04/15/10
Simple Ratatouille
This is a simple peasant dish that will provide the vitamins you need with a taste you will savor. Ratatouille is traditionally a peasant stew that can be made on the stove top but I prefer to bake mine in my toaster oven and use less liquid.
For this recipe you will need:
1 Eggplant
1 Zucchini Squash
1 Cup of fresh or canned sliced mushrooms
1 Can of Stewed Tomatoes
Olive Oil
Italian Seasoning
Salt
This one is really easy.
First, slice the eggplant and the zucchini in thin discs.
Now, pour enough olive oil in your baking dish to coat the bottom.
Layer the vegetables, a layer of eggplant,followed by a layer of zucchini,followed by a layer of mushrooms and then a light drizzle of olive oil. Continue to add layers in this manner until all of your vegetables are used up.
Now open your stewed tomatoes and put them over the top of the vegetables, juice and all.
Add a small amount of water, less than 1/2 a cup. You want your vegetables to steam rather than get soggy and they will generate their own liquids as well.
Season to tastes using the Italian Seasoning and the Salt.
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and back at 375 degrees for about an hour or until the vegetables are soft and easy to chew.
ADD ON TIP:
If you want to add a little protein to this meal without making an extra mess, simply add a few layers of browned ground beef or lamb between your vegetables.
12/21/09
An Easy Recipe : Biscuits & Gravy
When you are far away from home, what can be more comforting than a good hot breakfast? This quick biscuits and gravy is an excellent way to connect with home and eat well.
This post has a lot of options. I prefer using a powdered mix for my biscuits but feel free to use canned biscuits if that is easier for you. The gravy is also a personal choice. I like the Peppered Southern Gravy Mix made by Wonder Bread. My wife likes gravy from a jar that is pre made and just needs heated. Or if you really feel gourmet, make your own gravy.
The Biscuits:
Line your baking pan with aluminum foil and it give it a quick spritz with non stick cooking spray.
Turn your toaster oven on so it can preheat.
If you are using canned biscuits, open the can and place the biscuits on the pan, just barely touching.
If you are using a mix, follow the instructions on the box to mix your biscuits.
When the dough is mixed, simply drop the biscuits onto the pan using a spoon. Give them a bit of spacing between the biscuits to allow room for them to grow as they cook.
Put the biscuits in your toaster oven and let them bake while you make the gravy.
The Gravy:
For gravy from a jar, simply pour the gravy into your sauce pan and heat it on your hotplate. Make sure to stir it regularly to avoid sticking.
For gravy from a mix, follow the instructions on the package.
For fresh gravy from scratch, brown and crumble a small amount of sausage in your sauce pan. While the sausage is cooking, mix together milk and flour in a cup. Stir the milk and flour until all of the clumps are dissolved. Pour the milk and flour mixture into the pan. Stir the gravy while it is cooking to prevent lumps and sticking. As the mixture heats up, reduce the heat. This will cause the gravy to begin to thicken. If the gravy gets too thick, add more milk. If it is too thin, add more flour. Add salt, pepper or other spices to suit your own tastes and you are finished.
Serving Suggestion:
Simply take the biscuits from the toaster oven and put them on a plate. Pour the gravy over the top and serve. This meal is great by itself or with scrambled eggs and bacon.
11/11/09
The Basic Tools
As the new chef of the dorm room, you will require a few basic tools. There are a few extras that I recommend as well but these may be added to your supply list as your skill level grows and your budget allows.
* Hot Plate - A single burner hot plate is all that is required but two burner models are available, making it much more convenient for larger meals.
* Toaster Oven - Toaster ovens are wonderful things. You can get them in a variety of sizes to accomodate almost any appetite. Make sure to choose a toaster oven that comes with a baking pan at the very minimum. Though the smaller toaster ovens work fine for making most meals, if you plan to graduate to King of the Dorm Room Chefs, you will want one of the bigger models. After all, you can't cook the Thanksgiving turkey in that wimpy little toaster oven.
* Sauce pan - One of the basic components of dorm room cooking is the sauce pan. A versatile little pan that can be used for boiling water, deep frying and browning meats. While only one is an absolute neccessity, having a spare is always a good idea.
* Skillet - This pan makes cooking things like fried eggs or a hamburger much easier. Non Stick is the way to go.
* Spatula - This tool is going to be your best friend. After all, using a spatula sure as hell beats grabbing eggs out of hot grease with your bare hands.
Now for the Non Essentials that make the experience better:
* Whisk - From beating eggs to beating roommates, a whisk is a great accessory for the dorm room gourmet.
* Mallet - You might just want to tenderize that steak or threaten the guy who's guitar solo just made your souffle' fall.
* Cutting Board - This tool might save your damage deposit. Plus its a great way to make sure you have a clean solid surface to work with.
* Candles - To set the mood or toast a marshmallow for 'Smores, candles are a great thing to add to your gear.
* Skewers - Skewers are a great way to add some flair to your cooking. They hold things together very nicely and provide that professional chef look to the meal.
Other accessories and kitchen tools can be added to your collection as needed for specific recipes or as your talent and interest in dorm room cooking grows. If you don't have the right tool for the job and can't afford to add it to your collection, remember that neccessity is the mother of invention. Many kitchen tools and accessories can be used for multiple purposes.
Most of all, remember to have fun with your new toys and check back often for advice, tips and recipes from The Dorm Room Gourmet.
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