Microwave Meals

story by Gabby

Kutch photos by Charis Jones design by Makayla Zayic

Mug Omelet

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs (egg substitutes or egg whites can also be used)

• 2-3 tbsp of milk

• Salt and pepper

• 1-2 tbsps of each and any cheese, vegetable, and/or pre-cooked meat you wish to incorporate

1. Mix the eggs and milk inside the mug, making sure it’s fully whisked before adding all of the mix-in ingredients

2. Cover the mug with a napkin or paper towel and microwave for 1 minute

3. Remove the mug from the microwave and check on the omelet’s cooking process

4. Microwave the omelet for an additional minute, dividing the cooking time into two 30-second intervals to ensure the eggs don’t overheat

5. Add in any extra mix-in ingredients you may have on top of the omelet while you wait for it to cool before eating

Are you in the mood for food but don’t want to get your pots and pans dirty? Tired of eating the same things over and over again but don’t have the skills, cookware or space to make something? Instead of spending a lot of money going out or using a food delivery app, try out these recipes for easy, quick and tasty meals you can make in a microwave. Whether you live on or off campus, you can enjoy these four simple and convenient dishes with just a little preparation and a push of a button.

Nuked Nachos

Ingredients:

• ⅓ - ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese

• ⅓ - ½ cup of shredded Monterey jack cheese

• ½ avocado chopped (optional)

• Pickled Jalapeno (optional)

• Salsa (optional)

• Sour Cream (optional)

1. Take the tortilla chips and spread them out on a microwave-safe plate. Heat them up for 30 seconds, or long enough to warm/ toast them

2. Remove the chips from the microwave and add the two kinds of cheese, making sure to spread them evenly

3. Microwave the dish in 20-second intervals until the cheese is melted but not burned

4. Remove from the microwave and add toppings, we chose salsa, avocado and jalapenos, but feel free to customize your nachos the way you want

5. Microwave for another 15 seconds

6. Remove from the microwave, add the sour cream and eat immediately

Microwave Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• Large mug (recommended to hold at least 20 oz or 2.5 cups)

• ½ cup of small elbow macaroni

• ½ cup of water

• ½ cup of finely shredded cheddar cheese

• Salt and pepper

• Hot Sauce (optional)

1. Add water and macaroni to the mug. The macaroni should only fill up a third or at the most half of the mug

2. Microwave at full power for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and stir, loosening any macaroni that may be stuck to the bottom

3. Microwave for an additional minute before removing and stirring again. Some water may overflow and spill out of the mug at this stage, so add a paper towel under the mug to catch any spillage.

4. A little spill is fine, but you may need to add water if the amount spilled is significant. The macaroni should be moist with almost all of the water gone.

5. Continue microwaving the macaroni for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between every interval. Repeat until there is no water left and the noodles are soft and moist. If the macaroni gets dry during the cooking process, add a tablespoon of water and continue microwaving in 30-second intervals.

6. Once the noodles are fully cooked, quickly add in the cheese and stir until it is completely melted and coats the macaroni

7. Add in extra cheese, salt, pepper or hot sauce if desired before eating immediately

Oreo Cake in a Cup

Ingredients:

• 4 Oreos

• ¼ tsp of baking powder

• 3 tbsp of milk

1. Use cooking spray on the inside of the mug to prevent the cake from sticking to the sides

2. Crush the four Oreos into fine crumbs, this can be done using a food processor/blender or by crushing them in a zip-loc bag

3. Add the crumbs, baking powder and milk into the mug and stir until the mixture is fully combined. Feel free to mix in broken Oreos, separate from the original four, into the batter for some texture

4. Cook in 30-second intervals, checking if the cake is fully baked or burning. Total cooking time should be around 1 minute 30 seconds but may vary depending on microwave wattage

5. Remove the mug from the microwave and let it cool for 1 minute. For even more Oreo flavor and texture, you can can add any extra crushed up cookies on top of the cake before enjoying

6. Remove from microwave and let it cool for 1 minute before enjoying

Sources: https://www.macheesmo.com/how-to-make-microwave-nachos/ https://kirbiecravings.com/omelet-in-a-mug/ https://kirbiecravings.com/macaroni-and-cheese-in-a-mug/ https://onesweetappetite.com/oreo-mug-cake-recipe/