the bag for half bag or full bag and they are very reliable. Then let sit for 1 minute before opening. I do green beans a lot - they come out just perfect, and I don't think any other method has worked just right for me - or come out with all the beans even. I rinse and let the bags dry and reuse since I don't put any seasonings or sauces on them in the bag.
Well, tonight I got ambitious and decided to try artichokes. I'd tried once or twice to microwave artichokes in a covered dish years ago but they came out overcooked and unpalatable. Looked up some recommended microwave times on the internet. Rinsed an extra large one, trimmed it and cut in half, rubbed cut surfaces with lemon. Microwaved 8 mins. Didn't look quite done, so rotated and did 2 more minutes. Came out perfect!
You can bet we're going to be eating a lot more artichokes in this household! Now I have to wait until they are in season and much cheaper. I paid a lot for tonight's jumbo artichoke, but I had some leftover cilantro aioli that was just screaming to be used as a dip.
These bags are available in the plastic wrap/bags aisle. I have both the large and medium sizes. [I'm not going to link to the product web site as I could kill the Ziploc web site designer. The site is so heavily flash animated it's almost impossible to use, and I can never get the individual recipes to display - grrrrrr!!!!!] OK - here is a fun and useful link (and you can download a Steamy Chefs (male) calendar - well, it is 2008, but do you care?) Ziploc Zip 'n Steam Microwave Bags
Anyone else use these?
Audrey