The Rice Cooker Value Meal

This site offers step-by-step instructions on how to make (or, more accurately, to reheat) a McDonald's Value Meal that includes French fries, Big Mac and Chicken Nuggets in a rice steamer. The biggest challenge is avoiding soggy buns on the Big Mac, which can be done by leaving them out and heating them in a fry pan a la French toast (which, of course, compromises the promise that this is a meal that can be prepared entirely in a rice cooker…). Basically, everything is placed on a bed of rice and water, starting with the fries. We love the use of Coke Zero as an additional moisture/flavor source. Very inventive. But we think we'll stick with the microwave…

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2011/12/12/we-cook-a-big-mac-value-meal-in-a-rice-cooker-triumphant-results

“Anybody who grew up with a lot of home cooking around them knows that you can have eggs for dinner or that lentils can become pancakes tomorrow. But sometimes we just don't know that we can do that because they don't do that on TV.”

— Chef/Food Writer Tamar Adler, talking about her new book, An Everlasting Meal: Cooking With Economy and Grace, which basically says that recipes are overrated (from the New York Times, January 2, 2012)