Whether you’re back on campus or still continuing the online classes rigmarole, there’s one indisputable fact about college students – you always want something to snack on. And in the ‘normal’ world, you’d have a tonne of options – starting from your college canteen right up to the street food cart outside your PG in Urapakkam. But in a world in the midst of a pandemic, with restrictions still in place, it’s not that easy to step out for a bite. You can’t be certain of hygiene standards and ordering in frequently can get really expensive. That’s why having some quick and easy snack recipes that you can whip up with a few basic ingredients and a microwave can make your life so much better. So, without further ado, let’s get cooking.
Microwave Potato Chips
What is universally synonymous with the word snack? Potato chips, of course. And what if we told you that you can produce this guilty pleasure yourself in minutes in the microwave, without any additives or artificial ingredients? Sounds too good to be true. Except it is true. Our microwave potato chips recipe is as crispy and delicious as the store bought version and requires very few ingredients to make. You’ll need two medium sized potatoes, sliced thinly, 2-3 tablespoons of oil, two teaspoons of salt, and a bowl of ice water. You can feel free to customise the seasoning on your potato chips to suit your taste. Add chilli powder and smoked paprika for a barbeque flavour, or garlic powder and vinegar for a more funky taste. First place the sliced potatoes in a bowl of ice water. This will rid them of any excess starch and help them crisp up a lot more in the microwave. Dry the potato slices well and place them on a microwavable dish, brushed with oil and sprinkled with salt and the seasoning of your choice. Then microwave on high for 1-2 mins on each side or until golden brown. You’ll know your chips are done when they turn toasted brown. Your delicious potato chips are ready to be enjoyed in less than five minutes. If you’ve got leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container, but trust us, these are so addictive that you probably won’t have any leftovers.
Make Your Own Trail Mix
Sometimes you want a bit of variety in your snacks. But store bought trail mix packets can be so expensive, and they never have enough of your favourite ingredients. So, why not take a leaf out of your mother’s homemade chivda book and make your own. You’ll get to control the seasoning and the ingredients and make the perfect mix for your taste buds. We like a mixture of regular cornflakes, puffed rice, roasted peanuts, and bhujia in our trail mix. Combine them along with salt and some red chilli powder and you’re good to go. You can feel free to swap the nuts for your favourite ones, or even add in other ingredients of your choice. Soya sticks, pretzels, toasted seeds can all make great additions to this trail mix recipe.
Oreo Mug Cake
If you’ve got even the tiniest bit of a sweet tooth, there are times when only chocolate can cut it. Especially during exam season and while pulling all nighters, you know a bit of sugar is the only thing that can keep you going. But even though they’re delicious, dessert recipes can be some of the most complicated and time-consuming to follow. Unless they’re this fuss-free oreo mug cake recipe. (And yes, you could technically make this with any other chocolate biscuit too.) There are only three things you need for this recipe – six oreos, about three tablespoons of milk and ¼ teaspoon baking powder. Crush or blend the oreos into a crumb and stir it into a batter with the milk and the baking powder. Then microwave on high for about 90 seconds. And there’s your delicious oreo mug cake sorted. Enjoy it on its own or with a dash of chocolate sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This is the easiest mug cake you’ll ever make and it’s one you’ll keep coming back to when the sweet cravings hit.
No-bake Granola Bars
What’s better than a quick snack recipe? A batch quick snack recipe. Because it ensures you’ve got something to munch on for a whole week. And this no-bake granola bar is the perfect portable snack that’s packed with flavour and crunch. And since it’s homemade, you can customise the ingredients to your (and your wallet’s) liking. We’re giving you a recipe for a nut and raisin bar, but feel free to mix up the flavours and try different combinations. For this recipe, you’ll need 2 cups of oats (rolled or quick cooking), ¼ cup butter, ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and ⅔ cup of mixed nuts and raisins. In a microwavable bowl, add the butter, sugar and honey and microwave for around 2 minutes, taking care that nothing burns. This is going to create a delicious caramel that will set your granola into a delicious bar. Into the caramel, whisk in the vanilla and salt. Pour this over the oats and stir until they are completely coated. Add in your nuts and raisins (other mix-ins we like include shredded coconut, chocolate chips, and dried berries) and press the mixture firmly into a greased tray or container. Place this in the fridge for a few hours and then slice into bars. This recipe should be enough for around 10-12 bars, so you’ll have enough to last you for a week or even longer. Store them in an airtight container in a cool place and impress your friends with your better than store bought granola bars.
These snacks will definitely tide you over when the hunger pangs strike. But getting your four square meals is equally important to keep your immunity up post pandemic. That’s why living in a professionally managed accommodation like Stanza Living which provides delicious and healthy chef-cooked meals makes such a huge difference. Their contactless meal services ensure that you can get your nutrients without worrying about hygiene. And of course, they’ve got a range of routinely sanitised common use appliances including a microwave and hot plate so that you can still whip up these recipes when you feel like it.
These quick and easy snack recipes are sure to become permanent fixtures in your cooking arsenal. So go ahead and try them out.
