5 Microwave Miracles

The delicious, tangy, cheesy melted goodness of baked Brie cheese makes for a perfect snack or appetizer. If that by itself doesn't make your mouth water, this recipe calls for a mouth-watering glaze featuring a kick from ginger preserves, honey, a citrusy touch from orange zest, and a little depth and flavor from fresh rosemary - all microwaved in mere minutes!

Forget the double boiler for this recipe and turn to your microwave instead. Melt chocolate morsels in a bowl and then stir in the rest of the ingredients: peanut butter, crispy rice cereal, peanuts, and marshmallows. Add to a pan and let stand. Simple as can be, and you'll have a sweet, crispy, crunchy, chocolate-y treat without even turning on the oven.

Let's face it -- there are days that simply call for prepared mashed potatoes, right? In this dish, ordinary mashed potatoes get a facelift from butter, a little texture from canned black beans, and a fresh zing from cilantro. Mashed potatoes instantly go from tired to tasty with a little help from the microwave oven.

Quesadillas are a great go-to recipe when you need a superfast dinner solution. The process is simple: Spread flour tortillas with sausage and refried beans (or any kind of beans you have on hand). Add cheese. Top with another flour tortilla and pop in the microwave. The tortillas soften, and the beans and cheese melt to become a piping hot, flavorful filling, just waiting for a cold dollop of sour cream!

This recipe calls for plenty of squash and very little time on your part. The squash is infused with the mild, fresh flavor of green onions. When combined with the tangy creaminess of mayonnaise, and flavorful sharp Cheddar cheese, a zap in the microwave is all you need for a delicious vegetable casserole in a flash.