These hearty meals will leave you wanting more.
As the weather gets colder in Binghamton and the semester’s homework begins to pile up, it can be difficult to find the courage to take on the outdoors every time you get a little peckish. To keep that studying streak alive and keep those poorly insulated hands warm, here are some simple recipes you can make in your dorm room with just a microwave and a few simple kitchen utensils.
Breakfast
The first breakfast option is perfect for fall: 10-minute pumpkin cream of wheat. This Taste of Home Oatmeal Meal calls for ½ cup milk, ¼ cup half and half, ¼ cup canned pumpkin, 3 tablespoons cream of wheat, 2 teaspoons sugar, and 1/ 4 of cinnamon. All you have to do is throw the half-and-half milk and cream of wheat into a microwave-safe bowl for a minute and stir until well combined. Cook in the microwave for another minute, covered, so that the mixture thickens. Stir every 30 seconds to achieve the perfect consistency. Add the rest of the ingredients and serve.
Another microwaveable breakfast is the egg sandwich from Taste of Home. All you will need is your favorite type of bacon, ¼ cup egg replacer, 1 tablespoon salsa, 1 tablespoon shredded cheese, an English muffin or other type of bread, and some leaves. spinach. Put the bacon in the bottom of a small oiled microwave safe dish, then place the egg replacer on top and microwave uncovered for 30 seconds, stirring afterwards. Microwave for another 15-30 seconds or until egg replacer is almost cooked to desired consistency, then top with cheese and salsa. Cook for another 10 seconds or until the cheese is slightly melted. Arrange the spinach on the bottom piece of bread then place your egg, your bacon and your second piece of bread on top and enjoy.
Lunch
Now that it’s lunch time, you might be craving something heartier, like Taste of Home’s Greek Brown and Wild Rice Bowl. This recipe uses a package of ready-to-serve whole grain brown and wild rice, but this can be substituted with any package of ready-to-serve rice. You will also need ¼ cup Greek dressing, ½ ripe avocado, ¾ cup halved cherry tomatoes, ¼ crumbled feta cheese and ¼ cup pitted olives. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the rice and dressing. Cover and microwave for about two minutes or until the rice is heated through. Mix the rest of the ingredients and enjoy.
As another option, Taste of Home’s Bacon Turkey Sub is a great source of protein. Take ¼ cup of mayonnaise, a few slices of deli turkey, your favorite cheese, two or three slices of bacon, 2 teaspoons of dried basil, an apple and the bread of your choice. Cook the bacon in the microwave according to package directions. Mix the mayonnaise and basil and spread them over the halved bread slices. Layer the bottom slice with the turkey, cheese, bacon and apple slices. Serve with fries and enjoy.
Dinner
After a long day of productivity, it’s time for dinner. Sometimes if you want macaroni and cheese, the boxed variety tastes too processed and you need a similar but fresher alternative. Look no further than The Better Martha’s “Better Than Instant” Mac and Cheese in a Cup. Take ½ cup of elbow pasta, ½ cup of your favorite cheese, a cup of water and a cup to start. Pour the plain pasta into the microwave-safe mug and add the cup of water. The water should completely cover the pasta but be at least ¼ inch from the top of the cup. Microwave uncovered for eight minutes, pausing to stir the pasta and add more water if necessary. After cooking, immediately add the cheese and mix until a gooey consistency. If the cheese does not melt, microwave for another 30 to 60 seconds. Let cool for a minute and serve.
Dessert
Finally, to reward all your hard work, reward yourself with this delicious apple crisp recipe. You will need a peeled and thinly sliced apple, ½ tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon flour, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon for topping. For the crunchy top, you will need 2 tablespoons softened butter, 1 tablespoon flour, 3 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Mix the apple filling ingredients in a bowl. Mix the main ingredients in a separate bowl, working in the butter with a fork. Place half of the topping in the bottom of a microwave-safe container, place half of the crispy topping, then the rest of the topping, then the rest of the topping. Cook for three minutes in the microwave. Serve with vanilla ice cream if desired.
