More and more people are dining out less because it is a healthier option and allows you to stretch your food dollars. If you are spending more time in the kitchen and are looking for quick and easy ways to prepare meals but do not have much time to cook, consider microwave cooking. Microwave cooking is an excellent option because you can enjoy delicious homemade meals in minutes.

As part of our Healthy Cooking at Home series, we will explore cooking using a microwave this month with our Homestyle Microwave Cooking program. Microwaves are convenient, efficient, and a great alternative when cooking for one or two because you can cook almost anything using the microwave.

During the program, we will explore the health benefits of microwave cooking and discuss what foods cook well in the microwave and those that do not. We will also discuss important safety factors when cooking with a microwave, offer food safety tips, and have recipes to share.

Homestyle Microwave Cooking will be held Wednesday, May 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E Douglas St, Freeport, IL. You can register for this program by calling the Extension office at (815) 235-4125 or visit us online at https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/homestyle-microwave-cooking-stephenson. There is a $5.00 fee, which will cover the educational session.