6C THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
10
APARTMENT GUIDE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2006
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recipes for cooking at home.
Balancing Act The right foods at the right time
N. COM RANSAN CORRESPONDENT PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NICOLETA NIOS
BY ASHLEY PATE
Congratulations on mastering the art of the ramen noodles! But you're in college now and regardless of how easy it is to make, big kids eat big-kid food. Don't fret, there are many different recipes are tasty and good for you too. with the basics
First, you need to make sure that all of your machinery is clean and in proper working order. Improperly cleaned tools will add unwelcome flavors to the meal you are about to prepare.
Safety issues
Keep a close eye on the food you're cooking when using hot surfaces. Carelessness can lead to disaster in the kitchen and the destruction of your meal, your cooking tools and, sometimes, your home.
there are many different recipes that are tasty and good for you too. Let's begin with the basics.
Make sure that your knives are properly sharpened if you will be cutting anything. If you happen to cut yourself, always try to keep blood away from the food.
For example, do not put a plastic plate on a hot stove — it will melt — or leave noodles cooking without stirring — they will stick to the bottom. Also, if you are using less expensive plastic cooking wear, do not leave them on hot surfaces for any long period of time — they also may melt.
Meat preparation can be easy as long as you cook the meat thoroughly and wash your hands after handling raw meat or eggs.
Washing your hands will help prevent diseases like salmonella.
The microwave is your friend
When my roommate and I moved in together this year, she learned that there are some things that are okay to be cooked in the microwave. Potatoes are fairly inexpensive and can be popped in the microwave, instead of being cooked in the oven. Poke the potato with a fork all over and wrap it in a dampened paper towel. Put it in the microwave for three minutes, flip it over for another four minutes and it's done.
Make sure you keep the fork out of the microwave, though. Metal and microwaves don't mix.
Frozen chicken is another food that can be cooked in the microwave. The best type is a boneless skinless chicken breast. Put five pieces from the freezer on a regular-sized plate, add some seasoning and put them in the microwave for four minutes. Turn them over and cook them for three minutes and then cook for two more minutes. Don't forget to sprinkle some seasoning or pour marinade onto the chicken to add some flavor.
When you're done
If you aren't the type of person that likes doing anything right after eating, that's fine. On the other hand, you absolutely must soak your dishes in order to have an easy clean-up. This rule applies even if you plan to use the dishwasher. Food will come loose of a plate or dish easily if it has been soaking in water and two drops of dish soap. Make it easy on yourself, or your dishwasher, and don't skip this step after you're done enjoying your meal.
A general tip
Taking care of your kitchen equipment will make it last longer. This rule includes recipes too. Clip or print all of the recipes you use and put them into a binder. This way, it will be easy to refer back to them. Bon Appetit!
HAVE PROPER TOOLS
These are some items that you need or will probably use in your day-to-day cooking and baking
Wooden spoon
Slotted spoon
Wooden spoon
Slotted spoon
Spaghetti spoon
Whisk
Whisk
At least one spatula
At least one spatula Large, medium and small pots
Large, medium and small bowls
- Aluminum foil
- Parchment paper — to put on the cookie sheet, instead of cooking spray
- Cookie sheet
- Scissors
- Knives
- Rubber scraper
- Can opener
- Bottle/wine bottle opener
- Vegetable peeler
- Cooling rack
- Two cake pans
- Electric mixer
- Blender
These are some items that would be useful, but are not necessary:
The Magic Bullet
— Great for making smoothies
George Foreman grill — Good for meats, vegetables or grilled cheese
The Pasta Express
-- The upright tube would be ideal for those who want to cook quickly and have easy clean up
A home to fit your needs
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