Tag Archives: microwave

Less than 5: Microwave Apple Crisp

.
Everyone needs a little sweetness in their lives, but not everyone has the time or inclination to spend hours baking. Microwaves to the rescue! There is an endless amount of baked goods you can make in the microwave. Rather than collect recipes from all around the web, I found Number 2 pencil’s post that does exactly that, a collection of over 30 mug recipes!

This recipe I came up with one night when I wanted something sweet but was too tired to cook an entire pie or whatnot. I had apples, so naturally wanted apple crisp. Apple crisp has always been a favorite of mine, it is perfectly balanced and sweet, and satisfies my sweet tooth every time. So with less than 5 ingredients and less than 5 minutes, you can have a bowl of your very own hot and fresh microwave apple crisp!

Ingredients:

  • 1 apple, sliced
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup quick oats
  • 2-3 tbsp butter/margerine
  • Optional: cinnamon and/or nutmeg
Step 1: Cut the apple into thin slices and place in a bowl.
Step 2: Mix the sugar, oats, and cinnamon if using. Pour over the apple slices.
Step 3: Dot the butter over the oats, and microwave for 2-3 minutes on high. Time will depend on the strength of your microwave.
Let cool just enough to hold, maybe add a scoop or two of ice cream, and enjoy!

Creative leftovers: Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese

.
The best recipes in my opinion are the ones that either get eaten the first time around, or lead to easy leftover combinations. I hate to see food go to waste, and unfortunately when you’re cooking for only 1 or 2 people that can happen quite often.
.
You make something that tastes great the first time, and the second time, but by days 3 and up you are sick of it. So it sits in the back of the fridge, hidden by water bottles and fresher produce until you clean out your fridge tri-monthly and get grossed out by the mold and bacteria on it.
.
Therefore I try to cook things which easily lend themselves to meal makovers to dress up the leftovers and make it feel like a whole new meal. So I took some macaroni & cheese I’d made earlier, leftover chicken, and bruchetta topping (since the bread was now mush) and mixed it up for a super-easy, quick & healthy lunch.
.
Less wasted food = more money in your pocket = win-win.
.
Ingredients:
2 diced roma tomatoes
1/4 white onion, diced small
3-4 oz cooked chicken breast (or meat of choice, or no meat if you prefer)
.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Microwave on high 1-2 minutes. You can sprinkle with extra cheese, or add any kind of cooked veggies you like. Enjoy!

 

Hawaiian shrimp & broccoli

.
I am once again moving, so I make due with whatever is left in the house for dinner.
.
I had in my freezer:
1/2 bag frozen broccoli
1/2 bag frozen shrimp
In the fridge:
1/4 fresh pineapple
Soy sauce, Worchestershire, BBQ, ketchup
In the pantry:
1 bag simple rice, brown rice

Step 1: Microwave the rice 90 seconds and fluff.

.
Step 2: In a bowl, mix 2 tbsp ketchup, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp Worchestershire sauce, 2 tbsp BBQ sauce, 1 tbsp sugar. Add shrimp, coat well. Microwave on high 4 minutes.

.
Step 3: Add broccoli, microwave another minute.

.Step 4: Dice pineapple very small. Add and mix well. Put 1/2 cup rice on plate, add 1 cup shrimp mix and some sauce. Dinner in under ten minutes! Enjoy!

Sweet and tangy, protein plus fruit & veggies!

Balsamic Chicken and Spanish Rice

.
I got the basic idea for this from allrecipes.com but of course I tailored it to my tastes and what I had around the house. I had taken out a chicken breast to thaw with the intent of making chicken quesadillas, but my boyfriend used all the tortillas to make tacos. So plan B. =)
Chicken:
Balsamic vinaigrette
Lemon juice
Garlic powder
Chili powder
Rosemary, thyme, dill
Rice:
1 cup Minute Rice
1 cup water
Cumin
Garlic powder
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup corn
First, combine all marinade ingredients in a plastic bag. I cut the chicken breast into smaller, thinner pieces to cook faster. Left marinating in the fridge for about an hour.
.

When ready to cook, I put a few tbsp olive oil in a frying pan and heated it up. Then the chicken and marinade was dumped in all together. Cooked over low heat for several minutes with a cover on.

While the chicken was cooking, I put the spices, water and rice in a microwave-safe bowl and microwaved for 5 minutes. Let sit for 3 minutes or so, and fluff with a fork. Then add the salsa and corn, and microwave another 2 minutes. After the chicken was fully cooked, I put the chicken pieces on a towel to drain.

This is what the rice and chicken looked like fresh off the stove/microwave.

 Delicious!