It’s almost a month into the spring semester, and the dining hall is already getting old and boring. We would love to prepare a gourmet meal, but it’s hard to make something delicious with just a microwave to cook with. For those of us who live off-campus, it might just be difficult to figure out something healthy and delicious to eat.
TikTok has once again come to the rescue with meals, even some that are dorm friendly. From sweet treats to delicious dinners, here are nine TikTok food trends to try when everything else gets boring:
Cut quesadilla
This first trend is super simple but can be filled with almost anything. For the perfect quesadilla, use a sharp knife to cut the tortilla halfway through on one side and fill each quadrant of the circle. Then, fold each corner in and cook. You can use a panini pan, skillet or even a microwave on high for those still in the dorms. It’s a simple way to fit more toppings in the tortilla and the combinations are endless.
Whipped coffee
The OG quarantine was not complete without whipped coffee. The recipe is not only straightforward, but you most likely have these ingredients around the house. Grab two teaspoons of coffee grinds, sugar and hot water.
Mix in a bowl for three to five minutes until the mixture forms peaks. You can whisk by hand or use a hand mixer. Once the mixture is thick, add it to a glass with milk (I prefer almond milk for a sweeter taste) and ice.
Baked feta pasta
This next dish is a newer trend, but still worth all of the rage. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. In a 9-by-13 inch baking dish, combine the tomatoes, garlic and ¼ cup of olive oil. Sprinkle with some salt and toss to coat.
Then, place the feta cheese in the center of the dish, top with the remaining olive oil and sprinkle red pepper flakes and a little black pepper around the entire dish. Bake for about 40 minutes, until the garlic has softened and tomatoes have burst their skins.
Meanwhile, cook your choice of pasta. Keep one cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta. Mash the feta and tomatoes with a fork and mix until combined. If the mixture looks a little dry, mix the sauce with pasta and add the reserved pasta water. To serve, add in basil leaves and additional salt and pepper if needed. This recipe takes more effort, but it is still easy and worth it.
Ingredients
2 pints (17 ½ ounces) cherry or grape tomatoes
4 cloves garlic, halved lengthwise
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Kosher salt
1 block (7 ounces) Greek Feta cheese
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces medium-length dried pasta (I recommend campanelle or farfalle)
Fresh basil leaves
Cloud bread
Another quarantine favorite, cloud bread is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also gluten free. Combine three egg whites, two tablespoons of white sugar and about one tablespoon of cornstarch, then beat well until the mixture is super fluffy and thick.
Then transfer the mixture to a greased baking sheet and form it into a half-sphere shape using a rubber spatula. Lastly, cook in the oven at 300 degrees for about 25 minutes. If you want to make your bread extra pretty, add food coloring to your mixture for a heavenly snack.
Mug cake
For those late night cravings, here’s a simple sweet treat that only needs a microwave. In a large mug, stir together softened butter and boiling water until butter has melted. Stir in sugar, then cocoa powder and self-rising flour until well combined.
Then, press four squares of chocolate into the batter in the center of the mug. Microwave for one minute on high until the cake has risen.
2 tbsp butter, softened
2 tbsp boiling water
¼ cup caster sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder
¼ cup self-raising flour
4 squares dark chocolate
Nacho table
This trend is one of the most iconic and delicious. Cover your table with tin foil and pour tortilla chips and melted cheese. The best part is that you can pick the ingredients.
Anything from taco meat, jalapeños, and tomatoes, you can have your dish anyway. Even if you live in the dorms, you can still enjoy this trend by sizing the tin foil to your desk or table.
Mochi ice cream
Another recipe for the dorms, mochi ice cream is a healthy and delicious alternative for ice cream. Add all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix until smooth, then cover and microwave for one minute.
Mix and microwave for one minute two more times. After, put onto a surface that’s covered in corn or tapioca starch and flatten with your fingers. Cut the mixture and fill with your favorite ice cream.
Ingredients
Black food coloring (optional)
½ cup sweet rice flour
¼ cup blueberry juice
¼ cup white sugar
¼ cup water
White Claw slushies
For those of us who can drink legally, here’s a recipe that only requires a few ingredients and almost zero effort. Grab some ice, a claw, vodka or rum, raspberries and ginger ale.
Blend it all together until you have a frozen consistency. It’s a sweet treat to remind you that it’s 5 o'clock somewhere.
Gigi Hadid’s vodka pasta
While the famous model takes credit for this last recipe, it can still be cooked by anyone. Start by cooking garlic and shallots in olive oil until soft. Next, add tomato paste and cook.
Add heavy cream and red pepper flakes. Stir and add salt and pepper, then remove from heat. Add your pasta, pasta water and butter to the mixture. Stir over medium heat until butter has melted. Lastly, add parmesan cheese and serve with parmesan and basil.
Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
Small clove of garlic
¼ shallot
¼ cup tomato paste
½ cup heavy cream
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 lb pasta
¼ cup pasta water
1 tbsp butter
¼ cup parmesan cheese
Chopped basil (optional)
