Microwave

"Before I had children," says Annie Denn of Mission Viejo, California. "I was in the airline industry. Working full-time used to leave me exhausted at the end of the day, but now I've discovered that my old job was a piece of cake compared to my responsibilities as a stay-at-home mom. In addition to keeping the house in order, I volunteer at my children's schools. It's fun to go into their classrooms and help out with projects and reading groups, but those activities leave little time for cooking. When I do get into the kitchen, I make dishes that are simple and delicious—which isn't easy given the different eating styles in my family. My daughters, Cassandra and Melinda, request hot dogs and pizza every night. Plus, they're quite the little cookie monsters. On the other hand, my husband, Mike, is a real meat-and-potatoes guy who doesn't have much of a sweet tooth. Although it's hard to come up with a compromise every night, I can usually put together a quick and flavorful steak dish with a batch of freshly baked cookies for dessert. That makes everyone—especially Mom—very happy." Made mostly with chocolate and just a bit of flour, these cookies have an intense chocolate flavor and a chewy texture.

In a classic confit, meat cooks (and is then preserved) in its own fat. Here, lemons cook in their own juices to become the basis for an overnight marinade.

Mexican food is usually high in calories; this lean dish is authentic but light.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of a microwave.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Shepherd's Pie. Using the microwave makes cooking the potatoes especially easy.

When ripe, fresh apricots have a velvety-soft deep golden skin with a faint blush and the most delicate flavor. When picked before maturity, the flavor is less than exciting but baking surprisingly intensifies the flavor even of the pallid ones, bringing them more toward the piquancy of dried apricots. Since baked aprictos are so vivid, I always bake them entirely open-faced in a pie. Glazing them with strained apricot preserves adds extra flavor and makes them glisten.

Cooking times may vary slightly because of differences in microwave power.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

This recipe originally accompanied Potato Pancakes with Zucchini and Sage. It takes very little sugar to enhance the natural sweetness of fresh apples. Each variety contributes to the flavor of the sauce.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

Over the past few years, the popular Italian flatbread has made its way into bread baskets at home and in restaurants. This version is tender and redolent of rosemary and olive oil. It’s perfect as a snack, served with soup and salad, or split for sandwiches.

I'm not a big fan of microwaving, but in this case, it preserves both vegetables' deep color and nutrients as it speeds cooking. The honey and sweet sherry accents temper the bitter broccoli raab for a side dish that's fast, fresh, pretty.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave.

A low calorie recipe for the microwave.

Loosely translated from the Yiddish, tzimmes means "a fuss over something," but in culinary terms, it's commonly a casserole of various fruits, vegetables and/or meats.

Vanilla ice cream surrounds a soft lemon-cream and raspberry-sorbet center.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.