Microwave Recipes Give Flexibilty, More Options

Dinner Made from Comfort of Dormget

There is definitely a stigma about microwavable food. Every­one thinks that the only food that can be made in the microwave is Easy Mac, Chef Boyardee, Ra­men Noodles, Hot Pockets, Taqui­tos, appetizers, etc.

What if you want to get a little fancy with your microwavable meals? I have stumbled upon (and created) some of these new mi­crowavable recipes. I decided to master the art of making micro­wavable peanut butter mug cake, red velvet mug cake, and lasagna.

Yes… I just went there.

The first recipe out of my “su­per delicious microwavable con­quest” was the peanut butter mug cake. Being that this was my first time actually trying to construct something from scratch in the mi­crowave, I wanted to make sure I executed this perfectly.

It is as simple as combining all the ingredients in an oversized glass mug and whisking them thoroughly. Microwave the mug on high for one and a half min­utes. When it is done, check to see if it is fully cooked through. If not, place it back in the mi­crowave in 30-second intervals until it is fully cooked. It is just the right size for when you want something little but not too sweet.

The next microwavable mug confection I wanted to try was the red velvet mug cake. Red velvet cake is by far my favorite cake to eat, so obviously, I had to make it. This one involves a little bit more time, and a little bit more ingredi­ents; but it is totally worth it!

Combine all of the ingredients for the cake into the mug. Whisk thoroughly. Microwave the mug for one and a half minutes. It might need an additional 30 sec­onds, but be careful not to over­cook the batter because it will become rubbery and gross (that happened on my first try!).

For the frosting, allow the cake to cool. Combine all of the ingre­dients in another bowl until light and fluffy. When you are finished, spread them onto the cake inside the mug, and viola! You have made yourself a mini red vel­vet cake. This is something that I could eat all day and never get sick of it!

Last but certainly not least, I made microwavable lasagna. This one was a wee-bit tedious but the end result was very impressive. The website I had found it on calls for ground beef in the recipe, but because dorm rooms do not come with a full-scale kitchen, take out the ground beef.

Additionally, the recipe had some ingredients that were a lit­tle too inconvenient for a college dorm, so I just subbed them out. If you would like the full-length recipe, it can be found on cooks. com. Search for “Microwavable Lasagna.”

Here is the list of ingredients that I used:

Three lasagna pasta sheets

Six tablespoons of pasta sauce

Eight oz. of mozzarella slices (Three to four slices)

Half a cup of grated parmesan cheese

In order to make this recipe, you have to cook the pasta first. This step is really easy. All you need to do is break the three la­sagna sheets because you will layer them in your mug. Place the broken lasagna sheets in a micro­wavable bowl and fill the bowl with water (about half way). This is where you will use your Easy Mac skills. Place the bowl with the pasta and water in the micro­wave and cook it for three and a half minutes. Depending on the strength of your microwave, it may make take more or less time. Check to make sure the pasta is cooked. The lasagna should be floppy but retain its shape. Be careful because lasagna can break very easily. If the pasta is not cooked through, place it back in the microwave in 30-second in­tervals.

Once the pasta is finished cook­ing, you can then spoon the sauce at the very bottom of your mug. Next you will place a piece of the lasagna on top, and then add more sauce and a layer of cheese. You will follow this pattern until you reach the brim of your mug. Cover the top of the mug with saran wrap and place it in the microwave for approximately 20 minutes.

Due to the fact that this was my first time making this, I did it in 10-minute intervals, just to be on the safe side. Once it is all done, let it sit for a few minutes. Next thing you know, you will be in cheesy lasagna heaven.

I am officially calling myself a connoisseur of the microwave. These recipes are ones that you should keep for the books. Despite the fact that I left my cooking area a mess, it was totally worth it. It just goes to show you, good food from the microwave does not nec­essarily have to come from a fro­zen box. It can be made fresh and homemade. Happy dorm eating!

Ingredients List
Peanut Butter Mug Cake
4 tablespoons of flour
4 tablespoons of granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon of baking powder
1 egg
3 tablespoons of peanut butter
3 tablespoons of milk
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
Red Velvet Mug Cake
Cake:
4 tablespoons of flour
4 ½ tablespoons of sugar
1/8 teaspoon of baking powder
1 ½ tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons of oil
3 tablespoons of buttermilk (milk is fine too)
1 egg
½ teaspoon of red food coloring
Frosting:
2 tablespoons of cream cheese
2 tablespoons of butter
½ cup of sugar
Courtesy of lacreativitedelafille.blogspot.co.uk