Pam McElroy - Mug It!: Easy & Delicious Meals for One

Double Fudge Brownie () As far as Im concerned, there are two kinds of meals: meals for one and meals for more than one. Both have their charms, admittedly, but I think its important to take full advantage of each scenario. When Im cooking for others, presentation may not be my main concern, but its certainly a concernand that changes things. It means Im trying to impress (or at least not offend!), and it means I have to account for other peoples tastes. When Im cooking for myself, however, presentation is off the tableoften literallyand I want whatevers good, cheap, simple, and easy to clean.

There are lots of ways to achieve those goals, but a mug winds up being a pretty handy vehicle overall. Back when I was a full-time student with a part-time job in central Pennsylvaniaand then later as a young professional in Washington, DCit was usually all I could do to pick up the phone and order delivery. If only I knew then that just because I was cooking for one and didnt have fancy kitchen gadgets (or a stove, I should admit), that didnt mean that I was restricted to an endless parade of greasy noodles and limp cafeteria salads. With a mug (or a Mason jar), a microwave, and a buck or two, you can make all of the recipes in this bookand most of them go from start to finish in less than five minutes as well. So if youre looking to placate your grease tooth, try making a Gooey Pizza Dip (). And if you need a new dessert idea, well, lets just say Ive done the research and come up with a few.

Like a mug, this is a book that I hope youll be able to take with you, whether youre moving into a dorm, settling into a new apartment, or traveling back home. And like a mug, this book is here when you need it, and adaptable to a wide array of situations and environments. Just be careful not to take this idea too far: If you fill this book with coffee, it will not provide a great start to your day. But otherwise, it should come in pretty handy. Pam McElroy Extra Cheesy Scrambled Eggs () Banana Nut Bread () Ranch-Style Dip () Pickled Red Onions () Chocolate Nutella Cake () Classic Fruit Parfait ()

Say sayonara to vending machine lunches! Make yourself a few Mason jar salads, and youll be healthy and happy all week long. You can eat a Mason jar salad just about anywhere, whether youre stuck at your desk, lounging at home, or picnicking in the park.

Pressed for time during the week? The ingredients can be layered in Mason jars over the weekend, and the tight seal will keep the salads fresh, if refrigerated, for up to five days.

Gather your equipment: Wide-mouth Mason jar with a lid, cutting board, knife, and a bowl for serving (optional). QUICK TIP: Use quart-size jars for individual salads and half-gallon jars for salads for 23 people. Prepare your favorite salad ingredients: Chop fruits and veggies, mix salad dressing, shred cheese, wash salad greens, and chop hard-boiled eggsinclude whatever you like! And dont turn up your nose at leftoverssometimes last nights dinner can yield the best salad ingredients, like chicken from your fajita, an unfinished side of quinoa or barley, or those asparagus spears left on your plate. Assemble your salad in the Mason jar: Layer harder, more sturdy ingredients at the bottom of the jar and more fragile ingredients at the top. Follow the below order for best results. 1.

First add 12 tablespoons of salad dressing for individual-size salads or 34 tablespoons of salad dressing if you plan to use a larger quart-size Mason jar to share your salad with friends. 2. Add any firm, crunchy vegetables such as carrots, peppers, or radishes. 3. Then add any beans, pasta (use small pasta like bow tie rather than long pasta like spaghetti), or grains (think quinoa or barley). 4. 4.

Add any hard cheese or protein in the fourth layer. Some ingredients that hold well are hard cheeses, like cheddar or Gruyre, or leftover chopped chicken from last nights dinner. 5. Next add more absorbent veggies and fruit, like chopped avocado, cooked asparagus, or berries. 6. Pack in your favorite salad greens.

Dont be shy! 7. Add any soft cheese or protein, like crumbled feta or chopped tofu. 8. Top with your lightest ingredients, the ones you want to keep crunchy, like seeds and nuts. Serve and enjoy your salad: Shake the salad ingredients into a serving bowl and toss the ingredients together. QUICK TIP: Dont have a bowl to toss your salad in? Thats ne, too! Use a little more dressing in the jar (2 tablespoons per quart) and shake your salad vigorously in the jar.

Remove the lid, and eat right from the jar at your desk. Chopped Mediterranean Salad Tried-and-True
Mason Jar Salad Recipes Each makes 1 serving for a quart-size Mason jar and should be assembled in the order listed.

12 tbsp. salad dressing; suggested: red wine vinaigrette or Italian dressing 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, whole 1/3 cup cucumbers, chopped 1/4 cup garbanzo beans 1/4 cup black olives, preferably Kalamata olives, chopped 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese