Easy Eats

Hello lovely people! This month has been full of change, and I'm just now starting to form a routine for myself in regards to blogging as well as working and commuting to and from SUNY Brockport. Since I've been home, one of my main goals has been to expand my culinary repertoire, and although it's been slow going, I really enjoy making and sharing new dishes with my family! Today I'm going to be posting some of my favorite easy recipes that are perfect for any skill range, as well as health-conscious :)

Iced Chai

I am guilty of making this almost every morning - it tastes better than Starbucks and allows you to control the amount of sweetener added. For this, you only need three ingredients:

• black chai tea bags

• coconut milk

• honey or agave

Steep the tea bags in hot water for a few hours, then transfer the tea to a container and store it in the fridge. When ready to drink, simply fill a glass halfway with ice, then add your desired amount of tea and fill the rest of the glass with coconut milk (for me, it's about a 1:1 ratio). Lastly, add a bit of your choice of sweetener and drink up!

Avocado Pesto Pasta

I tried this recipe from Pinterest for dinner, and it was a hit with my dad and sister! This only requires a handful of healthy ingredients (ps: it's vegan!) and is quick to make as well as clean up! Here's what you'll need:

• pasta of your choice

• one avocado

• a few ounces of basil and parsley

• ~4 cloves of garlic

• 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1/4 cup chicken broth

• salt and pepper to taste

• cherry tomatoes

While the pasta is cooking, add all the ingredients except for the cherry tomatoes into a blender or food processor until your desired consistency is reached. Cut cherry tomatoes in half. Drain your pasta, then add the pasta back into the pot on low heat and add the pesto sauce along with the tomatoes, stirring until uniform. Serve warm with crispy Italian bread and you've got yourself a meal!

Apple Crisp in a Mug

I have already made this recipe twice because it is THAT GOOD and tastes like the real deal. While there are two parts (the filling and the topping) it only takes a few minutes plus microwave time to cook.

for the filling:

• one apple, cut into small chunks

• 1/2 tsp melted butter

• a bit of cinnamon

• 1 tsp each of flour and brown sugar

for the topping:

• 2 tbsp softened butter

• 1 tbsp each of flour and brown sugar

• a bit of cinnamon

• 3 tbsp oats

Combine filling ingredients in a small bowl and prepare the topping in a separate small bowl. Grab a mug and layer with filling first, then topping (and repeat). Microwave for three minutes (WARNING: IT WILL BE VERY HOT) then let cool until eatable. Add a scoop of ice cream if you're feeling fancy :)

Zoodles with Meatballs

I tried zucchini noodles for the first time last week, and holy shit - they're amazing. With a bit of sauce, you don't even realize you're eating straight veggies! I bought a premade package of these bad boys from Wegmans, and it lasted me four whole meals. You can even make zoodles yourself if you have a spiralizer!

• zoodles (prepackaged or handmade)

• pasta sauce of your choice

• frozen meatballs (meatless or regular)

Take your zoodles and throw em in a bowl; my favorite way to eat them is raw so they don't lose any texture or flavor. Thaw your meatballs and heat those up with some sauce in a pan, then pour over the zoodles, and ta-da!

While cooking meals may seem daunting, the first step is in the direction of the kitchen! (ha) Hopefully these simple recipes will inspire you to try something new :) Do you like/want me to post more about food recipes? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Anna xxx