Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 17, 1993 TAG: 9302160226
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
RINSING TAKES FAT OUT OF GROUND BEEF
Finally, a truly easy way to shave fat: Rinse ground beef after cooking it and reduce the fat content by up to 50 percent.That means you can buy the cheaper, fattier ground beef and still come up with a leaner meat.
An Iowa State University study reports that there's a slight reduction in flavor when you do this, but once you combine the meat with other ingredients (for spaghetti sauce, say, or chili), you can't tell the difference.
You don't need any special equipment, either; just hot water, a strainer and some plain white paper towels (colored paper towels contain dye and so are not a good choice).
Cook the ground beef in a skillet, breaking it into large, crumbly bits. Remove the bits with a slotted spoon to a plate covered with three layers of paper towels. Blot the top with more paper towels. Then put the ground beef in a strainer or colander and rinse by pouring hot (but not boiling) water over it; drain for five minutes. Proceed as the recipe directs. (If you are adding onion and garlic, the Live Stock and Meat Board recommends adding them after rinsing.) - From wire reports
\ GOOD FOR YOU, TOO You'll discover more than 3-carrot gold in these bars. There's green, too, coming from tiny flecks of zucchini. Cash in on these spicy bars for another reason: they're so easy to stir together, you won't even need your mixer. Soft-style cream cheese in the frosting makes it easy to mix and spread.
Carrot and zucchini bars\ 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. soda
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups shredded carrot
1 cup shredded zucchini
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla
Citrus cream cheese frosting
In large mixing bowl stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, ginger and soda. In another large bowl, stir together eggs, carrot, zucchini, raisins, walnuts, oil, honey and vanilla. Add to flour mixture and stir just until combined. Spread in ungreased 13x9x2-in. pan. Bake in 350-degree oven about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting. Cut into bars. Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to a week. Makes 36 bars.
Citrus cream cheese frosting: In a small mixing bowl, combine 1 8-oz. container light cream cheese, 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar, 2 Tbsps. orange juice and 1 Tbsp. finely shredded lemon or orange peel. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Makes about 1 1/2 cups. - Associated Press
\ MICROWAVE IT Tortillas add punch to lunch, especially when you roll `em and heat `em in a microwave oven. A welcome switch from the usual sandwich bread, these flexible rounds wrap easily around slices of ham and cheese. You can prepare them ahead of time to tote to work or school, then heat them when it's time to eat. Just be sure to keep them chilled until lunch time - with an ice pack or in a refrigerator.
Hot ham and cheese tortillas
2 Tbsps. mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. prepared mustard
4 6-in. flour tortillas
8 1-oz. slices fully cooked ham
4 1-oz. slices Swiss cheese or American cheese
In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, parsley and mustard. Spread onto tortillas. Arrange 2 slices of ham and 1 slice of cheese atop each tortilla. Roll up and secure with wooden toothpicks. Place on a microwave-safe plate. Cover with paper towels. Cook on high (100 percent power) until heated through. Allow approximately 20 to 30 seconds for 1 roll, 30 to 60 seconds for 2 rolls, 1 to 2 minutes for 3 rolls, 1 1/2 to 3 minutes for 4 rolls. Makes 4 tortilla rolls.
\ NON-SMOKING GARDEN Smokers who have been banished from their homes and now produce secondary smoke in the back yard may face further exile this spring. The National Garden Bureau has declared 1993 to be the Year of the Pepper. In its recent pepper information pamphlet, the bureau cautions would-be growers:
"Because Tobacco Mosaic Virus can be found in tobacco, refrain from smoking near the plants. Do not handle plants after smoking tobacco." - Knight-Ridder/Tribune