"Dishwasher and microwave safe."
Those are the magic words when you're buying cooking equipment and dishes.If it doesn't go into the dishwasher and the microwave, as well as the refrigerator, and possibly the conventional oven or on top of the stove, what's the point of having it?
Life is complicated enough without storing special dishes and equipment for each appliance.
Fortunately, manufacturers are getting the message. Williams-Sonoma, the upscale kitchen mail-order company, has a variety of handsome dishes that go into the microwave and the dishwasher - from fancy French porcelain ramekins and cocktail plates to stemmed water and wine glasses.
Rubbermaid and a number of other companies make see-through containers with lids that are microwave-safe for reheating. They come in every imaginable size and shape.
Two microwave gadgets that I've recently found useful are a collapsible vegetable steamer and a combination vegetable steamer and pasta cooker.
The white, polypropylene collapsible vegetable steamer, by Acme, is the same design as a stainless steel vegetable steamer you may already have in your cupboard. It turns any pot into a steamer. It can be used both in the microwave and in a pot on top of the stove. And yes, it goes in the dishwasher.
A little more complicated is the vegetable steamer and pasta cooker, by Superseal. This is essentially a white plastic bowl and lid, with a plastic basket that fits inside. Fill the bowl with water, put dry pasta in the basket, and you have a microwave pasta cooker. Actually, it doesn't cook pasta any faster than it cooks on top of the stove.
I prefer to use this gadget as a vegetable steamer. It will hold four or more cups of vegetables for zap-ping.
The accompanying recipe was developed for the Superseal vegetable steamer and pasta cooker. If you don't have one, you can zap the recipes in any microwave-safe pot with a lid.
Woodene Merriman is the author of "Zap It Again," featuring more than 400 ways to use your microwave. To order, send your name and address and a check for $10.07 ($8.50 plus $1.57 for postage and handling), payable to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, to Zap It Cookbook, Box 476, Pittsburgh, PA. 15230. Allow two weeks for delivery.
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Recipe
FAST AND FRESH VEGETABLE MEDLEY
3 cups chopped fresh broccoli
1 small head cauliflower florets, chopped
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons margarine
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, optional
Combine all ingredients except tomato and cheese in steam basket.
Place basket into steamer bowl; pour 1/4 cup water over vegetables.
Cover steamer base with lid turned upside down.
Microwave on high (100 percent) for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring once.
Stir in chopped tomato. Microwave on high for 45 to 60 seconds. Lift steamer basket from bowl; pour vegetables into serving dish. Sprinkle cheese over top. Serve immediately. Serve 4 to 6.