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Easy Meals To Make When You Are First Learning To Cook

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at George Mason University chapter.

Being able to cook is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve dreamt of being the person who has a few recipes in my back pocket that I can make at anytime without fail. Of course, this takes time and practice. Apparently, it can’t happen overnight. Learning to make these few simple meals has made me more comfortable with cooking. It’s becoming easier to try new recipes and I *kinda* know what I’m doing! If you’re trying to become a cooking queen and don’t know where to start, here are a few meals that anyone can make!

Fettuccine Alfredo

All this takes is pasta and alfredo sauce. Bring you water to a boil and cook your pasta for about 12 minutes or until they are done. Drain, then add you sauce! Feel free to add in chicken, shrimp or whatever you want to add protein and flavor!

Via Pixabay

Olive Oil and Veggies Pasta

This meal includes pasta, olive oil and vegetables of choice. Bring you water to a boil and cook your pasta for about 12 minutes or until they are done. While this is happening, you can boil you vegetables to cook them or buy freezer vegetables and heat them up in the microwave. Drain you pasta, then add the vegetables and drizzle olive oil on top. Again, feel free to add any protein or seasonings like garlic.

Via Pixabay

Chicken and Veggies

You will need one 4 oz chicken breast, veggies of choice, olive oil and chicken seasoning. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. First clean your chicken, then cover it in olive oil and your seasoning of choice. Bake the chicken in the oven for 15 minutes, take it out and flip it, then cook it on the other side for another 15 minutes (this varies based on you oven). After the second 15 minutes, make sure to cut into the fattiest part of the chicken to check if its cooked all of the way through! While this is happening, you can boil you veggies or microwaves just some frozen vegetables.

Via Pexels

Chicken and Vegetable Rice

If you can’t tell, I love chicken and vegetables. The ingredients include rice, butter, soy sauce, chicken and vegetables of choice. The bag of rice usually tells you the proper rice to water ratio. Bring the appropriate amount of water to a boil and add you rice and tiny scoop of butter, then cover. Make sure to stir you rice every now and then so it doesn’t burn and stick to the pot. While your rice is cooking, you can get frozen premade chicken strips and vegetables, but heat them up individually in the microwave. Once everything is done, mix it all together and add soy sauce!

Via Pexels

 

Steak and Potatoes

For this you will need a steak, 2 potatoes, olive oil, butter, steak seasoning, salt and pepper. First, cut you potatoes into little chunks and add them to boiling water for 15 minutes. Once they are done, drain the water and mash them with a fork. Add in a tablespoon of butter and sprinkle salt and pepper. Next, coat the steak in olive oil and your seasoning. Place it on the skillet and cook it to your desired level.

Via Pixabay

Have fun cooking and make sure to treat yourself during this midterm season(ing), collegiettes!

 

Mackenzie Nelson

George Mason University '21

Mackenzie Nelson is a double major in Government and International Politics with a concentration in International Relations and Russian and Eurasian Studies with a concentration in Russian Language and Culture. She is passionate about politics and loves coffee. In the future, she hopes to work in public service.
Courtney Boone

George Mason University '18

Courtney is a senior at George Mason University studying forensic psychology and criminology. She serves as Editor-in-Chief for Her Campus George Mason and is also a Her Campus National Chapter Advisor. She graduates in December of 2018 and will be starting her Master's in Criminal Justice this spring at Mason. The motto she lives by: "Put your hair up in a bun, drink some coffee and handle it."