Safe Luxury

What are some good foods to cook in a steamer?

I just ordered this steamer here: http://www.amazon.com/Oster-5712-Electronic-6-1-Quart-Steamer/dp/B00019G8IS/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-9771316-6611027?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1193270660&sr=8-2 I got it mostly for vegetables, like broccoli, carrots, lima beans, green beans...but what else can I use it to cook? Looking at the reviews, some people use it for meat? Is it safe to cook chicken in these things, and if so, how does it come out? I also eat a lot of brown rice...can I cook this rice directly in the steamer? That would be great, because I hate taking out a pan and boiling rice on a burner all the time...if I could just steam it, that would be so much better. Any tips or suggestions would be great as to what else comes out well in a food steamer. Umm, I'm actually looking more for specific foods I can cook in a steamer, not a recipe for something that has little to do with a food steamer.

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1. TAMALES 3/4 c. boiling water 1/2 tbsp. shortening 1/8 tsp. salt 2 tbsp. ground chili 1 tsp. flour Add shortening and salt to boiling water. Mix chili powder and flour together with enough water to make a runny paste. Stir paste into boiling water, stirring constantly. Continue to boil and stir until sauce thickens to gravy-like consistency. MEAT: 1/2 lb. meat, no bones 1/2 red sauce 1/2 c. water Put oil in baking pan. Put meat in pan, turning once to coat with oil. Spread red sauce over meat. Cook uncovered at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Turn meat over. Cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours more. Shred meat using 2 forks. Keep meat and pan drippings. HUSKS: 10-15 wide corn husks Clean husks and soak in hot water until pliable. Rinse and place in a plastic bag. Store in the refrigerator. MASA: 1/3 lb. masa harina 2 tbsp. shortening 1/2 tsp. baking soda Meat stock Whip shortening until light and fluffy. Cut in masa harina and baking soda. Add enough meat stock to make a pliable dough. Dough can be refrigerated overnight. FILLING: Shredded meat 1/2 of red sauce recipe Flour Meat stock Seasoning to taste Mix meat, sauce and flour. Heat over low heat. Add flour or meat stock to achieve desired consistency. Adjust seasonings to taste. ASSEMBLE: Tamale Red Sauce Tamale Masa Tamale Filling Tamale Corn Husks Spread 2 tablespoons of masa mix in center of corn husks. Spread masa in rectangle in center of husk and all the way to edge. Place 2 tablespoons filling in center of masa. Fold right side of husk, half over filling. Fold left side over center so masa edges meet. Fold bottom of husk over center and then tip of husk. Stack tamales on a rack in a deep pot above boiling water. Arrange tamales so steam will circulate. Cover and steam for 45 minutes. Remove corn husks before eating.
2. It will depend on the steamer - I know mine I can do rice in...it should say somewhere in the instructions if you can do it. Mine came with a dish that the rice goes in - it cooks it beautifully! Otherwise, I mostly use mine for veggies (if my stovetop is full) and I have steamed fish in it, with herbs, which was quite nice!
3. fish would be great. Maybe chicken though you would need to add herbs or something pretty much all veggies can be steamed. I doubt rice could be steamed ad it needs to absorb the moisture. Why not look into a rice cooker for your rice. People swear by them. I personally use the stove top but brown rice takes so long a rice cooker would be perfect. With your steamer though will be a book that will have lot's of idea's in it
4. Rice, vegetables & fish!