I use the microwave a lot - I cook for a large group, and sometimes it seems like I don't have enough space on the stove-top, so I make use of the microwave. I have large, 700 watt oven.
Cheese sauce: In a large corning measuring bowl, melt butter, wisk in flour, whisk in cold milk - don't leave lumps. Heat, covered with a paper towl, on high 2 minutes, stir, keep heating until sauce thickens. Add Cheese & season. This is good over cooked cauliflower/broccoli.
Rice: In 2 qt microwavable bowl (I use corning ware), 4 cups water, 2 cups rice (not instant! Carolina white rice works really well), salt, cook on high for 17 minutes. Rice comes out perfectly. If it looks as though water hasn't all been absorbed, just wait a bit - it will continue to cook after you take it out.
Vegetables - mainly carrots and peas - are cooked, covered, in bowls that are nice enough double as serving dishes - this saves on washing up. I use the Corning's French white, which comes with a glass lid. Peas take about 3-5 minutes on high, same with carrots.
I've done cakes (BTW previous cake recipe post looks very good, but 13 minutes seems a bit long). If you don't have anything to cook the batter in, just put it in a bowl - but before pouring the batter in, invert a tea cup in the middle of t he bowl. MIL's "Madeira" cake recipe works will in the microwave, but it literally cooks for no more than 5 minutes. I cook for 1 minute then turn the bowl, then another minute, turn the bowl...till done. I don't do this often, but in a pinch, I use this as a the cake for trifle, since it doesn't turn that golden brown colour. Or top with strawberries and whipped cream.
Fish - place two pieces (1 1/2 lbs (about)) of hake or scrod or tilapia in a shallow bowl, surrounded by a sauce, which you would make first - then cover and cook for about 8 minutes on high - what could be quicer?:
Sauce - (can also be made in micro), melt butter, add flour, 1 tblsp. Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, thyme, some Colman's powdered mustard (1 tsp.), add chopped onion, garlic, chopped tomatoes, sliced fresh mushrooms. Cook for about 3 minutes, then add fish & cook for about 8 minutes.
I needed to soak dried fruit in sherry once, but forgot - just popped the fruit into a bowl and covered with sherry and cooked four 1 minute or two - fruit became infused with sherry.
Husband pre-cooks chicken breasts in bbq sauce before grilling them.
If you want to get a lot of juice out of an orange or lemon, stick it on a plate in the microwave for 25 seconds - when you cut the fruit lots of juice will squirt out.
Sandyj