Warm Delights Minis

You've probably seen the commercials for these seemingly delicious microwaveable cakes that have the women savoring them in their dark living rooms. The ads are a bit silly, but they do make these cakes look delicious. So of course I tried it (you don't have to ask me twice to try chocolate)!

Unfortunately, I was not very impressed. First of all, the directions to make these "easy" cake were not as advertised. You have to add 1 Tbsp and 1 tsp of water to the mix and stir. Then, squeeze the fudge 10 times before adding to the cake batter. Really? It all just seems unnecessary. The cake did work, and it wasn't awful. But it wasn't tantalizing my taste buds either. It was too complicated and messy for something that was supposed to be fast and easy. However, it is only 150 Calories per serving, so there's a good bonus.

Cheese Dip

If you're sitting in a dorm room and want a party snack, here's an easy one! Take one block of Velveeta cheese and cut into cubes (this will make it microwave faster). Melt in the microwave for about five minutes, stirring at least once in the middle. Then, add one can of Rotel mix (tomatoes and peppers) and mix together. Enjoy with chips and a few friends!

The Incredible Edible Egg...in the Microwave!

Protein in the morning is essential for a great start to the day, at least from my experience. But it is hard to get a quick fix breakfast besides a donut or cereal and peanut butter, especially if you hit the snooze button to many times before class or work. But did you know that you can have a scrambled egg in about three minutes?

Melt butter for 10-15 seconds in a bowl, or just spray with Pam. Then, crack one egg in the bowl and scramble. Add two Tablespoons of water or milk or a combination, and salt and/or pepper to taste. Mix together. Then, microwave for 45-60 seconds. If the egg starts to float to the top of the bowl, it is done. It will be very hot, so I would suggest waited a minute to cool down. And now you have a delicious scrambled egg!

Now, I'm guessing not everyone likes a scrambled egg, so I tried to make an egg overeasy. Not quite the same success. I used the same technique, but I didn't add anything past the egg and I didn't scramble it (because that would ruin the whole point). I microwaved the egg for 30 seconds and then flipped it over to continue. However, it almost exploded in my microwave and ended up being a super rubbery, flat hard boiled egg. Not so appetizing. I wouldn't suggest it.

Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers

Frozen meals. Not that good...usually. Sometimes, however, there's a glimmer of hope. Exhibit A: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers.

Healthy Choice, well a bit more costly than other brands, does a much better job of providing a meal that actually tastes like its ingredients. There is also meat present in these meals. Real pieces of meat, not just bits of unidentifiable meat look-alike pieces. Also, the two bowl steaming technology works really well.

Word of Warning: Because college microwaves typically have lower wattages than what frozen meals are allotted for, add some time to the time on the box.

Chocolate Ganache: Microwave Version

I made chocolate ganache the traditional way with a friend last week, and it seemed simple enough to try in the microwave. With only two ingredients, this is a treat that's sure to tickle your sweet tooth!
Coat the bottom of the bowl (not a metal or plastic one) plus some with heavy cream or milk. Heavy cream will give the ganache more flavor, but milk is definitely a cheaper option. Microwave on HIGH for approximately 45 seconds. If it bubbles into a boil, take it out. Then, add a few handfuls of chocolate chips, or break up a chocolate bar, whichever you have around your room. Stir together until smooth.
As this point, the ganache is more like a warm chocolate syrup. If you stick the bowl in the fridge for an hour, stirring on occasion, it will match the consistency ganache usually is. You can keep storing the ganache in the fridge, but it'll lose its smooth texture, but re-stirring it with make it regain that texture.
Enjoy!

Microwaving Pasta Take Two

I've finally figured out how to microwave pasta. There are two keys to the process: 1) a deep bowl and 2) a rotation between high and medium power.

So how did I do it?
1) FIll a deep bowl about 1/3 full of water.
2) Add macaroni. Don't add too much that it goes above the water.
3) Microwave on HIGH power for 5 minutes. If the water boils over, turn the microwave off.
4) Microwave on MEDIUM (1/2 of the power level) for 5 minutes.
5) Microwave on HIGH for another 2 minutes.

Some people prefer a more al dente pasta. If that's you, skip step 5. But now that you know how to microwave your own pasta, you can buy your own favorite sauces to mix in, so no more night after night of mac'n'cheese! Enjoy!

Bruschetta!

Bruschetta sounds fancy. It looks fancy. But is it hard to make? Not at all.

Take 2-3 plum tomatoes and chop, disposing of the seeds. Put the chopped, seeded tomatoes into a bowl. Then, take around 20 basil leaves, roll them up about 5-8 at a time, and then cut--it will look like green confetti--and add to the bowl. Or, use 1 tsp of ground basil. Fresh basil will be more appetizing, though. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a shake a little salt over top, and mix well with your hands.

Serve with bread. Toasted garlic bread or toasted French loaf bread would be best, but whatever you have is fine. Enjoy!