Even if you dont use your microwave oven to prepare an entire recipe, youll find it a timesaving convenience. Use it to shorten some of the preliminary chores in a recipe, such as melting butter or chocolate, toasting nuts or coconut, plumping dried fruit or softening cream cheese. In this file you will find directions and timings for these and many other recipe shortcuts. TOASTING NUTS: Place 1/2 cup of the desired nuts in a 2-cup measure. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power about 3 minutes or till toasted, stirring frequently. BLANCHING ALMONDS: In a small nonmetal bowl, micro-cook 1 c water, uncovered, on 100% power for 2 to 3 minutes or till boiling. Add 1/2 c Almonds to water. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power for 1 1/2 minutes. Drain, rinse almonds with cold water. Slip off skins. TOASTING COCONUT: Place flaked or shredded coconut in a 1-cup measure. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power till light brown, stirring every 20 seconds. Allow 1 to 1 1/2 minutes for 1/4 cup and 1 1/2 to 2 minutes for 1/2 cup coconut. WARMING ICE CREAM TOPPERS: Spoon topping into a custard cup or 1-cup measure. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power till warm, allowing about 15 seconds for 2 Tablespoons, about 25 seconds for 1/4 cup, or about 45 seconds for 1/2 cup of topping. SOFTENING ICE CREAM: Micro-cook 1 pint solidly frozen ice cream, uncovered, on 100% power about 15 seconds or till soft enough to serve. PLUMPING DRIED FRUIT: In a 2-cup measure micro-cook 1 cup water, uncovered on 100% power for 2 to 3 minuted or till boiling. Stir in 2/2 cup desired dried fruit. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes. SOFTENING BUTTER OR MARGARINE: Unwrap butter or margarine and place in a small nonmetal dish. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 10% power, allowing about 30 seconds for 2 T or 50 seconds to 1 minute for 1/4 c of butter. MELTING BUTTER OR MARGARINE: Unwrap butter or margarine and place in a 1-cup measure or custard cup. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power allowing 25 to 30 seconds for 2 T or about 40 seconds for 1/4 cup butter or margarine. SOFTENING CREAM CHEESE: Unwrap on 3-ounce package cream cheese and place in a small nonmetal bowl. Micro-cook, uncovered on 30% power about 1 minute or till soft. MELTING CHOCOLATE SQUARES: Unwrap chocolate and place in a small non metal bowl or custard cup. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power till melted, stirring once. Allow 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 for one 1-ounce square or 1 3/4 to 2 minutes for 52o 1-ounce squares of chocolate. MELTING CHOCOLATE PIECES: In a glass measure or custard cup micro-cook chocolate pieces, uncovered, on 100% power till melted, stirring once. Allow 1 to 1 1/2 minutes for 3 ozs or 1 1/2 to 2 minutes for a 6-ounce package. MELTING CONFECTIONERS COATING: In a small non metal bowl or custard cup, micro-cook confectioners coating, uncovered, on 100% power till melted, stirring once. Allow 1 to 1 1/4 minutes for one 2-ounce square or about 1-1/2 minutes for two 2-ounce squares confectioners coating. MELTING CARMELS: Unwrap carmels and place in a glass measure. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power stirring once. Allow 45 seconds to 1 minute for 14 carmels (about 1/2 cup) or 1 to 1 1/2 minutes for 28 carmels (about 1 cup). FLAMING LIQUEUR: Place 2 T of desired liqueur (at least 80 proof) in a 1 cup measure. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power for 20 seconds, ignite and pour over desired food. PEELING TOMATOES: In a 2-cup measure micro-cook 1 cup water, uncovered, on 100% power for 2 to 3 minutes or till boiling. Spear 1 tomato with a long tined fork. Submerge into hot water; hold about 12 seconds. Place tomato under cold running water, slip off skin. PEELING PEACHES: In a 2-cup measure micro-cook 1 cup water, uncovered, on 100% power for 2 to 3 minutes or till boiling. Spear 1 peach with a long tined fork. Submerge into hot water; hold about 12 seconds. Place peach under cold running water, slip off skin. From Better Homes & Gardens "Microwave Cooking for One or Two". File ftp://ftp.idiscover.co.uk/pub/food/mealmaster/recipes/mwc-4-2.zip