Simple Packet Cooking: 3 Easy Steps

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The steamy climate of a parchment pouch means food cooks gently but quickly, so dinner's on the table fast. Oh, and did we mention almost zero cleanup?

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3 Steps to Parchment Packets

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Step 1: Fold sheet in half to form a 15"x12" rectangle. Now think back to elementary school and cut out a heart. (This shape is much easier to seal than a rectangle or a circle.)

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Step 2: Unfold the paper and arrange your ingredients, as instructed in the recipe, on one half of the heart. Fold the other half over and line up the edges.

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Step 3: Starting at the top of the heart, fold over about 1/2 inch of the edge, pressing down to make a crease. Continue working your way around the edge of the packet, making overlapping folds (like pleats), always pressing firmly and creasing the edge so the folds hold. Twist the tip of the heart and tuck it under the packet to finish.

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Chicken "Potpie"

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Refrigerated biscuits are the tasty secret to this recipe.

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Teriyaki Salmon With Broccoli Slaw

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This versatile sauce can be easily doubled and tastes just as great on chicken or steak.

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Cuban Shrimp

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To make it more mild for the kids, cut back on the chipotle and adobo sauce.

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Individual Apple Upside-Down Cakes

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Time saver! The batter can also be made in a food processor.

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Sweet & Sour Pork

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This dish hosts a medley of flavors and textures from sweet fruit notes to crunchy cashews.

Originally published in the May 2013 issue of Parents magazine.

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Simple Packet Cooking

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3 Steps to Parchment Packets

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Chicken "Potpie"

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Teriyaki Salmon With Broccoli Slaw

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Cuban Shrimp

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Individual Apple Upside-Down Cakes

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Sweet & Sour Pork

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Simple Packet Cooking

1 of 8

3 Steps to Parchment Packets

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3 of 8

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Chicken "Potpie"

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Teriyaki Salmon With Broccoli Slaw

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Cuban Shrimp

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Individual Apple Upside-Down Cakes

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Sweet & Sour Pork

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