Microwave Cooking For Autumn

It’s official – Autumn has arrived not only with the passing of the equinox on the 23^rd September but also with leaves starting to fall and the mornings becoming cold and dark.

It’s my favourite time of the year, perhaps it’s because I’m a September baby. I just love the way nature seems to take over and show it’s truly colourful side from burnished leaves to frosty trees. Oranges, reds and browns predominate and the air has a fresh bite to it. My thoughts turn to long walks through crispy fallen leaves, sitting by the fire and Autumn celebrations.

We can start to look forward to warming comfort food to feed the soul and mind. Chilli and jacket potatoes on bonfire night, pumpkin soup for Halloween and beef and ale casserole for those colder darker nights; all prepared freshly and quickly in my combination microwave. Roast dinners around the dining table with family and friends epitomise the autumnal months for me.

With darker nights after work I always feel the need to cook nutritious meals without being in the kitchen for hours on end. Sometimes I prepare meals the night before and then we can just reheat and serve – making sure I make the most of the shorter nights. My microwave becomes invaluable at this time of year, especially when I cheat and use my version of fast food – defrosted from my homemade supply in the deep freeze.

Eating out gives more opportunities for enjoying some great seasonal food with menus being enriched with warming dishes using the best of our harvest festival vegetables. The catering industry can benefit greatly from using microwave ovens, too, at this time of year. Tasks can be simplified and completed by less qualified staff freeing up the chef to devise new and inviting dishes for the menu. With cooking taking less time and less energy, the kitchen can provide substantial heart warming menus in a short time with a professional finish to more guests.

Cater For have everything you need for making all your autumnal dishes come to life. Their wide range of commercial microwave ovens and combination ovens are ideal for catering outlets such as restaurants, canteens, care homes and cafes. They are increasingly popular with discerning domestic goddesses, too. All the items you need for this recipe are available here.

So this Autumn don’t take your microwave for granted – be inspired, be inventive and why not try out this recipe for starters? source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/citrusandhoneysponge_84015/ 

Things you’ll need:

1 lemon and 1 orange, 110g/4oz caster sugar, 110g/4oz self raising flour, 125g/4½oz soft butter plus extra to grease, 1 free-range egg, 2 tbsp honey plus 1 tbsp extra.

Microwave Oven, small oven proof bowl, grater/ zester, Food Processor,  and clingfilm

How to make it:

Remove zest from orange and lemon and place with sugar, flour, butter, egg and honey into a food processor and blend until a smooth sponge batter is formed. Peel orange and lemon and then slice flesh.

Grease a small oven proof bowl with butter and brush with the extra honey. Line the bowl with the orange and lemon slices.

Pour the sponge batter into the lined bowl and cover with cling film.

Place the bowl in a microwave and cook on full power for five minutes, or until the sponge is cooked through. Enjoy J