When students’ time gets crushed in the final push of exams and papers, cooking seems like an impossible task. Preparing food, cooking it and washing leftover pots, pans, plates and silverware steal time away from studying, researching and writing. And grabbing fast food or eating out at already populated restaurants do not serve as healthy or frugal alternatives.
These two recipes satisfy cravings for munchies at midnight and provide the fiber, carbohydrates and protein to help you cruise through the final stretch of another academic year. Both recipes are inspired and altered from “The College Cookbook” by Geri Harrington.
Cheesy Beans on Toast
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 can of red beans
- 1 cup of skim milk
- 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 slice of whole-grain bread
Serves 3. Total preparation time takes about 10 minutes.
Combine the beans and beaten egg in a pot on medium heat, mashing the beans with a wooden or metal spoon.
In a separate pot on medium heat, stir the butter, milk and cheese until the consistency appears creamy.
Pour the sauce mixture into the beans and egg and blend all of the ingredients.
Toast the slice of bread.
Once the ingredients are well-blended, spread the mixture on the toast.
For a spicy kick, feel free to add a half cup of salsa, a quarter or half teaspoon of dry mustard or a few dashes of Tabasco sauce.
Garlic and Onion Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 3 medium red-skinned potatoes, sliced
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 cup of onion, chopped
- garlic salt
Serves 3. Total preparation time requires about 20 minutes. Be careful while chopping the onion and slicing the potatoes.
On medium to low heat, melt one tablespoon of butter in a wide skillet.
Add the sliced potatoes. Once they begin to appear golden, turn them with a spatula.
Add the chopped onion and the other tablespoon of butter.
Cook the onions until they appear transparent.
Remove from heat and sprinkle garlic salt on them. Curry, paprika, rosemary or crushed peppercorns also spice the dish.
Both of these dishes cost at or under $5, require under a half-hour to complete and provide a much-needed energy boost to an end-of-year charge.
