Made from whole wheat berries, bulgur wheat is a pre-cooked, dried wheat that cooks a lot faster than traditional wheat, making it ideal for moms looking for a nutritious whole grain to get on the dinner table fast. Similar in appearance to couscous when cooked, bulgur wheat has a distinct nutty flavor and slightly crunchy texture. You can find bulgur wheat in most grocery stores, and, while the packaging it comes in might give you stovetop cooking instructions, you can prepare it in the microwave in no-time flat.

Pour uncooked bulgur wheat and liquid into a microwave-safe glass dish. For every cup of bulgur wheat, add about 1 3/4 cup of liquid. While water is the commonly used liquid, chicken or beef broth add more flavor to the bulgur wheat.

Cover the dish with a lid or with plastic wrap; then cook in the microwave on "high" until the liquid is simmering and bubbling around the edges. For every cup of bulgur wheat, cook it about 3 to 4 minutes in an 1100- to 1300-watt microwave. Because bulgur wheat comes in fine, medium and coarse varieties, you may need to add a little more cooking time if you are working with a very coarse variety.

Open the microwave and remove the lid to stir the bulgur wheat; then replace and continue to cook until all the liquid is absorbed.

Let the cooked bulgur wheat sit in the microwave for about five minutes before fluffing with a fork and serving.