We’ve all waited in the horrendously long restaurant lines at Downing Student Union. Not only is it a waste of time, but let’s be honest, no one is actually social distancing. If you’re like me, then you’d rather cook your own food in the safety of your dorm kitchen. However, it can be difficult to find easy recipes that don’t take up too much time and don’t require going off campus to get ingredients. Here are three recipes that even a novice cook can handle, and most of the ingredients can be found on campus at P.O.D. Market or Pit Stop Convenience Store.
FRENCH TOAST
5 – 10 minutes
For a quick and delectable breakfast, this simplified French Toast recipe can’t be beat.
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup of milk
Bread
In a mixing bowl, combine the egg, vanilla, cinnamon and milk.
Using a large spoon or whisk, stir until all ingredients are combined.
Dip your bread in the batter to coat it, but be careful not to let it get too soggy.
Grease a frying pan and put it on the stove at medium-high heat. Cook time can vary, but 2-3 minutes on each side should achieve a nice golden-brown appearance. You’ll know it’s ready when the coating on both sides is no longer wet.
Top with powdered sugar or syrup to complete this quick and easy breakfast!
TURKEY SANDWICH QUESADILLA
5 – 10 minutes
This meal is by far the easiest and least involved of the three.
Tortillas
Sandwich meat of choice
Shredded cheese
Lettuce
Hot sauce
On a greased pan over medium-high heat, place a tortilla and layer some shredded cheese and the sandwich meat of your choice.
Let this cook flat and open until the cheese is melted.
Add some shredded lettuce and any fresh vegetable — I chose avocado because they taste great and are loaded with healthy fats.
Fold in half and continue cooking until golden brown on either side. Finally, add some hot sauce if you’re feeling spicy and enjoy.
AGLIO E OLIO PASTA
10 – 12 minutes
(5 minutes active cooking time)
This is a super simple and easy version of an authentic Italian dish that can be made in under 15 minutes.
Pasta
¼ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon garlic Powder
Lemon juice
First, you’ll want to cook some long form pasta of your choice, following the instructions on the box.
A few minutes before it’s done, get a frying pan and combine about the olive oil with garlic powder, cayenne pepper flakes and oregano.
On the stove, keep the pan on a low heat because you’re just trying to aromatize these ingredients, not cook them.
About a minute before the pasta is supposed to be done cooking, take it off the heat and transfer the noodles into the pan with tongs. Drain remaining water after.
Raise the heat to medium and stir until the noodles are well combined with the rest of the ingredients.
Add a firm squeeze or two of lemon juice and finish with a very generous amount of black pepper, roughly 5-6 cracks.