University students are now going on week seven of being away from campus and at home in quarantine. With classes ending, many students will soon have more free time and will probably be looking for ways to spend it. Why not take up baking? These super easy recipes are a great way to spend your break from TikTok and decrease your screen time from its record 23 hours per day. If there was ever a time for baked goods, that time is now.

 

Banana Bread – because when the world’s ending, we make banana bread. Duh.

 

**RECIPE MAKES 2 LOAVES OF BANANA BREAD**

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 sticks butter (melted)

2 cups sugar

2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 6 bananas)

4 eggs, slightly beaten

Optional: add chocolate chips or walnuts

 

– Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease bread pans

– Stir and toss together flour, baking soda and salt

– In a large bowl, mix together butter, sugar, mashed bananas and eggs

– Add combined try ingredients and stir until batter is thoroughly blended

– Pour into bread pans and bake for 65-70 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

– Remove from oven and let cool for ~5 min

 

Banana Muffins – an exciting twist from the timeless classic (banana bread). Also super healthy and naturally sweetened

 

Ingredients:

⅓ cup melted coconut oil (or vegetable/canola oil)

½ cup maple syrup or honey

2 eggs

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)

½ cup milk of choice or water

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cinnamon

1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour

Optional: ⅓ cup old fashioned oats

Optional add-ins: Chocolate chips, dried cranberries, blueberries, walnuts, etc.… options are endless

 

– Preheat oven to 325 degrees

– Grease/spray muffin tin

– Beat coconut oil and maple syrup together with a whisk. Add eggs and beat well

– Mix in the mashed bananas and milk, followed by baking soda, vanilla, salt and cinnamon

– Add flour and oats to bowl and mix w/ spoon until combined. Fold in add-ins

– Divide batter evenly into muffin cups (pro-tip use ice cream scooper)

– Bake for 22-25 min or until toothpick comes out clean

 

 

Chia Pudding – a healthy superfood breakfast or mid-Zoom afternoon snack

 

Ingredients:

½ cup milk (or non-dairy substitute)

2 tablespoons chia seeds

1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey, whatever sweetener you prefer)

Optional: Drop of vanilla flavoring, cocoa powder for chocolate flavor

Adjust ratios to your consistency preference

 

– Pour all ingredients into mason jar (for the aesthetic, but bowls work too)

– Mix well

– Over and store in fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight (stays good for up to a week)

Topping ideas: Fruit, coconut flakes, granola, Nutella and/or peanut butter

 

 

Midnight Pasta (aglio e olio) – and for a plot twist… real people food! This is an insanely simple recipe that you can whip up and will leave you feeling very accomplished that you made an actual meal (P.S. it’s called midnight pasta because chefs whip it up after coming home from a long day of cooking)

 

Ingredients:

½ pounds spaghetti

Dash of salt

3 tsp extra virgin olive oil

4 garlic cloves, peeled & chopped

½ tsp red pepper flakes (or to taste)

Optional: 2 tbsp chopped parsley, 1 tbsp capers, parmesan cheese for grating

 

– Boil water (add a dash of salt)

– Put spaghetti in boiling water and cook until al-dente (usually 8-10 min depending on pasta brand)

– While pasta is cooking, warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat

– Add garlic and cook for about a minute (but don’t let it brown)

– Stir in red pepper (and capers if using) and cook for ½ a minute more, then turn off heat

– Drain pasta (leave some pasta water if possible for texture)

– Return it to the pot and pour in the olive oil mixture

– Add in parsley and serve with parmesan cheese 

 

 

And now for the finale, desserts (woo!):

 

2 Ingredient Chocolate Cake – insanely easy and tastes like an amazing 5-star bakery chocolate lava cake

 

Ingredients:

1 cup chocolate chips (melted)

1 egg

 

– Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

– In oven-safe bowl or mug, mix egg white and melted chocolate chips

– Once mixed, fold in egg yolk

– Bake for 20 minutes

Serving suggestion: Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream

 

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – another simple but delicious favorite, and who doesn’t love a good peanut-butter-and-chocolate combo (found this recipe on TikTok. No shame.)

 

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 egg

1 tsp baking soda

½ cup chocolate chips

 

– Preheat oven to 350 degrees

– Mix all ingredients together thoroughly until dough forms

– Place 12 scoops on baking sheet and bake for 8-10 min

 

 

And finally… some mocktails to go with your delicious desserts!

 

(Virgin) Strawberry Coconut Mojitos 

 

Ingredients:

Strawberry Syrup:

1 cup whole strawberries, sliced

½ cup sugar

½ cup water

Mojitos:

Handful of mint leaves

4 whole strawberries (sliced)

2 limes (divided)

1 cup ice cubes

½ cup club soda

To rim glasses (optional but makes you feel fancy):

2 tbsp sugar

Shredded coconut (if you have it)

4 strawberries, sliced in half but not all the way through

 

For syrup:

– Combine syrup ingredients together in saucepan, bring to boil

– Reduce heat and simmer while stirring occasionally until syrup forms

– Set aside and cool

– Strain strawberry pieces out

 

For mojitos:

– Wet rim of glasses with halved strawberry

– Dip glasses into sugar and/or coconut to create a rim

– Divide mint leaves and strawberry slices into 4 glasses

– Juice one lime and add about 1 tsp of lime juice to each glass

– Stir gently and muddle with back of spoon until strawberries soften

– Pour 2 tbsp of cooled syrup into each glass

– Cut lime into 8 wedges and add 2 lime wedges into each glass

– Add ice and fill glasses with club soda

– Stir and garnish with extra mint leaves