!4-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 27, 2003 B Consuming Thoughts by Fay Strickler Penn State Extension Home Economist for Berks Co. Do you use your microwave to cook vegetables? If not, start mi crowaving veggies because it keeps a lot more vitamins and minerals in the vegetables than do other methods of cooking. Here are some ideas to help with microwaving vegetables. When preparing fresh vege tables you will want to cut vege tables into pieces which are all about the same size. Do not add salt before cooking (this toughens vegetables). Arrange the thicker parts of the vegetable toward the outside of dish. Add 2 to 4 table spoons of water and cover loosely with wax paper or a glass lid. To microwave vegetables cook on high unless in a sauce. Cook vegetables in a sauce on medium setting. Serving vegetables will continue to cook a little after being removed from the micro wave. Let them stand for 2 to 3 minutes before serving. Keep vegetables covered until ready to serve. Remove cover carefully so that the steam is released away from you and others. To prepare potatoes, sweet po tatoes or winter squash wash or scrub well in clean water. Poke 3 to 4 holes in the skins with a fork. These holes allow steam to es cape during cooking. Microwave on a white paper towel. Arrange them in a circle 1-inch apart. Mi crowave for 6 to 15 minutes. Turn potatoes over halfway through cooking time. Wrap po tatoes in foil or a clean towel after they come out of the micro wave to keep them hot until serv ing. Have you ever wondered what kinds of cookware and wraps should be used in the microwave. The following check list will an swer your questions. Safe To Use In Microwave Oven • Glass and glass ceramic cookware. • Containers or products that have microwave approval (they are able to stand high tempera- tures). I Over 80 Stoves & Fireplaces On Display 1060 Division Highway 322 East, Ephrata, PA 17522 1 Block East of Rt 222 (717) 733-4973 800-642-0310 www bowmansstove com Mon Toes .Wed 10to6 Thors . Fn 10 to 8, Sat 10 lo 4 • Waxed paper. • Paper towels. White towels are best. • Heavy duty plastic wrap can be used to cover a container. Do not put plastic wrap directly on the food. • Oven cooking bags. These are safe for use in the microwave. • Special browning or crisping devices. Carefully follow package directions. Never try to re-use these devices. Unsafe Cookware For A Microwave Oven • Do not use cold storage con tainers such as margarine tubs, whipped topping bowls, or cot tage cheese containers. They have not been approved for mi crowaving. High heat may cause harmful chemicals to get Into food. • Do not use brown grocery bags or newspapers. These con tain metals which could start a fire. Stop cooking if a fire starts in your microwave. Do not open the door. The fire should go out by itself. • Do not use light weight plas tic wrap. • Do not eat from a package that becomes burnt in cooking. • Do not re-use trays and con tainers provided with microwave able prod ucts. It is okay to do this if the package says the container is reusable. A microwave cake pan is an example of a reus- able con tainer. This pub lication is available in alternative media on request. This column is for readers who have questions but don’t know who to ask for answers. “You Ask—You Answer” is for non-cooking questions. When a reader sends in a question, it will be printed in the paper. Readers who know the answer are asked to re spond by mailing the answer, which will then be printed in the paper. Questions and Answers to this column should be ad dressed to You Ask—You Answer, Lancaster l““ Farming, P.O. Box 609, Ephrata, PA 17522. At tention: Lou Ann Good. Or, you may e-mail questions and answers to LGOOD.EPHOLNP NEWS.COM Please clarify what question you are an swering when respond ing. Do not send a self-ad dressed, stamped enve lope for a reply. If we re ceive the answer, we will publish it as soon as possible. Please include your phone number be cause we sometimes need to contact the per son to clarify details. We will not publish your phone number unless you request it. However, if your question requires someone to mail items to you, you must include GOT WOOD? WE HAVE THE FURHACE! • All stainless steel . construction • Uses present central duct or Hydronic system • Heats home/household 1 hot water 1 • Shaker Grates Hardy has been heating homes WILLIAMSON ENTERPRISES 601/656-2639 *lO Year 877/606-3113 Warranty Y ask t ou your address or phone number for publishing. QUESTION - A Quarryville reader wants to know the words to the poem “Thank You, Lord, for dirty dishes. QUESTION Lynn Rossi, Lititz, wants to know where to have a copper pot polished. She doesn’t want to do it her self. QUESTION - Stevie Stfef is Brushcutters/ Trimmers * ** -I*' / Chain Saws Available at these servicing dealers Abbottstown Ephrata Ronks MESSICK'S WES STAUFFER A & B SALES 7481 Lincoln Hwy. Rte. 30E ENGINES & EQUIPMENT & SERVICE Abbottstown, PA17301 23 Pleasant Valley Rd. 370 Newport Road 717-259-6617 888-285-0225 717-738-4215 2 Miles South of Rt. 23 Along 772 Thru Monterey Allentown LEHIGH AG EQ. INC. 6670 Ruppsvllle Rd. 610-398-2553 1-800-779-3616 Carlisle TRI-BORO CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES 1490 RITNER HWV. 1-800-248-6590 Pallastown TRI-BORO CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES 435 Locust St. 717-246-3095 1-800-632-9018 East Earl GOODS LAWN & GARDEN CENTER Route 23 717-445-4490 Elizabethtown MESSICK’S 187 Metis Drive looking for a half-pint emboss ed Tulpehocken Dairy Farms milk bottle or any related items to that dairy. Call Stief at (610) 488-0682. QUESTION - Hannah Coles, Bridgeton, N.J., wants to know where to purchase citron for canning. QUESTION A Quarryville reader wants the words to a poem about baby ferns that contains words such as “Mother Nature, what shall we do? It’s cold. Mother Nature covered them with snow and they slep the winter thru. When spring came, they lifted their heads to the warm sun.” QUESTION Susan Nolt, 8865 Old 22, Bethel, PA 19607, wants to find a picture of a guardian angel guarding a boy and girl crossing a worn (Turn to Page B 9) GAP POWER RENTALS » PLUS Gap: 717-442-8970 Quarryvllle; 717-788-2221 HUMMEL'S TEXACO Ht. 11 It 15 570-743-7459 Palmyra HERR’S REPAIR SHOP RO 2, Box 115 A 717-838-1549 Peach Bottom A.K. SAW SHOP 214 Peach Bottom Road Pequea DREXEL AUTO SUPPLY 333 Steinman Farm Road 717-284-2916 leamstowi EAGLE itowi MARTIN’S EQUIPMENT CO. Rt. 501 1 1/2 Mile* South of Schaaflarstown. PA 717-849-6817 CEDAR GROVE FARM STORE 1120 Rltner Hwy. 717-532-7571 Waynesboro QUINCY HARWARE & RENTAL CENTER 7421 Anthony Hwy. 717-749-3653 Hagerstown. MD EBY’S LAWN & GARDEN 16409 Falrview Road 301-733-4158 :ockevsvlll SUBURBAN SALES 10757 York Rd. 410-785-2277
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