Shout out to all those living in hostels, as paying guests or in an independent house, all by themselves, away from their families for the sake of studies or work. You humans are doing a good job on trying to be independent. Isn’t that the first step towards success? But, living alone has got its own disadvantages, specifically when it comes to food and eating, (aren’t we all tired of eating out every single day, for every meal?).
Now, food is something we tend to ignore by making excuses like, “oh, who has got time for that?” whereas in reality, we would do anything for a plate of good, home-cooked meal, while some of us hope there are recipes easy enough to be prepared in our hectic schedule. Well, here are a few recipes that would definitely help us keep up with our daily nutritional requirements, our food – fetish of the day and keep away the starvation. Besides, these recipes can be made in your mug, with the help of a microwave, all you have to do is set the time and carry on with your work right before you get a chance to defuse the bomb. ;)(Don’t we all enjoy stopping the microwave at 1 second?).
Proceed and read these mug meals that would change your life:
1) Mac & Cheese:
This is the ultimate comfort food for any teen or grownup. You don’t need to stress out about the recipe, you can now make it easily in your mug and here is how:
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup pasta
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (mozzarella works too)
Instructions
- Combine the pasta and water in a large mug (probably your hot chocolate mug) and microwave for two minutes, then remove and stir. If you fear that the water may overflow, then just make this in a microwaveable bowl. Repeat this for minimum of two to four minutes, stirring every two minutes. The end result will be that the pasta has absorbed all the water and is completely cooked.
- Take it out of the microwave and stir in the milk and cheese (and a pinch of salt and pepper, for taste). Microwave for another minute and a half, take it out, and stir the cheese thoroughly into the pasta.
- Eat up!
2) Nutella Muffin:
Alright, I doubt there is anyone who does not like Nutella. This recipe is super easy and eliminates all the difficulties of baking in the oven. Besides, it is a solution to your midnight cravings, too! Just follow the recipe and impress yourself (and your friends):
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons self-rising flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons Nutella
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Whipped Cream Topping (just to make everything taste more heavenly)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a large coffee mug (preferably, dry ingredients first, then wet). Whisk well with a fork or a knife until it’s all smooth.
- Microwave for 1½ – 3 minutes.
- Keep a check on it after every one minute interval (if it’s fluffy any not liquidy). To be sure that it’s fully cooked, take it out of the microwave and stick a skewer/toothpick through it. If it comes out clean, then it’s cooked, if it’s sticky, then microwave it for another 30 seconds.
- Eat up!
3) Cookie in a cup? :
Who doesn’t desire eating those Subway cookies on a daily basis? Cookies bring out the inner monster in us. But, sometimes, (well, actually always), no one wants to do the hard work of baking and ruining their kitchen tables with cookie dough and would prefer the easy way out. Well, here’s your easy way out, which happens to be a lot cheaper than Subway!
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 Tablespoon Granulated White Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon of Dark Brown Sugar
- 3 Drops of Vanilla Extract
- Small Pinch of Salt
- 1 Egg Yolk
- Slightly less than ¼ cup All Purpose Flour
- 2 heaping tablespoons of Chocolate Chips
Instructions:
- Melt your butter in the microwave. Butter should just be melted, not boiling.
- Add sugars, vanilla and salt and stir.
- Separate your egg and add only the yolk to your cup. Stir again.
- Measure a little less than ¼ cup of all-purpose flour, then add it and stir… again.
- Add the chocolate chips, and give a final stir.
- Your mixture will now resemble the traditional cookie dough.
- Microwave for 40-60 seconds.
- Start checking at 40 seconds. (Usually takes about 50 seconds). Do not cook past one minute.
- Just like a regular cookie, it will continue cooking as it cools. If the cookie is dry or cake like, try less time next time (but it’ll still taste yum).
- Serve warm. (With whipped cream toppings and your choice of fruits?)
4) Lasagna
Oh, this Italian goodness can give food-gasms to anyone.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon Pizza Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons mozzarella cheese
- 1 Chicken/Beef Sausage/hotdog, precooked, chopped / 2 small eggplants
Instructions
- Butter a soup mug or small bowl.
- Add 1 tablespoonp pizza sauce and spread on the bottom of your mug.
- In small bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and salt. Mix together well. Pour into soup mug on top of pizza sauce.
- Add 2 tablespoonp mozzarella cheese on top.
- In another bowl, mix the sausage / diced or sliced (and grilled) eggplants with 2 tablespoonp pizza sauce and spread on top of cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoonp mozzarella on top.
- Microwave 2 to 2 1/2 minutes on high.
- Let cool for a couple minutes before you dig in.
5) Fried rice:
Because, who doesn’t crave Chinese?
Ingredients
- 1 cup (125 g) instant microwave rice (easily available in local stores/online grocery stores)
- 2 tablespoon frozen peas
- 2 tablespoon chopped red pepper
- ½ green onion, chopped
- Little of bean sprouts
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon five-spice powder
Instructions
- Place the rice into a large mug and cover with plastic wrap. Using a knife, poke one or two small holes through it. (This step is important!) Microwave the rice for a minute.
- Mix in the vegetables (peas, red pepper, green onion, bean sprouts) in the same mug. You can add as many vegetables as you want, (make sure it all stays in the mug and doesn’t spill out). Cover the mug with the plastic wrap, and microwave for another minute.
- Beat the egg and mix in the seasonings (soy sauce, olive oil, onion powder, and five-spice powder) in a bowl, then pour the egg mixture into the main mug and mix well.
- Cover the mug with plastic wrap and microwave for 35 to 40 seconds. Take the mug out and stir. The egg should look fully cooked.
- Enjoy!
