!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