my apologies for bringing up what surely is not a new topic, but i bought
my dad a microwave for christmas, and he would like a book. i don't think
he intends to cook much using it, but is there a good, basic book covering
the fundamentals? (apparently the instructions with the oven were less
than satisfying.) he does realize that he will just have to dick around
with it some, but any insights here on a basic book would be welcome.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy wrote:

> my apologies for bringing up what surely is not a new topic, but i bought
> my dad a microwave for christmas, and he would like a book. i don't think
> he intends to cook much using it, but is there a good, basic book covering
> the fundamentals? (apparently the instructions with the oven were less
> than satisfying.) he does realize that he will just have to dick around
> with it some, but any insights here on a basic book would be welcome.

We have Barbara Kafka's "Microwave Gourmet." Ours is the original
hardback version, but I see there is a version that is somewhat updated
(1998), in paperback at Amazon for $16.

--Lin

"Lin" > wrote in message
.. .
> blake murphy wrote:
>
>> my apologies for bringing up what surely is not a new topic, but i bought
>> my dad a microwave for christmas, and he would like a book. i don't
>> think
>> he intends to cook much using it, but is there a good, basic book
>> covering
>> the fundamentals? (apparently the instructions with the oven were less
>> than satisfying.) he does realize that he will just have to dick around
>> with it some, but any insights here on a basic book would be welcome.
>
> We have Barbara Kafka's "Microwave Gourmet." Ours is the original hardback
> version, but I see there is a version that is somewhat updated (1998), in
> paperback at Amazon for $16.
>
> --Lin

I think Barbara Kafka's "Microwave Gourmet" is the best, if not the only,
really good cookbook on microwave cooking. She covers the basics in the
beginning of the book. I suspect most don't know that you cook fat at a much
lower setting than water. Fat absorbs microwave energy more than water does.
Most valuable is the last 100+ pages dedicated to each ingredient.

Ed

"Lin" ha scritto nel messaggio
> blake murphy wrote:
>
>> my apologies for bringing up what surely is not a new topic, but i
>> bought> my dad a microwave for christmas, and he would like a book. i
>> don't think>> he intends to cook much using it, but is there a good,
>> basic book covering
>> the fundamentals? (apparently the instructions with the oven were less>>
>> than satisfying.) he does realize that he will just have to dick
>> around>> with it some, but any insights here on a basic book would be
>> welcome.
>
> We have Barbara Kafka's "Microwave Gourmet." Ours is the original >
> hardback version, but I see there is a version that is somewhat updated
> (1998), in paperback at Amazon for $16.
>
> --Lin

I second Lin's notion. Kafka shows you that you can really cook in a
microwave.

blake murphy wrote:
> my apologies for bringing up what surely is not a new topic, but i bought
> my dad a microwave for christmas, and he would like a book. i don't think
> he intends to cook much using it, but is there a good, basic book covering
> the fundamentals? (apparently the instructions with the oven were less
> than satisfying.) he does realize that he will just have to dick around
> with it some, but any insights here on a basic book would be welcome.
>
> your pal,
> blake

I had this one way back when I got my first "Radar Range" in 1980. It
was an excellent book. It may be a little dated, but they are so cheap...

http://tinyurl.com/delq3l

Janet Wilder wrote:
> blake murphy wrote:
>> my apologies for bringing up what surely is not a new topic, but i bought
>> my dad a microwave for christmas, and he would like a book. i don't
>> think
>> he intends to cook much using it, but is there a good, basic book
>> covering
>> the fundamentals? (apparently the instructions with the oven were less
>> than satisfying.) he does realize that he will just have to dick around
>> with it some, but any insights here on a basic book would be welcome.
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>
> I had this one way back when I got my first "Radar Range" in 1980. It
> was an excellent book. It may be a little dated, but they are so cheap...
>
> http://tinyurl.com/delq3l

In conjunction with the book, this site will probably come in handy:

http://www.microwavecookingforone.com/Charts/

Note that they initially assume one is converting from 700 watts.
If that is not the case (meaning if Kafka was using a more- or
less-powerful oven), click on Requested Special Conversion Charts.

--
Jean B.

"blake murphy" > wrote in message
...
> my apologies for bringing up what surely is not a new topic, but i bought
> my dad a microwave for christmas, and he would like a book. i don't think
> he intends to cook much using it, but is there a good, basic book covering
> the fundamentals? (apparently the instructions with the oven were less
> than satisfying.) he does realize that he will just have to dick around
> with it some, but any insights here on a basic book would be welcome.
>
> your pal,
> blake

Step 1

Have your dad Read the instruction book cover to cover and make notes of any
questions.

Step 2

Unless you have a microwave purchased for yourself in the past few years
you'll need to do the same.

Step 3

The newest microwaves are usually 1 button operations as example push
reheat. That's it. Or push the popcorn button once for the large size a
second time for a 3 oz pack and a third time for the 1.75 ounce pack

In addition they use a heat sensor ( I suspect it is IR).

Unless the cookbook has been updated it's going to be of no use.

Most of the newer models also have several programs which make time cooking
difficult at best and impossible under normal circumstances.


Dimitri

On Mon, 2 Mar 2009 16:47:34 -0800, Dimitri wrote:

> "blake murphy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> my apologies for bringing up what surely is not a new topic, but i bought
>> my dad a microwave for christmas, and he would like a book. i don't think
>> he intends to cook much using it, but is there a good, basic book covering
>> the fundamentals? (apparently the instructions with the oven were less
>> than satisfying.) he does realize that he will just have to dick around
>> with it some, but any insights here on a basic book would be welcome.
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>
> Step 1
>
> Have your dad Read the instruction book cover to cover and make notes of any
> questions.
>
> Step 2
>
> Unless you have a microwave purchased for yourself in the past few years
> you'll need to do the same.
>
> Step 3
>
> The newest microwaves are usually 1 button operations as example push
> reheat. That's it. Or push the popcorn button once for the large size a
> second time for a 3 oz pack and a third time for the 1.75 ounce pack
>
> In addition they use a heat sensor ( I suspect it is IR).
>
> Unless the cookbook has been updated it's going to be of no use.
>
> Most of the newer models also have several programs which make time cooking
> difficult at best and impossible under normal circumstances.
>
> Dimitri

well, he wanted something as small as possible, so that limited things a
little. i ended up getting a 0.7 cubic foot oster:

<http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8739626&type=product&id=12026489 86925&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8739626 >

....which apparently has some pre-set functions. (i wasn't there when he
opened the box.) he seems to like it; the old lady won't go near it, so
far. (they finally set up the mr. coffee-type coffee machine i gave them
christmas before last the day before this christmas, and he seems to like
that, too. but he must have seen similar machines at work. she's 89, he's
87.)

thanks, dimitri, and also lin, theron, guisi, janet and jean. i will look
into the kafka book. (o.k., just looked. maybe i'll get myself a copy,
too.)

your pal,
blake