Welcome back to another installment of lazy recipes. After a hectic few weeks that midterms brought upon our campus, I’m sure everyone is ready to break free from the ramen cycle and into a new dawn of delicious, lazy meals. In this one, we’ll be going over a handful of basics that can be tweaked to your taste. I’ll be covering things like oatmeal, boiled eggs, rice, quinoa and tofu. These are basics that you’ll want to refer back to when going through your laziest of recipe times, because they are the pillars of lazy meals.
The Ames Main Street Farmers Market has drawn to a close, but I still urge you to direct your fridge’s stock towards local goods and shops. I will be referring back to local grocery stores like Wheatsfield Co-op and Asia Foods Store in this particular installment.
Appliances Needed (Dorm Friendly)
Hot pot (or a pan if you have a stove; for dorms, check your kitchenette rules)
Air fryer (optional)
Microwave
Grocery List
Salt
Cooking oil of choice
Seasonings of choice
Honey
Brown sugar or jam
Soy sauce
Garlic powder
Large eggs (Wheatsfield Co-op)
Oats (Wheatsfield Co-op)
Milk or plant milk of choice (Wheatsfield Co-op)
Fruits (Wheatsfield Co-op)
Quinoa
Firm tofu (Asia Foods Store)
Microwave Oatmeal (5-7 minutes)
Ingredients
Oats (Wheatsfield Co-op)
Water or milk of choice
Honey, jam, brown sugar or fruits (Wheatsfield Co-op)
Tools
Microwave-safe bowl
Spoon
Instructions
Pour water or milk into the bowl.
Add oats and microwave for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on your microwave.
Stir in your preferred toppings and enjoy.
Microwave Boiled Egg (8-10 minutes)
Ingredients
One egg (Wheatsfield Co-op)
Water
Ice (or very cold water)
Salt or soy-sesame marinade
Tools
Instructions
Fill one mug with water and heat it in the microwave for 3 minutes.
Fill the second mug with ice or cold water.
Drop the egg into the hot mug and make sure it’s fully submerged.
Microwave for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on how strong your microwave is.
Carefully remove the egg and place it in the cold mug to cool.
Once cooled, peel and season to your taste.
Microwave White Rice (20-25 minutes, including resting)
Ingredients
One cup rice
Two cups water
Salt to taste
Tools
Microwave-safe bowl with a lid or plate
Instructions
Rinse the rice in cold water until clear.
Add water and salt to the bowl, then cover.
Microwave for 10 minutes on high, then for another 10 minutes on 50% power.
Let it sit for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
Microwave Quinoa (10-12 minutes)
Ingredients
1/2 cup quinoa
One cup water
Salt
Tools
Instructions
Rinse quinoa in cold water.
Add to the bowl with water and salt.
Cover and microwave for 6 minutes.
Stir, then microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes.
Let it sit for 5 minutes before fluffing.
Air Fryer or Microwave Tofu (6-12 minutes)
Ingredients
Firm tofu (Asia Foods Store)
Soy sauce, garlic powder or seasoning of choice
Tools
Air fryer sheet or microwave-safe plate
Paper towel
Instructions
Pat tofu dry and cut into cubes.
Toss with soy sauce and seasoning.
Air fry at 375°F for 12 minutes or microwave for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway
With these basics down, you’ll have laid the foundation for your very own lazy cooking city. Prep the staples over the weekend, keep them stored and you’ll thank yourself on busy mornings or long study nights. A little planning now means effortless comfort later.
Dining and Cooking