I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say you probably own a microwave. Whether you live in a dorm or at home, that ubiquitous appliance is second only to the fridge, as far as how much you use it in a day. But only using it to warm up your leftovers or prepare a microwave dinner? That’s so five years ago. Ride the wave of the future (or, you know, hop on the bandwagon of this three-year-old trend, whatever,) and start cooking food quick and easy! It would be foolish of me to not state the obvious here: quesadillas, hot dogs, Easy Mac, oatmeal, and canned soup are god-sent staples and must be mentioned. If you’re in the mood to spruce things up, you can try a few of these recipes here:
(Photo by Ryan Riggins on Unsplash)
Steamed vegetables Not really a recipe so much as a cooking method, there’s been evidence found that this is the best way to steam vegetables because the shorter cooking time cuts down the loss of nutrients. Simply take a small dish with rounded edges and place your chopped veggies in one layer inside. Add enough water to barely cover the edges, about ⅛ of an inch, and add a pinch of salt if desired. Top with a microwave-safe cover, and nuke for two minutes. Remove the dish and stir the vegetables, checking to see if they are soft and easily able to be pierced with a fork. If this is not the case, put them back into the microwave for another two minutes and repeat the process until they reach the desired consistency, then enjoy!
For a few more detailed recipes, here’s a few I’ve found online:
Breakfast: A super easy egg breakfast, packed with protein, and vegetarian? This omelet in a mug is the perfect way to start your day, no matter where you are.
Lunch/Dinner This delicious and nutritious broccoli dish has plenty of garlic for those days when you’re sick of the bland food you might’ve been getting at the dining hall. Yummy veggies make for a great work lunch or study dinner!
Dessert Use chocolate milk instead of water in this recipe for two reasons: one, double the chocolate, and two, you won’t hate yourself for using water instead of milk (or a milk substitute) in a recipe that obviously needs milk. Seriously, it’s delicious.
Snack Why spend money on processed microwave popcorn when you can buy kernels in bulk and pop them the way nature intended? Add your own pat of butter so you know exactly where it comes from, or none at all for a true vegan super-snack.
And finally, since I know most of us (including me) hate cleaning really anything, here’s a recipe for an easy microwave self-cleaner. Have fun!
(Thumbnail by Brooke Lark on Unsplash)