Cut 1 stick butter into pats.
Start boiling water maybe 45 min before ETD (estimated time of dining).
Cut 4 russet potatoes (or more) into uniform chunks, put in a big round pot and cover with water a bit more than a half-inch above the potatoes. Can sit a while like this.
Bring to boil, toss in about a tablespoon of salt, uncover and simmer 15 min - until you can stick a fork in a chunk easily.
Drain and toss with butter pats, salt, black pepper.
This is an "As Seen On TV" gadget and yet also a low-priced kitchen marvel. There's something about the rectangular shape that helps things heat evenly in the microwave, and you can cook or steam many things without wrestling a giant pot of salty water. Read on!
Whole wheat fusilli pasta
6 oz. fusilli - cover the pasta with water, add 1 tsp olive oil and 2 pinches salt. Microwave uncovered 6 min. high, test one to see if it’s al dente. If still too hard, microwave another 5 min.
Texmati rice/wild rice/red rice blend (HEB’s “Rice Select - Royal Blend”)
1 c rice + 1.5 c water: Microwave uncovered 5 min. high, fluff with fork, add ½ c water and microwave 5 more min. high.
Minute rice
1.5 c minute rice, 1.5 c water, 1 tsp avocado or olive oil, 1 pinch salt. Microwave uncovered 3-4 min. high, fluff with fork, microwave 3 more min. High.
Asparagus spears
18-20 fresh asparagus spears + 2 Tbsp water. Microwave covered 5 min. high.
Frozen broccoli
For 10 oz. frozen broccoli, add 1-2 Tbsp water (just 1 Tbsp if there is a lot of ice on the broc). Microwave covered 5 min. high.
Roasted Brussels sprouts (use Fasta Pasta to heat them so they roast well)
For approx 10 oz. frozen or fresh Brussels sprouts, halve them and add 1-2 Tbsp water (just 1 Tbsp if there is a lot of ice on frozen veg). Microwave covered 4-5 min. high, then toss with olive oil and salt. Line a sheet pan with parchment, spread the Brussels sprouts out on it, and roast in 400-degree oven till edges are brown.
Roasted cauliflower florets with Parmesan (use Fasta Pasta to heat them so they roast well)
For approx 10 oz. frozen or fresh cauliflower, add 1-2 Tbsp water (just 1 Tbsp if there is a lot of ice on frozen veg). Microwave covered 4-5 min. high, then toss with grated Parmesan, olive oil and salt. Line a sheet pan with parchment, spread the cauliflower out on it, and roast in 400-degree oven till edges are brown.
Baby new potatoes
10 oz. or so baby potatoes + 1 Tbsp water. Microwave uncovered 5 min. high. Poke with fork to see if tender; if still hard microwave another 2-3 min. Toss with olive oil and salt.
EXTRA: No Fasta Pasta necessary, just great way to make corn on the cob in microwave!
Fresh corn on the cob
2 or 3 fresh cobs in husks. Cut off ends of cobs, peel outer layers of corn husk off (leave about 3 layers of husk). If you have a microwaveable bowl, so that the corn cobs can sit in the bowl kind of suspended off the bottom but not touching each other too much, use that. Microwave uncovered, no additional water, on high 4-5 min. Pull them out, and – wearing two oven mitts!! – strip the husks off: Hold corn by the base (large end) in one hand; grab the husk with your other hand; twist and pull the entire husk up off the top. (Corn silk will come off with the husk!) Cut cobs in half and toss with olive oil and salt.
