It is the start of a new year and semester so why not try some new recipes as well? Though cooking is one of my passions, I find that finding new dishes can be intimidating. If you feel the same way, this article is for you. For those who need vegetarian dishes, ones easily made while living in campus housing, and in between, this is for you.
One of my favorite ways to find new recipes is through different social media platforms. Whether that be on Pinterest, Instagram, or TikTok, there is a wealth of people sharing new ideas. If you are looking for accessible recipes I recommend looking in those places, however, keep in mind that when it comes to food and nutritional information, make sure you are looking at credible sources. With that said, here are six new dishes for you to try.
Breakfast: The best part of the day
Chia Seed Pudding is an easy food that can be had at any time of the day. I tend to make a batch that will last me a few days, store it in the fridge, and eat it for breakfast. The base recipe can be topped with anything you may want though fruits, nuts, and sweeteners are most common.
For Roughly Four Servings
1/2 cup chia seeds, 3/4 cup milk (dairy or plant based), 2 tablespoons sweetener (honey or maple syrup), 1 cup yogurt. Mix all ingredients together and allow to set for at least 15 minutes though overnight is ideal. When ready to eat, top with fruit, nuts or anything you desire.
Dutch Baby Pancake, yes, I know it is an interesting name. The pancake is an simple and fast dish to make using only six ingredients. The recipe is as enjoyable as a basic pancake yet it has a little more protein and fat from the eggs. I top with sliced apples and brown sugar but both a sweet or savory topping would work well.
For Roughly Six Servings
3 large eggs, 2/3 cup milk, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3 tablespoons unsalted butter. I use a recipe by Joanna Cismaru, however, NYT Cooking has a recipe by Florence Fabricant that is just as good (1. hhtps://www.jocooks.com/recipes/dutch-baby-pancake/#wprm-recipe-container-26673 2. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/6648-dutch-baby?smid=url-share)
Vegetarian: Tasty and easy
Stir Fry, you can stir fry just about anything. It is one of the easiest dishes to make if you have a stovetop and you can add any toppings to any base. This is one of the dishes that there is no one recipe so in this case here is what my favorite stir fry combination is.
Cook your rice (however many servings you want), in a large pan add more difficult-to-cook vegetables first (broccoli, carrots, and peppers), and second add all other vegetables (snow peas and green beans). Meat substitutes are also a great ingredient to add. Mix up a sauce to top everything off (a mix soy sauce with minced ginger, garlic, pinch of sugar, and chives is my go to).
Penne Alla Vodka is both delicious and easy. It can be vegetarian, but you can also add a protein such as chicken. After testing multiple recipes, my favorite is one published by Lena Abraham in a Delish article. With just nine ingredients, the making of this dish can take as little as 30 minutes. Rich in flavor and carbs, this is one of my comfort foods.
Recipe from Delish: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a26556220/penne-alla-vodka-recipe/, wonderful recipe and alterations are easy to make. All you need is; unsalted butter, one shallot, garlic, tomato paste, red pepper flakes (for spice, is optional), vodka, tubed pasta, heavy cream, and parmesan.
Sandwich:
BLTs are an easy sandwich that can be customized in any way. The base of bacon, lettuce, and tomato tastes good on their own but the addition of ingredients such as avocados helps to elevate the taste. Instead of adding a recipe, here are a few alterations you can make.
First, caramelized onions and chipotle mayo. Second, avocado and a fried egg. Third, cheddar cheese and spinach.
Turkey Cranberry is a simple sandwich with a sweet and tangy taste. It can be made on any type of bread and though turkey is recommended, other substitutions would taste great. The cranberry aspect can be homemade but is much more simply made if a cranberry sauce or relish is bought from a store.
A simple way to make the sandwich is: on sourdough bread (toasted or not) spread mayo on one side and cranberry sauce on the other. Place sliced turkey and lettuce on one of the slices and put the other piece of bread on top.
All of these dishes are delicious and easy to make if you are looking for new foods to try this year. If nothing on this list interests you, social media and a simple search will supply hundreds of other ideas.