Monday, January 30, 2012

COOKBOOKS about Steam Cookery

Still on the cookbook thread.  Two more today that are about to be shipped out along with a marvelous, like new Black & Decker Handy Steamer Plus* to my niece. She suffers from Celiac Disease and must avoid gluten at all costs. For that reason I decided to part with two of my favorite steam cookbooks as I have been steaming for so long there is little about using a steamer that I do not already know.

One of my favorite steamed dinners is cabbage, potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips and rutabaga steamed with bratwurst. Serve with a dab of mustard and I am a happy kid.


I find that steaming vegetables without oil or fat is not just good but better. And the steam-timer allows you to set the time and forget it until the chime signals ‘done.’ In the meantime you can focus on prepping other dishes or even better do something else while waiting for dinner. And the rice steamer is so handy, make one batch and it lasts a few days or steam the rice, then the steam vegetables and toss together for a quick dinner. In no time at all you will be “cooking with steam” and loving it.


My husband once read the introduction to this book and demanded that I delete any thought of steaming lest our new kitchen cabinets become warped by hot steam.  That was 15 years ago and our cabinets are still intact but our steam appliances now number two and we have been indulging in lightly steamed vegetables with fat free sauces for many seasons. Castle begins the book with a lengthy introduction to steam cookery with equipment, techniques and a complete list of terms and ingredients, listing of course many Asian foods.  This book is steam cooking 101.

Castle, Coralie.  The Complete Book of Steam Cookery. Tasty and Healthful Dishes from Around the World, with Instructions on Equipment and Techniques.   J. P. Tarcher Inc., Los Angeles, c. 1985


A bachelor working in the communications field Zinkhon says he was forced to learn cooking in self-defense; but his treatments of many traditional dishes makes them much healthier to consume without loss of flavor.
Zinkhon, Robert. No Pressure Steam Cooking. A Simple, Healthy & Delicious Way to Cook. Taylor & Ng, Brisbane, CA, 1978.  
Both the above books have been my go-to resources. Should you find them at a book sale or thrift shop I would recommend buying them; you may just find a healthy way to eat.


And if you like steaming, try the "Chef’n Steamer" from SleekStor at: http://www.chefn.com/Product.aspx?id=47
Amazon.com says
Ready to get steamy? Chef'n has the tool for you -- their sleek stor veggisteam silicone vegetable steamer. Made of 650 degree Farenheit / 340 degree centigrade heat- and stain-resistant silicone, this fun little steamer has a rigid core for stability and a tripod base to raise your veggies above the waterline for optimal steaming. There is no exposed metal to scratch the sides or bottom of your pot (perfect for delicate nonstick finishes). And this steamer has no center post to work around a just pile in the veggies. When you're done cooking, use the heat-resistant handles to remove the steamer and toss it in the top rack of your dishwasher.

Of course you will have to use your own timer.


Found on Kindle Free book download: USA's Best Trips, 5 of our Favorite from Lonely Planet. OK, it was a freebie and I was expecting too much but one of the trips- Eugene OR to Vancouver BC - planned for four days was no where near the delightful trip DH and I had twenty years ago after his son's wedding. The bride and groom went back to school and we had a honeymoon of sorts. Wine tasting, B&Bs, coffee shops in Seattle and  San Juan island hopping.
These trips are for travelers who have a long weekend, are afraid to try the unknown and want to save on gas. Bummer.


My best Kindle freebie to date:  Barcode Booty: How I found and sold $2 million of junk online....
Yes, I thought I had found a winner BUT the barcode scanners that are recommended are only available on iPhone 4S and I have an iPhone4. Double Bummer.


Stay tuned, there are many more cookbooks to be found. bb

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