Microwave Ravioli

Summer is here and sometimes that makes it difficult to want to slave in the kitchen. I use my microwave a great deal, but I use it even more in the summer. My family appreciates the nice meals and I appreciate not having to spend so much time in a hot kitchen. With this recipe you won't even have to turn your stove or oven on. Give it a try.

I use a Tupperware Rock N Serve large deep container for this recipe. If you can find a similar container give it a try. Just remember that you only want to use microwave safe containers for the microwave. Containers that are not microwave safe can release unwanted chemicals into your food. Glass is usually a safe option if you don't have the Rock N Serve container or something similar.

Ingredients
1 (16 oz) package of frozen Ravioli
1 qt jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 small can of mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped bell peppers
2 cups of mozzarella cheese divided into 1 cup portions

Place all of the ingredients except for 1 cup of the cheese in your microwave container. Cover the container but try to leave a vent of some sort. This is why the Rock N Serve is good because it has a vent on it and that makes it easy for the steam to release while cooking.

Cook on high for 8 - 10 minutes or until the Ravioli is hot and tender. Stir. Top with remaining cheese. Microwave on high without a cover for 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

It will take less than thirty minutes to prepare dinner with this recipe. Even if it is a nice cool day it is an excellent recipe to use to make a quick dinner after a stressful day at work or running errands. Your family will love it and you will have some extra time to relax for the evening.

Donna has an MBA in Information Technology and is currently a Tupperware Director and CEO of her own company. Visit her website for more recipes for the microwave.

How To Cook Potatoes In The Microwave

Here is a quick lesson on how you can cook potatoes in the microwave. This is great for the busy mom who needs to get dinner ready quick. It is also great for those hot summer months when you don't want to turn on your oven or stove.

I use Tupperware's Rock N Serve medium or large deep container depending on how many potatoes I am using. Try to find a microwave safe container that is deep if you don't have the Rock N Serve containers.

Peel and cut your potatoes into quarters.

Place in your microwave safe container. You may need to add water. If you are using the Rock N Serve container you don't need to add any water.

Microwave on high for one minute per potato. If you have 15 potatoes you would cook for 15 minutes. Stir every five minutes to avoid hot spots. This is for average size potatoes.

You can then use the cooked potatoes in your recipes. Here are a couple of examples.

For mashed potatoes:

Heat butter and milk in a small microwaveable container. Pour into the container your warm vegetables are in. Add seasonings to taste and serve.

For home fries:

Cut potatoes in bite size pieces rather than in quarters before cooking in the microwave.

Saute chopped onions, green peppers, and paprika in a large frying pan. Add cooked potatoes. Raise the heat and fry to taste.

For potato salad:

Keep the potatoes in the container after cooking and place in a cool sink or dish pan in ice water. This will help to cool the cooked potatoes quickly.

Make your favorite potato salad mixture and add to the potatoes once they are cooled. For example, I add Miracle Whip, chopped olives, and chopped boiled eggs because that is how my family likes their potato salad.

As you can probably see by now, you can use your own recipes once the potatoes are cooked. Cooking them in the microwave is just a faster and cooler way to cook the potatoes.

Donna has an MBA in information technology and is currently a Tupperware Director and CEO of her own company. She may be contacted at webmaster@todaysmodernwoman.com or at DonnaLoudon@my.tupperware.com. Visit A Website for the Modern Woman for more tips on microwave cooking.

Recipe For Microwave Meatloaf

Many people hesitate to cook meat in the microwave. However, if done correctly it works fine. It is nice in the summer so you don't have to turn on your hot oven. I recommend using a silicone loaf form to make the meatloaf in the microwave. You can purchase a silicone loaf pan in specialty cooking stores. You may also find one at a Department Store such as Mervyns. Silicone is a nice way to go because they are very easy to clean. All you have to do is turn them inside-out to get all the leftovers that store themselves in the corners of your loaf pan. Another thing I like about silicone pans is you can fold them up for easy storage. Hence, they work great if you have limited cabinet space. If you are unable to locate a silicone loaf pan, or simply don't want to purchase one, you can try a glass loaf pan. My only complaint with glass loaf pans is that they tend to dry the meatloaf a little.

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine ground beef, 1/4 cup of the barbecue sauce, onion, bread crumbs, egg, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir until well blended. Press mixture into microwaveable loaf pan. Spread remaining barbeque sauce over mixture.

Microwave on high 5 minutes; rotate 1/4 turn. Microwave an additional 5 minutes; rotate another 1/4 turn. If necessary, repeat until center is done.

Of course, meatloaf is only part of your meal, but it is the main item. You can also use your microwave for cooking potatoes and steaming vegetables. Use pre-made rolls so you won?t have to turn your oven on to make biscuits. These are just a couple of suggestions of what you can do to round out your meal once your meatloaf is cooked.

Donna Rivera-Loudon microwave cooking recipes Donna has an MBA in Information Technology and is currently a Tupperware Director and CEO of her own company. Visit her website for more recipes for cooking in your microwave.

Making Cake Or Cobbler In Your Microwave

Just because it is summer doesn?t mean you don?t want to be able to make nice desserts for your family. The problem is: who wants to turn on their oven to bake a cake or make a cherry cobbler? Here are some recipes I have made often in my microwave. I tested them on my family and they were very satisfied.

Blueberry or Cherry Cobbler

Ingredients

2 (21 oz) can blueberry or cherry pie filling
1 tsp. grated orange peel
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup milk
3 Tbls marg. softened
2 Tbs sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 cups Bisquick Mix
Vanilla ice cream

Combine filling, orange peel, and nutmeg in deep rectangle shaped microwave container. (I use Tupperware's Large Deep Rock N Serve container) Microwave uncovered at 70% power for 8 minutes or until hot, stirring twice.

Combine remaining ingredients in a separate bowl and beat vigorously 20 strokes. Drop 12 dumplings onto the hot filling. Microwave uncovered at 70% power for 10 to 14 minutes or until dumplings are no longer doughy.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Super Easy Cake

Ingredients

One box of cake mix, any flavor. I like to use the super moist ones. They seem to come out better in the microwave.
One can of diet soda, any flavor. You can use regular soda as well.

Mix the cake mix and soda together well in a large bowl.

Spray a microwavable container with Pam. Now, be careful the kind of bowl you use. First, it must be microwave safe. I don't recommend glass containers. My mom tried to make this cake in a corningware container and it came out as hard as a rock. I use a Tupperware Heat N Serve container. This container comes in four sizes, but the 6 1/4 cup one works the best.

Pour the cake batter into the container and place the seal on it. Put it in the microwave for ten minutes. Let it set in the microwave a couple minutes and then remove the container from the microwave.

Remove the cover. Place a plate over the container and flip the container up-side-down. The cake will slide right out. Once it cools you can frost it if you would like. My husband likes to eat it as it is with some vanilla ice cream. Yummy.

My favorite mixture is chocolate cake mix and diet cherry soda.

Donna has an MBA in Information Technology and is currently a Tupperware Director and CEO of her own company. Visit her website for more recipes for the microwave.