8 Simple Things to Cook

GUEST BLOGGER: HAYLEE GECAS, COLLEGE HILL MARKETING INTERN + STUDENT AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, PULLMAN, WA

I tend to have a hard time finding things to cook because, well, I don’t like cooking. I have found that these few recipes are easy and fast, though, which can be helpful to someone with a really busy schedule! These recipes are just simple ideas to help you out in the kitchen.

There are no measurements because you can make it your own and add or subtract anything you want! Easy, right?

1. Mini Pizzas

INGREDIENTS:

• Tortillas
• Pizza sauce
• Pepperoni
• Cheese
• Basil
• Balsamic glaze

HOW TO MAKE:

Assemble, then bake in oven preheated to 350 for about 15 minutes or until slightly crispy

2. Chicken Noodle Soup

INGREDIENTS:

• Celery
• Egg noodles
• Onion and garlic powder
• Barley or rice
• Chicken broth OR water with chicken bouillon cubes

HOW TO MAKE:

• Cut up fresh chicken and add it to a pot with either chicken broth or water with chicken bouillon cubes
• Add celery, barley or rice, egg noodles and seasoning
• Cook until the chicken/barley are done – about 45 minutes
• Near the end, add some fresh eggs to help thicken it up - it creates an egg drop soup effect if you sort of scramble the egg right in the broth!

INGREDIENTS:

• Scrambled eggs
• Breakfast sausage
• Tortillas
• Sour cream
• Salsa

PRO TIP: Add Cougar Gold cheese into the eggs! If you're not in the Pullman area and can't find it in your local Washington State grocery store - or if you live elsewhere - any delicious sharp cheddar or flavorful hard cheese like romano should work really well!

ANOTHER PRO TIP: Make your own pico de gallo!

INGREDIENTS:

• Tomatoes
• Lime
• Onion
• Cilantro
• Salt
• Avocado

HOW TO MAKE:

Cook up the eggs and sausage and add to warmed tortilla. Add pico, salsa and any other favorite toppings, like sour cream and guac. Fold, roll and slice! You can also toast the whole thing - yum!

4. Taco Dip

INGREDIENTS:

• Ground beef
• Taco seasoning
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Cheddar cheese

HOW TO MAKE:

• Cook ground beef with taco seasoning - do this first!
• Combine mixture with sour cream
• Add salsa and cheddar cheese
• Bake at 350 and check after 15 minutes, stir it, then put it back in for another 15 minutes. Serve!

INGREDIENTS:

• Broccoli
• Cheese
• Pie crust
• Salt
• Pepper
• Milk
• Eggs

HOW TO MAKE:

Bake at 375 for about 40 minutes  

NOTE: There are a lot of easy quiche recipes online, so you can reference some for measurements of milk and eggs. Here's a simple and really good one!

6. Gourmet Potatoes + Broccoli

INGREDIENTS / HOW TO MAKE:

• Baby potatoes – cover them with water and add chicken bouillon cubes
• Diced onion
• Cut up garlic cloves + add to mixture
• Boil and once the water is down to half, throw the broccoli in – mix it – pull the broccoli out before it falls apart!
• Stir potatoes until water cooks off – watch closely at the end! This will get your potatoes extra flavorful!

PRO TIP: Add Cougar Gold! Always add Cougar Gold.

7. Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS / HOW TO MAKE:

• Noodles
• Add once noodles are cooled down:
• Ranch
• Cheese cubes
• Peas
• Salt and pepper

8. Manicotti Pasta

INGREDIENTS:

6 manicotti noodles

2 cups shredded or fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 tablespoon dried basil

1 ½ cups tomato sauce

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

HOW TO MAKE:

• Assemble - stuff the manicotti noodles with the ricotta and basil mixture, then top with sauce, mozzarella and parm, then bake! Add garlic, salt and pepper for extra flavor! If you like it spicy, throw some red pepper into the sauce!
• Bake at 350 for about 30-35 minutes and allow to cool about 5 minutes before digging in!