Easy food and drink recipes for the microwave dorm life


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Sari Castro | Daily Trojan

Sari Castro | Daily Trojan

Hey there, Trojans! As the semester begins settling in, hopefully you’re all feeling a little less homesick and eating a bit healthier than last semester. For those of you who don’t have a kitchen but do have a microwave and don’t want to eat at the dining hall everyday, here are seven recipe ideas for entrees and desserts that you could make, and four beverages to wash it all down.

ENTREES:

DESSERTS:

BEVERAGES:

ENTREES

  1. Honey Cinnamon Quinoa

Ingredients

  • ½ cup quinoa
  • 1 cup cold water
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ tablespoon salted butter
  • 1 banana
  • milk to taste
  • honey to taste

Process

  1.     Rinse quinoa in water.
  2.     Drain quinoa and stir in one cup of cold water, add half of the butter and cinnamon.
  3.     Place on microwave and heat in high for four minutes.
  4.     Stir well and microwave for three more minutes.
  5.     Remove from microwave and cover with foil to sit for two minutes.
  6.     Fluff quinoa and add the remaining butter.
  7.     Add the remaining ingredients, and enjoy!

This recipe makes enough for 2 servings.

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  1. Microwave Steamed Vegetables

Ingredients

  • Carrots
  • Squa
  • Zucchini (or any vegetable you like)
  • Water
  • Plastic wrap (or microwave safe cover)

Process

  1. Cut the vegetable in equal size pieces.
  2. Place them in one layer in a microwave safe bowl or dish with sides.
  3. Add water make sure that it covers just up to 1/8” above the vegetables.
  4. Cover with plastic wrap or microwave safe cover, and microwave for two minutes.
  5. Test their softness and, if necessary, flip vegetables and cook for another four minutes.
  6. Continue rotating and heating for one minute at a time until the vegetables are soft, easily pierced with a fork.

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  1. Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients

  • ¼ red bell pepper (cut in long stripes)
  • ¼ green bell pepper (cut in long stripes)
  • ¼ onion (cut in long stripes)
  • chicken tenders
  • seasonings (I use sea salt, cayenne pepper, cumin, 21 Seasoning Salute)

Process

  1. Add the chicken to the seasoned vegetables and stir well.
  2. Place them in a large microwave safe dish, cover with a microwave safe cover.
  3. Place them in the microwave for 10 minutes in high.
  4. Make sure they’re well cooked, if necessary heat them up a little more.

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  1. Microwave Quiche

Ingredients

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ½ tablespoon heavy cream (or whole milk/ half and half)
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted melted butter
  • pinch of salt
  • seasonings (cayenne pepper, sea salt, black pepper, thyme)
  • 2 small grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1/8 cup of torn fresh hard bread
  • 1 tablespoon grated cheese mix (cheddar and mozzarella)
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh herbs like chives

Process

  1. In a microwavable mug, add first five ingredients and whisk well until combined.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients to the mug without whisking.
  3. Microwave at high for one minute, just until egg is completely cooked and quiche lightly puffed.

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DESSERTS

  1.  Birthday Cake in a Mug

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoon of yellow cake mix
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tablespoon quick whites (egg substitute)
  • 1 teaspoon sprinkles
  • 3 tablespoons of frosting of your choice

Process

  1. Butter microwavable mug
  2. In mug mix all ingredients (except the frosting)
  3. Microwave uncovered on high for one minute.
  4. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let it stand for one minute.
  5. Top with frosting and sprinkles.

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  1.  Microwave Cheesecake

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened (just leave it out for a few minutes)
  • 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-4 tablespoons granulated white sugar

Process

  1. Add all ingredients to a microwavable mug and stir well until combined.
  2. Microwave on high for 30 seconds.
  3. Stir well and put it back on the microwave to repeat this process two more times.
  4. Total cooking time is 90 seconds.
  5. Let it cool completely and place on fridge for at least one hour to sit.

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  1. Cinnamon Roll Cake

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons applesauce (butter should work as well)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon buttermilk
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • vanilla icing

Process

  1. Add all ingredients (except the icing) on a mug, stir well with a fork until almost smooth.
  2. Microwave on high for 1 minute.
  3. Insert a toothpick in the center, if it comes out clean it’s done! If not, microwave a little longer (about 15 seconds).
  4. Add vanilla icing on top, and enjoy!

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  1. Red Velvet Cookie in a Mug

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoons of flour
  • 2 tablespoons of Red velvet cake mix

Process

  1. Melt the butter in the microwave.
  2. Add sugars, vanilla and salt, and stir until well combined.
  3. Add the yolk to the mixture (discard the egg white).
  4. Add flour and cake mix and stir to combine.
  5. Microwave for one minute.
  6. Let it cool for one to two minutes.
  7. Cookie will be soft at first and get chewier as it cools.
  8. Add powder sugar, and enjoy!

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BEVERAGES

  1. Cucumber and Lemon

Ingredients

  • Cucumber slices
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 cup of lemon juice
  • 5 cups of water
  • 2 cups of ice

Simply add all ingredients to a pitcher and stir until all the sugar has been dissolved.

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  1. Pineapple Banana Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of cut pineapple (frozen or fresh)
  • 1 cup of pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup of vanilla yogurt (if plain yogurt, just add sugar and a bit of vanilla extract)
  • ½ banana

Place all ingredients in a blender, blend well and enjoy!

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  1. Berries Bananas Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh strawberries (or other type of berry)
  • 1 banana, peeled and cut
  • ½ cup of orange juice
  • ¼ cup of Strawberry and Banana flavored yogurt
  • ice

Add all ingredients to a blender blend, and enjoy!

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  1. Ruby Red

Ingredients

  • 1 grapefruit
  • 1 orange
  • 1 lemon or 2 limes
  • 2 carrots
  • Ice

Add all ingredients to the blender, blend and enjoy!

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