Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 23, 1990 TAG: 9005230484
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TONI BURKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Shortcut ingredients:
- Start with a jar of spicy salsa instead of mixing together canned tomatoes and additional seasonings.
- Open jars of baby food fruits and vegetables instead of cooking and pureeing fresh produce.
- Use bottled salad dressing for a quick marinade.
- Make potato salads from canned or frozen potatoes.
Quick methods:
- Shorten the cooking time of slow-baking main dishes and desserts by preparing them on the range top instead of in the oven.
- Shave minutes from cooking time by preparing individual portions of foods such as meat loaf and desserts.
- Get the jump on chilled salads or desserts by keeping cans of frequently used fruits, vegetables and meats on hand in your refrigerator.
- Broil or poach frozen fish steaks or portions without thawing first.
- Drop biscuits from a spoon instead of rolling.
- Quick-chill pasta for salads. Drain and place in a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes, then drain well.
Fast main dishes:
- Fajitas in a flash: Cook frozen beef sandwich steaks according to package directions. Serve in flour tortillas with shredded lettuce, sliced green onion, chopped tomato and clear Italian salad dressing.
- Easy chicken or fish Parmesan: Heat frozen chicken or fish fillets according to package directions. Top with spaghetti sauce and shredded Parmesan or mozzarella cheese; heat until cheese melts.
- Tortilla roll-ups: Fill flour tortillas with deli tuna or chicken salad, lettuce and tomatoes.
- Super-quick chow mein: Prepare canned chicken or beef stew according to package directions. Serve over chow mein noodles.
- Timesaving tuna-macaroni salad: Add drained tuna and chopped radishes to deli macaroni salad. Serve on a bed of lettuce. Or, add canned or leftover cooked chicken or ham to the deli salad.
- Snappy peas and ham: Cook a package of frozen cream-sauced peas or other creamed vegetable according to package directions. Add chunks of fully cooked ham. Serve over biscuits, corn bread or baked potatoes and top with shredded Cheddar cheese. - Associated Press
\ WORTH WRITING FOR "Summer's Bounty" celebrates June Dairy Month with recipes that make use of produce and dairy products. Minted summer squash soup, fresh creamed corn and nectarine cobbler are examples. For a copy, send a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope to Summer's Bounty, Southeast Dairy Association, P.O. Box 87247, Atlanta, Ga. 30337.
"Wake Up To Breakfast with Coffee-mate Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer" has a selection of recipes for quick and easy breakfast foods, such as German pancake with fruit, blueberry muffins, cinnamon rolls and quiche. For a copy, send a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope to Wake Up, P.O. Box A-2524, Young America, Minn. 55399-2524.
"Deli Meat Guide" is a fact-filled brochure with updated facts about sausage products. For a copy, send a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope to National Life Stock and Meat Board, Dept. TKDMG, 444 N. Michigan Ave., 18th Floor, Chicago, Ill. 60611. Allow six to eight weeks for delivery.
"Raisin' Shine with Recipes from America's Inns" features recipes from bed and breakfast establishments. For a copy, send a stamped, self-addessed business-size envelope to Raisin' Shine Booklet, Dept. PRA, California Raisin Advisory Board, 55 Union St., San Francisco, Calif. 94111.
"The Kerr Kitchen Pantry" is a free seasonal newsletter with hints, recipes, ideas for arts and crafts projects and occasionally cents-off coupons for products. To subscribe, write Kerr Kitchen Pantry, P.O. Box 76961, Los Angeles, Calif. 90076. "Perdue Easy Does It," with sandwich recipes and serving ideas, and "Perdue Grilling Greats," with poultry recipes for the grill, are offered by Perdue Farms. For a copy of the sandwich collection, write Perdue Easy Does It, P.O. Box 2417E, Salisbury, Md. 21801. For a copy of the cookout ideas, write Perdue Grilling Greats, P.O. Box 2417G, Salisbury, Md. 21801.
\ QUICK AND EASY The classic combination of pork and apple is showcased in an appetizing low-fat stir-fry. Spray a cold wok or skillet with non-stick spray coating - there's no need for any additional oil.
For minimum fat, choose a lean pork cut such as boneless loin or tenderloin. Trim any fat from the outside. Freeze the meat for about 45 minutes so it is easier to cut. Holding a sharp knife at a 45-degree angle, slice the pork across the grain into thin pieces. Then cut the slices into strips.
Gingered pork
3/4 lb. lean boneless pork
1/2 cup apple juice
3 Tbsps. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
Non-stick spray coating
2 tsp. grated ginger
2 cups cauliflower flowerets (about half of a medium head)
1 medium zucchini, sliced
1 small onion, cut into thin wedges
2 cups hot cooked rice
Trim fat from pork. Partially freeze pork. Cut across the grain into thin bite-size strips. In a small bowl stir together apple juice, soy sauce and cornstarch set aside. Spray a cold wok or large skillet with non-stick coating. Preheat over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles. Add ginger; stir-fry 15 seconds. Add cauliflower; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add zucchini and onion; stir-fry 2 to 3 minutes more or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove vegetables.
Add pork. Stir-fry about 3 minutes or until pork is no longer pink. Push pork from center of wok or skillet. Stir apple juice mixture. Add sauce to center of wok or skillet. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Return vegetables to wok or skillet. Stir to coat with sauce. Heat through. Serve over hot rice. Makes 4 servings. - Associated Press
\ GLAD YOU ASKED Does anything special have to be done to cast-iron cornstick pans before using them for baking?
Before using, cast-iron cookware needs to be seasoned to prevent rust and to keep foods from sticking. Begin by washing the pans with mild, soapy water and a stiff brush, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Rub a thin layer of oil over the entire surface of the pans. Place both in the oven and bake at 325 degrees 1 hour. Turn off the oven heat but keep the door closed and allow the pans to cool to room temperature inside the oven.
Cast-iron cookware will continue to turn black with use and the pores of the iron will be sealed. After each use pans should be washed, rinsed and dried. Never scour or put the pans in a dishwasher. Always apply a thin coating of oil to the cooking surface before storage. - Los Angeles Times
\ MARKET SHOPPING During the spring and summer garden seasons, something new shows up each week at farm markets. Right now, garden peas, strawberries and curly red and green leaf lettuce have joined the traditional spring lineup of spinach, turnip greens, green onions, lettuce, rhubarb and broccoli.
And if you'd to try something a bit different, make a salad by combining some of the leaf lettuces, sliced strawberries and blanched peas. Drizzle with a mild vinaigrette. A delicious and pretty presentation.
A wide variety of vegetables from other growing areas can be found to round out spring meals. Look for green beans, corn, asparagus, squash, cucumbers and potatoes.
The upcoming Memorial Day weekend is an ideal time to get the home garden in shape, and plenty of vegetable and flower plants continue to be available.
\ DELICIOUS GO-ALONG This stir-together salad tastes especially good with grilled meat or poultry. To tote the salad to a neighborhood cookout, pack the lettuce and chopped tomato in separate plastic bags, the bean mixture in a covered plastic container. At the last minute, stir the tomato into the bean mixture and spoon on top of the lettuce on a platter or in a shallow bowl. Picnic bean salad 1 15-oz. can three-bean salad, drained
1 cup chopped cucumber
1/2 cup chopped omato
1/2 cup creamy avocado-flavored dip
Several dashes hot pepper sauce
Shredded lettuce
Combine drained bean salad, cucumber and tomato. Add avocado dip and hot pepper sauce. Toss until bean mixture is coated. Place shredded lettuce on platter or 8 salad plates. Spoon bean mixture on top lettuce. Serves 8. - Associated Press
by CNB