Life is What You Bake it
Article by Lauren Davidson
… Or what you chill it or freeze it. Only one of these recipes involves using the oven, but the pun for the title was too good to ignore. Another thing too good to ignore is the list of three easy recipes I’m about to share with you!
Reading week is coming up, and with the pandemic’s limitations of where we can go and what we can do, many of us are going to resort to our phones, laptops, and TVs for entertainment. However, with classes online, we are constantly staring at our screens, and I say it's time we give our strained eyes and anxious little minds a rest. Take some time this break to disconnect from your devices and make something that your stomach is going to thank you for.
Now you may be thinking, “But I don’t know my way around the kitchen!” That’s ok! I’ve included recipes that are easy to follow, and that are also snackable – which is perfect for when you need something to tie you over during a long haul of coursework. Moreover, they are all tried and true by a busy student with an appetite – aka me. But just as a quick reminder, WASH YOUR HANDS before making any of these snacks.
1. Biscuits
Trust me, these are way easier to make than you may think. They’re also easy to make more than once since four of the five ingredients don’t spoil quickly. I prefer to eat these with butter or jam, but you can eat them with just about anything. You can also get creative with it. Want to add a little shredded cheese in the mixture? Go for it! Want to make it vegan? Just substitute the milk for almond or soy milk and you’re good to go.
*Makes about a dozen servings*
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of flour
- 4 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- ¼ cup of shortening
- 1 cup of milk
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Mix the first three ingredients in a large bowl using a fork. Then, cut in the shortening (this just means use the fork to squish the shortening into the dry ingredients until it looks a little crumbly). Next, pour in the milk and stir until absorbed. Knead the dough about 15 times (this one just means fold and push it – and yes, it’s going to feel gross on your hands). Sprinkle some flour on the counter and roll out your dough. Fold it and roll out again (if you don’t have a rolling pin, an empty cylindrical glass bottle works too). Cut the dough into circles with a cup and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes and enjoy!
2. Chocolate Clusters
Looking for a sweeter snack? I have you covered. This snack is so delicious and so simple. All it takes is four ingredients! But chocolate lovers be warned, this snack is highly addictive. Also, this recipe contains peanuts, so if you have allergies you can substitute the peanuts out for something else.
*Makes about 30 servings*
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips (about 1 package)
- 1 cup of butterscotch chips (about half a package)
- 1 cup of peanuts
- 1 cup of dried chinese noodles
Directions:
Place wax paper on two baking sheets and set aside. Pour the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a microwavable bowl and put it in the microwave for 30 second intervals while stirring in between until the mixture is completely melted. Mix in the nuts and chinese noodles. Drop portion-sized scoops of the mixture onto the wax paper with a spoon. Place in the fridge to chill, and once they have hardened, snack away!
3. Energy Balls
This recipe is one I found online1 – I just tweaked it slightly. But I’m so glad I started making these energy balls! I used to eat granola bars a lot as a snack during class, so making a homemade version of them and avoiding all the wasteful packaging has been really nice. Also, these energy balls are a bit of a healthier snack for you to munch on for when you feel guilty about eating so many chocolate clusters. Feel free to play around with this recipe! For example, you can substitute the shredded coconut for dried cranberries or flax seeds.
*Makes about two dozen servings*
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- ½ cup of mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup of shredded coconut
- ½ cup of peanut butter
- 1/3 cup of honey
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Directions:
Just combine all the ingredients in a medium/large bowl and form the mixture into little two-bite balls. Set on a tray or in a container and let them set in the freezer for one hour. I find it’s best just to keep them in the freezer and take them out when I’m going to snack on them.
Hopefully one of these recipes caught your eye, but if not, there are several other easy recipes that you can find online. Just try to give yourself a break from screens this reading week, even if that doesn’t involve baking. Happy snacking!
Source:
1. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/239969/no-bake-energy-bites/