Microwave

If you've never tried scrambling eggs in the microwave, now is the time to try. Microwave-scrambled eggs can be the fluffiest imaginable. And here's another advantage: If you're dieting, you can eliminate some fat, because scrambled eggs don't stick to microwave "pans" the way they do to a stove-top skillet. The cooking times given here are for refrigerator-cold, large eggs. Obviously, warmer, smaller or larger eggs will microwave more quickly or slowly. For best results, follow our recipe explicitly and abide by these guidelines: Always use the container size recommended.

Is it OK to microwave pork roasts? In the beginning we were told no, that pork failed to cook evenly or fully in the microwave and therefore might not be safe to eat because of the danger of trichinosis. But food scientists have recently changed their minds and announced that pork can be safely microwaved if each of the following conditions is met: The container must be tightly covered - with a lid, not with vented plastic wrap. Covering pork, researchers have found, means that it will cook more thoroughly and evenly.

If you've never tried microwaving artichokes, you're in for a treat. Not only do they cook faster than you would have dreamed possible, they taste terrific. That's because they steam in their own fragrant vapor and don't get waterlogged in a kettle of boiling water. Here's the basic method plus an elegant stuffed artichoke recipe that's perfect for a first course. Choose 6- to 8-ounce globe artichokes, cut stems flush with bottoms, snip off prickly petal tips and rub cut edges with lemon.

Whether you are new to microwaving or a long time owner, everyone appreciates microwave shortcuts and tips for success. To quick thaw frozen whipped topping, microwave a 4 1/2-ounce carton on Medium Low (30 percent) for 1 minute. For a browner looking pie crust, brush with dark corn syrup, maple syrup or vanilla for sweet fillings. Brush with Worcestershire or soy sauce for savory fillings. Microwave a two crusted fruit pie for 10 minutes on High, then place in preheated 450 degree oven for 10 minutes or until browned and juices are bubbling through slit.

Don't despair if your barbecue is rained out. Enjoy delicious tasting kabobs made in the microwave. Kabobs are low in calories, combining vegetables with small quantities of meat, chicken or fish for lighter, healthier and more economical eating. Use your microwave to precook vegetables before microwaving or grilling kabobs. Baste with the marinade and turn occasionally when using a grill. This fabulous marinade may be used with fresh fish (swordfish, tuna, shark, cod, shrimp, etc.)

It's time for home-grown peaches to come to market - bright and plump, with a rich, fruity bouquet. They're superb as is, of course, sliced and topped with a trickle of cream. But they're also delicious slipped into crisps or poached, a la Romanoff. Both methods are naturals for a microwave oven. Like apples and pears, peaches microwave extremely well because they're firm and fragrant. This is not the case with berries, which are so juicily soft that they're apt to liquefy when microwaved.

If you really want to wow friends with your microwave prowess, try this drop-dead chocolate mousse. It looks - and tastes - as if you'd slaved over a hot stove all day. And although it requires several hours of freezing, it needs only a few minutes in the microwave. But first, here are a few pointers for preparing egg-based dishes in the microwave. Never double this recipe or it may curdle or boil over. Whenever you need to double the amount, you're better off preparing two batches and combining in a single serving dish.

Thanks to the microwave, frozen vegetables may stage a comeback. They're fast, versatile and available year-round. Better yet, they often taste fresher than vegetables that have lolled about supermarket bins longer than most greengrocers would dare admit. And why shouldn't frozen vegetables taste just-picked? Most were flash- frozen before the dew had a chance to dry. Frozen vegetables, moreover, rarely require additional liquid when microwaved. They steam in their own savory vapor so that their natural flavors are intensified.

There are those who say you can't make a decent quiche in the microwave, that the crust goes limp and soggy. We disagree. It's true, of course, that pastries don't bake well in a microwave oven. But that's no problem here, because we call for a pie shell that has been baked - and browned - the old-fashioned way, in a conventional oven. In fact, one of our major goals is to show you how to use your microwave and conventional oven in tandem to produce a perfect quiche. If the quiche is to microwave evenly, you should use a turntable.

There is nothing like a charbroiled steak straight off the grill. But for the times when you don't want to fire up the grill - or even get the broiler dirty - there is a way to sear steaks in the microwave on an accessory called a browning dish. A microwaved steak will not brown well without one, and the dish is really the only acceptable way to brown in the microwave. Browning dishes can be either flat rectangular plates or black skillets that are designed for the microwave.

Microwave, bottles thrown in Olney standoff * Clarkson Avenue near Front Street An Olney man who called 9-1-1 and claimed that there was a person stabbed in his basement held responding officers at bay in a five-hour standoff Saturday afternoon but was taken into custody without incident, according to police. Around 12:40 p.m., the 51-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, called authorities and said that he had a weapon and that there was a person stabbed in the basement of his residence on Clarkson Avenue near Front Street, according to police.

LOS ANGELES - Roy L. Ash, a co-founder and former president of Litton Industries who served as director of the Office of Management and Budget in the 1970s during the Nixon and Ford administrations, has died. He was 93. Ash, who had Parkinson's disease, died Dec. 14 at his home in Los Angeles, said his wife, Lila. A Los Angeles native, Ash was chief financial officer of Hughes Aircraft Co., in Culver City, before partnering with former Hughes colleague Charles B. "Tex" Thornton in 1953 in a new company that led to the acquisition of a small microwave-tube firm owned by Charles Litton.

DAYTON, Ohio - Jurors in an Ohio woman's third trial found her guilty yesterday of killing her baby daughter by cooking her in a microwave oven. China Arnold was convicted of aggravated murder in the death of 28-day-old Paris Talley in August 2005. Arnold could receive the death penalty. The sentencing phase will begin Monday. Prosecutors have said Arnold, 31, intentionally put the baby in the microwave after a fight with her boyfriend, Terrell Talley. Assistant Prosecutor Dan Brandt told jurors that Arnold's actions were "even more purposeful" than a slaying with a gun or knife.

ATHENS, Ohio - Khalif Wyatt sat stoically, taking it as well as he could. "That there is the 'Microwave,' " said one Temple teammate. "You know why, right? It's because it doesn't take long for him to heat up and start cooking," piped in another. Wyatt couldn't very well contradict the nickname, especially after he netted a career-high 14 points in just 19 minutes to help push the Owls past Ohio University, 76-65, last night at the Convocation Center. Wyatt hit his first four shots, all from three-point range, in the first half.

Treat your bacon right, and it will love you forever. Store bacon in the fridge in the original packet or, once opened, in an airtight, plastic container. Best to use it within 2 days of opening the package. Unopened, it may be kept for up to 1 month, but check the use by date. Unopened packaged bacon can be frozen for up to one month. To store smaller amounts, wrap two to six slices tightly in plastic wrap, then store in small freezer bags. Defrost by submerging the freezer bags in cold water for 10 minutes or use the defrost setting in the microwave.

Herley Industries Inc., a Lancaster-based defense contractor, said today it has recently received contracts worth about $2.3 million combined for international customers, who were not identified. The microwave switch assemblies and integrated microwave assemblies will be made at Herley's Israeli operations, General Microwave Israel Corp. Board chairman John A. Thonet said in a release that about 34 percent of Herley's revenues this year will come from foreign sales. will come from, Chairman of the Board, commented, "Herley has focused on the international market for many years, and our GMIC business is an important contributor to our growing international presence.

Here's a clever roasting fork for marshmallows for your summer cookouts. It's made with nonstick coated steel wire and crafted to look like a tree branch. The wood handle has a leather strip. Holds up to 10 marshmallows at a time, so sharing is encouraged.   For the salad days This stylish salad bowl, with a built-in handle and matching servers, makes a great centerpiece for the picnic table. Also available in vibrant green or cool white. Dishwasher safe, but keep it out of the microwave.

Hunker down with hot tea and keep your pot warm with this charming cozy, handmade by Cozy Toes in East Falls. Cozies come in two sizes and five designs. They are laminated on the outside, batted and lined with knit fabric inside. Curve 24-ounce teapot with infuser by ForLifeDesign.com in nine colors, dish washer and microwave safe. Salty, dark, and sweet Intense dark chocolate is mixed with the delicate seasoning of hand-harvested fleur de sel sea-salt crystals. The unexpected contrast yields a harmonic convergence.

Whoever dreamed up the idea of Hot Pockets clearly had a hungry teenager living at home. These frozen, microwavable turnovers usually filled with cheese and meat are the perfect after-school snack, so easy to pop into the microwave for a satisfying mini-meal at a moment's notice. Your teenager probably isn't going to make himself an eggplant Parmesan hoagie, or a spicy chicken quesadilla, or even a cheesesteak when he gets home from school, but he will open a box and punch buttons on a microwave.

Tempt your family with juicy, Sicilian-style swordfish steak. Tomatoes, olives and garlic are staples of zesty Sicilian cooking. Raisins add sweetness and a tantalizing contrast. The sauce for the fish can be made in a microwave to save time cooking and in cleanup. Tuna, halibut or grouper can be used in place of swordfish. Sicilian Swordfish Makes two servings 1. Place tomatoes, garlic, olives, raisins and oregano in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a paper towel and microwave on high 3 minutes.