We all know those nights — it’s 9 p.m., you’ve been busting your butt all day working on that essay (or studying for that test), and you hear an all too familiar sound: your stomach growling angrily. If you’re a struggling university student (which it’s likely that you are), you’re probably weighing two options: boil up a pot of instant ramen or starve. More often than not, ramen might have replaced actual food on a few many occasions, and that’s completely understandable. In a pinch, ramen is always there to save the day, even if you know that sluggish/sick feeling will soon follow. I’m here to offer a glimmer of hope, a silver lining of food that not only can you whip up in mere minutes, but there also aren’t a million different ingredients.
Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is truly a Canadian classic that is unfortunately associated with the disgraceful chemical concoction that comes in a blue box. If you’re looking to make something quick, I will gladly point you in the direction of a recipe that I personally have tried many times, and absolutely love! Everything is made in one pot, the ingredients are very few and you can customize it to suit your preferences.
**My adjustments would be to make a third of the recipe (divide all recipe quantities by three) if you’re making it for yourself, otherwise you’ll end up with a ton of mac and cheese; add some salt and additional spices for a flavor explosion (I like to add a pinch of cayenne pepper and paprika) and DO NOT BOIL THE MILK! I’m not sure why this is said in the recipe, because you will most definitely scorch and burn the milk this way, so instead, bring the milk to a simmer and cook the pasta like that.
Photo via Pixabay
Recipe: https://tasty.co/recipe/3-ingredient-mac-cheese
Alfredo Pasta Bake
This is definitely a new spin on an old and boring pasta sauce in a jar, adding an easy fix to bulk up your meal. This alfredo pasta bake also doesn’t include that many ingredients, and can really be customized to include anything you have in your kitchen. The leftovers can be refrigerated and kept for whenever hunger strikes.
Photo via Buzzfeed Tasty
Recipe: https://tasty.co/recipe/one-tray-alfredo-pasta
Beans, Rice and Cheese Burrito
For those who need their Chipotle (or Z-Teca for us Yorkies) fix but don’t want to leave the comfort of their own home, this is the recipe for you! All you’re going to need is a couple of ingredients to whip up this little meal, and you’re set for the rest of your study session.
Photo via Buzzfeed Tasty
Recipe: https://tasty.co/recipe/beans-rice-cheese-burritos
Banana Pancakes
While technically a breakfast recipe, pancakes are a food that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. These will not only save you from throwing away rotting fruit (since you can basically use up all of your ripe bananas), but will also allow you to cook up a large batch of pancakes quickly!
**My adjustment would be to add around a ¼ cup of flour in order to thicken up the mixture so that the pancakes will better hold their shape, as well as to make it easier to flip them when cooking.
Photo via Buzzfeed Tasty
Recipe: https://tasty.co/recipe/banana-pancakes
University is stressful, but deciding what you should have for your next meal doesn’t have to be. When you have a couple of quick recipes up your sleeve, you can breathe a little easier knowing you’ll never have to worry about what to make for your next meal, and staying at home will help you save quite a lot of money along the way.