Perfect Rice

When you want a meal that’s quick and easy, a steamer is a great cooking accessory to have around the house. Steaming is the least obtrusive of cooking techniques – the color, texture and flavor of foods is protected during the steaming process. In addition to looking and tasting better, steamed foods contain more nutrients and are lower in fat and calories than foods cooked by other methods. There are many types of steamers; aluminum steamers, rice-cooker steamers, microwave steamers, and bamboo steamers are all available in the market. Steamers are perfect for blanching or steaming vegetables, fish and other foods.

Vegetable and fish cooking times will vary in many steamer recipes. Here’s how to steam vegetables: Bring one to two inches of water to a boil on high heat. When the water reaches a boil start preparing your vegetables. Cut veggies into equal pieces to ensure uniform cooking. Place them evenly on the steamer rack and cover with lid. A few minutes is usually all that’s necessary for cooking the veggies to perfection.

Shhhh! I have a secret. It’s been a long time coming that I tell someone, so I have chosen you (yes, you!) to reveal this mind-blowing secret to. Did you know that crock pots can save you from spending hours slaving away over the stove? You may not believe it - but that’s my secret to feeding my family of 12 - crock pots! Between my 10 kids and my husband, I barely have time to go grocery shopping, let alone spend hours preparing meals.That doesn’t mean I let my family starve or eat fast food every day - it means I use my crock pot to prepare delicious and nutritious meals.

One of my favorite recipes is a simple chicken soup. I just throw in a few chopped chicken breasts, some chicken stock, potatoes, broccoli, and onions and set the crock pot to low. I leave all the ingredients to cook overnight and the next day I have a hearty stew to feed my hungry brood.