How to Cook Asparagus
July 23, 2009 by Cooking Class
Filed under How To Cook, How To Cook Vegetables
Cooking asparagus is simple in the microwave, as you can steam fresh spears of asparagus in fewer than 10 minutes. You should cook asparagus until tender, but do not overcook. Asparagus can be served either hot or cold. If you serve the vegetables cold, run cold water over the cooked asparagus spears. Cooling hot spears quickly helps them keep their bright green color.
When preparing asparagus stalks for cooking, wash under cold running water. Trim away about 1/3 of the stalk. Although the tip of the asparagus cooks tender, the stalk gets tougher the further down you go. Bending a stalk of asparagus will snap it at the place where it begins to get tougher. Arrange the asparagus spears two to three deep in a rectangular baking dish. If you cook spears in a round baking dish, arrange them with the tips toward the center of the dish. Add only a tablespoon or two of water. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, but leave a vent in one corner to allow steam to escape. How long to cook asparagus in a microwave oven averages about 8 minutes on high heat or until the spears are crispy and tender.
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How To Cook Rice
July 8, 2009 by Cooking Class
Filed under How To Cook, How To Cook Vegetables
Knowing how to cook rice so that it comes out light and fluffy can take a bit of skill. Begin by rinsing the rice in water before cooking. This removes excess starch and helps to prevent the rice from sticking.
How long to cook the rice is often a common question asked by many cooks. Add 2 cups of water to the pan for every cup of rice. Bring rice to a boil. Cooking time will vary depending on the kind of rice you are preparing. Brown rice requires about twice the cooking time than white rice does, although long grain rice is a popular healthy choice these days. Turn the stove to low heat and put the lid on tight. Simmer rice for another 15 to 30 minutes. After removing the pan from the heat, keep the lid on for another 5 minutes so that the rice can absorb any remaining water. Use a fork to fluff the rice and then serve.
Some alternatives for adding more flavor to rice is to cook the rice in broth instead of water. You can also cook rice in one-part water and one-part apple juice or tomato juice. If you are looking for a more delicate flavor, stir in just a pinch of nutmeg or add a cinnamon stick to the water as you cook the rice.