Using your n< It you're one of those lucky people who received aViicrowave oven for Christmas and now are wondering how to use it, then read on. Microwave ovens are a fantastic asset for every cook and almost all food preparation is faster and easier. The microwaves that are made by your oven are: very short radio waves about 5 inches long, travel in straight lines at over 100,000 feet a second, travel only 10 to 15 feet before tosing power, and penetrate food from all directions to a depth of V* to 1 Vi inches depending on the density of the food. Friction between molecules vihratino "S - 1 vtv.i uiiiiuu 1111ic> a ^cwujiu produces heat in food but does not cause any chemical change in your food. Like conventional ovens, microwave ovens differ in their rate and evenness of cooking. It is important for you to know the operating wattage of your oven for this will affect the cooking time and power level that you choose. To get the best usage from your oven, operate it on an outlet that will not compete for power with another major appliance. Your microwave came with a cookbook filled with recipes just right with cooking times and power levels suited for your oven. Some general guidelines 1 have found helpful as I use my microwave in, elude the following: 1) Always underestimate your cooking time when trying a new recipe. You can always add extra time, but you can't take v time away from an overcooked product. 2) When doubling the food volume to be cooked, (such as another baked potato) only add '/: to 2A additional time. Doubling your time will certainty overlook your food. 3) If you find that some cooking occurs around the edges of foods when defrosting, change the power level to the 1st or 2nd level. This is especially helpful with defrosting frozen meats such as ham' burger. 4) Carry-over cooking which is the standing time of a dish after coming out of the oven is included in most recipes. If you want to minimize the amount of carryover cooking, uncover the product and stirTn If you want to maximize it, keep the dish covered for several minutes Carry-over cooking can either finish off < dish t^ per feet ion or ruin i_ng. ___ 5) It takes practice to know what need; to be covered and what kind of cover ti use. If you want to hold in moisture o prevent splattering, or absorb moisture you should use a cover. Plastic wraps & glass lids hold in moisture the best. Wa: paper is fine for short cooking times (2 -. minutes) and is good for preventing splat tering. Paper towels, will absorb exces moisture and work fine when a crispe product is desired. Always leave a smal vpnt vvhpn nvino nlncfi<- vvran Thi prevents pressure from building up an< spliting the plastic down the middle. Condensation < problem on w( Have you noticed condesation inside your windows? This water can cause a problem if it collects on wooden sills for several seasons, say extension housing specialists at North Carolina State University. A humidifier may be used to reduce humidity to the recommended level of 30-40 percent for the winter months. The bathroom ancf kitchen should also be well-ventilated. Storm windows also reduce this condensation, because they allow the interioi glass to- stay warmer. But condensatior EBHmF i !HirjTr7i\TTn^^K 10 lb BUCKET 1 CHITL'INS CNE"S 5 lb( $R89 MOR W BAGS FRYER LEGS & ui THIGHS 59c. 5 FRYER A . _ _ LIVERS $1 99 5 lb. BUCKET I ew microwave 6) The size & shape of a cooking dish affect the way foods cook, such as: a) The shallower the dish of food the shorter the cooking time. b) Round shapes microwave more evenly than square or rectangular ones because more energy penetrates corners and causes overcooking. c) Ring-shaped dishes cook food more even because energy penetrates food from the center as well as the sidesv d) Casserole dishes with straight sides cook more even hpfancp tKo ^or?(U a - -v.. I/WUUJV HIV Vivpili Ul I UUU is kept uniform. Cooking in a microwave oven can be an exciting adventure that the whole family can get in on - from popping corn to mak- I ing elaborate candies or fancy meat en- I trees. The North Carolina. Department of Agriculture invites you to try these recipes which can be made with agricultural pro- I ducts grown right here in our own great state. Happy New Year and good luck with your "microwaving." HAM BOATS I 1 baking potato I 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons dairy sour cream Vi cup fully cooked Ham strips, 2 by '/4-inch I 1 tablespoon chopped green onion I 2A teaspoons dry mustard 2 tablespoons shredded Cheddar cheese Pierce potato with fork 2 to 3 times. Place I in oven on paper towel. Microwave at I High 3 to 5 minutes, or until soft to the touch, turning over after half the time. Wrap in foil orplare under inverted bowl; let HEARTY SA USAGE AND RICE 1 lb. bulk sausage i 1 medium onion, chopped ? 1 green pepper, chopped 2 cups cooked rice s 1 can OOH/Toz.) chicken with rice soup > 1 can (8 Va oz.) corn, drained r Vi teaspoon salt Va teaspoon pepper It < Crumble sausage into 2-quart casserole. 5 Add onion and green pepper. Cover. Microwave at High 4 Vi to 7 Vi, or until s sausage is set and vegetables are tender, r stirring once. Drain. 1 . Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover, s Microwave at High 6 Vi to 9 minutes, or i until heated through (140 F to 150 F), stirring once. Serves 4 to 6. :an cause a )oden sills may still occur on the inside of the storm window or in between the two windows. That is why all storm windows should have weep holes at the bottom. If your storm windows do not have these weep holes which allow the moisture to escape, drill a couple of quarter-inch holes outdoors at the base of the window. If the condensation appears between the storm windows, there is an air leak. If the water is collecting on the outside window, check for air leaks from inside the, house. Use weather stripping to seal off _ any leaks, extension specialists recomi mended. URkey HAMBURGER OR DRUMS OR SAUSAGE PATTIES ^ 29?ib 5bB?x $495 FRYER 11 lb. PKG. SWIFT S INGS BACON i9c. 79c. FRYER GIZZARDS $025 5 lb. BUCKET \ ? wwilw \! I V V V Vi quJ IJ oiH"? 69< I DEL MONTE FRENCH STYLE GREEN beans59< .^v,tnA ? I DR. PEPPER, 7-UP ft REG. OR DIET |PEPSi^159 HI Mueiisruam' spaghetti \ The Chronicle, Thursday, February 2, 1984-Page C3 H I kHTITV 1^ Ss/^S>^I/ I ?HTS ^ ^ a ^ REGULAR OR DIET SOFT DRINKS I SHASTA^ 7* PHww Chicken ^ mf" Breast Halves Jf ^ ^ MTH. DEW, 7-UP & REG. OR DIET I PEPSI 6?..*119l I i i Hi] ^ ^ J J "1 i 1 ^ I c t