  For a simple but delicious dessert, toast slices of pound cake. Preheat griddle on the thermostatic top burner at 300 degrees. Cut slices of pound cake one inch thick; butter both sides or leave plain, depending on your flavor preference. When flame lowers, grill on hot griddle for about 3 minutes per side or until nicely browned. Serve plain or topped with ice cream and/or sauce. WARMING ROLLSuncaptioned Wrap rolls or muffins in double thickness of aluminum foil, folding edges under tightly. Place foil wrapped package on rack or crumpled aluminum foil in aluminum skillet or saucepan on thermostatic top burner at 250 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through. HARD COOKED EGGS
Place eggs and water in pan. Cover with tight fitting lid. Cook on thermostatic top burner at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from flame, pour off hot water and immediately cool with cold water. Peel immediately or refrigerate, peeling later. This method of preparation eliminates pot watching, cracked eggs and dark ring around yolks. “PAN BAKED” APPLESWash and core 6 baking apples. Add a dash of cinnamon, one Tbsp. sugar and a dot of butter to each apple. Place apples in skillet or saucepan. Add one Tbsp. water for each apple to be cooked. Cover and cook on thermostatic top burner at 212 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Spoon sauce in bottom of skillet over each apple before serving. “PAN BAKED” POTATOESuncaptioned Place scrubbed potatoes on a rack or on crumpled aluminum foil in aluminum skillet or saucepan. Do not add water or wrap potatoes in foil. Cover skillet or saucepan and bake on thermostatic top burner at 375 degrees until done, about 1 to 1½ hours. “BUTTER BOIL” FROZEN VEGETABLEuncaptioned Break up frozen vegetable by pounding package against edge of counter. Place vegetable in saucepan with 2 to 3 tablespoons butter and ½ teaspoon salt. For starchy vegetables like lima beans and corn, 1 or 2 tablespoons of water may be needed. Cook on thermostatic top burner at 210 degrees. Cook time indicated on package plus 5 minutes. NOTE: To prevent breaking spears of asparagus and broccoli, thaw just enough to break apart. FLUFFY RICEFor 3 cups of cooked white rice, place 1 cup uncooked rice, 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt in 2-qt. saucepan. Place on thermostatic top burner at 225 degrees. Bring to a boil, then cover pan, lower temperature setting to 190 degrees, and simmer about 15 minutes or until water is absorbed and rice is tender. For extra fluffy rice, turn burner off and let rice stand, covered for 10 minutes more. Brown and wild rice are best cooked this way also, but cooking time will be much longer—about 35 to 45 minutes total cooking time. Also, add about ½ cup more water. POPCORNPlace 2 tablespoons of oil and ½ cup popcorn in 10-inch aluminum skillet or saucepan. Cover tightly and place on thermostatic top burner at 375 degrees. Heat until popping stops, about 3 minutes. No need to shake the pan. Pour into serving bowl and toss with melted butter and salt. TO USE PRESSURE SAUCEPANSPressure cooking is extremely easy with a thermostatic top burner. The following temperatures may be used as a guide: 240° to 250° for 15 pounds pressure, 235° to 240° for 10 pounds, and 225° to 235° for 5 pounds. Use medium flame if the pressure saucepan is of non-aluminum material. Raise or lower the temperature if needed to maintain the correct pressure; once it is determined, record it for future use. Time pressure cooking from the time the desired pressure is reached. DEEP FAT FRYINGuncaptioned Accurate top burner temperature control makes deep fat frying just as easy as boiling water. Use a deep aluminum skillet or French fryer so oil will only half fill it and completely cover food. Preheat oil at recommended temperature (usually 375 to 400 degrees) until flame lowers, about 10 minutes. Add food in small amounts, cook until brown, turning once. Remove and drain on absorbent paper. PAN BROILINGSet thermostatic top burner at 275 to 350 degrees depending on kind of meat and thickness. Preheat the griddle or skillet until the flame reduces. Rub pan lightly with a bit of meat fat. Brown meat on both sides. Do not cover. Do not add water. Pour off fat as it accumulates in pan. Turn meat occasionally so that it cooks evenly. Season and serve. HAM SKILLET DINNER
Brown ham slice on both sides in butter in large skillet. Add potatoes, green beans, onion, salt, pepper and water. Cover and place on thermostatic top burner at 215 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 4 servings. APPLESAUCE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
Prepare cake mix according to directions on package. Combine butter and brown sugar in 10-inch skillet; heat enough to melt and blend together. Arrange apple slices and maraschino cherries on sugar mixture. Spread cake batter over fruit. Cover skillet. Cook on thermostatic top burner at 250 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover; allow to cook 5 minutes longer. Cool 2 to 3 minutes. Loosen sides and invert on platter, allowing pan to remain in position for 1 minute. Remove pan and serve. Makes 6 to 8 servings. TOP BURNER CHEESE CAKEuncaptioned
Cut two double thickness strips of aluminum foil 18 × 3 inches. Place crosswise over bottom and up side of 10-inch skillet, extending about an inch above rim of skillet. Cut a circle of foil to fit bottom of skillet and lay over foil strips. Grease foil and sides of skillet. Mix graham cracker crumbs and cinnamon. Cut in butter. Press mixture on bottom and about 2 inches up sides of skillet. Soften cream cheese, add cream and beat until smooth. Add combined sugar, flour and salt; blend. Add unbeaten egg yolks, vanilla extract and lemon peel; mix well. Beat egg whites to soft peak stage and fold into cheese mixture. Pour into crumb-lined pan and place on thermostatic top burner at medium flame and 235 degrees. Cover tightly and bake for one hour. Turn burner off and let cake stand one hour. Refrigerate covered, for 3 to 4 hours. Carefully lift cake from pan, using foil strips and transfer to serving plate. Trim off excess foil or pull strips carefully from underneath the cake. Spoon Festive Raspberry Sauce over individual servings if desired. Makes 10 to 12 servings. NOTE: At the end of the cooking time this cheese cake will be very soft in the center. After 3 to 4 hours refrigeration, the cake will be firm enough to cut. FESTIVE RASPBERRY SAUCE:uncaptioned
Drain raspberries; reserve sirup. Combine sugar and cornstarch; add to reserved sirup in saucepan. Cook and stir on thermostatic top burner at medium flame and 212 degrees until mixture comes to a boil and thickens; cool. Add raspberries; refrigerate. When chilled, spoon raspberry sauce over cheese cake. QUICK FUDGE
Mix sugar, butter, salt and milk in a 10-inch skillet. Place over thermostatic top burner at 300 degrees. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Continue stirring and allow to boil 4 to 5 minutes. Turn burner off. Add marshmallows, chocolate, nuts and vanilla; stir until marshmallows and chocolate are completely melted and smoothly blended. Place in a buttered 8-inch square pan, spreading evenly. Cool before cutting into squares. Makes approximately 2 pounds. |
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