The Secret Life of Household Items

It’s no secret most collegiettes™essentially worship their microwaves, but sometimes mac and cheese just won’t cut it. I’ll let you in on a little secret: some of your dorm room’s contents actually have glamorous secret uses. Use the recipes below to learn their mysterious ways! 

Move over, Ramen. Your microwave moonlights as a gourmet chef!
 
Microwave Risotto
4 servings
Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice or shortest grain rice possible
• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 4-oz can mushrooms
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Sautee mushrooms until golden and onions until caramelized.
2. Place egg in microwave-safe cup, cover with water and heat in microwave for five minutes until hard-boiled.
3. In a three-quart, microwave-safe dish, combine butter, garlic, mushrooms and onion. Place dish in microwave and cook on high for 3 minutes.
4. Pour vegetable broth into a microwave-safe dish. Heat in microwave until the broth is hot but not boiling (approximately two minutes).
5. Stir the rice and broth into the casserole dish with the onion, mushroom, butter and garlic mixture. Cover the dish tightly and cook on high for six minutes.
6. Stir apple juice into the rice. Cook on high for 10 minutes more. Most of the liquid should boil off.
7. Peel hard-boiled egg, crush and toss onto risotto. Stir the cheese into the rice and serve.

 
Adapted from “Basic Microwave Risotto” recipe on Allrecipes.com. 

Microwave Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Sauce
2 servings (let’s be honest — it’s really just one!
Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 tablespoons Nutella
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Dash cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

1. Grease a medium microwave-safe bowl with butter and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugar, egg, vanilla extract and milk; blend together. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in another bowl; blend into the mixture until smooth. Pour batter into greased bowl.
2. Cover with a plate and cook in the microwave on high for 2 to 2-1/2 minutes, or until cake springs back when touched. Adjust time based on microwave strength.
3. Remove plate and let the cake cool five minutes. Then cover the bowl with the plate again, and turn both bowl and plate upside down so the cake falls onto the plate.
4. Combine the Nutella and the remaining two tablespoons milk. Heat in microwave for 10-15 seconds, and blend together until it forms a chocolate sauce. Add a dash or two of cinnamon if desired. Pour over cake and serve.

Adapted from “Easy Microwave Chocolate Cake” recipe on Allrecipes.com.
 
Social work senior Bianetth Valdez knows how to be resourceful in unexpected ways. She’s long said buh-bye to boring PB&J and hello to fancy shmancy, because her iron doubles as a Panini press!

Turkey Swiss Melt

• 2 slices bread, any
• Basil pesto (optional)
• 2 slices low-fat Swiss cheese
• 3 slices lean turkey or chicken
• 2 slices tomato
• Aluminum foil

Directions:

1. CLEAN AND SANITIZE YOUR IRON!
2. Spread basil pesto on one slice of bread.
3. Layer meat, cheese and tomato on bread slice and cover with the other piece of bread.
4. Turn your iron on to the cotton setting, cover Panini with foil and press down on bread, applying some pressure onto the sandwich. Make sure to press around the sides, too, to meld the Panini together. When the cheese is melted, remove iron and cut Panini into triangles and serve. 

Sorry, ladies, but now you’ve got no excuse for skimping on breakfast when you’ve got time for coffee. Your coffeemaker has an alter ego: an oatmeal cooker!

Coffeemaker Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• 1 packet instant oatmeal
• 1 teabag of any desired spiced or fruity tea (optional)
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• Water

Directions:

1. Pour oatmeal, sugar and cinnamon into coffee pot and place on the heating plate.
2. Put the teabag into a coffee filter and place into the coffee grounds compartment.
3. Pour desired amount of water into the water compartment, and close the lid.
4. Turn on the coffee maker, and wait until the timer runs out or when all the water is mixed into the oatmeal. Stir the oatmeal and serve.

For more easy recipes, Allrecipes.com has some handy articles and recipes for reference:
Campus Cooking 101: a Beginner’s Guide
Campus Cooking: the Advanced Course
Campus Cooking Snacks