Quick Fix Berries

Dear Mouse,

So, I don't have a microwave. Call me old fashioned. I've lived with them in the short term but remain unconvinced that they are necessary. However, I've come to see that they're good for a few nifty tricks.

While I was in Louisville I often made this quick, sloppy, fake-pie dessert that involved putting a bunch of fruit in a bowl with a pat of butter, some sugar and maybe a sprinkle of oatmeal and then microwaving it til it went a bit soft and warm. Some vanilla ice cream and there you have it, hold the crust.

A few days ago I went a little crazy at Trader Joe's and bought 4 POUNDS of berries because they were on sale. 2 lbs straw, 2lbs blues. I've been eating them diligently but by this morning the berries in my fridge were kind of dry and withery looking. I didn't want to eat them, but I didn't want to just throw them away and admit defeated bargain shopping.

This morning at work I noticed the office microwave. I dumped the leftover berries in a bowl and stuck them in the MW - no sugar, no nothing - on high for one minute. I was curious and didn't have much to lose.

When they came out they were plumped up, warm, and juicy, bursting on the tongue. As if they had gone to Berry Spa to be rejuvenated.


I highly recommend this technique. I also think itd be lovely over oatmeal.

Love,
The Boo

Poll Results: Viva Las Microwaves!

Microwaves are:
Good Only For Popcorn and Day-Old Takeout: 3 votes
Turning us Into Mutants, one Frozen Burrito at a Time: 5 votes
As Deserving of Love as Ovens. Smaller, Faster, Sexier Ovens: 6 votes

I've lived sans microwave for the past six years because, okay, I'm cheap and lack counter space. Every so often when I pull a container of chicken soup out of the freezer I have a pang when I think about how many hours it'll be before I can have my first hot spoonful. Mostly, though, our mother's paranoia about not standing in front of the microwave lest your ovaries shrivel has made me think the next generation who grew up eating nuked babyfood will have ten-headed children. But you, gentle readers, sweet micro-lovers, are making me give this another thought. After all, what is mutation if not evolution? And I do love me some popcorn.