Lafayette, LA was hit with a once-in-a-lifetime snowstorm this last week, so I was compelled to create my own ideas for food review. I left Lafayette to return to my hometown of Alexandria, LA to get away from the storm, and with the help of my grandparents, I found some recipes I thought I would try out for myself while stuck in the house.
Trying to find the money, space and time to prepare yourself a meal while balancing daily college life can be a struggle; taking these things into account, I looked for non-time-consuming recipes that require cheap ingredients and can quickly be whipped up and enjoyed.
The first recipe is one that I found while scrolling Instagram. Strawberry Banana Baked Oatmeal in a mug is an easy way to start your day. This recipe calls for oats, sugar, baking powder, salt, a banana, strawberries, an egg, milk and vanilla extract.
First, coat a microwave-safe mug with cooking spray. Then, mix half a cup of oats, one and a half teaspoons of sugar, ¼ teaspoon of baking powder and a dash of salt in the mug. Next, add half a mashed banana, one egg, three tablespoons of milk and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix everything in and then add the strawberries on top before putting the mug into the microwave for 3-3 ½ minutes. Once it is done, let it sit for one minute.
After completing these steps within less than ten minutes, my baked oatmeal was ready. The smell was comparable to banana bread, if not precisely. I flipped the cup upside down to place the baked oatmeal on a plate. The pastry looked like a muffin and did not crumble into pieces.
I served this dish to my grandfather and asked his opinion on the taste. “It tastes exactly like banana bread, but I taste the hints of strawberry. I like it.” After he described it to me, I was inclined to taste the baked oatmeal, and he was undoubtedly correct. This was a lovely twist to the classic breakfast oatmeal.
My next recipe was one that I found on Pinterest last year, and I have been making it ever since. Pizza toast is a simple lunch and a new twist on the classic pizza that can be made within ten minutes with simple ingredients. This recipe calls for bread, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, any topping you choose and thyme/dried oregano.
First, preheat your oven or air fryer to 400 F. Place your desired amount of bread on the rack and toast it to your preferred shade. Spread the toast out on a baking sheet and place one tablespoon of pizza sauce over each slice of bread. Top with mozzarella cheese, toppings of your choice, and thyme/oregano. Place in the oven until the cheese is melted. Once the cheese is melted, serve.
I knew I had to share this 10-minute recipe in this review. After finding it my freshman year, it quickly became a staple for my friends and I. From a quick meal before the gym to a fun snack while hanging out with friends, pizza toast is a delicious treat many would love to enjoy.
My third and final recipe was one that I found in my grandmother’s many recipe books. Hamburger rolls are a simple lunch or dinner idea for one or the whole family. This recipe calls for four simple ingredients: ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, canned crescent rolls and any seasonings you choose.
First, preheat the oven to 350 F. Brown the ground beef and drain the grease. Mix cheese and seasonings into the beef. I personally chose salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Then, put one tablespoon of the ground beef onto each crescent roll. Fold over and place onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for eight minutes or until light brown and serve.
I must admit that I have tried this recipe before in my childhood, but I don’t remember it tasting this good and taking less than 30 minutes to prepare. The crescent rolls definitely add a different taste and texture to this new form of hamburger.
Overall, I enjoyed spending time with my grandparents and finding new and old recipes to share with everyone. I hope that these recipes were helpful!