Lest you forget!

Sike about these recipes being for your health, but it’s finals so you’re excused from all your responsibilities as a human being for about 10 days. A few days ago, we asked to you to send us your desperate-times recipes. Below, we compile your submissions, some of which sound more delicious than others, all of which are quick and cheap. You’ll have time to shower and eat like a person in a week’s time, comrades!

Sweet Potato Fries
Preheat oven to 450 F. Wash and slice 1 sweet potato into thick fry-shaped wedges. Toss with 1 pinch each of olive oil, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Put on a tin-foil-covered cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes, then take the sheet out and mix the fries around a bit, and bake for another 5-10 minutes. Add salt to taste. Tin-foil = basically no clean up.

Mm-Mm Microwaved Veggies
Buy frozen veggies, like corn, peas, edamame, etc. Pour as much as you want into a bowl/mug/whatever. Take a spoon and add a pat of butter on top. (Optional: Sprinkle on some curry powder/dried basil/oregano/pepper/garlic powder/etc. and mix for a kick). Defrost it for 1 minute. Microwave normally for 45 seconds. Eat just like that or spread on some toast to make a sandwich.

“Ritzy” Mac n Cheese
Buy 2 boxes mac n cheese. Buy a couple bags of frozen veggies – peas, corn, lima beans/edamame, etc. Make the mac n cheese in a pot. It will take 15 minutes and be worth it. When it’s done, add in the veggies (you may not use all of it) and heat through for ~2 mins. Optional: Cut up a hunk of cheese and throw it in; heat and mix until it’s melted and combined OR if you want to spice it up, throw in 1 tsp curry powder OR 1 tsp dried oregano/thyme/basil.

Lower-Key-Ritzy Mac
Make Easy Mac/similar mac n cheese in microwave. Then add some frozen veggies (peas, corn, etc.), pepper if you wish, and defrost the veggies for 1-2 mins.

Egg Drop Ramen
Make ramen. Beat 1 egg in bowl. Throw the flavor packet (preferably chicken flavored) into 2 cups of boiling water. As you throw in the flavor packet, turn off the stove and slowly pour in the beaten egg, stirring consistently. Add salt/soy sauce to taste.

Hardboiled Eggs
Put eggs in a single layer in a saucepan, covered by at least an inch or two of cold water. Starting with cold water and gently bringing the eggs to a boil will help keep them from cracking. (Adding a half teaspoon of salt is thought to help both with the preventing of cracking and making the eggs easier to peel.) Put the burner on high and bring the eggs to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, return the pan to the burner. Let simmer for one minute. After a minute, remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let sit for 12 minutes. Check one for doneness. If you like them, you can buy some pork or fish sung (Chinese condiment) and sprinkle that on chopped eggs.

  • Yogurt and trail mix: Use plain Stonyfield yogurt (get the bulk size). Add trail mix and enjoy.
  • Dress up the traditional mac and cheese with Gruyere cheese and truffle oil.
  • Half toast an English muffin in your toaster oven. Take it out and put your favorite tomato sauce on and slices of cheese. Slide back in until you have two bubbling pizzas. Add anchovies, ham or pineapple chunks if you’re frisky. A slice of fresh tomato is also recommended.
  • Buy a can of Heinz baked beans, heat in microwave, and serve on toast (or just plain bread if you’re desperate.)