Tiring work schedules, complicated class timetables, and skimpy student budgets make fun and flexibility in the kitchen almost impossible (no, KD doesn’t count). And that’s for people who even have a kitchen (hello, residence life).
But when we think of delicious food, and lots of it, the holiday season with its endless potlucks and dinner parties can be stressful for students who aren’t exactly master chefs. What’s a student to do?
Here’s a list of simple Christmas recipes that don’t require a stove or oven. They might just save you from an embarrassing potluck contribution, or a Mr. Noodles Christmas dinner.
Red velvet microwave mug cake
This cake pairs perfectly with a second mug of hot chocolate. This recipe comes in two parts: cake and frosting. Spend a few extra dollars on good-quality cocoa powder for a good cake.
Ingredients
Cake:
4 tbsp. all-purpose flour
4 ½ tbsp. white sugar
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1 ½ tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
3 tbsp. canola oil
3 tbsp. milk
1 egg
½ tsp. red food colouring
Frosting:
2 tbsp. plain cream cheese
(full fat or fat-free)
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
½ cup white sugar
Instructions
Cake:
1. In a large mug, mix together all the dry ingredients (the all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking powder, and unsweetened cocoa). Stir with a fork.
2. Dig a little hole in the middle of the dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients (the canola oil, milk, and egg) into the pit. Mix all the ingredients together with the fork.
3. Cook in the microwave on medium for one minute 30 seconds. Add an additional 30 seconds if it’s not done, but be careful not to overcook the batter or it’ll become dense and rubbery.
4. Let the cake cool for three minutes, and then apply the frosting.
Frosting:
1. Combine the plain cream cheese, unsalted butter, and white sugar in a large bowl. Beat with a fork or wooden spoon until the frosting is light and fluffy. (Bonus points if you have a hand mixer.)
2. Put a dollop on the finished cake.
3. If desired, decorate with sprinkles, chocolate chips, or crushed candy cane.
Makes 1 serving.
Zesty one-bowl avocado dip
Be the first to sign up for your next potluck this holiday season with this festive bright green avocado dip.
Ingredients
1 ripe avocado
(peeled, pitted,
& coarsely chopped)
1 tbsp. lime juice
½ cup fat-free Greek yoghurt
1 tsp. chili flakes
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
Instructions
1. Mash the avocado, lime juice, Greek yoghurt, chili flakes, salt, and pepper together in a bowl until smooth.
2. Serve in a small bowl with tortilla chips.
Makes 1 cup.
Ultimate turkey dinner sandwich
This recipe saves you the blood, sweat, and tears of a turkey dinner, but offers the same wonderful taste.
Ingredients
¼ cup fresh cranberries
1 tsp. red onion
(peeled & finely chopped)
½ tsp. lime juice
¼ orange
(peeled & cut into ¼-inch pieces)
½ tsp. fresh ginger
(peeled & finely chopped)
1 tsp. white sugar
1 tbsp. pecans (coarsely chopped)
250g turkey (roast or cold cut)
2 slices of bread
Instructions
1. Put the cranberries in a blender. Pulse several times until they’re coarsely chopped.
2. Scrape the cranberries into a bowl and mix in the red onion, lime juice, orange, fresh ginger, white sugar, and pecans to make a relish.
3. Chill the relish in the refrigerator for one hour.
4. Butter the bread, and then spread the relish on the same slice. Top the slice with the turkey and cover with the remaining slice of bread.
5. If desired, serve with homemade or instant gravy, either drizzled on top or for dipping on the side. For true turkey dinner lovers, dare to spread a layer of instant mashed potatoes on one slice of the bread before assembly.
Makes 1 sandwich.